Shipyard IPA
Hmmmm…apparently some brewers were absent for the “How to make an IPA” lecture in brewing school. Ben and I were very excited to try this beer after our experience with their Pumpkin Ale. And now after tasting this beer I wish we wouldn’t have explored other varieties. The smell is heavy with spice and the taste is “grassy” and bitter. The earthy flavors are not crisp and robust but rather simple and mundane. I also sense a hint of lemon flavoring at the back end of the taste. I don’t think this beer is terrible but it is not my idea of an IPA. -Matt
Mine and Matt’s interpretation of this beer are slightly different – our only similarity is that we both find it mediocre (at best) and a poor representation of an IPA. The predominant flavor that I get from this beer is bubblegum, which is quite bizarre. The pour is too heady and there is a heavy aroma of bubblegum. In the mouth, this same bubblegum flavor emerges, blended with a slighty grass and lemon (lemongrass?) flavor. This is much more palatable than the Wolaver’s IPA, but it still isn’t what you expect when you pick up a bottle labeled IPA. Stick to the pumpkin ale, Shipyard. -Ben
