Review Date 3/20/2011
Try?
Re-buy?
About a year and a half ago, I picked up a 22 ounce bomber bottle of Shipyard Imperial Porter, part of the Pugsley Signature Series limited edition line of brews. As I am often wont to do, I promptly stashed it away with the rest of my beers that I’m aging, just for the fun of it. I always seem to have more beer than I can drink, after all. And yes, that’s quite a bit.
Anyway, I recently popped out my now year and a half old bottle and decided to give it whirl. This is an Imperial porter, or Baltic porter, after all, but at 7.1% alcohol by volume it’s not an exceedingly potent one. So, I didn’t want to wait too long on it. Most Baltic porters are lagers, though this one seemed far more ale-like to me.
A bit about the style: Imperial Porters, or Baltic Porters, evolved as an offshoot of the Imperial Stout style. They were brewed originally in the Baltic States and Poland, influenced by the rich dark malty stouts that were exported from Britain and beloved by the Czars of Russia. Those, of course, made their way through Baltic ports.
The Pugsley Signature Series is, of course, named for the Portland, Maine Shipyard Brewery ‘s head brewer Alan Pugsley. Pugsley is an English immigrant famous for introducing the wonderfully unique Ringwood strain to America.
From the brewery’s blog:
Malt: Crystal, Chocolate and Black Patent
Hops: Warrior, English Fuggles, and East Kent Goldings
OG: 1.070
ABV: 7.1%
Shipyard Imperial Porter pours to a jet black color with a light creamy tan head formation and a rich licorice nose. The body is not so thick as the color might indicate. The palate is packed with the licorice the nose promised plus notes of bittersweet chocolate, espresso, raisin, prune and perhaps a hint of vanilla. In the finish, some minty grassy English hops emerge along with a good deal of roasty bitterness to balance and dry the whole affair nicely.
While Shipyard’s Imperial Porter is not as big as an Imperial Stout, it shouldn’t be: this is an Imperial Porter. It’s very complex, and while I wouldn’t favor it over a classic of the style like Okocim or Zywiec, I really like this brew all the same. It’s not overbearing, but still packs a fruity, dark malty punch. I don’t know if it’s still sold in 22 ounce bottles, though it seems Shipyard now sells it in 4-packs of 12-ounce bottles. It’s well worth picking up should you see it, and I suspect it’s as wonderful young as mine was with a bit of age on it.
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
