Ringwood Brewery was founded in 1978 by brewing legend Peter Austin in Ringwood, Hampshire. Austin was a pioneering figure in the British real ale revival, and the brewery quickly became a reference point for the craft brewing movement — attracting aspiring brewers from across the country who came to learn their trade at the Hampshire site. In 2007, the brewery was sold to Marston's PLC in a £19 million deal, and later became part of Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) following a merger between Marston's and the UK arm of Carlsberg. Ringwood built its reputation on traditional British ale styles, with a portfolio centred around cask-conditioned real ales. The brewery's most celebrated beer, Old Thumper, won the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain award in 1988 — a testament to the quality and character of its malt-forward brewing. The brewery offered guided tours for many years, giving visitors a hands-on experience of its brewing heritage. Despite its storied history, Carlsberg Marston's announced plans to close the Ringwood site after failing to find a buyer. The brewery was ultimately acquired by Thornbridge Brewery in 2023, preserving a vital piece of British brewing history. Ringwood's legacy endures as a founding chapter of the modern British microbrewery movement.