-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Gladiator Series: Hoplomachus
Shipyard Brewing Company
- From:
- Shipyard Brewing Company
- Maine, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.33 | pDev: 15.92%
- Reviews:
- 3
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 30, 2014
- Added:
- Jun 01, 2013
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 4
Bourbon barrel-aged IPA
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan
2.69/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
2.69/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Appearance – The body is a haunting, very cloudy brown with a tinge of orange covered with a rich, foamy but not explosive off-white head. The head is very thick and solid.
Smell – The biscuity hops are big here and I definitely get some strong wood notes but no bourbon to speak of and a very sugary malt base. Not what I expected.
Taste – This almost tastes infected but I think this is actually how they wanted the beer to taste, which is sad. The cheap vanilla overpowers everything and there’s not a trace of bourbon.
Mouthfeel – This is definitely a big beer, almost full-bodied, and perfectly carbonated. The lack of any kind of bitterness is the only thing dragging down the score in this category.
Sinkability – I don’t often dump 10% DIPA down my sink but I’m making a rate exception in this case. This is undrinkable.
Note – Every once in a while I have a beer like this that is all over the map, characterized by five scores with no two the same. This is definitely a beer concept not living up to its potential. It was a great idea but should have never been released.
Oct 12, 2013Smell – The biscuity hops are big here and I definitely get some strong wood notes but no bourbon to speak of and a very sugary malt base. Not what I expected.
Taste – This almost tastes infected but I think this is actually how they wanted the beer to taste, which is sad. The cheap vanilla overpowers everything and there’s not a trace of bourbon.
Mouthfeel – This is definitely a big beer, almost full-bodied, and perfectly carbonated. The lack of any kind of bitterness is the only thing dragging down the score in this category.
Sinkability – I don’t often dump 10% DIPA down my sink but I’m making a rate exception in this case. This is undrinkable.
Note – Every once in a while I have a beer like this that is all over the map, characterized by five scores with no two the same. This is definitely a beer concept not living up to its potential. It was a great idea but should have never been released.
Reviewed by WynnO from Florida
2.93/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.93/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Not much to say for this one. Had Shipyard added a superscript of "3" to "Hoplomachus" the labeling would be more accurate.
Its aroma is really good, and it looks fabulous, but its backend is by far too over the top to enjoy. Were one to offer me a taste after it ages for a year I would try it again FOR SURE, but a young bottle? Have someone strap your arms down before taking a sip else you will need a bandage to cover the bruise from your arm reflexively slapping your face like an insulted prostitute.
Those Romans were some tough soldiers. Eye yi yi!
Aug 20, 2013Its aroma is really good, and it looks fabulous, but its backend is by far too over the top to enjoy. Were one to offer me a taste after it ages for a year I would try it again FOR SURE, but a young bottle? Have someone strap your arms down before taking a sip else you will need a bandage to cover the bruise from your arm reflexively slapping your face like an insulted prostitute.
Those Romans were some tough soldiers. Eye yi yi!
Reviewed by EgadBananas from Louisiana
3.82/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A bourbon barrel aged Imperial IPA. Poured from a corked and caged 750mL bottle. Probably wont get to try Doom, so here goes.
Pours a tawny reddish color, with a beige finger of head, good retention and lacing. The aroma had a nice barrel note that wasn't too strong, but there was a somewhat lactic smell somewhere in there. Not sure if I was confusing barrel notes. There was some backing hop notes in there, mostly citrusy. Overall a bit mild in aroma, but not bad at all. The barrel and bourbon were again subtle in the taste, with a fairly bitter bite, warming alcohol, but not bad at all for the ABV, citrus and hints of sweetness and oak. Good full body, slick, maybe even some creaminess. Carbonation wasn't prickly or anything, very appropriate.
I bought this on a whim without reading anything about it, or even knowing who brewed it. BA IIPA? Why not! Admittedly, when I realized it was Shipyard, I got worried...nothing's really wowed me from them. While this didn't wow me, I thought it was pretty good. I imagine a barrel aged IPA isn't the easiest task, but I think they did this one well.
There's little info regarding this beer, so no idea where this is being distributed aside from Florida where I grabbed it, but worth a try if you see it.
Jun 01, 2013Pours a tawny reddish color, with a beige finger of head, good retention and lacing. The aroma had a nice barrel note that wasn't too strong, but there was a somewhat lactic smell somewhere in there. Not sure if I was confusing barrel notes. There was some backing hop notes in there, mostly citrusy. Overall a bit mild in aroma, but not bad at all. The barrel and bourbon were again subtle in the taste, with a fairly bitter bite, warming alcohol, but not bad at all for the ABV, citrus and hints of sweetness and oak. Good full body, slick, maybe even some creaminess. Carbonation wasn't prickly or anything, very appropriate.
I bought this on a whim without reading anything about it, or even knowing who brewed it. BA IIPA? Why not! Admittedly, when I realized it was Shipyard, I got worried...nothing's really wowed me from them. While this didn't wow me, I thought it was pretty good. I imagine a barrel aged IPA isn't the easiest task, but I think they did this one well.
There's little info regarding this beer, so no idea where this is being distributed aside from Florida where I grabbed it, but worth a try if you see it.
Gladiator Series: Hoplomachus from Shipyard Brewing Company
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
15 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!