Shipyard has done it again

Had it Friday, Aweful

 

More or less. One guy who also rated did the pouring but the other three blind. 3/4 blind.

 

Acceptable in some fashion with some brews- also depends on how soon it was bolted (shipyard mucks this up often)

 

They don't diacetyl-rest, that's their problem. Has nothing to do with bottling unless there's a beer-spoiling, diacetyl-producing bacteria at play. They crash chill as soon as terminal gravity is achieved without giving the yeast time to clean up the excess diacetyl, so it stays in the finished beer. If Shipyard properly diacetyl-rested and matured their beer, the stuff would be unrecognizable and actually drinkable. Their whole philosophy is to get the beer finished as soon as possible in order to maximize capacity and make money, but this is at the expense of beer quality. I guess it's one way to do it...

You're right about low levels of diacetyl being acceptable in some darker beers and English styles. Personally I find the amount of diacetyl in pretty much every Shipyard product I've had to be unacceptable. If a bar in Portland only has Shipyard (or Geary's or Gritty's for that matter) in addition to the usual domestic lagers, I think I'd rather drink the macro.

I respect Shipyard as a local business and employer, but I don't respect the product they put on the shelves.

 

I am absolutely no fan of Pumpkinhead, but the Blue Moon Pumpkin is absolutely abysmal. It tastes like sadness and metal.

 

It's a beer for your date.

 

I actually came across some Shipyard the other day, and while it was no Russian River or Founder's, it wasn't half bad. Why the hate?

 

My point exactly

 

Shipyard is one of the beers I sell. There are only a couple of there beers I like. Prelude, smashed blueberry, and double thumper are all pretty good ,not great but good. Pumpkin head sells like FRIGGEN crazy!!!! They shut down the whole brewery from June-August just to brew it. The head brews are the same average (at best) ale with different flavors.

 

Had to get the taste out of my mouth somehow..

 

While I may agree with some of the sentiment this thread advocates nothing, especially not beer. There are people who love these beers even if the internet doesn't.

 

I have seen this asserted before, but no proof for the assertion. Please provide proof.

 

I've liked export and had old thumper on cask that I thought was good. Other than that I haven't found a reason to buy anything else from them. I'd give the BB Double ESB a go though.

 

I have also heard this enough that it has become something of a mantra. What is your proof?

 

I had a similar tasting (blind tasting even!), I invited some of my friends that like BMC and they actually voted Pumpkinhead in at #2, they could tell what one was pumpkinhead and voted that one

This was my list:
DFH Punkin
Weyerbacher
ST Pumking
SY Smashed
SY Pumpkinhead
LongTrail Imperial Pumpkin
Wachussett Imperial
Harpoon UFO Pumpkin
Smuttynose Pumpkin
another couple but i forgot them by now.

 

Pumpkinhead..(so) disappointing, blah!

 

I live in Florida and Shipyard, for some reason, is always on sale at the Winn-Dixie grocery store down the street from my house, so it's not just Maine propping them up. They have a bunch of Pumpkinhead and Applehead that's been sitting there forever, on sale, and nobody buys it.

However, every other month they will have a Shipyard Variety Pack on sale for $11.99/12-pack (regular price is $18.99). I confess that I've bought it a couple of times in the past, although not lately. Out of all the offerings that they put in their various variety packs, Chamberlain Pale Ale and Blue Fin Stout are pretty decent. The rest are not worth drinking IMO.

 

It's really odd when you consider all the "upgrade" options close at hand and available. Tourists I can see thinking it is part of the "Maine experience" (which would be/is brilliant marketing) and maybe with residents it is loyalty?

And come on all you New Englandahs and downeastahs - it ain't "pumpkin", the word is punkin...as in "that punkin pie we had aftah suppah was wicked pissah..."

 

They need to put stuff like smashed pumpkin and double old thumper in 4 packs and stop trying to charge $9 for a bomber, then I might be buying some of their beer occasionally.

When Monkey Fist came out I thought this was the last brewery that needed to throw their hat into the IPA ring.

 

A few years back, this anonymous blog was briefly the talk of the beer corner of the internet: The Chronicles Of Ringwood

In particular for the subject at hand, this entry- http://chroniclesofringwood.blogspot.com/2009/04/questionable-fermentation-practices.html

(Disclaimer - I have no knowledge of the accuracy of the blog or any more information on the subject or the blog itself. I suppose some Googlin' might turn up more background info.)