If you’re a beer enthusiast like I am, you can’t help but notice the rising tide of beer prices these days. Good beer just seems to get more expensive every time you turn around, far exceeding the rate of inflation. That being the case, it’s nice to get a bargain every now and then, for whatever reason. I did just that when I got a six-pack of Shipyard Summer Ale on clearance at Total Wine for $5.98. Summer may be over, but fall days are still warm here in Georgia, and Shipyard Summer Ale certainly still hits the spot.
My bottles were stamped with a freshness date that tells me the beer is “Best By” December of 2013. I don’t put a lot of stock in such dates. After all, it’s not like the beer magically turns bad the day after the best by warning runs out. But they are helpful in giving you an idea how old your brew is anyway. Nice to see I got a very good price on a relatively fresh beer.
Shipyard Summer Ale normally sells for $8.99 a six-pack at Total Wine, which is actually higher than the brewery’s suggested retail price of $8.50. Shipyard posted the suggested retail price in an April, 2013 press release announcing the introduction of Shipyard Summer Ale in cans. That’s the first time, I think, that I’ve ever seen a suggested retail price for craft beer.
Some specs on the beer from the brewery:
Malt: 2-Row British Pale Ale, Light Munich, Malted Wheat
Hops: Hallertau
Yeast: Top-Fermenting English
Color: Golden
OG: 1.058
ABV: 4.8%
Food Pairings: Seafood
First Brewed: June 1995
Availability: April - August
Available: 12oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, Keg
Shipyard Summer Ale pours to a bright golden color with a medium sized creamy head formation and a citrusy, slightly buttery nose. Taking a sip I get some caramel maltiness up front with just a bit of wheat tartness, though certainly not as much in your average wheat beer. Buttery diacetyl notes are very apparent and add a distinctive English character; at the last the beer has a very pleasing grassy aroma and gentle bitterness from the Hallertau hops.
A very tasty, quaffable brew perfect for summer or late fall imbibing.
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