Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale

Brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Dark brown body, reddish ’round the edges, under a fizzy, cocoa-colored head that slips down to size with a quickness. Aroma, dark fruits, nuts, nuts, some spices, a bit cola-esque, but it gets better through time, opens up and becomes more awake and alive, feels like a snootful of a dank pine forest and all that comes with it... Taste: quite interesting, dark, spicy, malty, but mellow, and I taste further things now, maple, rum, molasses, more than I can’t exactly finger, though more able, adept minds surely could. Feels more complex of an ale the more I sip into it, and instantly qualifies as the best brew from Shipyard I’ve sampled so far. Rich flavor, sometimes fruity, sometimes treacly continues to delight, and altogether this brew is a worthy ale to close a night in freezy mid-January Minnesota. If I had further samples at my side, this is one winter brew I could really get comfortable with!

Dark and inviting. Aroma is malty and somewhat fruity. Flavor is roasted malts and raisins. Very smooth mouthfeel with a slightly bitter finish.

A beautiful brew! Deep garnet/maroon color with a fluffy white head that doesn’t quit. Aroma of dark roasted malt and fruits (figs and raisins come to mind). Mouthfeel is very full-bodied. Flavor of burnt malt, roasted nuts and faint dark chocolate. Pleasant vinous and mineral-like dry finish. Low in alcohol for a winter-warmer, but big in every other way.

Bottle pours dark brown with ruby highlights, large frothy cream colored head, and attractive lacing.   Smells inviting, roasted malts, nuts, and caramel.   WOW, this one tastes fantastic.   Its like a complex Brown Ale, lovely roasted malt flavor, nuts, slight chocolate tinge... Mmmmm... good!   Smooth mouthfeel, full bodied, this is damn tasty!   It has qualities of a Nut Brown (taste) and a Stout (mouthfeel).   Slight pitted fruit flavor on the finish.   This is rather enjoyable!   Thanks goes out to BierBauch for the trade!

Dark beer with caramel. I had it served with a chocolate and raspberry desert at dinner and it went very well together. This beer is tough to find, but if you can get it, give it a try!

On tap - David Copperfields NYC. Good caramel aroma and a pleasing brown colour. The flavour is strong on caramel and is reminiscent of some of the better English ales.

Very dark with reddish-purple highlights. Has a drying burnt caramel taste, medium bodied. Palate is just a little thin. Finished on the dry side. A Shipyard brew that I like!

Dark, reddish-black color. It actually looks a lot like a porter. The palate is a bit more watery than I expected, but not too bad. The flavor seems unremarkable until the beer warms up a bit. Then it becomes much more complex; there's some roasted malts, chocolate, and even a hint of sourness in the finish. A good winter beer.