Dec 3, 2008

Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale

This is the second of the new Pugsley’s Signature Series from Shipyard Brewing. I loved the Imperial Porter that was released in conjunction with the Barleywine. So, needless to say, I was pretty damned stoked to get a chance to enjoy this second brew.

According to Shipyard, this Barleywine was brewed with “… six different malts and balanced with a very full hop charge of Summit, Challenger and Fuggles hops.” If that doesn’t sound heavenly, I don’t know what does.

Beer Label: Shipyard Barley Wine

Appearance

This one pours a reddish brown in color with a smallish off white head that faded rather quickly. So far, so good.

Aroma

Wow. This one doesn’t smell nearly as sweet as most of the Barleywines that I’ve got in the basement. It’s got a great earthy presence that balances well with the subdued sweetness in the background. There’s a wonderfully warming booziness, as well.

Taste

Yup, pretty damned near the perfect Barleywine. There are plenty of different flavors in this one that work well with each other nicely. The subtle sweetness and the earthy maltiness play wonderfully with a light hop bitterness and alcohol warmth. This thing is tasty, yet there is one thing I would love to see with this brew — a little time in the cellar. I’ve got to get another bottle to store away for some time.

Overall

When compared to the other beers of this style in the basement, Shipyard’s take on the brew is a little less sweet, with a complex, earthy presence that really gives it a hand crafted feel. The malt really stands out on this one and, with the boozy nature of the style, make for an excellent drinking experience.

Rating: 4.5/5

More: