Shipyard Prelude Special Ale - Shipyard Brewing Co.

ricchezza

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours a clear yet deep copper/amber.

S - Very malty with hints on alcohol that lead me to assume this is going to have a high ABV%; especially being a winter season brew (I don't read labels before reviewing to avoid influence).

T - Lots of roasted malt and nuttly flavors. Crisp on the palate and suprisingly medium bodied. Finish with a slight hop presence (which adds another surprise - I expected this to be a strictly malty brew).

D - The best offering I've had from Shipyard to date. This is a complexy and very good beer. This should be a year-round brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2008 21:22:27 | More by ricchezza

scotorum

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.1%

06-14-2013 04:16:06 | More by scotorum

bdaggett

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

06-13-2013 22:54:56 | More by bdaggett

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from twist-off bottle into becker pint glass. Pours deep garnet red with a thin cap of loose foam that fades quickly to a loose rim of bubbles, leaving some lacing on the glass. Smells like...vinegar? Upon a second examination as it warms I can tell that that smell is more butterscotch. Taste is strong sweet malts, surprisingly a bit boozy for the relatively low % (at least compared to other "stronger" beers), and a bit of hop bitterness at the end coupled with leftover spiciness. Not sure if I enjoy this style, but it'd definitely be more enjoyable on a cold winter night (instead of the middle of June).

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 02:16:05 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Barton

Maine

4/5  rDev +6.1%

06-06-2013 00:34:18 | More by Barton

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-29-2013 17:52:19 | More by InspectorBob

kell50

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-06-2013 22:08:13 | More by kell50

Dduquette

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-05-2013 20:51:37 | More by Dduquette

trotnixon

Maine

4/5  rDev +6.1%

04-24-2013 10:43:15 | More by trotnixon

cnwillis31

Maine

4/5  rDev +6.1%

04-23-2013 21:20:31 | More by cnwillis31

ScaryEd

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

04-18-2013 23:25:30 | More by ScaryEd

bacasnax

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

04-01-2013 00:18:30 | More by bacasnax

DMB

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

03-31-2013 02:29:57 | More by DMB

Lare453

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.1%

03-24-2013 19:22:50 | More by Lare453

Falcone

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

03-14-2013 20:33:44 | More by Falcone

csmartin6

Illinois

3/5  rDev -20.4%

03-08-2013 21:47:08 | More by csmartin6

TwoForty

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.1%

03-04-2013 22:20:50 | More by TwoForty

GRG1313

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

03-02-2013 18:21:12 | More by GRG1313

viverlee

Ohio

2.8/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

There’s no way it’s just 6.7% ABV. I won’t believe it.

Here’s a simple rule, for Winter Warmers, Doubles, Imperials and other Strong Ales: Beer shouldn’t sear your nostrils or your mouth. What’s really at fault here are my expectations and the thought that here’s supposed to be a warming booziness. Instead for some reason it’s cold. Real cold that shoots straight from the glass up the nose and doesn’t improve with the first or second sip.

Toffee, pomegranate juice and rubbing alcohol mix awkwardly in a fine mahogany glaze.

It’s Chimay Première without the distribution or the flavor.

Beeradvocate Rating: 85

ratebeer Rating: 73

Hayward Abbey Rating: 72

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 03:20:15 | More by viverlee

LJWalker

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -13.8%

02-25-2013 03:36:24 | More by LJWalker

jerefreakinmiah

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.1%

02-24-2013 20:53:33 | More by jerefreakinmiah

WreckingBrew

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.1%

02-24-2013 20:45:38 | More by WreckingBrew

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

02-23-2013 15:56:04 | More by Kelp

Boone757

Maryland

4/5  rDev +6.1%

02-23-2013 15:46:14 | More by Boone757

pogoowner

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.1%

02-19-2013 01:02:31 | More by pogoowner