Shipyard Prelude Ale

Brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Bottle. Pours a clear deep coppery color with a large tanned head that deflates to about half volume. Roasted malt and something akin to roasted nuts on the nose. Medium body with a bit of sweet malt. Finishes with a bit of a burnt note that seems out of place in a beer I can see through.

Bottle. Dark reddish brown body with a short, off-white head, mostly diminishing. The aroma is sweet and malty with notes of caramel, grain, toast, roasted malt. Very little hop presence in the nose, but the flavor is moderately bitter in the finish. The start is moderately sweet and lightly bitter. Medium body with a creamy texture. Lively carbonation. This ale reminded of Sam Adams Winter Lager, only stronger, more bitter and richer. Enjoyable.

Pours a dark mahogany with little head. Aroma is mostly malt with some sweet caramel and grain. Flavor is slightly more bitter, but malt still comes through. Decent palate, decent brew.

Bottle to mug. Pours dark amber with little head & lacing. Decent aroma & good taste. Malty, with a bitter ale finish. I think i am rating the correct beer, as the specific one I have is called prelude special ale. The label is different than the picture (has a second empire house christmas-y scene)

Deep strong amber body with brown highlights and a thinnish tan head - nice! Aroma of roasted malt, a bit of spice, strong pit fruits and a bit of hops tucked in. Medium to Full-bodied; Super strong pungent and bitter maltiness coupled with metal and bitter malt - not too pleasant. Aftertaste shows some more malt, cardboard, metal, nuts and a tiny amount of pit fruits. Overall, this one is a bit too strong and astringent, showing some metallic flavours and off-tastes much more than another of this style. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Olivers Beverage in Albany, New York on 22-December-2008, sampled a day later.

Pours dark amber with nice head and decent lacing. Aroma is on the sweeter side of molasses, with some grainy roast. Flavor is a tad astringent, but balanced nicely with a roast character, and a bit of caramel. Palate is smooth and pretty full.

Had this at a Bevmo tasting which also featured Yulesmith and 06, 07 and 08 Vintages of Double Bastard & Stone RIS. Well, Prelude came in last in my book. It tasted like a nice amber ale. Nothing special, but nothing bad.

Shipyard for me is extremely frustrating. their beers are either magnificent or dismal. obviously its a matter of taste, but Prelude falls into the latter category. i think what it comes down to is im just not a fan of english ales. its too bitter and sour for my tastes. drinking this, i could think that some people would like this, just like the Sierra Nevada Celebration. Im just not one of them. it starts nice, but just finishes too harsh.