Boatswain H.L.V. Ale (Heavy Lift Vessel)
Minhas Craft Brewery

Boatswain H.L.V. Ale (Heavy Lift Vessel)Boatswain H.L.V. Ale (Heavy Lift Vessel)
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Minhas Craft Brewery
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
Ranked #140
ABV:
7%
Score:
76
Ranked #27,326
Avg:
3.32 | pDev: 15.96%
Reviews:
111
Ratings:
323
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 02, 2024
Added:
Dec 17, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  48
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This decent little strong pours a dark
chill hazed copper with a nice head of off white foam that settles to a thick
ring, thin dusty layer, and displays some very nice lacing. Nose of toasted malts,
caramel, pine touched hops, and subtle toffee. Flavors follow the nose with
caramel, toffee, pine and herbal hops, and light brown sugars. Mouth feel
is medium, medium light carbonation, and a nicely balanced hop and malt
finish that is subtly dry.

Overall, would buy this one again. Great for the price.

Cheers
Mar 02, 2024
 
Rated: 3.6 by Chipwells from Georgia

May 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.87 by travelguy from Ohio

Feb 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.22 by PaulMayer from Illinois

Dec 29, 2021
Photo of therequiredformat
Reviewed by therequiredformat from Virginia

2.46/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
I remember this as being an OK (my favorite Boatswain) beer, but this last batch tasted like it was made from tap water. Have they switched to a different brewery?
Oct 04, 2021
Photo of HJayS
Reviewed by HJayS from Michigan

4.59/5  rDev +38.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Many of the descriptions are spot-on, so I'll just say that for the price, this is a great beer. I wish there were more Trader Joe's around, because I would make this a regular in my cooler. Solid beer.
Sep 02, 2021
Photo of Parmesan
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado

3.22/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
L:. Pours a dark copper orange amber color with a very foamy rocky white large head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves no lacing on the glass.

S:. A bit of toasted but, caramel and toffee, very little hop character. Smells decent but not overly great.

T:. Lots of caramel and toffee, a slightly weird bitterness, nothing complex or terribly interesting but nothing undrinkable either.

F:. The carb seems a bit off on this, body is a little smaller than expected.

O:. This strong is not the best and rather on dimensional but man for the price ( less than a dollar a can), it's hard to complain too much.
May 16, 2021
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.19/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
its crazy i keep going back to these after getting burned by a good amount of them, but for a buck a pop, its hard not to take the chance on it. this one is also cheap and metallic tasting to me, their take on some sort of generic malty strong ale i think, kind of hits like a big red ale or even with some scotch ale type elements, grain forward but not too sweet, a little thin and definitely of substandard quality, but not the worst of these, at least through most of it. its got a high rising head from the can, just off white, with a lot of airiness to it and a deep amber base that glows in the light. it smells fine, simple caramelized grain sugars and a pinch of bittering hops, the flavor is similar, a little more metallic and there is something kind of doughy and raw in the yeast profile, which seems unintentional, but the flavor overall is quite basic, not as bold as it seems like they are trying to make it. its the finish that kills me, astringent to almost tart for a second, and with a melted plastic flash to it that lingers on the swallow, without this it would be decent, but with it, its pretty rough overall. i drank the whole can pretty quickly trying to figure it out, but after a couple of swigs it wasnt particularly enjoyable. very few of these boatswain beers have done anything for me, i like that its a budget option, but this is close to one of those beers where id just rather not drink beer at all than sit down with six of these. thoroughly mediocre...
Mar 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Jjmj51 from Rhode Island

Jan 10, 2021
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Murky dark amber with about medium carbonation. Body is just below average
Aroma is a split between malt and earthy floral hops. There's some brown sugar and a raisin,dark fruit scent as well.
Taste is same as aroma with a strong amount of malt and floral hops. Hops eventually win as they linger in the form of a bitter taste in the mouth. Some dark fruit shows up as well.
Problem with reviewing this beer is that it is far from perfect. But when the fact that it's around 5 to 6 bucks for a six pack then it's an amazing beer for the price. So it comes down to enjoying it for what it is.
Aug 11, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ironhand24680 from California

Jun 05, 2020
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.57/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Look: Clear, very dark copper. Over two fingers of thick, foamy white head with decent retention.

Smell: Strong hop smell, rather soapy and floral rather than really piney. Hard to detect anything else.

Taste: Soapy, floral bitterness with a very faint caramel malt note underneath.

Mouthfeel: Average body with high carbonation.

Overall: A rather one-note hop machine that lacks the complexity of a proper strong ale.
May 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.42 by Eychung from New York

Mar 28, 2020
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

2.56/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25
Appearance: Pours a medium, deep copperish orange color with a light tan head. SRM of 16. (3.50)

Aroma: Strong aroma of undefined candied malts, banana, and some Belgian Yeast. (3.50)

Flavor: This is where it gets bad. Strong phenolic Sharpie right off the bat. Hints of Belgian yeast. Then a bitter, dry cardboard finish. Hints of pale orange lingering. (2.00)

Feel: Heavy, flat, Leaves an orange, cardboard sweetness on the palate. (2.75)

Overall: As expected this is a drain pour. Undefined malts. Pale, dry hops. Would not recommend. Nothing further needs to be said. (Final Rating: 2.56)
Dec 27, 2019
Photo of northwestdr
Reviewed by northwestdr from Michigan

3.2/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Purchased at Trader Joe's; poured from a can into a pint glass. Note: the can states that it's from Rhinelander Brewing Co. LLC, Monroe, Wisconsin. A nice-looking brew, with an abundant head and a clear, red-tinged, rust color. It looks a lot like a "red" ale.

It is amply hopped, but the taste is dominated by malts. When ice-cold, the first impression was it was somewhat harsh, but the taste mellowed and improved as the beer warmed a bit. (I sipped rather than chugged it.) It has an earthy, slightly sweet taste, perhaps caramel-y, with a mildly bitter aftertaste. Certainly not a "session" beer.

In summary, it's a decent beer at a great price. I can't say I'd like to drink several in a row, but has some interesting features. Certainly worth trying. Best when poured out into a glass.
Nov 30, 2019
Photo of Profundobaso
Reviewed by Profundobaso from New York

3.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look - poured from a 12 oz can. Nice foamy head, but dissipates quickly and leaves behind some lacing. Amber in color, transparent, and gives off a lot of carbonation.
Smell - malts and a lot of sweetness from caramel and dried fruits, and possibly a bit of Belgian yeast?
Taste - malt forward, but surprisingly balanced by a fair bit of hops. beer finishes pretty clean, though leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Feel - medium bodied, high in carbonation, and adequately high in booze at 7%.
Overall - its a strong ale at $5 for a 6 pack, so it gets the job done. It has hints of a dubbel, but falls a bit short. That said, excellent beer for the value and would definitely get it again.
Nov 26, 2019
Photo of Radarryder
Reviewed by Radarryder from Missouri

2.85/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I was really excited when I poured this beer...nice copper color, tan head, nice carbonation. However, it just wasn't up to par with what I consider a really good IPA to be. Malty and sweet, with a slightly bitter finish. I am not very good at telling you all of the flavors and profiles...I can just tell you that it is a decent beer...and that is about as generous as I can be with my comments.
Oct 13, 2019
Photo of scottfrie
Reviewed by scottfrie from California

3.51/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz can.

A: Pours a clear copper with a thick couple fingers of fluffy dark tan head that slowly collapsed onto a dense great film leaving a network of sticky lace down the glass. Lasting fuzzy collar.
S: Notes of candied dates, raisins, and similar sweet dried dark fruits, followed by notes of caramel and bready malt, and kiss of powdered coco. Slight ripe banana ester.
T: Caramel and raisin sweetness up front with bready/toast malt backbone followed by ripe banana and powdered chocolate. The finish is moderately bitter with very earthy and slight spicy hops, but there’s a slight metallic quality to the finish along with a hint of tobacco and sour bread. Fairly nice caramel/toasted flavors overall tho.
M: Medium body with a relatively light mouthfeel all things considering. I could have easily seen something with this flavor profile be overly slick and heavy. Carb is soft and easy, quick on the palate and scrubbing in the drying finish.
O: Most of the flavor profile is just fine but there’s kind of an overshadowing off-putting flavor/bitter quality that knocks down the drinkability a little bit.
Sep 06, 2019
Photo of Singingcelt
Reviewed by Singingcelt from Maine

4.62/5  rDev +39.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
I love this beer, been buying it from Trader Joe's for a while now. Nice dark amber color with a 2-3 finger white head that lingers on to a nice thin throughout. Malty without being sweet or cloying. At 7% ABV it's pretty potent but not with an overly noticeable alcohol tone. Great flavor! I think this is mighty fine beer whatever the cost, but when you consider I paid $5.99 for a six pack, this is fantastic beer.
Sep 01, 2019
Boatswain H.L.V. Ale (Heavy Lift Vessel) from Minhas Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 76 out of 100 with 323 ratings