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

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a short Corsendonk goblet.
Pours a dark woody mahogany color with a creamy inch and 1/2” fast-fading mocha head and some patchy lacing.
Smells of mashed figs and plums are upfront, with a whiff of sweet roasted malt. Light citrus notes slide in behind. A light whiff of Kahlua is noticed throughout.
The flavors, in Shipyard’s style are edgy and bright. Crisp flavors tart orange citrus, tobacco, peppery spice mingles with tastes of toffee, caramel malt, figs. A taste of amber rum rolls in late and hangs around.
This is a medium-bodied Barleywine with just a bit of oily slickness to the mouthfeel. It tastes a little stronger than the 8.5% ABV listed. Maybe it will keep folks (me) from pounding it down like a fool.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 23:15:11 | More by BeerResearcher

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

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

2.73/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Mtardiff for providing this as an extra in a recent trade. Haven’t had it and glad to try it.

Poured into my tulip glass and a couple fingers of fizzy light beige head form. This collapses to a ¼ inch cap fairly quickly… this sticks around for quite some time. Deep ruby/garnet color. No lace.

Aroma is a bit musty and pretty thick. Lots of malt and almost a cherry note. Some other dark fruits as well.

Begins nicely with some sweet caramel and malt flavors, it then heads towards some fruit and again reminds me of black cherry with some sweetness. At the end it falls off a little and ends somewhat flat. Fairly bold bitterness towards the end.

A powdery mouth feel with a fairly bold body. Thick on your tongue.

This has potential, but I am a little disappointed in the finish. Almost gritty and the grain seems to inhibit the flavor and impacts the mouth feel.
Still glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 22:52:32 | More by Reagan1984

Phelps

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle’s been sitting on the shelf at my local for a good long while — I’d say it’s a year old, at least. Enjoyed in a shaker pint.

More stout-like than barleywine, this stuff is thick and dark as maple syrup, with a major cloudy haze to match. A finger of dense, pillowy tan head goes nowhere, ever. It would stay all day if I let it.

Weird aroma. The stoutiness continues, in the form of chocolate and smoke, mixed with molasses, toffee and overripe oranges. Very sweet, very big.

There’s some return to normalcy in the flavor, as more oranges emerge. Hops are basically nil, as is bitterness. Cocoa powder and hints of smoke give way to a tangy blast of old citrus at the swallow. This may be in the odd middle stage of aging.

Zesty, light carbonation in a big, creamy medium body. Like I said, this is thick stuff, but there’s no hint of booze, which is impressive. Age has at least hidden that.

The dark, nearly roasted malts in Shipyard’s barleywine make it an interesting offshoot. At a year old, it’s developing interesting complexity. I might grab an extra bottle or two just to see what it does in another year.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 21:39:47 | More by Phelps

hdelavega

Florida

3.05/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured to a large tulip glass.
Pours a deep murky brown with a big four finger rocky khaki head.
Nice fruity aroma, Carmel, burnt brown sugar, some malt, some notes that remind me of red wine.
Taste is pretty mellow. Sugar, plum, sweet toasty malt, I get grape again.
Mouth feel is pretty thin, defiantly a light body, good carbonation for the style. I'm missing that silky stick feel.
Over all not to bad, but not that great. I'd try it if I saw it on tap but won't be seeking out another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 18:24:08 | More by hdelavega

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

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark mahogany brown. Head was very creamy and frothy. Sticks around, dissipating eventually to a nice frothy film.

Candied dark fruits, a bit of roast, chocolate. No real hop aroma, but I may have held onto this long enough to let the hops fade.

Lots of dark fruits, candied sugar, chocolate and roasted malts. No hops. I think I let this go too long.

Pretty full bodied and creamy. Finishes clean.

Ya know, this is a better barleywine than the scores lead on. Maybe one day I'll try it fresh and enjoy the hoppiness the label proclaims.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 02:30:39 | More by EgadBananas

jamescain

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a sniffer, thanks to StoneBrewFanatic for bring this one to the tasting

Appearance: Pours black with dark red hues on the side and a thick off white head about a finger thick that leaves a thin lacing over the top of the beer.

Aroma: Dark fruit, raisins, figs, roasted and bready notes, and caramel sweetness.

Taste: Roasted coffee, raisins, slight citrus with caramel, chocolate and a slightly boozy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a creamy mouthfeel and medium-low carbonation.

Overall: I enjoyed this one and kind of wish I had picked up one while I was in New Hampshire, I guess I'll have to next time I'm up there.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 15:53:09 | More by jamescain

Krakistophales

Connecticut

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

A: Pours a dark red with a large two finger white head that turns into a nice film up top

S: Lots of tropical fruit in the nose. Pineapple/peach/apricot with some hoppy undertones, with just a hint of caramel and other sweetness

T: At first, a nice blast of cherry and plum, with the middle changing into a slightly creamy taste, with the end being a dry, hoppy finish.

O: Not bad. This one doesn't break my list of favorite barleywines, but it's a fine ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 03:31:14 | More by Krakistophales

welldigger888

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a garnett hue opaque black with a nice tan fluffy head that disapated quickly, leaving a nice cascade of sticky lace.

Seems a bit muted, could be the english blend of pipe tobak I was enjoying earlier or the 2 year rest in the cellar. That said, I am getting some smooooth maltiness that is ripe with stone fruit and raisin some fruity like yeast esters and a note of fussel like alcahol.

I am going to say that having had this beer while young, 2 years in the cellar has made this smooth as mommas milk.The rough and tumble boozey edge has been mowed down to a smooth easy drinking barley wine. It will boogie woogie on your brain too!

Creamy sweet and smooth malty goodness in a bottle, grainy bitter and again creaminess with a nice stone fruit and yeasty fruitiness. Raisin breadiness with a touch of butter and a hint of strong dark coffee. The hop bill, for me, seems to have faded into a bittering only realm. Nicely bittered it is though. The alcohal is not at all in the way and very brandy like gut warmer.

While not my typical style, AMERICAN renditions, this is quite the quaffer.

This brew is nice and smooth, creamy and highly drinkable with said age on it. No rough spots and well done.

Glad to have a couple more aging in cellar, enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 20:28:32 | More by welldigger888

asabreed

New York

4.15/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber into a Brooklyn tulip.

Appearance: Not an opaque black, but an opaque very dark brownish amber color. Nice raindrop lacing and good retention from the off-white head that dissipates maybe a little more quickly than I'd hoped.

Smell: More American than English, in my opinion, with citrus hops dominating here, versus fruit and brighter aromas. Wet hop spikiness is there too, along with some tobacco and mild leather and tar aromas.

Taste: Hops and very dark candied fruits dominate, with a lingering bitterness of citrus, especially grapefruit. Nicely balanced through and through. Some chocolate and slight coffee comes in and lingers also.

Mouthfeel: For a medium to heavy-bodied brew, there's a good creaminess to this by which I was fairly surprised by. Beyond pleasant.

Drinkability: I was surprised by this on the whole, because to me it's more of a hybrid style -- I would've guessed, from all the English versions, that this is pretty much distinctively an American version. Complex, not insanely alcoholic, and worth your time sipping. Nice job, Pugsley.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 18:24:04 | More by asabreed

Adrianized

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I believe this is a 2010 vintage, poured into a Stone RIS snifter.

Pours a rich very dark copper or mahogany, it's practically black though.  Nice one finger foamy tan head slowly settles to a thick layer with big bubbles.  Excellent lacing.

On the nose I get roasted malt, coffee liquor, and espresso.  Some prunes and dark fruit.  I also feel like I smell bourbon, but I don't believe this is barrel aged.  Smells great.

Taste is malty but incredibly balanced.  I get roasted malt and coffee up front, followed by dark chocolate, molasses, and dark fruit... Prunes and raisins.  Finish is crisp, a little dry, and moderately bitter from hops.  Very, very well balanced.

Mouthfeel is full bodied with good carbonation.  Drinks easily for a barleywine.

I held onto this one since last year, bought as a Signature Series pack.  This blurs the line for me for what a barleywine should be, but it was so damn good.  I was pleasantly surprised, I'll be buying this again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 21:31:32 | More by Adrianized

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - a tawny amber pour, good clarity, and a light mocha head. Pretty sticky with good lacing. A nice looking brew.

Aroma - a whiff of hops at the initial pour, but now nothing. After a minute of setup, I get some light roast and at length, some mild citrus is in there.

Taste - mild sweetness on the malt side. Then, a most unexpected hit of roasty grain, lots of coffee character. The hops come in with notable bitterness but not a lot of citrus character. Some grapefruit pith perhaps, but this reminds me of an Indian Brown ale with components of malt roast and hop bitterness. Styles be damned, I like this. The aftertaste is consistent, same flavors, just some drying added. Finishes slightly warm.

Mouthfeel - good crispness and dextrin-induced smoothness. Body is above average for weightiness but could use even more.

Drinkability - excellent brew for fireside. No English butteriness that I was wondering about, just great flavors from the malt and hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 05:35:47 | More by brewdlyhooked13

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

fastpass17

New York

3.13/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz Brown bottle from 2009

A: Almost mahogany in color, a slightly brown head about one finger in the glass. A good amount of carbonation that lasts the entire drink.

S: Carmel malt, mixed with brown sugar, blackberry's and some spice in the beginning. This finishes off with a slight bit of oxidation and port.

T: A classic English style barley wine at first sip. A nice malt backbone with a fair amount of sweetness and complexity. Then towards the end of the drink all the complexity fades and the taste becomes muted.

M,O: Drinkable for the style, nice start but the overall appeal for me is lost towards the end of the drink. There is a sharpness that takes away from the feel of this beer. A fair offering for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 01:18:01 | More by fastpass17

mdcrouser

Missouri

3.1/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hearty, like old engine oil that has recently seized - dark brown, but with hints of ruby red at the edges. Legs of lace stick to the glass.

Alcohol and a crispy char - a bit like the first whiff of that first charcoal grill of spring.

The first impression is lighter fluid, but it recedes to reveal plums, and further char. Not terrible, but it deceives the tongue by offering uncharacteristic flavors from the outset - it does though mellow over time - the char mutes somewhat. I'd prefer less char and just a bit more sweet in the many malts.

Tastes much higher in alcohol than it actually is - dry finish. Some hoppiness adds just a bit of a burn.

Take it or leave it - there are better barleywines to be had.

Edit: As an earlier review notes, let this beer warm a bit before reviewing - it changes greatly.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 02:45:22 | More by mdcrouser

SDtastentune

California

4.1/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark dirty red, some head when pored faster, no lacing.

S - Smells of alcohol, and some malty'ness.

T - Alcohol, chocolate, bourbon/malts. Caramel candy.

M - Feels a little carbonated, more at mid way down. Aftertaste is rich and flavorful.

D - Drinks great for a night/dessert beer, very unique flavor and different for the average barleywines out there. Over all I enjoy it, but not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 03:21:14 | More by SDtastentune

DoctorDog

Ohio

2.83/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Presentation: 1 pint 6 oz bottle into a snifter. Twist off cap lies beneath the golden foil cover. Bottle courtesy of one from my network of enablers; beveritt.

A- Dark, murky mahogany, with ruby highlights...nearly opaque. ~1 finger of off-white head, which fades quickly into a island of bubbles. No lacing noted.

S- Caramel sweetness, roasty malts, dark fruits.

T- Smoky, tannin, astringent bitterness coats the tongue, and seems to mute the other flavors. Some herbal hops. Left to warm up some more for ~15 min, and return to some notable improvement. A bit of dark fruits and maltiness is now able to slip past the astringent characters. Moral- let this one warm up a lot, and it won't be great, but at least will at least be drinkable.

M- Moderate carbonation, and med/full body.

D- Not so great. This is a pretty astringent beer, and is a bit of a chore. A slooow sipper, one-and-done'r.

Future outlook: Nah. Even if it were available here, no need to have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 04:54:08 | More by DoctorDog

FreshHawk

Illinois

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

A - Deep, deep, dark brown almost black with a touch of ruby hue on the edge. I had to check to make sure this was the barleywine and not the porter. Decent sized, very creamy, thick, meringue-like, cafe colored head. Fairly good retention leaving a very nice creamy lace.

S - Strong caramel and brown sugar malt aroma. Also has a bit of a chocolate/mocha aroma along with a touch of earthy and nuttiness. Some citrus hops as well in the background that comes out a bit more as it warms. Touches of dark fruit with raisin date and prune. Like the appearance, not exactly what I was expecting.

T - Like the nose and appearance suggested, this isn't really what I expected. Dark caramel, brown sugar, and a touch of chocolate malt dominates leaving the hop flavors in the background. Some citrus and tea hop flavors show up, but they are overshadowed. Some earthiness from the malt and hops as well. Some dark fruit just as the nose suggested.

M - Medium body with about average carbonation. Fairly smooth.

D - Drinks fairly easy but nothing overly exciting. Not really hoppy or bitter. I finished the bomber no problem, but I wouldn't exactly go after another.

Notes: Interesting barelywine. Plenty of dark malt that overshadows the hops. Some citrus and tea hop flavors come out but it is definitely a malt forward barleywine. Not horrible, but nothing I would be really excited about drinking. Maybe a hoppy porter? Worth a try if you can get a good price.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 01:33:02 | More by FreshHawk

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours a dark ruby brown with a 1 finger mocha head that forms a ceiling. Good lacing patterns.

S - Chocolate covered raspberries, fruity malt, roasted/burnt grain, alcohol vapors.

T - Dark fruits-figs, berries, sweet toffee malt, the chocolate seems to stay in the background, brown sugar, toasted brown rice. An herbal cocoa bitterness starts early grows towards the finish.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. The alcohol is hidden well.

The hops kinda threw me off. Moderately hopped for an English Barleywine. I didn't mind too much though. Drinks good. I would buy this again if it was cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 03:17:07 | More by StaveHooks

biggred1

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark, coffee-brown with a dense sand colored head that leaves fine lace on the glass. Chocolate and dark fruit in the aroma. Chocolate covered cherry and deep roasty malt flavors with a mild herbal hop flavor in the finish. Shipyard BSA tastes and feels like a hybrid Barley Wine/Stout to me and is not what I expected but is not bad at all..it just doesn't seem to fit the given style. An easy drinker at 8+ ABV, the alcohol is barely detectable. Good beer but a bit overpriced.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 03:04:52 | More by biggred1

emmasdad

Colorado

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

Picked this one up at a tobacco shop, on the outskirts of Old Town, in San Diego. Poured a robust reddish-brown color, with a good tan head. Aromas of chocolate, caramel, dried fruit and light brown sugar. Medium bodied, flavors of caramel, dried fruit, leather and light hops. Nothing special, but drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 22:30:39 | More by emmasdad

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a reluctant 1" head which dissipated to a trace. Clear but dark as coffee color in masstone. Lot's of tiny effervescence going on. Body was much lighter than I expected. Aroma and flavors of coffee and chocolate and sweet malt. Really this has more in common with stout than barleywine.

Enjoyed it nonetheless. For the most part the beers in the Shipyard Signature Series are a good value.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 13:13:38 | More by MoreThanWine

ButterScotch

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -26%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

From a 750ml bottle. Not sure of the year since it is apparently not printed on the bottle....

This is not a barley wine....more like a crossover barely wine/stout or something...akin to the GM Aztek car/minivan/whatever monstrosity...even the 8.5ABV indicates something may be amiss. Whatever this is....I wish they would call it something other than barely wine.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 23:14:44 | More by ButterScotch

GeezLynn

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz. bottle purchased fall 2009 at Bruisin' Ales.

Pours out dark brown, not quite black. Sparse white head makes a brief appearance and before retreating to glass edges. Smell starts out pretty nice with sweet apples, pear, raisin, brown sugar, and little chocolate malt. But it becomes more stale and metallic as it sits out.

Flavor is not quite what I was expecting as it's lacking much in the way of caramel presence and sweetness usually associated with English BW's. Taste is also not as fruity as the aroma. What you do get is earthy hops, pale malt and unusually roasted ashy malt that seems to work okay for this beer. Degree of bitterness is well done - assertive, but not tongue-lashing. Body is lighter with soft carbonation.

Overall, this was a little bland, but not bad. At $10/22oz., I wouldn't purchase it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 05:52:44 | More by GeezLynn