Shipyard Brewing Company - Tremont Freedom Trail IPA

Originally, through the center of the peninsula that was Boston, rose what was called the Trimountain, a series of three hills known as Mount Vernon, Beacon Hill and Pemberton Hill. A corruption of the term Trimountain was “Tri-Mount”, and ultimately, “Tremont”, hence the name of this originally Boston-based beer line. On the nose, expect a powdery, musty, creamy butteriness—in other words, diacetyl, the hallmark feature of the famed British Ringwood Yeast strain used to brew this beer. This, being modeled after a traditional English IPA, has some citrus notes, but they are muted compared with most domestic IPAs. Look for fruity notes as well, including overripened apples and apple skins. On the palate, expect toasty, almost biscuity malt characters—some notes of toasted saltines, all riding a current of low-lying mustiness (again, from the yeast). Finishes with some nice belly warming, and slight butterscotch aromas & flavors which are cut into by the ample hopping. Ends quite bitter, but expect a refined, not overbearing bitterness, with after-notes of apple skins and buttered popcorn.

The history of the Shipyard Brewing Company began around 1992 when real estate developer Fred Forsley hired British brewer Alan Pugsley as a consultant to set up a brewpub within a port revitalization project in Kennebunk, Maine. The two set sail into brewing history upon founding Federal Jack's Brew Pub, the birthplace of The Shipyard ales. Federal Jack's, named for one of the most famous ships built in the port back in 1908, quickly rose to local fame, with Fred and Alan seeing consumer demand for The Shipyard beers soar. Eager to meet the challenge of expansion, they acquired four acres on Portland's historic working waterfront in 1994, with Alan moving out of his consulting role and joining The Shipyard as Master Brewer and part owner. Alan Pugsley, often referred to as the Johnny Appleseed of brewing in the USA, has worked with many breweries and brewpubs in physical and recipe design. In 1993, he was contracted as a consultant to the Tremont Brewery installation and recipe development in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Between 1997 and 2002 Tremont was awarded Boston Magazine’s reader’s poll “Best of Boston” five times. Not exactly an atypical result for projects touched by the hands of Alan Pugsley. But for a variety of reasons, the brewery closed down in 2001. Brewing of the Tremont beers was transferred to a contract-brewing facility in upstate New York for two years before being re-worked to their former glory by Alan at his Shipyard Brewery from 2003-2005. The Shipyard purchased the right to the Tremont Brands in 2005 and has been lovingly looking after them since then—it’s a story where despite the ups and downs of the market, businesses folding, and brewers getting fed up with it all, some good beers find a way to keep on living—and some folks like Alan Pugsley are the thoughtful stewards this world needs to spread the better beer around. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (800) 789-0684 or check out their web site at www.shipyard.com.