Sea Dog Old East India Pale Ale

Brewed by Sea Dog Brewing (Shipyard Brewing Co.)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Topsham, Maine USA

This is a mildly hoppy IPA. I’d describe it more as a more earthy IPA than most. Modest head and minimal lace; solid amber color and relatively clear. It does have elements of a British style IPA, such as the more muted hop flavors. Pleasant but not special.

Tap at El Bait shop. Pours an orangish color with a nice head. Aroma is grassy and malty sweet with a slightly off aroma I can’t really place. The flavor starts off with a weird pilsner malt sweetness, some sweet tarts, the hoppiness is very citrusy and fruity in all the wrong ways, a bit of butterscotch is detected. I’m glad I only had a sample.

bottle. Meh. orangish pour. light hop aroma with some grainy, malty notes. Flavor? pretty damn weak. Weak hops, malt, did I mention its weak?

Very slight hop aroma, with a touch of malt there if you hunt for it. Pours a clear amber with a fluffy white head. Taste is a bit weak, some caramel, and a breath of hops. Not bad for the price, but for a couple of bucks more, you get a whole lot more flavor.

Orange with a ring of head. This isn’t an APA, let alone an IPA. Weak on hops, and thin in the malt profile. No need for another.

12oz Kennebunkport bottle. Orange-brown color with a patchy off-white head. Sweet sugary malt aroma, some minimal toasty hops. Thick sugary malt centered, with an earthy hop balance. Middle of the road, with some mild orange-vanilla tastes coming through in the aftertaste. Not as bad as a Ukranian factory beer, but way below par for a stateside IPA. Plain, with more sugar than hop character. Avoid.

Source:12 oz bottle from Trader Joe’s under the Kennebunkport name.
Glass:Perfect Pint.
Appearance:Clear amber pour with a thin off white head.
Aroma:A hint of citrus, but a huge, buttery diacetyl note overwhelms.
Flavor:The flavor reflects the aroma, with huge diacetyl. A mild bitter finish.
Palate:Medium body with solid carbonation.
Overall:Hands down the worst tasting and smelling IPA ever.

Bought under the name Kennebunkport IPA from Trader Joe’s. Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a very thick tan head. Aroma is a smooth citrus, caramel, with a light acidic and light ester notes. Flavor starts of with both caramel malt and caramel candy flavors, a solid orange citrus note, a light banana note that melds well with the orange and finishes with slightly dry finish. Density is solid with the lower carbonation really meshing well with the overall characters of the beer. Overall a very good beer for the price and one that really has a fantastic mouth feel for the style.