Shipyard Light

[ray m]

The only reason this stuff is currently in my 'fridge is because I bought Shipyard's "Captain's Collection" 12-pack. I read several unfavorable reviews on Beer Advocate, so I've been a little hesitant to try it.

Anyway, this thread is to serve as a friendly warning to my fellow realbeer.com brethren. I'm a big Shipyard fan, but this stuff is absolutely terrible. Poured into my glass with near soda-pop fizz/carbonation levels. The color was a VERY thin, watery-looking yellow. Absolutely no body to this whatsoever, and when I tasted it, I would have sworn I was drinking water. No flavor, no body, no nothing. I honestly think that I would have gotten more pizzazz out of drinking a B/M/C.

I took two swigs and poured the rest down the sink.
I think I'll save the other two bottles for watering flowers or something.

[fretlessman71]

Don't be cruel to the flowers - save them for your BMC drinking friends. ;)

Better yet, take the empty bottle and put it near your front door on a stake as a warning to anyone who would bring a light beer into your domicile......

[studentofbeer]

save sam adams, this is the only other "lite" craft brew i've ever heard of. it seems like a strange thing for a brewery to do. is shipyard so big out east that they feel ready to cater to the lite beer crowd? Ive never had their beer and don't know much about them except for what i read about the ringwood yeast and all, but putting out a light beer just seems weird.

it sort of made sense for Sam Adams as they are a national brand that maybe has moved to a different marketing level than most craft beers, but to me putting out a lite beer almost spells the death of any serious asperations to make good beer. it has to dilute your brand a bit, though maybe it appeals to a wider group now, i don't know. i just don't understand why a person would buy a sam adams lite or shipyard lite over a BMC since those will still be cheaper, and the tastes can't be that different. Light beer is just a marketing ploy anyway.

[chazwicke]

I think many brewpubs offer a BMC like beer in their lineup so they may pacify the un-initiated. Not certain about a "lite" though.

[chazwicke]

Light beer is sort of like decaffinated coffee to me. There is no purpose for it.:D

[ray m]

You very well may be on to something, Studento'beer. To be honest, I half expected this brew to be somewhere along the lines of Sam Adams Light, which, IMHO, is not a bad "light" beer at all. Much to my dismay, I don't think it stacked up to anything by B/M/C!

Something else I noticed in this Cap'n's Collection, is the apparent reformulization of their Export Ale. It is definitely a lot less flavorful (and the color of the brew DEFINITELY went down a few SRM's) than when I had it several months back. Export Ale was definitely one of my fav's. What the heck is going on over there??:confused:

[fretlessman71]

Gordon Biersch serves a light lager as well.

What the heck is an SRM?

[Jake]

My thoughts about those who drink lite beer is they really don't like beer, but like the relaxing effect of alcohol.

[fretlessman71]

Or just like to urinate a lot..... :D

[chazwicke]

Well that happens to me when I'm in England...:D

[fretlessman71]

Yes, but we all know that given the option you'd rather just explode. :D

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
What the heck is an SRM?

It's a color measure, similar to Lovibond.

S.

[kevin]

is it lite or light, but really what makes a light beer?
Color
Taste
Calories
Alcohol

I just brewed an American Pilsner SRM 3 IBU 22 ABV 4.5% calories who cares?

Light in color but big in taste

[fretlessman71]

It's all subjective... American light lagers are low in calories and alcohol by definition, and light in color and taste by circumstance. And Miller Lite used to pass themselves off as "A Fine Pilsner Beer", so you be the judge.

Amstel Light actually was somewhat enjoyable for what it was when it was popular. Nothing to write home about, but okay when out at the bars "checking out the competition" and there's nothing else to drink. Blessedly, that's never the case here in CO.

[chazwicke]

I would no sooner drink Amstel Light then I would Stella. Yuck!

[fretlessman71]

With a gun to my head, and given a choice, it's Amstel all the way. Sorry.

[chazwicke]

I'd choose the gun.

[fretlessman71]

Yeah? Think of all the milds in Britain that you haven't got to taste yet.... ;)

[chazwicke]

I know. A friend of mine may have tickets to the Cream reunion concerts at Albert Hall in May. If he can get them then I'll be over. Even if he only gets one ticket I'll go.

[fretlessman71]

What, is he going to sit on your lap?

[chazwicke]

Nah. While I'd like to see them very much, I'm really going for the beer. So if only one ticket is gotten from our source in London than I'll go anyway skipping the show and he can have the ticket. Last year when we went to see the Clapton show at Albert Hall we had 2 tickets and I complained to him about it putting me behind on my beer schedule. My buddy is a guitarist and Clapton is one of his heros. (He loves the blues.) On the previous trip during GBBF he actually got to meet Clapton in person. So it means a lot for him to see him.

[fretlessman71]

Then go and get "milded" and have a good time. If I can afford the gas and the new tires I'll meet you there. ;)

[chazwicke]

If we do go, I'll rent an apartment like we did last time. Worked out well. Anyone who might want to join us better say so so I can figure how many Bedrooms we'll need.

[fretlessman71]

When is the trip again?

[chazwicke]

May. I'm not certain what dates if at all. I guess there is probably a website that gives the dates of the Albert Hall Cream Concert dates.

[Jake]

I don't home brew and can't say I understand everything that is involved with brewing beer. I like it therefore I drink it! What actually is lite beer? Less of eveything that they put into beer except water? Is it even possible to make lite beer that has taste?

[chazwicke]

There are beers that have subtle flavors and also less alcohol that taste pretty darn good. Woodfordes Wherry is a fine example. I think it clocks in at 3.8% but is a very nice beer.

[ray m]

Originally posted by Jake:

I don't home brew and can't say I understand everything that is involved with brewing beer. I like it therefore I drink it! What actually is lite beer? Less of eveything that they put into beer except water? Is it even possible to make lite beer that has taste?
_______________________________________

I guess it is not possible to make a light beer that has taste, if you ask the brewing boys at B/M/C or Shipyard!

Chaz is correct, tho. There are no such formulae that say high alcohol content = flavor or colors in beer other than piss yellow = flavor. There are a lot of stouts, milds, and pale ales/bitters from across the pond that have @ 4% abv but are quite tasty brews.

[chazwicke]

Guinness Draught is one of them.

[ray m]

Indeed it is, Chaz!!:)

[Jake]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chazwicke
[B]There are beers that have subtle flavors........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have had a few beers that fit that description, most had Pilsener as part of their name.

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by kevin
is it lite or light, but really what makes a light beer?
Color
Taste
Calories
Alcohol



IIRC, in Canada, it is a measure of ABV of less than 4.5%.
No mention of color or taste. So it is legalese up there, much like the term "malt liquor" is here.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
save sam adams, this is the only other "lite" craft brew i've ever heard of. it seems like a strange thing for a brewery to do. is shipyard so big out east that they feel ready to cater to the lite beer crowd? Ive never had their beer and don't know much about them except for what i read about the ringwood yeast and all, but putting out a light beer just seems weird.

it sort of made sense for Sam Adams as they are a national brand that maybe has moved to a different marketing level than most craft beers, but to me putting out a lite beer almost spells the death of any serious asperations to make good beer.

Shipyard pumped out over 50,000 barrels of beer last year and are one of the top 30 breweries in the US based on volume. So yeah....they're pretty big. Only Mass Bay Brewing (Harpoon) rivals their volume in New England. Shipyard is sold in 25+ states and has experienced double digit growth for at least 3 years running. They are big, getting bigger and profitable.

That said, I have gotten over my "craft brewers shouldn't brew light beer" attitude. If it sells, allows them to grow, and keep brewing good craft beer - more power to them. However, in Shipyard's case, I simply don't find their beer that interesting any more. The Ringwood yeast has run amock and their Export, Fuggles IPA (now just IPA?) and other beers have suffered. But the sales continue to clilmb and I doubt Alan Pugsley cares that I and others don't care for the Ringwood experiment going on in Portland. In fact, in a recent interview, he said as much - sales are climbing, so plenty of people like his beer. <shrugs>

And it seems that many craft/regional breweries have a beer in their lineup that falls into the light lager category, some with respectable reviews:

Gimme a Lite! (http://www.beeradvocate.com/top_beers.php?id=39)

Cheers!

[ray m]

Originally posted by newportstorm:
____________________________________
However, in Shipyard's case, I simply don't find their beer that interesting any more. The Ringwood yeast has run amock and their Export, Fuggles IPA (now just IPA?) and other beers have suffered....
____________________________________

I totally agree, especially in regards to their Export Ale. As I stated earlier, I really noticed a difference in this beer between when I had it last month, and as early as, say, 1 year ago. It was one of my faves, but not anymore. A shame, really.