The Year in Beer

Name: Shipyard IPA

Brewer: Shipyard Brewing Co., Portland, Maine

By the numbers: About 175 calories per 12 oz.; 5.8 percent alcohol by volume

Notes: Generally, when I think of an India Pale Ale, I think of a highly-hopped beer with a strong floral scent that starts and finishes bitter and dry. The IPA is not my most favorite style, mostly because many brewers try to “out-hop” each other and the result is almost undrinkable. Shipyard takes a different tack. This is one of weakest IPAs I’ve had. It does have a strong Fuggles hop taste (in fact, Fuggles is the only variety in the “single-hopped” beer), but it’s more like a pale ale than a hop-heavy IPA. Or maybe even pilsner if not for the esters of the ale yeast. Anyway, it pours orangeish-gold with a thick head. It is easy drinking, but but not the best representation of this style.

Try it with: A realization that everything is not what it seems. In addition to this beer, I’ve been learning that local political issues can also have a bit of the unknown lurking under the surface. Especially when under that surface is a long tunnel that needs to be dug before we can finally see the light. Sigh.

    — Posted by Mike Freimann