Favorite Shipyard Beer

Double Old Thumper.

 

I visited their brewery in Portland ages ago and everything tasted really skunky. Had lots of their stuff since and its not terrible but I can easily see them as a candidate for being absorbed/going out of business as preferences continue to shift.

 

Are you sure it was skunk?

 

Smashed Pumpkin is my favorite, but they are a very hit or miss brewery for me.

 

Might have been badger

 

I really like Smashed Pumpkin.. it's a little rough around the edges, but it's very unique for the style..

 

I mean, "skunking" is a result of light exposure (which would be odd if you had these on tap at a brewery), and Shipyard beer often has high levels of diacetyl - which is something different.

 

I haven't had many beers from Shipyard, of the ones I've had, most were not that memorable, with one exception: Smashed Blueberry.

That one is quite good... and a bit underrated on this site, IMO.

 

Smashed Blueberry!

 

Smashed Pumpkin. Old Thumper I used to love but haven't had it in a long time so taste may have changed

 

Hard pass

 

That doesn't exactly give me the warm fuzzies about their brewing prowess if all of the beers on site (!!!) had diacetyl problems. The bottles have at least been exposed to temperature swings over time, and could be old (not that I ever excuse butter bombs)- so they could always point to those issues as a large part of the blame. But if it's that way when it's fresh...

 

I work in Portland, ME. Wish I could be a homer on this one. None. I can't stand that ringwood yeast they use. For whatever reason, I get a massive headache after the first of their beers I finish. Every time.

 

I was just speculating about the other post, but your point is important and possibly debunks that speculation. I've never been to the brewery. One time, I picked up a bottle of their American Pale, and was pleasantly surprised. The next time I was at that store, I grabbed a second single, and the diacetyl was overbearing. Either my sensitivity to it changed depending on the day (wouldn't be the first time that happened), or the levels rose as the beer sat (which as you know can happen). I'm usually sensitive to it.

 

The summer ale tastes like buttered popcorn.

 

I'm living in Portland, OR now, but I have many good memories of slugging Monkey Fists down at cookouts when I lived in New England.

 

The only one i had was pumpkinhead, wasn't all that good, hopefully this post will help me find a better one.

 

Shityard bro? Not a fan. But they somehow managed to nail the best blueberry beer I've ever had.

 

I liked Double Thumper, and the Pugsley's Signature barleywine was good as well. Never had any issues with diacetyl. I initially had another beer in mind but when I checked my notes it was a Smuttynose beer, not Shipyard. Oops.