Celebrating 125 Years Of Town's Beer Heritage

This November, Robinsons, Stockport’s oldest brewery celebrates 125 years of Old Tom, their original craft beer. The family brewers reveal Old Tom tributes dedicated to their fans and share how to get hold of a free sample.

The dark 8.5% strong ale, developed by Head Brewer, Alfred Munton, was named after the brewery’s cat, Tom. In fact, the young tom cat found himself etched into eternity as Alfred’s hand sketched drawing became the first logo for the beer. This first sketch is on display at Robinsons Brewery Visitors Centre.

Since its creation in 1899, the beer has won countless awards, including World’s Best Ale and Champion Beer of Britain Gold award. Over the years the brewers have continued to innovate with Old Tom, introducing special brews such as Chocolate Tom, Blonde Tom and Ginger Tom which have appeared on bar tops and supermarket shelves across the UK.

There is no doubt the rich and malty ale has touched the lips of thousands of Stopfordians as well as further afield, finding its place across many family homes and cosy pub corners. To celebrate the milestone and recognise the heritage and loyalty of Old Tom’s drinkers, the family brewers have dedicated the momentous birthday to Old Tom drinkers across their home counties.

Old Tom’s fans were encouraged to share their memories, stories and feelings about the beer that has been around longer than any of its drinkers before being gifted their memories back in the form of a poem on an iconic Stockport building, a stone’s throw from the brewery. Robinsons commissioned local writing group, The Writing Squad to bring to life over 60 memories through four written poems. You’ll find the poems across a selection of pubs who are celebrating Old Tom Day on 2nd November, including a special wall tribute in Stockport city centre. The contributors of the poem were invited to Robinsons Brewery Visitors Centre to toast to 125 years of Old Tom.

As well as celebrating Old Tom through the memories of its drinkers, Robinsons will be giving away samples of Old Tom at October’s Foodie Friday in Stockport. Look out for their pop-up stand where you can get try free samples of Old Tom. You can find Old Tom in Robinsons pubs across the Northwest throughout November and in selected Asda, Co Op, Booths and Sainsburys stores.