What’s your favorite variety of Shipyard Ale?
Beef asked: Shipyard brewery in located up in Maine so I don’t know how far they ship.
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Tags: Maine, Shipyard Brewery, Variety
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December 30th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Product Rating:
Pros: Great look, taste and feel
Cons: It sells out quickly
The Bottom Line: This is one of the best ales I have ever tasted
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popsrocks’s Full Review: Shipyard Brewer’s Choice 2006 Brown Ale
I’ve went on a tour of the Shipyard Brewery a few weeks back when up in Portland. It was a good one and I especially enjoyed all the time that was given to tasting at the end of the tour. I’m thinking that the tours in the off season when I went may give a little extra time due to smaller groups.
One of the ales I tasted at tour’s end was Shipyard’s Brewer’s Choice Special Ale 2006. It was wonderful!!
We were told it was a follow-up to a very popular first blend of Shipyard’s Brewer’s Choice of 2005 that was a huge hit. So popular was the 2005 that it was gone in no time at all as said by our brewery guide. They decided to make another batch for the 2006 season and unfortunately it too is almost all gone. I can’t say I remember having last years blend but the 2006 that is supposed to be the same as the 2005. I brought some home with me a few weeks ago and I’ve enjoyed it so much that I plan to get more when I go up to pick up my daughter from school this week. They said they had a small amount left when I called them just now.
Update; I was able to get a bit more. I purchased a six along with a variety of others. I’m already kicking myself because It’s gone due to a short drinking session with two of my brothers-in-law. More later.
Brewer’s choice is a blend by Shipyard master brewer Alan Pugsley that was specifically brewed as a toast to his mentor, Peter Austin, who founded the Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England. Alan Pugsley had what looks to be a pen and ink block type drawing on the label depicting the Master Brewer Peter Austin in sitting position with a foamy ale in hand looking like he’s raising his glass to the drinker of this ale. In the background is a large barrel with a black cat sitting on it. According to our tour guide this cat was a “good luck” cat that actually roamed the Ringwood Brewery where Alan Pugsley apprenticed.
In talking to the brewery gal I learned there will be a 2007 brewer’s choice but it will be different. The gal said it may not be Alan Pugsley’s brew but that of another brewer from Shipyard. It’s my feeling that the next brewer has some pretty big “kegs” to fill.
The first sense I would really like this ale were its aesthetics. When pouring the ale it has a dark chocolaty colour. It almost seems opaque but when lifted to bright light a rich candy-apple-red tint is visible. It really is a glorious colour!
The great looks of this ale continue on with a fine looking tan coloured head. A bit of lace stayed on the glass edges. My first taste had me go for a second and a third right away and soon the first ale was gone.
This 5.4% a.b.v. ale is extremely smooth going down like a loose milk shake or maybe better described as a honey feel with a gentle sweet and fruity taste. I would describe it as having a full body. It was easy to keep sipping this brew that has just a slight touch of carbonated feel.
It finished with a pronounced dry hoppy taste that stayed with me until the next sip. I will note that the second ale that went down much slower warmed to a more bitter end taste that I didn’t care for.
The brewery gal told us that this used Peter Austin’s Ringwood yeast from England and that gives a distinct flavour. I haven’t been able to sort that exact taste just yet but I did have a short session with two relatives, one of which studies ales. When they were over the house on Mother’s Day I broke out some Shipyard products and we all tasted this and that. We finished much to quickly and too soon. I knew I had this 2006 ale in my downstairs fridge. I was reluctant to share it but I broke down and told the guys to wait till I came up saying I had something special for them to try. I poured the 2006 Shipyard’s Brewer’s Choice Special Ale out for all. My brother-in-law went crazy over it. He absolutely loved it saying he could taste the yeast and the chocolate and butterscotch notes along with a subtle sweet fruit taste. He wants me to try and get more for him on my next trip up. He was dismayed when I told him I didn’t think there would be any more. Still, I will try.
I love the way this ale looks, tastes and goes down. It’s a winner.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
The Shipyard Export Ale is probably my favorite because it has a splash of sweetness. But the Light Beer is tasty for what it is, and some of the seasonals are amazing, like the Pumpkin head and Longfellow Winter Ale.
I was in Maine and New Hampshire last year, and was able to try them. I’ve seen them locally in some of the better beer stores.
Edit: I just visited their site. They have a special on tees. I think the Pumpkin head is appropriate for the season.
January 1st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I like the Blue Fin Stout the best, then Export close second. I’ve only had 5 and even those 2 I mentioned were average at best.
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