Try?
I’m always a little leery when I hear that
one brewery gets taken over by another. A lot of times, that can mean that
the beers I knew and loved from the old brewery will end up being changed by
the new one, and not always for the better. Still, when I heard some time
ago (a few years actually) that Camden, Maine’s Sea Dog Brewing Company had
been acquired by Portland, Maine’s Shipyard Brewing Company, I had little
fear at all.
That’s because the two both used Ringwood yeast and Peter Austin brewing systems to make their beer. Ringwood being as unique a strain as it is, that was important, since without it Sea Dog’s beer would never be the same. And Sea Dog just happens to brew one of my very favorite beers of all, Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter. Sea Dog describes the beer as follows:
This beer is one of a kind! Four different malted barleys combine to create a distinctive, full-bodied beer with a roasted nuttiness, uniquely enhanced by a hint of hazelnuts. Smooth and creamy with the nose of the Willamette hop, this porter is a beer style unto itself.
More importantly, I describe it thusly:
Sea Dog Riverdriver Porter pours to a dark mahogany color with a thick, towering head of rocky tan foam. In fact, I couldn’t even easily pour my 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass; it took a few attempts before the head subsided enough to get it all in. The nose is very appetizing and enticing with aromas of dark roasted malt and hazelnut. Dare I say coffee, anyone?
And when you take a sip, you may well think you’re tasting a cup of Joe rather than a bottle of brew. That’s because the rich, roasty flavors here are very coffeeish indeed, deep, dark, and delicious with chocolate and vanilla undertones. The nutty hazelnut flavors accent the roasted malt flavor perfectly, just as in a fine cup of hazelnut coffee.
Some buttery diacetyl is readily apparent, and this is definitely a Ringwood beer. Ringwood yeast is the signature of the Shipyard brewery, and is legendary for imparting buttery or butterscotch notes. To some (your faithful scribe included), these impart a decidedly English character. Finally, Riverdriver is well balanced in the finish with roasted malt, hazelnut essence, and a kiss of grassy English bittering hops.
I absolutely love this beer, and I’m glad to see it hasn’t changed since Shipyard took Sea Dog Over. Perfect when paired with sweet dishes, enjoy it just as you might a cup of coffee after dinner with dessert.
That’s because the two both used Ringwood yeast and Peter Austin brewing systems to make their beer. Ringwood being as unique a strain as it is, that was important, since without it Sea Dog’s beer would never be the same. And Sea Dog just happens to brew one of my very favorite beers of all, Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter. Sea Dog describes the beer as follows:
This beer is one of a kind! Four different malted barleys combine to create a distinctive, full-bodied beer with a roasted nuttiness, uniquely enhanced by a hint of hazelnuts. Smooth and creamy with the nose of the Willamette hop, this porter is a beer style unto itself.
More importantly, I describe it thusly:
Sea Dog Riverdriver Porter pours to a dark mahogany color with a thick, towering head of rocky tan foam. In fact, I couldn’t even easily pour my 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass; it took a few attempts before the head subsided enough to get it all in. The nose is very appetizing and enticing with aromas of dark roasted malt and hazelnut. Dare I say coffee, anyone?
And when you take a sip, you may well think you’re tasting a cup of Joe rather than a bottle of brew. That’s because the rich, roasty flavors here are very coffeeish indeed, deep, dark, and delicious with chocolate and vanilla undertones. The nutty hazelnut flavors accent the roasted malt flavor perfectly, just as in a fine cup of hazelnut coffee.
Some buttery diacetyl is readily apparent, and this is definitely a Ringwood beer. Ringwood yeast is the signature of the Shipyard brewery, and is legendary for imparting buttery or butterscotch notes. To some (your faithful scribe included), these impart a decidedly English character. Finally, Riverdriver is well balanced in the finish with roasted malt, hazelnut essence, and a kiss of grassy English bittering hops.
I absolutely love this beer, and I’m glad to see it hasn’t changed since Shipyard took Sea Dog Over. Perfect when paired with sweet dishes, enjoy it just as you might a cup of coffee after dinner with dessert.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
