Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale (Pugsley Signature Series)

Brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Maine USA

22oz bomber shared with funkybrewster about 6-10 months old. Pours a very dark but clear near black reddish with a great creamy beige froth that sticks very finely to the sides making beautiful lacing 4.5. Aroma at first is huge whisky, corn and booze, harsh candy corn, severely burnt sugars, burnt candied barley, raisins, super buttery, thick molasses, caramelized brown sugar, smells very dark and sticky. Flavor is quite chewy, big raisin, dark brown sugar, boozy, grainy, seems quite English, burnt sugars, some cherry, buttery, sweet but has some bitterness, ashy, with a long lingering burnt ashy aftertaste. Med/full bodied with a creamy mouth-feel, very soft carbonation. Ok maybe the malts are burnt to hell and its full of diacetyl, but maybe if this were laid down for 4-5 years it would actually be quite passable for a traditional English BW. Now I wish I didn’t open mine... but I am definitely not buying another.

22oz bomber from the local Hannaford. Pours a nearly opaque very dark brown with nearly an inch of light tan head that leaves some impressive lacing. Caramel, toffee, chocolate, butterscotch... Chocolate, coffee, caramel, toffee characterize the flavor. Hints of butter here and there, but diacetyl was impressively subdued. On the upper side of medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Not bad, a solid example of an English Barleywine for sure, being more of a malt bomb with hops playing second fiddle as it were. Not sure it was worth the price - maybe it was... However this has to be about the best Shipyard I have ever tried. Way to go Shipyard!

Bottle: Deep red colour, creamy brown head. Aroma of viny,citrus,malts,and sweet caramelly, and some rasberry. Flavor had a creamy mouth feeling,spicy,caramelly, medium to full body, long spicy and coffee fruity finish. Nice!!

Bomber pours a clear mahogany with a medium tan head. Aroma of pine and citrusy hops, chocolate, coffee, and caramel. Medium body has some hop oiliness but is still creamy. Taste is complex and interesting, with earthy and citrusy hops, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and dark fruits. Lots of dark roasty malt bitterness. This doesn’t look, smell, or taste like a barleywine but it’s really quite tasty. I would call it a strong ale, but it’s a tasty one by any name.

22oz bottle 8/1/09 (Sam’s Wine & Spirits-Downers Grove)-Pours a dark brown with amber tints with a small tight tan head. Aroma of sweetness, caramel, toffee, and chocolate. Taste is of sweetness, malt, and alcohol. This full bodied brew was not bad but I wasn’t expecting the alcohol to come across so boldly.

Bouteille de 22 oz partagée lors d’une dégustation avec Glouglouburp et des amis dans un camping du Vermont. Arôme: Légère odeur de caramel au beurre avec une pointe fruitée. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée. Présence d’une moyen col beige mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de caramel fruité avec une pointe de chocolat et d’alcool. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. (Rating #2543)

Bottled from Systembolaget Very dark brown. Small, bubbly, beige head. Vinous aroma and flavour with loads of toffee and chocolate, coffee and sweet fruits. Dry cocoa-bitterness.

Bottled: Pours dark brown with ruby highlights. Head is small. Smooth, creamy and chocolately toffee aroma. Flavour was slightly roasted and has notes of chocolate and toffee. The alcohol gives a somewhat harsh finish.
This beer might be the missing link between dunkler bocks and baltic porters.