Hey Shipyard! What took you so long to get into the “Black IPA” business? You really should have called it India Dark Ale, but we’ll cut you some slack on that. This is a style that has grown on me since I tried my very first one and it’s nice to see one of my favorite breweries get in on the action with Shipyard Black IPA.

I’ve long enjoyed the Ringwood ales produced by Portland, Maine’s Shipyard brewery, and kudos to founder Alan Pugsley for bringing a non-stop parade of wonderful British-style ales from old England to New England (and the rest of the country) since the 1990s. Shipyard is one of those breweries that I think gets overlooked far too often. Like Saranac and Sam Adams, their staple beers are ubiquitous and approachable. Still, they offer lots of great specialty brews as well.

I would lump their Black IPA into the latter category. Here’s what they say about it:

Shipyard Black IPA is for the pirate in you. This is a dark black beer that combines a rich malty character with the crisp flavor and aroma of American Northwest hops. It’s a beer the legendary Blackbeard would have hoisted as he sailed the seven seas. It’s worth walking the plank for!

Shipyard Black IPA has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume and runs about $9.99 a six-pack in my area. My bottle has a best before date of April of 2015, but I drank my bottle on May 21^st and it was delicious.

Shipyard Black IPA pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head and a luscious complex nose of roasted malts, coffee and licorice. Taking a sip, the beer has a wonderful roastiness up front followed by some very astringent dark roasty notes that are even more intense than the nose promised. The licorice and dark chocolate notes come through too but the body is medium, more akin to a porter than an IPA. A massive herbal grassy English bitterness comes through at the last and lingers long dry and grassy on the tongue. I really love the massive licorice and huge hops in the finish.

I found this to be a wonderful English style India Dark Ale. It’s the most “English” leaning IDA I’ve come across; extra points for that novelty. Definitely a beer I’ll go back for more of.  

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



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