Shipyard Brewing Company - Longfellow Winter Ale

Named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, this beer is described by the brewery as a sort of hybrid between a porter and a Scottish ale, and we tend to agree with that assessment. It pours a very dark brown hue with a nice tan head displaying good retention. Expect a complex aroma profile composed of caramel, chocolate, and toffee notes alongside some deep down toastiness. Hints of smoke show off the Scottish ale influence here, while a touch of citrus and some other fruity tones add yet another dimension. The flavors largely follow the nose; look for a well-developed core of mildly sweet caramel with the moderate roasty char character of a good porter. Fruit esters pop through here and there, while the hops add a fairly clean bitterness with just a touch of citrus. Medium bodied, very well balanced, and a bit warming, Longfellow makes for a satisfying cool-weather brew and a great accompaniment to oysters – either on the half shell or fried. Cheers!

Federal Jack's quickly rose to local fame. Eager to meet the challenge of expansion, they acquired four acres on Portland's historic working waterfront in 1994, with Alan officially joining The Shipyard as Master Brewer and part owner. They have since become the largest brewery in the state of Maine. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (207) 761-0807 or check out their web site at www.shipyard.com.

Schooled and trained in the art of English ale brewing at the renowned Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England, under the tutelage of its founder, the legendary Peter Austin (who just recently passed away on Jan 1st, 2014 at the age of 92), Alan had designed breweries and formulated beers for over 65 well-known brew pubs and microbreweries worldwide, being referred to as "the Johnny Appleseed of Brewing". In the hopes of bringing true English-style ales to America, Alan had recently settled in Maine. Realizing the strengths that Alan could bring, and seduced by the appeal of the brewing industry, Fred hired Alan as a consultant, and they founded Federal Jack's Brew Pub, the birthplace of Shipyard ales.

In 1992, an entrepreneurial real estate consultant, Fred Forsley, was hired to explore new options for a troubled retail development in Kennebunk, Maine. The complex was located on the site of three historic 19th century shipyards. Fred felt he could successfully develop and sell a brew pub concept linked to the shipbuilding history of the town. Never planning to enter the brewing business, he originally set out to sell the developed property. But fate intervened when Fred was introduced to British Master Brewer Alan Pugsley.