Shipyard Fuggles IPA

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

Best By date January 2007, Sampled September 2006
Pours with a brilliantly clear amber color and is topped by an initially two finger thick, reasonably tightly beaded, light tan colored head. The beer is fairly well carbonated with a persistent stream of bubbles cascading up from the bottom. Ooh, Ringwood gone amuck, that is a funky aroma; it seems to be a mix of diacetyl, rancid butter, and ripe cheese. Underneath this are some toasty malt aromatics and a touch of herbaceous hops.

Up front this beer is a nicely hoppy brew; herbal hops and a persistent bitterness certainly fit the profile. As it passes through my mouth though the diacetyl becomes increasingly noticeable. Thankfully the flavor is not nearly as distinct as the aroma. Earthy hops, the bitterness, and some caramelized malt help to tame the diacetyl to a level that, dare I say it, almost makes this drinkable. The diacetyl adds a butterscotch note to this beer, as well as just a hint of rancid butter. It lingers on in the finish and combines with the bitterness to make this beer slightly astringent. This beer has a certain fruitiness to it as well, it reminds me a bit of berries. In fact after my palate gets used to the diacetyl a bit, I would guess that this beer used Fuggle hops (that sort of earth herbal combined with berry notes makes me think of this hop at least). An interesting beer, the aroma is over the top, mishandled Ringwood yeast, but the flavor is a bit more integrated.

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Not bad but just a tad to carbonated for my taste. I could barely finish the bottle because of it.

bottle. golden/light orange pour with thick white head. nice lacing. hop, piney, malt, apple, citrus aroma. medium bodied. malts dominate the hops. mild fruits. dry mild bitter finish. very drinkable but its fairly ordinary.

Bottle; Had a wet malt grain aroma. Light copper color body with good white head. Flavor was had a mild sweet citrus to it and that was about it. No bite of bitterness. Well at least it beats swill didn’t have the aroma and taste of an aluminum can. Smooth on the palate.

(Bottle) Pours clear amber with a white head. Smells grassy hops and malty. Some rasin. Some rubber. Taste malt and minerals with a weak floral/grassy hop bitterness. Stale malty sweetness. Small body. Not impressed by this brewery.

Pours a clear amber color with a good size white head. Light lacing. Has a soapy, grassy aroma. Flavor is pretty good. Caramel malt flavor with some residual sweetness. Nicely balanced. Medium body. Decent beer.

[Bottle at RBESG] Peachy aroma, leafy hops. watery, with a touch of bitterness. not great.

Light tan head receded to a small covering quickly, leaving little lace. Very interesting taste, has a creaminess to it that i havent tasted before. All is great till the bitter lingering aftertaste. Not bitter in a good way. If not for the aftertaste, which did recede as the drink did, it would be close to a 4.