Shipyard Old Thumper - Shipyard Brewing Co.

pcguitarwzrd

Florida

4.09/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft at Fishale Taphouse.

A: Dark brown, fairly clear, not much head.

S: Dark fruit, toffee, almost Belgian-y.

T: up front, sweet raisins and plums, molasses...could pass for a Belgian dubbel, until the hops kick in and leave a nice long bitter finish gently laced with booze.

M: fairly heavy and rich, but with a pleasant amount of carbonation that keeps it from being syrupy.

O: a very interesting beer, almost like a Belgian barleywine. Nice, would order again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 19:52:07 | More by pcguitarwzrd

Philousa

California

2.71/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark gold with metallic sheen and a billowy white head that settles to a very small, but evenly distributed, creamy layer settling on top. Aroma is mainly tart yeast with wheat bread/white bread crust with a good dose of earthiness. A swirl reveals some nut aroma to boot. Tartness extends to flavor as well with burnt toast/bread crust and nuttiness, which fades to grassy bitterness and earth, which lingers for a short while. The feel is slightly astringent but mostly watery in viscosity with a slightly sweet finish.

This is like drinking a doughy bread that hasn't risen with some serious earthy bitterness. It's strange, but not wholly unenjoyable. I'm not sure, but I think that's sort of a compliment.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 04:44:42 | More by Philousa

beyah

Maine

4.09/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Apearance - 1 figer of foam, dies down in a few minutes and leaves decent lacing. Color is amber with a little chill haze.

Smell - Malty Earthy Hops and the distictive Ringwood yeast.

Taste - Malty with a distictive earthy English Hops and the sweetness from the yeast. Well ballanced beer.

Mouth Feel - Great on mouthfeel, smooth and slick slightly too much carbonation. Leaves the hop flavor in the back of the tounge.

Overall - This is my favorite offering from Shipyard

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 01:30:52 | More by beyah

metter98

New York

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is clear amber yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high off white head that died down, leaving a thin head covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of biscuit malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste has balanced flavors of toasted and fruity malts along with some notes of butter and caramel plus faint hints of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink and can be considered sessionable. I really liked the mix between the fruity yeast and biscuit malts.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:34:05 | More by metter98

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottle > Pint Glass
A - Pours a very nice amber color, less than one finger head, thin lacing, doesnt cling at all.
S - Hops come to the nose, followed by a sweet malt, along with some drier floral and pine notes.
T - Pine, malts, good hop bitterness, and some interesting spices, much more complex than your average Pale Ale.
M - Good carbonization, but dry bitterness and a little bit of malt hangs on to your palate, not the interesting complexity of the smell or taste.
O - A really different, and good EPA, It has almost a saison quality to it with the spices and malt, but there's a great bitterness of the hops. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 22:59:20 | More by Omnium

MAbeerNE1

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From a bottle that I bought from the brewery.

A: A clear and clean light amber color with a sparse but steady stream of bubbles feeding a very modest half centimeter head.

S: You can smell the diacetyl on this one right away. Browned butter and moist earth.

T: Buttery smell of the nose in the mix, but mixes well with the strawberry sweetness of the esters, the alcohol, and a nice hop spice that lingers long after the beer is gone. Great balance; nice mix of flavors.

M: Very light carbonation, slightly syrupy, full bodied. Smooth.

O: A nice beer. True to style and easy to drink. I like how the butter notes mix well with the sweetness of the malt and the spice of hops and alcohol. I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 03:16:06 | More by MAbeerNE1

tdm168

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

A - orange with a soft, bubbly head that leaves a little lacing

S - apple, fruity

T - apple, bread, caramel

M - light to medium bodied, crisp

This is a very disappointing beer. It's all esters and simple fruity flavors. I guess it showcases the Ringwood yeast, but there is absolutely no depth nor balance. The fruit is so intense it's cloying which slows the drinkability and bored me. I definitely won't be having this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:59:05 | More by tdm168

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.55/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shipyard Old Thumper Extra Special Ale has a medium-to-thick, off-white head, a hazy, orange-golden appearance, which hazes even more, once the bottom of the bottle is swished and poured in. After that, one can see a descending grey cloud and little brown specks floating about. There is some lacing left on the glass. The aroma is of sweet, sugary, and toffee-like barley malt, and the flavor is of the same with a nice hop bitterness, some caramel, sugar, and alcohol. Mouthfeel is medium and soft, and Shiyard Old Thumper Extra Special Ale finishes wet, mild, and delicious. Overall, this is wonderful, and I strongly recommend it.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 18:16:53 | More by RonaldTheriot

Corey1978

4.05/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have had this beer from Shipyard Brewing Company in a bottle, draft and cask. All 3 are great. Cask was my favorite, but bottle is most common. Poured into a 16oz glass. Hits of hops, malts and barley. Very drinkable beer. Not overpowering at all in any aspect.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 12:36:08 | More by Corey1978

pmcadamis

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark copper and hazy with a small khaki head that shows some staying power.

S - Toasted malt notes with some burnt marshmallow and a gentle wisp of flowery hops. Yeasty and creamy aromas abound. Mellow and understated, but this nose is quite complex!

T - Biscuit-y malt with a big perfumed hop note on top. Initially flowery and slightly fruity.... sweeter fruits like melon, not the more abrasive citrus fruits typically associated with hops. Finishes a little bit grassy and some more grapefruit comes out.

M - Medium bodied and solid. This one maintains a balanced feel for almost a minute before the citrus hop notes come out to play and the mouthfeel progresses toward dry.

This is an extremely balanced and well made beer! I like that it's not off the wall or crazy, but still has enough complexity to keep you thinking and swishing. Major session potential.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 19:27:36 | More by pmcadamis

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Fuck that New Thumper noise! Anyway, this stuff pours a clear bronze topped by a finger of off-cream foam. The nose comprises earthy greens, light banana, toffee, and a touch of buttery biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a kiss of Connecticut tobacco and light grapefruit peel. The buttery character is toned down a decent bit. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a nice ESB, nothing close to special, but something fairly drinkable and generally enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 03:32:59 | More by TMoney2591

fauxpunker

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle.

A: Pours orange/pale copper. Just a tiny bit of haze, but pretty clear. Head is moderate, off-white. Retains short, lacy head.
S: Caramel jumps right up front. Malt definitely dominates. Slightly perceptible grassy quality in there, as well.
T: The strong caramel aroma doesn't hold up in the flavor. A mild bitterness rushes to the front with a decent malt presence following it. Doesn't really build up to much and fades quickly. Caramel comes back a bit in the after taste, and something else. Butter possibly.
M: Light and fairly carbonated. Takes on a watery quality quickly.
O: Easy to drink and not especially offensive. Probably wouldn't buy it again, but would have no trouble grabbing it if nothing else was available. Forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:41:18 | More by fauxpunker

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Single bottle brought back for me from the brewery. Shipyard has been given permission to brew this under the Ringwood name. Best before January, 2013.

Poured into a nonic. Great fluffy crown of foam here, that looks like it will last until the end. Great streaks of fluffy lace. Amber-copper, slightly hazy.

Nose is classic bitter: caramel malt, grain, tea-citrus hops, and a metallic twinge.

Similar taste as in the nose. Not a bad bitter by any stretch, it's just a hard style to be that objective with. Good malt sweetness, some fruit, tea, and that same metallic taste to the finish. Not bad - I wouldn't seek it out, but it works.

Creamy, average to higher than normal carbonation, lighter bodied.

It works - would love to try this on cask - or better yet, from the original brewery in Hampshire.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 18:37:07 | More by JohnnyBarman

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Having this beer on cask at the Great Lost Bear.

It poured a one finger head that has left some nice lacing on the glass. It has good clarity for a cask and no signs of carbonation. It smells fruity, bready, malty, and a bit funky. It tastes about the same with a bit of lingering bitterness and some yeasty boys. It drinks creamy and silky smooth with low carbonation and medium bodied filling. Overall, a good beer on cask that I seem to encounter every time up here in Maine.

Serving type: cask

10-20-2012 22:01:23 | More by Flounder57

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ehhh, not so much. I'd love to try the "UK version." It has to be better, right?

Nose to mouth: All grainy, white bread toast . . . boiled rice. Lots of that. I don't know, this beer doesn't really sell it across any rubric aside from "get the job done." No hop character except to bitter. Malt is, as I said, a saltine/corn chip bomb, but central.

Ringwood yeast you say? What am I looking for?

Pass.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 01:53:12 | More by CheezyBlaster

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a pretty caramel brown with some nice buttery notes and a lovely little golden-white head that sits at a half a finger width. The beer is quite hazy like a dark apple juice and there are quite a few bubbles racing to the top with carbonation. The beer smells rather skunky with nice hints of caramel and burnt malts and burnt sugars. As the beer settles the skunkiness mellows out and brings forward the malts nicely. The beer tastes heavy with the roasted malts and nice caramel hints in the taste. There is a slight bitter tinge in the back of the taste and aftertaste reminiscent of light citrus, but it is very faint. The mouthfeel is smooth and caramelly on the tongue with a little rush of carbonation that quickly smoothes out into a more velvety feel. Overall this is nice roasted example of an ESB, the bitters are not very present here even for the styles slight bitters, but the malts are excellent on the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 02:37:40 | More by Maxwell

flagmantho

Washington

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass. This bottle is labeled as being 5.6% rather than the above-noted 5.9% ABV.

Appearance: nice golden hue with a clear body and a moderate effervescence. Head poured a finger of fizzy ivory foam which didn't have much staying power. Not too bad.

Smell: very sweet malty aroma, quite English in character. There's a light nuttiness and caramel character here as well. Not bad, but a bit sweet to me.

Taste: sweet malt with the same light nuttiness as the aroma. Some earthy hops are present, and bitterness is moderate toward the end. Not bad, but again, it's really on the sweet side for my taste.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a good creaminess. I like it.

Overall: a decent beer whose sweetness seems misplaced. I would be interested in trying a slightly drier version of this; I think it would be great that way.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 16:40:37 | More by flagmantho

TheSixthRing

California

4.4/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a diamond clear golden orange with a thick, 3 finger head, retention for days, and a resulting lace which sits thick and sticks to the sides with a cream-like manner.

Smell - Plenty of classic dry European hops sit atop, with notes of caramel and red apple malt lying beneath.

Taste - Hop forward bitterness, not powerful bitters, but prominent. Mellow caramel and toffee complimented by some earthy, red apple character. Finishes with a creamy butter diacetyl as all flavors meld before fading away.

Mouthfeel - Medium body. Creamy carbonation. Finishes clean, semi-dry and crisp. Simply wonderful.

Overall - This is my favorite ESB. Not sure why it doesn't get better ratings here, because everything about this beer is first-rate. Complex, but harmonious. Simply one hell of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 03:56:49 | More by TheSixthRing

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a chilled tulip glass.

-Appearance 3.0: Pedestrian. Is this a Killian's? Typical amber color, minuscule head and extremely clear. How much poor, innocent Irish moss has to die to make you monsters happy? :)

-Smell 3.0: "Average" is the word. Frankie Valli was wrong in this instance. Slight caramel bouquet and a somewhat deeper barley hint, but it is all very flat, dry and sterile. Not expecting much and slightly depressed at this point. The guy at "Total Wine" who recommended this to me must be out of his tree.

-Taste 4.0: Hey, wow! Front is cool and sweet, middle is big barley and caramel notes and finish is somewhat alkaline and hoppy. Aftertaste is a decent length and is very refreshing. Unexpectedly good, especially given my disappointing experience with it in the first two categories.

-Mouthfeel 3.0: Average. Nothing noteworthy in either direction.

-Overall 3.5: This brew is slightly above average based on the taste alone. Other tasting elements fall flat and reveal a beer that has been overly processed, in my opinion. This is a good beer, but nothing special at all and certainly not worth the $8+ price tag per six pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 02:37:12 | More by BeerDocT

HamFon

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: clear amber with small white head of small bubbles that persists and generates lacing

S: malty, buttery, floral, earthy

T: fruity, buttery, caramel, earthy, moderate hop bittering into finish

M: smooth and creamy, slight oily, no alcohol warmth

O: overall a nice ESB with fruity notes and earthy and floral English hops, but that Ringwood yeast produces too much diacetyl for me, and the buttery slickness and flavor are distracting

Serving type: cask

04-14-2012 16:27:30 | More by HamFon

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

10oz straight from a firkin

A-light amber/ tea color.

S- malt vinegar, apple juice, a bit of buscuit malt

T- follows the smell, the taste is much more in your face than most ESB's.

M- medium bodied and perfectly dry.

O- only 2nd to fullers, but pretty darn tasty.

Serving type: cask

04-14-2012 02:16:02 | More by JWU

rangerred

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours a clear copper with a two finger white head. Great lacing.

Smell has a wonderful maltyness with butter and caramel. Some earthy hops in there as well.

Taste is somewhat bitter from the malt with toffee and caramel with an almost wine like flavor and bite. Earthy hops float along underneath but do not contribute overwhelmingly to the bitterness.

Overall this is a pretty good ESB. I can't quite put it on the same level as Fullers but it is definitely something I would consider picking up again.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 01:35:21 | More by rangerred

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cask at sea dog brew pub northborough.

Light fizzy bubble head fades semi quickly, decent lacing, over hazy nectar orange colored beer.

Nose light herbal almost earthy hops, more UK style bittering hops, typical brewery house hops, light toasty pale malts, light musty fruit I think from the yeast, hint of copper malts.

Taste starts similar, herbal almost vegetative hops, hint earthy, decent bitterness, bit grassy. Malts are softer thanks to the cask, light toasty copper malts, bit pale malt flavor. Then light fruits, just a touch of a fruity herbal flavor from combined yeast and hops. I also get a hint of oxidation again from cask I think, and a very slight possible diacetyl with a hint of butter and slight slimy feel. Finish has decent bitterness, soft malts, dry semi clean, hint of that bitter and bit of herbal hops.

Mouth is med to slightly lighter bodied, litte carb but typical for cask.

Overall not bad, typical house hops which are not my fav but i can't blame them if thats what they like, decent malts, nice long bitter finish, just a bit of oxidation and hint of possible diacetyl throws it off a bit.

Serving type: cask

03-09-2012 14:34:08 | More by jlindros

LiquidSanity

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ap: Beautiful dark brown, maple syrup color. Nicely placed head with excellent lacing. Very sexy looking beer.

Ar: The weakest component of the beer. Very tame sweet, malty, butter like aroma. It isn't very compelling.

Ta: This features a rather complex yet refreshing flavor. A nice mild malty overtone matched with a sweet and bitter bite. Very bready and wine like sweetness. This is a delicious beer that gets better with each taste. Like a nice brandy.

Mf: Mildly carbonated but very refreshing. The hoppy bitter bite sits well and the foamy texture marriages the wine like aromas perfectly. This is a rather delicious and refreshing beer.

Ov: Wow, this is delicious, complex while still appearing smooth and sessionable. It starts out like a champagne, bites like brandy, finishes like wine. I need to investigate this style a little more. It has a nice hoppy bite like an APA but entertains the palate like a wine or brandy. Very surprised with this beer. Give me more!

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 01:29:59 | More by LiquidSanity

Zono

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the cask, in a standard pint glass.

The color is deeply golden, almost approaching amber. There is some cloudiness. Old Thumper pours a persistent, perfect cap of white foamy head.

The aroma is very subtle, indeed, difficult to detect at all.

The taste bears a heavy note of caramel, supported pleasantly by a very full mouth-feel. It is surprisingly un-bitter, but I find no fault with this, honestly. The hop presence is along the floral to earthy range -- downright chthonic at times. Imminently drinkable. As the beer warms in the glass, the flavor sharpens somewhat, becoming a bit spicier.

Overall, certainly a treat to find out and about, especially on cask. However, it is, perhaps, a little restrained. Nothing to complain about.

Serving type: cask

01-28-2012 16:25:16 | More by Zono