Shipyard Fuggles IPA

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

Clear copper color with a thin white head. Grassy hop nose. Light bodied with gentle grassy hop flavors and notes of fruit. The finish leaves a touch of lingering hops. Lacks punch but it offers a nice change of pace for an IPA.

Had this one a few times, never rated it. Strong fuggles aroma that told of a good taste. The pour was typical of an IPA. Taste lacked something, maybe a little too much something, don’t really know but something is missing

I’m not a huge fuggles fan. I found one fuggles ipa that I really liked. Unfortunately, it’s not this one. Not a drain pour by any means. A little thin on the taste and palate. Luckily, the day I bought these, I was working outside all day and just needed a "cold one".

In my opinion the aroma and the appearance of this beer was its strongest qukalities. This beer poors a nice off white head on an orange body. The lacing was nice as well. The palate I thought was a little weak and the malt backbone lacking as well. The beer was nicely balanced though with a sl sweet initial and a nice bitter finish. Grasszy hopps predominate in the finish.

An IPA is my favorite style, but this one doesn’t quite come together for me. Perhaps I am used to the more intense slam of American Pacific Coast hops? Something like a Stone with Willamette or Hop Devil with Cascade? This is nice, but not great. Beautfiful golden appearance with a huge, vanishing white head. Intense floral and classical bitter hops, more like an old style Bass than an American, sweet malt, and a long bitter finish. Mouth is a little thin, maybe, malt is a little unbalanced, maybe? Really liked it, didn’t love it.// Had draft at the brewery. Slighly nicer palate, not much better as a beer.

Clean & crisp. The hop flavor comes through more in the finish than elsewhere. Starts semi-fruity and finishs with the bitterness. The balance just isn’t there - something’s off. Not a bad session beer, but nothing I would probably choose.

(Bottle, once in 2005, once in 2009) This beer has changed drastically on the two occasions on which I tried it. Also, both times, it didn’t seem to match what other reviewers wrote, which makes me wonder about consistency. (in 2005:) Aroma of alcohol, hops, metal. Very bitter, bitterness is up front and unpleasant. Aroma and flavour are transparent, thin, cold. Unbalanced, and lacking in complexity. Extraordinarily harsh; the bitterness hit immediately. There was a little sweetness and a vague malty flavour in the background but it did not blend well and was overpowered by the straight bitterness. Without a doubt the worst IPA I’ve ever had. (in 2009:) This is a totally different beer. Much less bitter and hoppy...in fact, doesn’t even taste remotely like an IPA. The hops still have a strong presence, but the beer is more balanced. At the same time, I still don’t think this is a good IPA; the hops are now too weak, and the beer lacks complexity.

Has somewhat smoot start. Then progresses into a bitter middle with a strong pleasant bitter aftertaste.