Two buds and a microbrew
A review of Shipyard's Prelude Special Ale (ABV: 6.85%; 6-pk: $8.49)
Bryan Regele and Justin Andrews, Staff Writers
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Variety
This semester has gone by quickly, but don’t you worry fellow beer drinkers, we will be back after break with our reviews. While you are away though we encourage you to branch out with your tastes so you can suggest a few of your favorite microbrews to give a try and write about in our column. That being said, be 21 and be responsible if you choose to drink.
Ranked the 36th largest brewery in the country, Shipyard Brewing Co. has achieved impressive success since its beginnings in 1992 in a small Maine brewpub. Great demand then led master brewer Alan Pugsley and entrepreneur Fred Forsley to establish a full-fledged brewery on the Portland waterfront in 1994 where they have continued to expand. Shipyard now offers a line of pale ales including their flagship Export Ale; a stout; and seasonal beers like the Pumpkinhead. Their large size has led to partnerships with the smaller Casco Bay, Sea Dog, and Gritty McDuff’s brewing companies. You can find their beers in 36 states – a testament to their widespread fan base and also atypical of many New England-area brewers.
The achievements of Shipyard made during our lifetime inspired us to review their cold-weather Prelude Special Ale. The name and style of the Prelude is inspired by Kennebunk’s annual Prelude festival, which since 1982 has included art and craft fairs, tree lighting ceremonies, and a Santa parade. In 2007, Prelude was officially granted the title of Shipyard’s winter seasonal offering with an extended availability due to its popularity. At this time the Prelude was also relabeled with a Maine artist’s painting of a Kennebunk holiday scene which we feel is a nice touch for a craft brewer like Shipyard.
Uncapping the longneck and slowly pouring it into a conical pint glass yielded a dark amber body with a finger-widths worth of off-white froth. This head would last to the midpoint of our session and leave a lacing behind on the glass, indicative of a mild to medium carbonation. Smells included English Ale-inspired strong malts and nuts. We also noticed hints of the nutmeg and cinnamon typical of Northeast winter ale.
Our first sip yielded us a taste similar to its aromas, with a clean hop finish. Throughout our session we also noticed some brown sugar, butterscotch chocolate undertones. It is full-bodied ale without any one overpowering taste, but enough balance that it is an interesting one to kick back. Despite the smoothness, we noticed the alcohol at 6.8%, which we find favorable for cold weather. The mix of heavy malt and hops enables the Prelude to be surprisingly crisp and drinkable.
Everything about the Prelude suits the falling temperatures well. From its label to its warm character, Shipyard has created something that we will keep in mind both this winter and the winters to come. The Prelude to us is the gem of Shipyard, as we have not been overly impressed by their other offerings. By hitting the nail on the head when it comes to our holiday expectations in regards to beer, the Buds will keep 5.5 of the 6 caps from this 6-pack on our fireplace mantle.
Ranked the 36th largest brewery in the country, Shipyard Brewing Co. has achieved impressive success since its beginnings in 1992 in a small Maine brewpub. Great demand then led master brewer Alan Pugsley and entrepreneur Fred Forsley to establish a full-fledged brewery on the Portland waterfront in 1994 where they have continued to expand. Shipyard now offers a line of pale ales including their flagship Export Ale; a stout; and seasonal beers like the Pumpkinhead. Their large size has led to partnerships with the smaller Casco Bay, Sea Dog, and Gritty McDuff’s brewing companies. You can find their beers in 36 states – a testament to their widespread fan base and also atypical of many New England-area brewers.
The achievements of Shipyard made during our lifetime inspired us to review their cold-weather Prelude Special Ale. The name and style of the Prelude is inspired by Kennebunk’s annual Prelude festival, which since 1982 has included art and craft fairs, tree lighting ceremonies, and a Santa parade. In 2007, Prelude was officially granted the title of Shipyard’s winter seasonal offering with an extended availability due to its popularity. At this time the Prelude was also relabeled with a Maine artist’s painting of a Kennebunk holiday scene which we feel is a nice touch for a craft brewer like Shipyard.
Uncapping the longneck and slowly pouring it into a conical pint glass yielded a dark amber body with a finger-widths worth of off-white froth. This head would last to the midpoint of our session and leave a lacing behind on the glass, indicative of a mild to medium carbonation. Smells included English Ale-inspired strong malts and nuts. We also noticed hints of the nutmeg and cinnamon typical of Northeast winter ale.
Our first sip yielded us a taste similar to its aromas, with a clean hop finish. Throughout our session we also noticed some brown sugar, butterscotch chocolate undertones. It is full-bodied ale without any one overpowering taste, but enough balance that it is an interesting one to kick back. Despite the smoothness, we noticed the alcohol at 6.8%, which we find favorable for cold weather. The mix of heavy malt and hops enables the Prelude to be surprisingly crisp and drinkable.
Everything about the Prelude suits the falling temperatures well. From its label to its warm character, Shipyard has created something that we will keep in mind both this winter and the winters to come. The Prelude to us is the gem of Shipyard, as we have not been overly impressed by their other offerings. By hitting the nail on the head when it comes to our holiday expectations in regards to beer, the Buds will keep 5.5 of the 6 caps from this 6-pack on our fireplace mantle.
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