Shipyard Prelude Special Ale - Shipyard Brewing Co.

Retta123

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

serving: on tap

appearance: dark golden brown

mouthfeel: high carbonation, bitter

Taste: I could only taste a strong note of honey. Nothing else came to mind

Overall: a bit too sweet and just not right for me. It was okay. I would drink this again, but it wouldn't be my first choice

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2013 04:27:15 | More by Retta123

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap and served in a tumbler pint, the beer is a vibrant, ruby-brown coloring with a thin, filmy, off-white head that is thin and clingy. Aromas of nut sweet and biscuit, with a strong caramel and toffee profile, also. Flavors are rich and roasty, with a boozey highlight. Toffee and tangy caramel blend with a subtle all-spice spicing. Rich, full bodied with a crisp, slightly effervescent finish and feel. Rich, slightly boozey aftertaste. Very strong, solid brew.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 23:28:39 | More by GarthDanielson

phichifiji00

California

3.58/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into pint glass from tap.

Appearance: Clear, dark brown in color, white head that fades very quickly.

Smell: Candi sugar, brown sugar, toffee, malty, a bit nutty.

Taste: Malty, toffee, brown sugar, slightly hoppy.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, good carbonation, silky, crisp.

Overall: A pretty good beer. Not terribly complex, but very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2012 22:31:23 | More by phichifiji00

Cadebro

Maine

3.35/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours deep red with a white head.

S - Smells of biscuit, spice and brown sugar.

T - Tastes of molasses, brown sugar and cloves. Has a young, over-sweetened flavor. Finishes with a hint of bitter hops.

M - Mild carbonation, sticky and a bit heavy in body.

D - The first craft beer that I fell in love with. Too heavy and sweet to drink more than one or two.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2011 02:18:36 | More by Cadebro

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shipyard- Prelude

A- dark amber brown with a thick chunky head. Ringed lacing.
S- Vanilla, molasses & toffee malt with a touch of butter cream cake batter.
T- Nice brown sugar, vanilla, dark dried sweet fruits like plum, Spicy, butter cream malt with an earthy hop touch.
M- Thick sweet syrupy malt. buttery, creamy, with a mildly dry earthy hop feel.

Overall- creamy and malty. Went down well on a cold snowy night.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 00:10:18 | More by NJpadreFan

david18

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm glad i didn't see this was a winter warmer when I first encountered this beer. It was listed at the House of Brews as a british style dark pale ale. It was very good and an interesting style that i don't have enough.

Very dark brown, good carbonation. The flavor had a very interesting malty and almost maple character. Very easy to drink. I hope I see this again soon.

The perfect winter (almost) session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2010 16:01:18 | More by david18

taez555

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured mahogany body with a nice white head.

Nose is rich and classic English cask winter warmer. Strong earth and caramel malt. So simple, but so inviting.

Taste is medium bodied with a beautiful smooth and rich copper caramel malt taste. There a nice earthy hop taste very reminisant of so many english cask ales, that is just so perfect. Really there's not much more to this beer, even at 6.8%, just so distinct and perfect. I swear I'm drinking a true English cask ale. Wow!!!

I'm not sure why I haven't had this beer more often, it is simply DAMN good. Very much an english stle, almost cask-ish tasting, winter warmer. I could drink this all day.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 20:52:08 | More by taez555

clayrock81

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a brownish body with red tints with huge head and lace patches. Had a sweet smell with some caramel and butterscotch as well as some dry malts and a little springy hops. A smooth body with some spices to match the sweetness and goes down in a medium, creamy body. Malts are mostly caramel with some toffee and some spices like cinnamon that kick it up and it finishes clean and dry thanks to spice and hop. Little bit of fruit flavor from hops but not much. This is a good beer but something about it seemed a tad off to me.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2009 18:53:22 | More by clayrock81

sprucetip

Alaska

4.22/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been in Maine for nearly a month, finally got around to trying this one, and I am glad that I did. It reminds me is some ways of Jubelale. On tap at Mainely Brews in Waterville, Maine.

Deep amber, very clear, big head (possibly overly aggressive pour) that lasts, and lacing that doesn't quit.

Banana esters (surprise! what, are they using some german wheat yeast?), nutty, sweet malty, a touch roasty.

Malty sweet, enough hops to balance. A bit spicy, fruity, nutty and roasty. somewhat boozy. Balanced and smooth. Clean finish. Nice.

Smooth feel, modest carbonation, medium body. Finished clean.

Way easy drinker. Had to pace myself to let the cold pour warm up enough to give if a fair analysis. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2009 05:17:30 | More by sprucetip

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Received a tall one of these in a Chili's restaurant. Deep amber color with an off white/tan head that left considerable lacing. Great appearance.

Smells of toasted grain and buttery caramel.

Nice toasted malt, caramel and stone fruit sweetness, some buttery notes, and some bitter hop to even it all out. Alcohol warmth is there. Finishes nice and clean.

Medium bodied with fairly decent carbonation. Nothing distinctive.

I had a tall one, and could have easily had another. Some winter warmers taste either like pie spice or burnt bread. This is neither. Nice tasty elements that are very well balanced with the caramel sweetness and buttery elements. Not too bitter, not too sweet -- a nice comfortable sipper that also went very well with a big smoky bacon cheeseburger. I will seek this one out for a six pack. Very very decent and a very pleasant surprise. I was sitting at the bar and of all the brews on tap, this one was a constant order -- and understandably so.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2008 12:37:36 | More by OtherShoe2

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Imagine a fresh poured Bitter from an drawn English draught. That is the Prelude. It has none of the "traditional" winter spiciness. This is solid bodied, highly hopped, darkish ale. The head and lace are particularly impressive.

I was completely surprised by this beer. I was expecting a run-of-the-road beer, but this was exceptional.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2008 01:06:21 | More by smcolw

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Tank's Taproom in Tampa, Fl.
Appearance: It poured a deep brown body with a light tan medium sized head on top. The head had good retention but left little and thin lacing.
Smell: There was a very strong roasted malt aroma.
Taste: Again, a strong roasted taste with lots of chocolate flavoring. There was a huge roast flavor in the finish.
Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel was very smooth.
Drinkability: The stats are strong, but I wouldn't have more than a few more of these.
Don't drink and review.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2008 22:15:12 | More by treehugger02010

marcpal

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Old Bay, New Brunswick- poured into pint glass.

This beer came out of nowhere- given a sample first expecting little, but was pleasantly surprised.

A: Copper-red with a white foamed head that leaves a good amount of lacing through the beer.

S: Malty and drier hops. Top notch stuff. The aromas dont really have any citrus but the sweet smells are just right. The sweetness of the caramel malts that come through in the taste really arent in the aroma.

T: Spicy malts with clear caramel presence. The hops here are all malty and I think good for a winter beer, not typical but delicious.

M: This is a smooth beer with lingering bitterness from the hops. Ordinary carbonation.

D: Again, nice to see how much this one came throuh. Not the most warming of beers but the taste is superior to most winter ales. Easily went through a couple of these from the tap.

A very pleasant surprise.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2007 20:17:24 | More by marcpal

bluegrassbrew

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Parrot in Ft. Lauderdale.

Pours a deep brownish red. Minimal head that drops to just a ring.

Smell is some caramel malt and just a hint of butterscotch.

Taste is malt. Caramel and some vanilla notes. A little spice in the finish.

Overall, a tasty, easy drinking winter warmer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2007 01:02:18 | More by bluegrassbrew

GratefulBeerGuy

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

AP: Deep, dark brown tinted amber color with a 1/2" off-white head that dissipted slowly and was reduced to a 1/8' constant foamy cover.

Nose: Big bready, semi-sweet malt and a zesty, lively hop charecter with Some subtle fruity effects of dark berries.

flavor: Big bready, even doughy, semi-sweet dark wheat malt with oats... a very impressive herbal and zesty hop that finds a perfect balance together. The flavor is bold and very tastey overall.

Feel: Medium bodied, big and bold on the palate and a decent bite.

DA: Easy to drink, good for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2007 02:18:11 | More by GratefulBeerGuy

BuckSpin

Maine

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I love Winter Warmers, and always enjoy the colder months when they come out from hibernating all summer - odd, huh?

A pretty, strikingly clear brew. Brassy orangish, deep amber color, warm. A fat finger of loose, dull almondesque foam faded slowly yet not entirely, lacing nicely as I drank.

The nose does a good job hiding the slighty elevated ABV. Honey, clover sweetness, mild spiciness, some soft malt & yeast are trace elements.

Its crisp, sweet, but in a syrupy way. The malts are noticable on the pallete, the spices (traces of traditional Yuletime favorites) are there but subdued on the tongue. The hops rise as the sweetness fades and then the alcohol warming oh so wonderful in Winter brews cracks sharply like the covering of a pond in mid-December. The alcohol glow continues on the throat, but a filmy aftertaste, not pleasing like the syrupy pallete wash, lingers.

This is one of the milder Winter Warmers I've tried. They seem to be rather spicy or just hint at it. I did enjoy it. I could see it pairing well with some crisp, spiced foods or a very strong cheese. Give it a shot before the thaw. I will be looking for another helping before then.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2006 02:52:18 | More by BuckSpin

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.45/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark reddish-brown color with a good head. A pleasant spicy smell to it, in contrast to their Pumpkinhead. It has a hoppy-spicy-chocolate flavor, which is very appealing. A good feel in my mouth. An excellent seasonal beer.

I also didn't know it was 7.5% ABV until a local pub told me I had to have a smaller serving because of the alcohol content. Tou'd never tell by it's taste.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2005 16:29:13 | More by lordofthewiens

Truh

New Hampshire

3.68/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just managed to get to my seat before the show started with this one on 3/18/2005. 16-oz. pint in a shaker glass at the Blue Mermaid.

Loose, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck, head to start with some prevalent stick and lace. Metal copper hue that is nicely clear with very little action, just some light floaters. Fungal fling of chewy choke on nose; some cool smokiness, and a fairly good hop presence. To mouth, as usual, buttery aspects along with some sharp fangs of creamsicle, chocolate flavor. Eh, good enough but would move on to something else with no reservations.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2005 12:10:27 | More by Truh

scottum

Vermont

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark brown with a tan head. Tastes sweet from the malt, but not too sweet. A touch of buttery and chewey help out the sweetness. Hops are sharp and to the point of balance. The strength is almost fully hidden. The best Shipyard beer I've had so far.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2003 02:13:17 | More by scottum

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

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

mttaylor1066

Connecticut

4.31/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A very good American winter warmer. Not a must-buy but worth buying by the six pack.

Appearance: Brown mahogany body with red highlights. A persistent head that laces nicely down the side of the glass.

Smell : Light malt on the nose with some floral hop notes. Doesn't really set you up for the taste, but it is rather pleasant.

Taste : A mix of biscuit malt and pomegranates... no winter spices that I could pick out but the sweet malt mixes nicely with the hop bitterness and the fruity flavors carry nicely through on the tongue. Delicious holiday stuff!

Mouthfeel : Not as full as I would expect for a winter ale, but not terribly disappointing either.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 21:28:51 | More by mttaylor1066

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

A - Pours a deep rich red amber with a 1/2 inch of opaque colored head.

S - Smells mostly like an old ale, caramel malts and some pecans highlight.

T - Mostly tastes of caramel and toffee flavors with a slight herbal hop and a metallic/copper twang. If not for that hard water taste it would be pretty decent.

M - Medium to heavy but expected for the style.

Overall not that great of a winter warmer which is what I expected from Shipyard.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 18:57:45 | More by DrDemento456

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown with a hint of amber. Ample head at pour disappates to a rim around the glass. Nice lacing. Smell is malty and slight alcohol presence via nose. Taste has lots going on - malty sweetness maybe mixed in with some plum, nuts (pecan or other richer nut), and a trace of smoke. Quality beer for a cold day.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:40:03 | More by Oakenator

vtisme

Oklahoma

4.95/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

From the bottle poured into a snifter
A - Amber, brown, moderate lacing, the head remains forever!
S - Dark cherry, sweet chocolate
T - Toffee, caramel, hidden chocolate hops come through on the back end
M - perfect! this baby is smooth!
Simply fantastic! One of the, if not the, best winter style beers I can get in the area!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 00:19:53 | More by vtisme