Shipyard Melon Wheat Ale

Review Date 8/16/2021 By John Staradumsky

I don’t see Shipyard beers that often anymore, so when I do, I pick them up. Time was, there were always Shipyard beers in my fridge and my stash, though that time was when I lived in Rhode Island. Today, I live in Georgia, and while we have seen Shipyard on store shelves here in the past, it’s been a while since I have run across any.

So, when I came across a can of Shipyard Melon Wheat Ale (formerly Shipyard Melonhead), I was all over it. I got this beer from Craftshack.com, and truth be told, it’s the only Shipyard beer I’ve ever seen there. I never did get a chance to try the Melonhead, so I was all over this one (really the same beer).

I do love watermelon ales, you see. What’s more refreshing in summer than an ice-cold slice of watermelon, super delicious and fruity with all that juice dribbling down your chin as you take a bite? The only thing that I can think of is an ice-cold glass of watermelon ale, super delicious and fruity-but a lot less messy. Two of my all-time favorites are Boston beer Works Watermelon Ale and Coddington Brewpub Watermelon Ale.

Shipyard says on the can label:

Our Melon wheat ale is a light, clean, crisp, and bursting with flavors of candied watermelon and sweet malts. Whether you’re heading to the beach, or barbecuing with friends, Shipyard Melon is the perfect summer refreshment.

From the website:

FIRST BREWED: March 2013

MALT STYLE: Pale Ale, Whole Wheat, Munich Light

YEAST: Top-Fermenting English

HOPS: Willamette, Saphir

Rind blowing Flavor!

Rind blowing flavor. Clever, that. Shipyard Melon Wheat Ale has an alcohol content of 4.4% by volume with just 10 IBUs. I paid $3.49 for a can from craftshack, and Total Wine sells it for $10.99 a six-pack, though not in Georgia. My can is stamped 04/26/21.

Shipyard Melon Wheat Ale pours to a beautiful golden-brown color with a thick white fluffy head of foam and a nose of refreshing watermelon fruit. Taking a sip, the beer has an interesting caramel maltiness, hints of rock candy and butter, then juicy and refreshing watermelon fruit. It finishes gently bitter, which balances it nicely, and begs you to take another pull. Judged as a fruit beer, and a watermelon wheat, I could get used to this one easily enough. It’s the perfect quencher on a hot summer day like today, and I love the way the Ringwood yeast adds a touch of buttery English character.

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, canned

(D)=Draft

 

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