When I initially started reading around to see what beer stories I wanted to post, it looked like the pickings were slim.  Then I found a few, The Father-in-law threw in one, and then I found myself trying to limit the group to a reasonable number.  I think there is a pretty well rounded selection.

So for the news from this week . . .

• When I first came across the video for this new beer pouring system a few weeks back I just thought that it would be pretty much limited to to stadiums and the like.  Now that I read that a home version is in the works I will continue to pay attention even though I cannot see the need to ever pour beers that fast at home.
• When I see articles that involve beer and Seattle (being two of my favorite things) I usually don’t pass them up, so here is a new beer to consider.
• I heard bits and pieces of the story behind this brewery before, so it was nice to read a little more about it.  It is good to have those little details in your pocket when pouring the beers for someone.
• Since we were just talking about Georgia beer laws this week, this one caught my eye.
• I would never call it the best beer I have ever had (like one of the quotes in the article), but I do agree that it is very tasty and a big step up from the previous spring seasonal.
• There are enough unfinished beer books sitting around the house right now so I have no plans to add this one.  I did read the original and quite enjoyed it, so I would recommend picking up this new edition if you have yet to read it.
• A collaboration between Cigar City and The Bruery you say?  I say I can wait to get my hands on a few bottles!
• Closing today with mention (again) of an opening tomorrow.  The Shipyard Emporium will have their Grand Opening tomorrow evening from 6-10PM.  Having the chance to stop in (and sample a few beers) during a soft opening last night I can say that you should get there when you can, whether tomorrow or later on.  Here are a few pictures of the place.

Go say hello to Ron! (via http://www.orlandosentinel.com/)

Cheers!

Since we went from sunny and eighty something degrees to frost in a span of two days I am going with a summer seasonal review to maybe influence a compromise somewhere around seventy degrees. Also because I am pushing through all the old reviews.

Actually this one is a beer that I already posted earlier this year. The reason that I decided to go ahead with sharing this evaluation is because I had no recollection of reviewing this beer previously and I find it interesting to see the differences in my tasting notes. There are beers where I have wanted to go back and do another review to see how my palate has evolved, but this one was revisited by accident. That was a good scenario since my original notes were no influence on these.

Now for this week’s Friday review . . .

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Company (Portland, ME)

Name: Summer Ale

Style: American Wheat Beer

ABV: 4.80%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass. Gift from Cousin Adam.

Aroma: Lightly sweet with some grainy maltiness underneath. Pretty clean overall aroma.

Appearance: Golden yellow color. One finger, off-white color head that dissipated pretty quickly and left a little bit of a trail. Crystal clear with rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Some buttery, grainy maltiness with a light hop bitterness that is somewhat dry toward the finish with an odd tingling sensation on the palate. Very light overall flavor profile.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a decent level of carbonation that helps add some bite and crispness. Finish leave a bit of an unpleasant flavor.

Overall Impressions: Goes down easy (easier when cold and less so from there), but not all that enjoyable. The buttery quality and bitterness seem to build on the palate as the glass empties. I would not necessarily turn down a free one, but it will not be on my shopping list for future summers.

Grade: C- or so

Shipyard Brewing Company - Summer Ale

If the weather is hot and sunny it must be summer already, right?  Maybe not, though it sure has felt like it the last handful of days here in Central Florida.  With the weather pretending to be summer it made sense to post another beer review in honor of that season, despite it only being April.

There is also something with this one that I notice from time to time when looking back over reviews done many months ago.  After reading the notes that I took while drinking it, I am a bit confused by the final grade that I gave it.  It makes me wonder what the circumstances were during the evaluation that would have bumped the final grade up a bit.  So for this one I will write the original grade that I wrote down and then also what I would have expected the grade to be only by reading the tasting notes.  That only seems fair.

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Co. (Portland, ME)

Name: Summer Ale

Style: American Wheat Beer

ABV: 5.1%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $8.99 for a six-pack.

Aroma: Moderately strong grainy nose with (seemingly) a slight, spicy hop character somewhere in there.

Appearance: Light golden color.  Two-finger, off-white head with moderate retention and no trail.  Crystal clear with many visible bubbles rising.

Flavor: Medium amount of light grainy, wheaty (surprise, surprise) flavor with a very slight note of hoppiness.  The finish is a bit dry with some sharpness.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a high amount of carbonation that lends some bite (and some of the sharpness at the finish).

Overall Impressions: Crisp and refreshing, though not with a great overall flavor.  It is good for hot weather if served ice cold.

Grade: B (originally written) and C (would have expected)

Did I forget to mention that this picture is lost as well?

The fourth day has finally come and with it the fourth pumpkin beer and the end of this short series of posts.  If you are at all confused, where have you been these last few days?!  Go ahead and check out the entries from Blueprint Brewing, Smuttynose Brewing, and Weyerbacher Brewing to get yourself caught up with the whole pumpkin beers in March thing.

We first heard of this creation when The Wife and I were vacationing with family up in Maine and visited Shipyard Brewing last fall.  At the time the beer was not even available at the brewery because it sold out so fast.  We knew that Shipyard brews were available here in Florida so there was at least a small chance that we would see some on the shelves when arrived back home.  Obviously we got lucky and found a bottle one day without even looking for it.

Be sure to read all the way to the bottom as the long awaited judgment on the flight from The Wife is revealed!

Now to wrap things up . . .

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Co. (Portland, ME)

Name: Smashed Pumpkin Ale  (Signature Series)

Style: Vegetable Beer

ABV: 9.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the wine fridge (51 degrees +/-) and served in a pint glass.  $8.99 for 1pt. 6oz.

Aroma: Low, but prominent pumpkin spice aroma (mostly nutmeg to me) and a clean aroma overall.

Appearance: Amber in color with a slight orange/copper hue.  Slight dark(er) cream head that quickly dissipates with no trail.  Crystal clear with few rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: The pumpkin spice flavors are prominent with a sugary sweetness underneath.  The spiciness carries through to the finish and lingers slightly.  Really full flavor overall that is like liquid pumpkin pie.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low(ish) carbonation.  A low amount of warmth is noticeable.

Overall Impressions: Most pumpkiny pumpkin ale that I have tried (to date) and is definitely at the top of the Shipyard family for me.  The aroma really carries through to the flavor.  Fitting/appropriate for the holidays (Thanksgiving or Christmas).

Grade: A

Her final decisions have been made . . . read below.

As for the final rankings from The Wife and her blind tasting:

1. Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale (very close 1^st and 2^nd)
2. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (very close 1^st and 2^nd)
3. Blueprint Gourdeous One
4. Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale (distant 4^th)

She fell right in line with the final grades that I had when drinking the four of them side by side.  I don’t know that it means we are correct, but I now know what to look for on the shelves and what to brew at home next fall.

Cheers!

I have tentative plans to visit the Shipyard Brewing Company’s brewery when I am passing through Portland next month because I generally enjoy and appreciate their beers.  This one was an exception to that general enjoyment for me.  Maybe I had set my expectations too high and it fell short, but in the end it wasn’t a beer that I needed to have again anytime soon.

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)

Name: Chamberlain Pale Ale

Style: Pale Ale (American)

ABV: 4.9%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $3.99 for 22oz

Aroma: Light, slightly earthy hop nose.  Very faint caramel aroma?

Appearance: Light copper color with orange tint.  Short, off-white head that dissipates quickly without a trail.  Very clear with a few rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Low hop flavor with a slight earthiness.  Minerally finish with some cloying.  Maybe a hint of a bready malt flavor?  The aroma was a bit stronger than the flavor turned out to be.

Mouthfeel: Light body with some dryness on the palate.  Medium to high carbonation, producing some bite (sharpness).

Overall Impressions: Weak overall aroma and flavor (compared to what I expect in an APA).  Alcohol content typical for style.  Really not much going on overall.  Drinkable, but also forgettable.

Grade: C to C-

Shipyard Brewing Co. - Chamberlain Pale Ale