Action Figures & Their Beers – Ironically, It Hits The Spot!

by Beedo Sookcool
on 2025-12-17, 09:22:00

STORMTROOPER GALACTIC PALE ALE

I bought this Original Stormtrooper Galactic Pale Ale in 2022, when I was last home in England for Mum’s 90th birthday, and never got around to reviewing it before I had to return to the States. So, did it hold up in the two and a half years between when I bought it and when I drank it? I’ll get to that, but first . . .

Let me just say right off the bat that I have no basis of comparison for this beer. This is the only sample I’ve ever seen. I’d seen people posting about it in various online beer groups over the years, but as I was living in the USA at the time, I never laid eyes on it. That is, until I returned to England in November 2022. And then, in the lead-up to Christmas 2022, I found this deluxe tin set that contains not only the beer, but a custom glass, too! But I got the last one of these in the store, and never saw any more since. Of course, I had to pair up this Deluxe Stormtrooper beer with the Deluxe Stormtrooper (Nevarro Cantina) action figure:

This is a really good figure. Not only is it based on one of the most accurately-sculpted and detailed 1:18 Stormtrooper figures to date, it comes with an exquisitely detailed and complicated E-Web cannon, complete with generator, power cable, and blast effect. But there’s a small problem – the E-Web looks a shade too small for the Stormtrooper, especially if you compare it to other E-Web blaster accessories that have been released over the years. You have to pose him practically squatting to use it, and even then, he’s still pointing it vaguely downwards. It might be good for high turret or rampart emplacements, but as a crowd-sweeper, all this’ll do is scuff their shoes.

The back label reads: “A classic American-style pale ale – pale, crisp, hoppy, and very aromatic. Initially soft on the palate, ‘GPA’ builds to a generous but clean bitterness with flavours and aromas of mango, citrus, earthy pine, and blueberry.” The ingredients list simply states “Water, malted barley, wheat, hops, yeast” – no specific cultivars named. Generally, I’m not a fan of Pale Ales, but it sounds like it might be better than most, and how could I possibly pass up an action figure pairing this perfect? A better question, though, is how is this “space craft beer,” anyway? And am I the only one disappointed that they’re not specifically using Galaxy hops in this one? (After doing a little digging online, I found that they apparently use Magnum, Citra BBC, and Simcoe hops. Chiz!)

And then , there’s the little matter of this: “Best Before: 08/08/2023”

Whoops! Well, I was hoping that, like with Ringwood’s Fortyniner, a long storage time would lead to a much mellower beer experience. (By the way: see the addendum at the end of this article for some news about Ringwood Brewery.) Anywho, Original Stormtrooper Galactic Pale Ale is supposed to be 4.8% ABV, and you know what? Even after almost two years past its Best-By date, it’s goooooood.

As I say, I’ve had no other Stormtrooper GPAs to compare this to, so I can’t say if it mellowed considerably over those two extra years or not. But I’m guessing that it did. What I ended up consuming had a mild but pleasant beer-biscuit-y aroma. I did indeed get mellow mango, even milder citrus, and a lingering soft blueberry note. But not so much in the way of earthy pine – barely any, in fact. There’s a tiny bit of hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste, but not much. It lingers, and makes you salivate, and makes you want more, but it doesn’t pucker your face and make you want to drink more just to wash away the aftertaste. It’s mellow, slightly fruity, smooth, and just an amazing tipple, considering how long it has been inadvertently “aged.”

It’s also a great candidate for adding a dose of lavender syrup to, to make a Draught of Living Death, if you’re having trouble sleeping. Which I tried. And it was delicious. And it worked – I was out like a light in 15 minutes, and had a fantastically refreshing sleep.

If you’re interested in learning more about these brews, you can click on this direct link, HERE.

I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but instead of transcribing all the blurbs, I’m just going to post the full front, top, and back of the collector tin. This will not only save me time and effort, but also let you see just how much effort and love went into this packaging:

And if you think I’m going to delve into the decades of legal battles that surround anything to do with Imperial Stormtroopers, their designs, their helmet manufacturing, or anything like that, you’re crazier than a dinko, and you should definitely Do Your Own Research on the matter.

Now, I haven’t seen any more Stormtrooper beer since I picked this up in late 2022. Seems to have been a seasonal fluke that was not repeated for Yuletide 2024 or 2025. But the brewery is still in business, apparently, though, so good on ’em.

Drink this if you also like: Smooth, mildly fruity ales and shandies (if aged and mellowed for a couple of years).

ADDENDUM: I mentioned Ringwood’s Fortyniner in the above review, and I learned something disturbing, recently.

In 2023, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) announced Ringwood Brewery would close, with production moving to Burton and Wolverhampton. A year later, CMBC — by then solely owned by Carlsberg — announced it had stopped production of some cask ales, including Boondoggle and Old Thumper.

CAMRA called it “another example of a globally owned business wiping out UK brewing heritage,” as other Marston’s-owned breweries—Wychwood, Banks’s, Jennings — followed the same blueprint: Shut the regional breweries, centralise production, then cut cask ale output. (It was announced in February 2025 that Jennings had been revived after being bought by a local couple.)

Carlsberg Britvic, the successor to CMBC, says it understands the strength of feeling around its breweries, recognising it inherited “an important legacy of brewing British ale, and we are hugely passionate about creating a sustainable, successful future for traditional ales, like cask. We continue to brew Ringwood Razorback and Fortyniner on cask for fans of the brand to enjoy.”

Which just sounds like there’s an unspoken “Now shut up and go away, peasants!” at the end of that press release.

[ Sigh ] . . . .