Shipyard Brewing Company - Summer Ale

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 12 oz. twist-off bottle, poured into a pint glass

The Summer Ale from Maine-based Shipyard pours a moderately pale straw body. The beer's medium-thin head is bright white in color, but has almost no retention and leaves no lacing on the glass. The nose is slightly sour and gives an overly sweet malty aroma. There's a bit of dryness among the almost candied edge with no noticeable hops of substance.

The beer sports a sweet raw maltiness that is thin and disappointingly almost sugary sweet. Despite some redeeming honey-like characteristics, it comes off vaguely cloying. There are no perceptible hops and likewise no true depth of flavor. The malt character is not enough to hold its own without an aromatic counterpart. The carbonation is moderate and semi-refreshing, but it doesn't help make this beer any more enjoyable.

Final Verdict: D

Narragansett Brewing Company - Light Lager

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits
Serving Type: 16 oz. "tall-boy" can, poured into a Becker pint

Having reviewed all of the other beers from Narragansett (the Lager, and the three seasonals) I felt it necessary to round out the bunch with the Light Lager. The beer pours a light straw body with moderate-to-high visible carbonation. The head is a stark white with an airy and voluminous consistency. The retention is moderate with a light crackling as the head fades away. There is little-to-no lacing to be found here.

The nose is high on sweet sticky malt and grain. There's a light bit of mustiness, with barely a hint of hops, as well. The mouthfeel is crisp but unrewarding. It's way to the fizzy side, far from robust. The taste is sweet and slightly sour. Light, watery grains define the beer with only a thought of hops. Solid as light beers go, but nothing special.

Final Verdict: D

Stoudts - Triple

Stoudts - Triple

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits

Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a goblet

Stoutds’ Triple is a take on the strong Belgian style and pours a slightly burnt orange body with a heavy white head that doesn’t last for long. The cloudy beer is diffuse with floating yeast. The nose is very sweet with some typical Belgian spices including coriander and some orangey citrus aroma. It smells a bit like a witbier, but with alcoholic fumes evaporating from the glass.

There’s a nice upfront spiciness and the beer is initially sweet, but borders heavily on cloying. The alcohol heat steps in early, and nearly crushes all of the flavor in the beer. After the bombardment the mouthfeel seems to go a bit flat and watery. Both the finish and the aftertaste are alcoholic and unpleasant. One thing most good Belgian Tripels do is mask their considerable alcohol content with malts, hops, and spice. This one can’t seem to come close to that achievement.

Final Verdict: D