Still in the Tampa area today, for lunch we tried to find a brewpub. After the GPS successfully helped us find two brewpubs which were now closed, we finally succeeded in finding the Miller’s Tampa Ale House. I was disappointed however, that a place with “Ale House” in the name didn’t have a great beer selection.
Before the meal, I ordered a Shipyard Export Ale draft, which arrived a pale yellow color with a thin creamy head. It seemed to maintain the head you see here for quite a while. I noticed a light hop smell which came across almost like a fruity (maybe a bit like a pear smells) and lemony aroma.
It had a light-medium body and the carbonation gave it a sharpness on the tongue. There were some very slight malty/caramel flavors, but it was predominantly a citrusy/lemony hop bitterness that had a bit of grassiness to it. As an” export ale,” I thought it would have a bit different hop characteristic.
I didn’t have my food yet, but after tasting it, I think it would probably go with well with fried fish. It’s got the malty flavors which would compliment the fried coating, yet the grassy/lemony flavors to compliment the fish. It was OK, but I’m not sure if it’s really my style of beer. I guess it’s considered a blonde ale, but it’s body wasn’t quite light enough to make the grassy/lemony flavors refreshing.
May 15, 2010
I was born and raised in Maine so I was quite pleased to see you gave one of our beers a try! Shipyard Ale is definitely not one of Maine’s ‘best’ craft beers, but it certainly is a decent (albeit somewhat one-dimensional) brew. I’m also excited to learn that you can find it on draft so far from Maine. You sure can’t find it on draft in my current home [Arizona].
-Prost!
D.Lux