Review - Shipyard Brewing Company's Longfellow Winter Ale
"This beer is indeed a full-bodied Strong Ale; a Hybrid between a Porter and a Scottish Ale…This hearty winter warm ale is named in honor of American poet Henry Longfellow." --Shipyard Brewing Company
Pours a medium brown to dark chestnut color producing a healthy tan coloered fizzy head with good retention. Body settles dark and opaque with more of a dark brown hue, and the head is leaving thin watery lacing behind. The aroma is dominant and does not retreat into the glass. The nose is happy with a creamy, buttery presence but is surprised by the malty, maple syurp and brown sugar presence. Initial taste is lightly bitter with some slight coffee notes, but matures quickly to a moderately bittersweet finish with some bitter chocolate at the end. Light to medium bodied, it has a watery texture with a malty mouthfeel carrying a dominant caramel presence. At the finish, it leaves the mouth dry. This is a very tasty ale.
From the complexity in the taste, it fits into the description as a hybrid between a porter and a Scottish ale.
Reviewed on February 15th, 2009.
