Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series: XXXX IPA

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I found this more like a barleywine versus a DIPA. Not quite as hoppy as expected, which is probably why I taste the grain more. Has some bitter to it. Not really worth the price for this style. Glad I found in a single 12 oz. sample instead of an overpriced bomber.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Strong aroma is quite hoppy, with malty and subtle apple juice notes as well. It pours a clear tawny with a decent, if not persistent, light buff head. Seriously hoppy flavor has sweet fruity, woody and malty notes and just a touch of - varnish? That weird flavor, tho, diminishes as I drink. Barely bitter, not too sweet, satisfying if not outstanding. Smooth texture has good body and a fizz that strengthens when you send it downstairs. Hop to your nearest package store and see if they have it for sail.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

625ml bottle
9.3% ABV (as marked on bottle)
King/Spadina LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
September 29, 2012
Part of the Fall 2012 Shipyard feature at the LCBO. The beer pours a hazed reddish-orange with a 1/2" light tan head. Aroma is tropical fruits, lots of citrusy hops, and pine. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with medium carbonation. Flavour weak grapefruit hops, some sticky caramel notes, as well. A little too sweet to be great, but still pretty good.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Sampled from a 625m; bottle - Having sampled Shipyard’s strong fruit beers – (smashed blueberry and pumpkin) I was not enthusiastic about this big IPA because I found their blueberry and pumpkin ales to hide their high alcohol volume poorly – both had a strong fusel alcohol smell and were “hot” on the palate. How wrong it is to judge a whole line by a few"average beers – the best of the lot is this XXXX IPA. It’s big in flavour and alcohol but it hides the booze well with huge crystal/cara malts and lush west coast hopping. It’s HUGE! – but drinkable and neither hot from alcohol or too bitter from hop infusion. Rarely have I tasted a big IPA at 9.3%abv that hides its booze so well. No a great double IPA but a very good one.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

One of three new ones at the LCBO (with their Barleywine and Imperial Porter). Pours a clean deep amber colour with an off-white head that gives out mild lace. Caramel malt scent with loads of hops and hints of grain. Wet mouthfeel with a little dryness. Nicely balanced taste with the sweetness of the caramel malt and the bitterness of the hop. Notes of fruits (raisins, grapefruits), nuts and butterscotch. An easy-drinking Imperial IPA with no alcohol burning that has lots to offer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

aroma a little overly sweet and bready. flavor more well balanced but i’d prefer more hops in a dbl ipa. tasty, but just not a standout within the style. nice body. almost thick.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Deep orange pour with a nice head. Aroma of hops and pine, great lacing on the glass. Intense flavor of hops and citrus on this beer. Very intense tasting IPA.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

A rather enjoyable IIPA from Shipyard, and clearly a notch above their b-wine. The beer pours out a clear golden/amber body with a rather large creamy beige head. Aroma is decidedly grapefruits but there’s also enough biscuity/caramel malts to really notice. The alcohol also asserts itself in the aroma. The flavor is mostly sweet for a IIPA. Lots of residual sugars left behind it seems. Grapefruit keeps things in check with the style department and some floral notes really escape, which was nice. Finish is hot with alcohol with a tight bitterness. Pretty nice.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours out in a reddish amber colour with a rich white head. Grapefruit and pin-needles in the aroma on a rather solid foundation of caramel. Nearly full-bodied with notes of orange-peels, grapefruit, caramel and nectarines. Lemon-zest, grapefruit and grass in the medium to high bitter aftertaste with touches of caramel and berries. Best offering from Shipyard so far.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

I don’t think I’ve seen such an orange colored beer before. Deep, deep orange with ever so slight brownish tinge. Moderate frothy off-white head. Settles into robust lacing. Gentle scents of pine and hoppy oils rise to the nose. A little thin in the body. The taste is a BIG bite of citrus, resin and alcohol. This is in taste a bold, in your face IPA. Went well with the simple summer fare of hamburger and fries.