Shipyard Brewers Choice Special Ale Royal IPA (2008)

Brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Portland, Maine USA

Found this one at Lou’s Beverage Barn in Augusta, though I’ve started seeing it other places around town this week. Pours a translucent amber-red with a good inch of off-white head. that slowly dissipates leaving a small about of lacing. Floral hops, fruity esters, and diacetyl are all present in equal amounts in the aroma along with a hint of nuttiness. Floral, slightly citrissy hops come on strong with this one initially, with some nutty, fruity, caramel malty, and slightly husky flavors show up in support of the hops. The hops linger on the finish. This beer has just the slightest hint of butter in the flavor, but it plays well with the other flavors in this beer. Medium to full in mouth-feel, with slightly less carbonation than might be expected, though it turns out to be the perfect amount. While hop forward, this beer is rather balanced overall in all its different flavors and is most definitely a solid example of the style. This beer is much better than Shipyard’s other IPA (Fuggles IPA). As I’ve said with past years’ Brewer’s Choice offerings, this beer ranks head-and-shoulders above most of Shipyard’s other offerings in my humble but true opinion. I’m very impressed and will be sure to be picking up as much of this one as I can while it’s around!

Bottle poured amber with a good finger of white head that goes’ to a thick lace that lasts Aromas of Ringwood yeast and floral hop’s Nice full flavors of malts and nice hop finish. One of their better brews Great mouthfeel nice and full nicely carbonated Very drinkable Ale, their yeast actually complements this style. Might be sad to see this go out of season

From bottle : Pours a clear carbonated copper color, with a half finger of white frothy head, that has decent retention. Very nice smell, i get a fruity smell up front, with cashews, spices and hops following. Flavor is fruity at the forefront as well, with chewy malts, and a slight hop bitterness on the end, and there is a overall sweetness through out. The end gets a little more bitter as the beer warms. Medium body, with a nice feel in the mouth...creamy and chewy it seems, i really like the feel. Not to much of a noticable aftertaste. Really good beer.

Just th right amount of hops gives this ale a well-balanced malty and citrus flavor. Not strong like most IPA’s. Very smooth and very refreshing.

Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a red-orange color with a very large orange-tan head. The aroma was tangy, fruity and lightly sweet - nice. The flavor was tart, tangy, bitter and dry with a fruity hop presence, nutty malts and a hint of caramel. The finish was dryish, tart, bitter and hoppy. Quite nice.

courtesy of Per - pours a hazy dark orange colour with a firm and persistent pale beige foam; beautiful lace; relatively understated aroma of orange peels and grapefruit; clean and rounded palate, medium to full-bodied, respectable bitterness; quite dry and long fruity and hoppy finish - efficient, balanced and unexaggerated

Bottle. A good IPA, I think. Has a clear amber body. Off-white head. Aroma is from apples, hops, nuts, butter and malt. Flavor has a characteristic nutty profile. Little malty and some hops. Should have more hops. Little woody flavor. Dry aftertaste.

12 oz bottle. Clear amber with a pale tan head. Nose is spicy dough, caramel and dried pineapple slices. Medium light, a little watery; moderate carb. Taste is orange and melon with mellow drying and a pleasant pine needle finish. Not the boldest of IPAs but quite nice.