Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale (Pugsley's Signature Series) - Shipyard Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A decent beer, brought in to the LCBO for a decent price of $8. Not what I expect from an English barleywine, very bitter finish, dark bodied, chocolate malts. Let’s see how my aged bottle from Maine holds up over the years.Above average carbonation. Good ingredients, but Not as drinkable as it could be.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 01:21:45 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Burnt pecan brown with no visible highlights. To be fair, the sun has not yet risen above the horizon. A thick slice of brown sugar colored creaminess tops off the snifter in fine fashion, leaving small scraps and dots of lace as it deflates.

This might be the most chocolate-like beer of this style that I've ever sniffed. In fact, it doesn't smell like an English barleywine at all. There are subtle hints of dark fruit and no alcohol is a plus. In the end, though, it's incredibly simple and doesn't really fit the style guidelines.

Even though chocolate malt is less prominent on the palate, it still takes too much of the flavor focus. At least Shipyard BWSA tastes like a barleywine, though not an especially well-brewed one. The balancing effect of a lack of malt sweetness *and* a lack of hop bitterness doesn't do it any favors.

Flavors include dark chocolate, dark caramel, medium-dark fruit, and a sprinkling of black tea leaves. That makes it sound like a stout, but there's more barleywine-like fruitiness than stout-like roasted maltiness. On a good note, the next lowest taste score wasn't even considered. Then again, the next highest wasn't either.

The mouthfeel spins its wheels as well. It loses its so-called big beer way long before the finish, which is when slightly too sharp carbonation makes its unwelcome appearance. Time and warming help on both counts, but don't expect mouth pampering.

It looks like Imperial Porter is the best of the four Pugsley's Signature Series beers. XXXX IPA, Smashed Pumpkin, and now Barley Wine Style Ale are merely better than average. Given the $10 price tag... not recommended unless you're a big fan of the style or the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 12:35:59 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The pour was decent, though a bit lifeless for me. Rich amber color, almost copper in hue with a nice touch of cloudiness to it that really gave it a very thick look, nearly opaque at times. No real head though, and it almost looked flat at first pour, not really encouraged right off the bat. The aroma was rich and sweet. Nice notes of bready malts, hints of almost honey like notes and a nice fruit touch toward the finish. The flavor though really perked me up a bit. Sweet, mellow, with all notes of ABV long gone by the wayside. Lots of biscuit like notes, a touch of faded hops and a load of grain all combined to really give quite a nice show overall. Very impressed here with the way it tasted, especially in the finish, which was again very sweet, and nearly perfectly placed. An easy sipper I almost went through this one too quickly as it had mellowed to the point of being equally rich and subtle.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 22:00:24 | More by mikesgroove

UCLABrewN84

California

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear super dark brown with a 2 inch foamy khaki head that fades to a small cap. Thin rings of foamy lace cling to the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, nuts, brown sugar, toffee, and caramel. There is a fruity smell that I am getting as well. Taste is of toasted malt, roasted nuts, coffee beans, and some burnt sugar flavors. I am also getting some cocoa powder as the beer warms. A medium roasty bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a nice level of carbonation with a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a great barleywine that is much darker and more roasty than I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 04:00:23 | More by UCLABrewN84

brentk56

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a burnt caramel color with quite a buoyant head that displays great stickage and lace

Smell: Lots of caramel malt flavors but the complexity is built with citrus pith and other fruit elements

Taste: Caramel and stone fruit, up front, with a growing brown sugar element by mid-palate; after the swallow, the earthy and pithy bitterness kicks in to balance, though the finish has the anticipate sweetness

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and somewhat slick, with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Overall, a very nice effort that brings nice complexity to the style

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 00:05:26 | More by brentk56

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear, reddish-brown body with a thin, bubbly, off-white head.

Smell: Aroma smelling of toasted bread crusts casually dipped in ghee with notes of caramelized grains, berries, and earthy hops.

Taste: Dark caramel and pale maltiness with a minor taste of toasted grain husks and overall medium sweetness. Surprisingly, there's only a mild buttery taste considering this is a Shipyard product. Light berry, maybe even cherry fruitiness. Earthy, spicy, faintly citrusy hops with a medium-high bitterness. Pinch of ground barley husks in the bittersweet finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: It just never comes together to leave me saying "man, that was some barleywine!" I'll politely say it's an acceptable barleywine. Don't wanna start the new week being a Grouch Bug, y'know.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2009 19:38:15 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a deep clear burgundy color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with some dry English hops also noticeable. Taste is a mix between some sweet malt with light biscuit notes with some dry English hops. Malts are lacking in complexity with no dry fruit or any other characteristics. Body is a bit light with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 03:18:18 | More by Phyl21ca

metter98

New York

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear and very dark amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high tan head that died down relatively quickly, leaving a patch of bubbles on the surface and a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: The nose has moderately strong aromas of alcohol, raisins and toffee along with hints of chocolate.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and balances the malty sweetness and bitterness so that neither prominently stands out.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and somewhat smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is some warming from the alcohol.
O: The variety of the six different malts used to make this beer add some complexity to the taste and makes this a little more interesting to drink compared to others in the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 01:09:00 | More by metter98

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark brown color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a complex malt aroma that leans more to the roasted/chocolate side. It dry with a light hop aroma. The taste is decent. It has a moderate burnt toffee flavor that goes down easy and finishes dry and warm with a nice hop character. The mouthfeel is decent as well. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a nice barleywine. I love the aroma and it's got pretty nice malt character. The Pugsley series is turning out to be the class of their lineup.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 01:27:09 | More by WesWes

zeff80

Missouri

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a semi-opaque burgundy color with some darker hues. It had a small off-white head.

S - It smelled quite floral with sweet malty notes and a hint of raisin.

T - It tasted of chocolate malts, licorice, roasted malt and tons of sweetness.

M - It was a little thin for a barleywine. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a pretty good tasting brew and relatively easy-drinking for a barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2009 02:28:20 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a dark brown color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains bourbon, dark fruit, caramelized malts and some hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of dark fruit, caramel, licorice and bourbon. The malt character is hearty and there’s a mild but complementary hops presence that creates a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, decent representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are better choices within the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 04:16:25 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at mid-town Tulsa

Pours an effervescent mahogany with 4 fingers of mocha colored head. Great lacing head retention

S: Dark fruit, vinous notes, slight tobacco hop signature, all tail off after a while

T: Follows the nose, serious fig action, herbal hoppyness that is bordering on astrigent, not a very good start so far...Smooths out a little as time goes by, hints of Baker's chocolate & coffee too. Dark fruit, a touch of booze,dryness & tannins are there as this warms, plus a touch of chocolate. Finishes dry, fruitty & with leafy/tobacco hoppyness

MF: Chewy with firm, perhaps a bit too much carbonation. Warming sensation kicks in after a while, good balance

Drinks easy once a bit of up front astringency passes. Stays true to the style, maybe the best beer from these guys I've had...

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 03:00:56 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

2.48/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

~2009 release; Sampled October 2010
A solid pour produces a voluminous, glass filling, almost five-finger thick, lightly browned, amber-tan colored head. The beer is a deep burnt amber color that shows a clearish, dark red-amber hue when held up to the light. Hmm, another interesting yeast influenced nose; this smells slightly funky in a sort of musty, not quite cheesy, berry like chocolate leaning, moldy dried dates, sweetened tamarind, sweet red Chinese bean paste that has been slightly fermented or perhaps even like the center of a Chinese mooncake that includes a salted duck egg. The nose is quite fruity with notes of fermented prune juice, slightly tart plums and a touch of jail-house pruno. Some toasted malt notes add a whole grain note to the middle, though this is often overwhelmed by the other aromatic notes. There is clearly something else going on here, it is interesting & even fun to explore, but really not what I want in a Barley Wine.

Lightly sweet tasting up front and this gets increasingly phenolic and plastic like as the beer rolls across the tongue. By the time the beer has left my mouth it has coated my mouth in a flavor that reminds me strongly of curing plastic. Slightly medicinal and this also has some hot higher alcohols as well as notes of nail polish; this last accentuates some fruity notes of prune and raisin. I spent so long with the aroma that the excessive carbonation is not really noticeable in the flavor. This is likely quite a bit lighter than was intended, but it still has some heft to it and definitely sticks to the palate, but it is on the thin side (now at least) for a Barleywine.

While the aroma is quite interesting and enjoyable to explore, the flavor of this is just not very appealing. I wonder if a lot more age will turn this into a really funky old ale? The carbonation is already getting a bit excessive though and I would worry about the integrity of the bottle after a few more years of age.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 02:10:16 | More by Gueuzedude

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.42/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to Barleywinebrewer for this.
Poured a deep, deep brown with a reddish tint, light brown head, good carbonation.Nose is umm..off. No real smell to it I thought. Taste was of cocoa powder, roasted malts and a rather obnoxious astringent feel. Mouthfeel is thinner bodied than I wanted. English bwine? I did not see it nor taste it. Alcohol was well hidden but I expected more, heavier, maltier and thicker.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 03:41:48 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Impressive beige head that leaves some good chunky lace on the glass. Pours dark ruby mahogany color where light barely shines through the edge of the glass.

The aroma is fruity sweet without any overpowering alcohol aromas. Lots of darker malt smells but little hop.

This is a creamy beer. It has many of the elements of a superior English Porter. There's a dark chocolate with cherry flavor that has some notes from a barley wine. Still, this is a strong departure from the style. And I like it. I find it very drinkable without too much alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 21:49:40 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer has a deep dark brown-hued black body with a thick creamy tan head of foam on top. There are tiny bubbles that glide to the surface on the sides of the glass.

S- The aroma is complex with notes of caramel, roasted black malt and a small black coffee note. As the beer warms there are some pale malt notes and a finish that is good dark nougat.

T- Dark chocolatey malt flavors blends with dark roasted flavors and some soft licorice roast notes come through aswell. There are nice dark caramel malt flavors that are slightly sweet that pop through as the beer warms. The finish has a full bitter bite that is part black charred malt and part bitter hops.

M- This beer has a full mouthfeel with a creamy texture as long as the head last and a faint alcohol heat in the finish as the beer warms a good bit.

D- This beer is very smooth to drink but with nice complexity and new layers of flavor as the beer warms. This is a great English style barley wine that is big but shows depth aswell. I don't think I would age this one as it might lose some of its complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 19:25:37 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to AndrewK for this brew.

22oz Bomber
Gold Foil

Pours a very nice very deep red color, nice carbonation, nice little creamy tan head, with some nice sticky lacing/oil slicks left behind. The nose is a different one to a English Barleywine, very malty, with some chocolate, roast notes, some hops, slightly fruity (dark). The taste is very nice, malty, with some nice chocolate notes, roasty, slight hoppy, also picking up some figs, raisins, plums. Medium body, slightly dry finish. Drinkable, I really like this one, quite complex.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2009 23:57:16 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had as part of the Central New England BA Meetup #2, both the regular and "cellar aged" versions.

A: Light fizzy head fades semi quickly with a super dark brown raising color.

N: Sweet fruit comes first, with lots more malts and brown sugar, as well as raisin and pure sweet syrup. The aged one is more subtle with the aromas and has a lot less fruit.

T: Sweet malts, quite a bit. Semi bitter and tangy actually. Sweet syrupy flavors with brown sugar and molasses, and lots of raisin. Some caramel also comes through. Somewhat juicy and fruity as well. The aged one seems to balance these flavors more and has less contrast and peaks on all as they seem to homogenize into this consistent flavor.

M: Semi thick, semi syrupy, slight carbonation.

F: Lingering syrupy sweetness, some bitterness lingers with some fruit. A little smoke comes out on the finish as well. Pretty chewy finish too, and sticks to the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 02:29:30 | More by jlindros

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a three finger light tan head that leaves a good lace. Almost black color some mahogany highlights. Slight malty nose. Light carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Flavor is some sweet maltiness but lacks the seriousness of a good barleywine, musty bitterness at finish. There are better barleywines like Southern Tier's Backburner. Pricey for Shipyard, $10.15 for a 22 oz bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 23:30:24 | More by jdhilt

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Westboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" tan head over the clear burgundy brown brew. Dense head lasts well, with heavy sticking lace. Aroma is heavy on malt, plenty of dark fruits. Taste is malty sweet upfont, with roastiness appreciated, slightly tart fruitiness in the middle, light bitter close. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is alright. The parts just don't come together as well as I would like.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2009 00:49:07 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A dark brown colored beer with a tall light brown colored head.

Smell is sweet and spicy with melon and ginger aromas. Some butter and what I can only describe as cinnamon spiced apple. There is some brown sugar here along with prune and plum.

Starts out neural in flavor, mostly woody with a little brown sugar. Fruity with a little citrus this is mostly woody and pretty tame actually. Not a lot of subtlety here.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Good drinkability but also kind of boring. A nice mild flavored beer but it could be more exciting.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 03:14:28 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle courtesy of ritzkiss.

Pours a clear mahogany, a nice reddish brown, thick off white head forms and settles down to a thin ring around the glass, a few lace spots end up sticking.

Smell is neat, very malty, big caramel and brown sugar, some dark fruitiness, raisin, some oak, light vanilla, biscuity malt, flavours are well integrated but a touch light.

Taste is similar, sweet up front, caramel, brown sugar, biscuit, nice maltiness, raisin and dark fruit, oak, a bit of alcohol but well hidden, balanced in the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, a bit light for the style, with low carbonation. Pretty drinkable stuff, and the ABV is well hidden, but its just a little too light for the style for me. Thanks Eric!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 17:31:25 | More by Viggo

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The beer's complexion is deep, dark and concealing, making it very difficult to pin any particular colour to it. Whatever the case, it might as well be called black because no light makes it through anyhow. Its head may look soapy but it sticks to the glass like grease.

Neither the malts nor hops make themselves particular known to the nose; it lacks the definition and concentration that this style typically exhibits. Minor notes of raisin, plum and dried berries can be appreciated but they are far from obvious. A hint of smoke may stem from swirling, but it too is frustratingly subtle.

The flavour has a ripe, plump fig and plum taste but also offers a Darjeeling-like quality that features not only black tea bitterness but also notes of honey and meadow flowers. A sticky, port-like dried fruitiness makes for a bone-dry finish that includes roast malt and traces of peat. It, however, like the aroma, is frustratingly vague and also lacks the depth and intensity that typically characterizes the barleywine style.

On a positive note the beer is classically proportioned and features good balance. Then again, neither hops nor malt care to take the lead role. (Summit, Challenger, and Fuggles isn't exactly the sexiest hop bill anyhow.) There's also an absence of alcohol, no rough edges. Given that it lacks dynamics fresh, it promises nothing in the long term. Drink it now (or maybe don't bother buying it at all).

A barleywine that lacks the concentration and complexity of the style is simply not worth drinking. There's nothing inherently unpleasant about Shipyard Barley Wine, but the problem is that there's virtually nothing to it at all. It's far from a fine effort and given the other beers in the Pugsley's Signature Series, we know this brewery is capable of much better.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 04:41:48 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

3.15/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a dark brown color with a brown one-finger head into my pint glass.

Aroma has raisin/molasses in the nose with a touch of hop bitterness.

Taste is sweet upfront with the taste of raisin and molasses, followed by a harsh dose of alcohol that seems to crowd out any other flavors underneath. There is definite hop bitterness but I can't easily discern it from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel is hop bitterness/alcohol heat with very little other flavors underneath.

Starts out promising but I feel that this falls flat in the drinkability department. It may need some aging but I'm troubled by the alcohol heat that just seems to crowd out other flavors. Average at best.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2008 21:00:42 | More by Brad007

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours on the darker side for a barley wine, a dark, murky mahogoney with a short head to start that fades to nothing. Smells sweet, grainy, roasty and with some piney and earthy hops. There is also a residual yeast smell that smells typically English. A bit roasty for a barley wine, but fine. The taste is less roasty, but quite a bit more hoppy with piney, earthy, and citrusy hops combined with more roastiness, some dark fruit, and quite a bit of lingering bitterness. Smooth, and somewhat thick in the mouth. Thisn wasn't bad, but it didn't really represent the barley wine style that well. I don't mind the extra hops in a barley wine, but I do want some extra sweetness to go with it, and the extra roastiness was a bit out of place. Still, it was enjoyable enough if not remarkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 00:36:18 | More by Georgiabeer