FredDibnah.co.uk

Someone recently mentioned that they were sure that there was an Ale named after Fred. A bit of digging turns up this (possibly libellous) story, regarding why Bank Top Brewery’s Fred’s Cap Ale was renamed to Flat Cap Ale:

The ales were hit and miss, in my opinion, the best being Flat Cap – a hoppy, golden beer with hints of orange in the taste.

Someone standing at the bar told me that the beer had originally been called Fred’s Cap after chimney toppling flat-cap wearer Fred Dibnah.

Apparently the widow Dibnah heard about the brew and contacted the brewery asking for royalties, prompting them to rename the beer and pay for new pump clips and advertising.

However, there is no truth to the rumour that revenge was a motive in naming their next two ales Gold Digger and Old Slapper.

I’ve seen “Fred’s Cap Ale” labels appearing on eBay ever so often, the above story would make them real collectors items.