Shipyard Brewer's Brown Ale - Shipyard Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Peanut skin brown with orange highlights on the coaster, red-orange-bronze when backlit with weak morning sunlight. The cap is the color of malted milk and looks to be as thick as a coffee milkshake (but probably isn't). Arcing strands of sea foam lace decorate the glass just above the descending surface of the foam and look like they'll be washed away with the first wave of beer.

I want the nose to be much stronger than it is because I like what I'm smelling. The aroma is of sugar-crusted pecans sauted in butter (which go great with butterscotch-drizzled vanilla bean ice cream, by the way). Anyone with an aversion to diacetyl is likely to turn away in horror, but I love what it's done for BCSA's nose.

The flavor is different and interesting. Again, as with most all Shipyard offerings, Ringwood yeast is the determining factor in how one feels about the beer. Warning: it's front and center here. I like the personality that it provides to an often lackluster style, but I'm not sure that I'll feel the same once my d-tank has been filled. Which should take one beer, two at most.

On the palate, I get the same basic combination that was evident in the nose. The beer benefits, in my opinion, by being sweet with a trace of bitterness rather than by being bitter with a trace of sweetness. It makes the butterscotchiness more butterscotchy and more appealing as a result. If I know Shipyard, some sort of Brit hops were used, although it's tough to determine the hop bill for certain given the strength of the other flavors.

As alluded to above, I like the way that this beer tastes while having very little desire to drink more than the one that I bought. I couldn't see myself buying it in sixers for instance. I'm sure that Shipyard has their loyalists, but have to wonder if their use of such a polarizing yeast strain hasn't hurt their bottom line more than it has helped it.

The body is brown ale medium, perhaps a shade more full than that. If I don't notice a beer's mouthfeel prior to turning my attention to it, I usually consider that to be a net positive. Such is the case here. I consider the restrained amount of carbonation to be a positive as well.

I'm not quite sure that I'd use the word 'special' to describe what I believe to be Shipyard's inaugural Brewer's Choice Special Ale. By the same token, it is a tasty brown ale that kept me interested all the way to the bottom of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2006 14:13:49 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The pour was wonderful, rich brown in color with a huge tan head that stayed on top forever! Seriously this had to have looked better then damn near anything else I have run across recently, no joke. Just perfect. Aroma is dark fruits, lots of sweet brown sugary notes, hints of clove and light earthy hops, all mixing together nearly perfectly at this point in time. Nice smooth, even carbonation and feel here now as well, really well placed I have to admit. Rich warm flavor here, nice mix of pear, light spice, hints at brown sugar and a nice even caramel flavored dry finish. Hints of plums pick up as I finish the glass now as well, again well placed and nicely balanced. Superb drinkable factor here as this went wonderfully with dinner and everything after.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 22:01:12 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a clear, rich mahogany-hued body with a tall, proud, though deflating light beige head.

Smell: Aroma smelling of roasted barley, toasted bread, a little chocolate and caramel hiding a naughty pat of butter, and cherry nut squares from the fair amount of fruit esters.

Taste: A nice showing of dark bready barley, sweet chocolate, lightly roasted nuts, and crunchy dark caramel. Medium sweetness. Slight dark cherry fruitiness going on, though moreso as it warms. The coffee-ish roasty accent reassures itself as the herbal, earthy English hops perk up with a modest amount of overall bitterness. Mild diacetyl. Slight trace of smokiness. Predominately a dry maltiness on the finish with a final kick of ripe fruit.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Notably smooth mouthfeel that rolls across the tongue in a lush manner.

Overall: Enjoyed this one. BBA does a very good job at just being a simple brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 03:49:02 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear ice tea color with a very impressive head; nice retention and lacing action

Smell: Toffee and brown bread; a little fruit and some diacetyl from the Ringwood

Taste: Buttered brown bread and toffee, with developing undertones of hazelnuts, cocoa and tobacco, in the middle, where some nutskin bitterness also becomes apparent; the malts drive through the finish, with just a hint of fig in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Not being a big fan of brown ales, I found this to be a nice change of pace; Shipyard has done a nice job of packing an interesting blend of malty flavors into this brew

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 22:53:24 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle: Poured a clear brown color ale with a nice foamy head with better then average retention. Aroma of grain with some roasted flavour. Taste is really malt but with more dry notes then sweetness. Some light bitter notes at the end with a weird yeasty finish. Body is a slightly watery with some adequate carbonation. Overall, I thought this was a refreshing brown ale but something seems off with the yeast.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2007 16:04:25 | More by Phyl21ca

oberon

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Pours a deep brown/amber color with a light to medium head that dissapates quickly,aroma is sweet and a little chocolaty with light earthy tones.Taste is pretty sweet and chocolaty maybe a little to sweet not enough earthy tones for me in this beer.Could only have one thought it was a little to sweet for me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2003 23:23:22 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shipyard's Brewer's Choice pours a dark chestnut brown body beneath a tall head of foamy yellowed-white. The head retention is good, and it leaves some nice lace about the glass.

The nose welcomes you with some yeasty fruitiness, toasty malt, and a touch of dark cocoa.

The flavor is richer than the nose suggests with a very nice combination of yeasty fruit and malt. As it warms it becomes more cocoaish, and distinct notes of bittersweet chocolate become apparent at the swallow. It's balanced by a solid bitterness, and although some nutty malt sweetness lingers stickily in the finish, there's enough bitterness and acidic "edge" from the toasty dark malts to keep it from becoming cloying.

It's medium/medium-light bodied in the mouth with a moderate carbonation that's enough to tingle the palate but still leave it smooth.

Overall, it's a decent, enjoyable brew that's more American than English in style, but with some clearly English components.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2006 23:12:34 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours an actual brown color. This has to be one of the few really "brown" ales. The head is thin, but laces nicely. The aroma is great. There is a strong roasted malt presence here. The taste is also malty; really malty. It tastes sweet, but not in a bad way. There are a number of caramel malts in this one; a real treat. The mouthfeel is good. It has a medium body on it. I find it to be quite enjoyable and in turn very drinkable. Some may find this to be too malty, but I feel that this is a true brown ale, not only in color , but also in aroma and taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2003 01:08:21 | More by WesWes

Gavage

New Jersey

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

On-tap at Federal Jack's. Clear dark copper in color with a short off-white head. The aroma is of caramel and butter. Mild roasted malt, caramel, butter, and mild bitterness make up the flavor. The Ringwood yeast tones are quite prevelant here.

Mouthfeel is smooth at the start and finish. Medium bodied. The aftertaste has some caramel and butter riding the tongue briefly. I found this to be drinkable despite the strong butter tones.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2005 15:38:40 | More by Gavage

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown with a tight bubbled beige-white head (two fingers thick). Nice, but thin, lace.

Very sweet candy caramel aroma. Very rich in the body with a coyly sweet flavor that is well balanced with a hop that must be strong to cut the sugar but not overbearing. The carbonation seems low, but that could be because of the fullness of the liquid.

While this is a good beer, it's far sweeter than any other brown ale I've ever had. Now if it were considered a Scotch Ale...

+++
Retasted on 4/25/10
I notice what I wrote five years ago still holds up except that the carbonation is very high. Now, it's almost spritzy.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2005 00:51:40 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an off-white, three-fingered head, fades slowly and leaves some lace. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Deep, rich amber color. Malty nose. Starts malty with the underlying sweetness, has a rich finish. Nice brown. 83¢ for a 12oz bottle from Cumberland Farms Convenience Greenland, NH.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2004 23:37:36 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer is a dark hazy brown body with a spongy light tan head. It is too dense to see much carbonation.

S- The smell of brown malt has a slight sweet note to it.

T- The slight tart brown malt has a faint chocolate malt note in the background. This is finished with a faint hop bitterness. As it warms there is more of a coffee roasted malt flavor but it is still in the background.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a tight fizz texture in the finish.

D- There is a good malt flavor but it is very thin and could use more depth and character. It just needs more of what it already has and it would be tasty.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2006 02:28:44 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ouncer, w/ "best enjoyed before" dating notched onto the label, 2006 edition. Pours dark dar brown mahogony with slight ruby hues, quickly leaving tan head, active carbonation, calming down to no head at all and leaving no lacing to speak about, so I wont...nose is of cola, smoke and a general sweetness, tasting notes here of more cola, vanilla, burnt sugars and more smooth sweetness, with a hint of woody smoke.Limited hop qualities picked up in the drinkable English style (at least IMHO) Brown This would to the job with some smoky BBQ...Pleasant unuf quafer, respectable sessioner...decent brew to try "craft" beer beer with some newbies, or non "dark beer" drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2006 19:01:34 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Surprising fluffy head rises up almost 2 fingers over the hazy dark brown molasses colored beer.

N: Some toasty malts, more dark malts, some syrupy sweetness and malty sweetness, and touch of spice. Pretty simple.

T: Starts as a sweet syrupy flavor, with some toasty malts, etc. Then gets a bitterness that isn't very pleasant. Tastes a little like bad lager yeast flavors, strange being an ale. The sweet roasty almost porter-esque flavor starts to come through but is battled back by the syrupy sweetness and more weird bad lager bitterness flavors. Some nutty and spices.

M: Medium to lighter body with decent carbonation.

F: Still somewhat sweet with some spicy flavors. A little sweet brown sugar and almost corn syrup. Not sticky sweet however. A little roasty flavor, just barely. More of that bad bitterness too. A drinkable beer, but has some bad bitter flavors and not much too the beer in general.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 00:40:58 | More by jlindros

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a dark ruby-cola color with a foamy dark tan head.

S: a very nice roasted nuttiness, dark caramel, toffee and some alcohol.

T: The initial flavor had a rich, sweet roasted nuttiness with dark caramel, alcohol, and some toffee. There was a dried fruitiness (apples, cherries) and dark chocolate hints as well. The beer finished dry with some tart cherries.

M: medium-full, creamy, soft with a light carbonation.

D: Better then average drinkability. Slightly different.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 22:57:17 | More by beerthulhu

mactrail

California

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Quite lovely dark amber in the small chalice. Nice foam coats the glass. Toffee in the nose.

Not too thick, but malty. Pleasantly rich and flavorful, but not very sweet. Roasted malt provides the interest. A touch of hops provides some bitterness halfway through. Tastes more like a splash of coffee than hops. A hint of butter. Interesting dark flavor with some sweet highlights. Baked apples with some bitter skin flavor.

Thoroughly drinkable beer and a couple of notches above the usual in this category. From the 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 04:30:56 | More by mactrail

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Light brown body with minimal head and lace.

Fruits and sweet malt make up the aroma of this beer.
Flavor follows the nose with nutty caramel notes.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a smooth finish.

Overall this is a very good brown ale. I would reccommend it to any beer conisseur.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 20:54:03 | More by Stinkypuss

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm greeted with a very loud pop when I pry off the cap. The some foam then almost makes it out of the bottle before I can even pour it into my glass. Great, thock beige head that leaves a thick foam that stays throughout all 12oz. Good deep, yet clear brown, shoepolish hue. Great bubbling and lacing. Just an awesome looking brown ale. The aroma is filled with very rich toasted and medium rosted mlats. Mixed with some English and American smelling hops. The great great blending of hops and malt give this beer a roasted nut flavor with some toffee notes as well. More like bitter toffee. Smooth, clean palate. This is a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2007 07:45:51 | More by scruffwhor

dirtylou

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle split with Blackie, obtained from Woodman's West, best by july 06

appearance: poured into a snifter for some reason...this is actually a very attractive beer...very nice garnet-mahogany, very deep body, very nice foamy head...great retention/lacing

smell: great aromas...light roasty tone, milk chocolate, sweet malty aromas, red apple

taste: again, pretty impressive...kind of took me by surprise. sweet malt, light woody nature, nice cocoa...very smooth and pleasant to drink

mouthfeel: pretty creamy, smooth, medium body

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2006 22:40:29 | More by dirtylou

bark

Sweden

2.6/5  rDev -28%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The colour is dark brown, the liquid is clear. The two finger airy head is airy; it sinks slowly with a fizzing sound. No lacing.

The smell is quite strong. There are lots of roasted malt, yeast, butter, bitter herbs, and hoppy flavours of flowers and citric candy. And a very odd flavour of soap.

The taste is first bitter and a bit dense. Some sweetness emerges together with that off soap flavour. Roasted hints, some loaf and notes of paraffin and other wax-like chemicals. The body is low to medium. The aftertaste is a bit hoppy and semi-sweet with floral sweet notes and a fruity bitterness (a bit like green apples). The finish is chemically bitter.

The carbonation is medium strong; the fresh bubbles are medium sized. The liquid is a little sticky.

I guess this is an "American interpretation of the English Brown Ale style". But there are not enough of sweet creamy malt and too much of odd-tasting hoppy flavours for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2009 19:37:10 | More by bark

blackie

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: The beer pours a creamy looking 0.75" khaki colored head, and is a deep, rich brown in color. The head gradually recedes to a thin coating on the surface and a ring around the glass.

smell: Aromas of chocolate malts first greet the nose, followed by lighter notes of toffee and a nice English type hop aroma. Smells rich and delicious.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is a higher medium, and the body around the lighter side of the medium range.

taste: Great flavors of toasted and slightly roasted malts fill my mouth and bring with them a light to moderate sweet, toffeelike character and notes of bittersweet chocolate. The hop flavor is light, as is the bitterness...blending perfectly with the nutty, toasty character of the beer.

drinkability: very easy...chocolatey and rich, a great brown

single bottle purchased at Woodman's and consumed in Madison...the label is notched as best by July '06

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2006 22:39:05 | More by blackie

merlin48

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle from the Captain's Collection sampler box. Pours a vibrant, coppery brown body with a minimal beige head that quickly drops to lasting collar and film. Decnt sheet and patch lace on the glass.
Aroma is subdued, with hints of toffee and spicy hop.
Mouthfeel is light bodied, with aggressively high carbonation.
Taste reveals a fierce carbonation that is distracting. Malt sweetness, with buttery toffee and a hint of chocolate, run the show but have difficulty poking through the overcarbonation. Buttery notes of diacetyl and ringwood yeast are prevalent. Just a hint of nuttiness and spicy hop try for balance. No offnotes, other than the diacetyl, but seems unbalanced and a bit thin for a brown ale.
Drinkability is slightly above average, but the overcarbonation is a major distraction. Seems out of kilter for style, but not a bad beer. Very little hops presence.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2005 10:00:31 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Foamy, foamy, foamy! Damnest foamy brew I have ever seen. Even a lite pour would result in foam filling the glass. Once it settled a tad, the head turned into a respectable rocky tan dollop of suds on top of a clear oak brew. Malty and earthy in the aroma, hoppy and nutty in the taste. Not enough malt for a balanced character.

Dry and light bodied, just way too over carbonated. I’m not excited about having this one again – but I would not turn one down, either.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2006 20:08:42 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a verydeep amber color with monstrous white pufy head.
Smell is notable for caramel and chocolate.
Taste is extremely nice. Good strong floavors of caramel, chocolate, and toffee abound.
Finishes tasteful, but a bit thin.
Very easy to drink. Nice and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2007 22:47:37 | More by tgbljb

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of hops, a bit of nuts. Taste is good, hops, nutty, a touch of caramel. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a fine quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 14:44:51 | More by tone77