Shipyard "Export" American Golden Ale

Is this actually an exported beer? I mean, this one in particular, obviously, was NOT exported, as it came from Vermont to Tennessee, but I wonder if there is actually a class of beer that is ONLY for export like this might claim to be. It would be the opposite of Molsen Canadian, which doesn't leave the country of Canada. I have too many questions tonight.

I have had golden ales before, so I knew what to expect, but this is not what I was expecting. This isn't golden in color; it's kind of a dirty copper. It also scares away any semblance of a head pretty darn quickly. I found myself rushing to try and get this picture to have some head left on it. Now that I write the review, there are maybe a dozen tiny bubbles clinging to one side of the glass, and that's it. I double-checked the label, and this is not barrel aged. The aroma is strangely light orange and sweet malt, but it's faint as all heck. 

First sip is unlike any golden ale I've had before. If I didn't know what this was going in, I would say this is maybe a strong ale or a very fringe take on an amber. The malt is sweet and a bit off - maybe there's some sorghum or something that is making this taste different than the crisp, straight-forward style that is a golden ale. Maybe it has something to do with this being an "export." I don't know.

Tip-in is carmel-toffee malt with a slight bit of orange coming through from the hops and a ghost of that sorghum-like sour-moss taste. The middle brings carbonation on the top of the mouth while the malt gets watered down for a not entirely enjoyable center. The finish is a move to bitterness while the sorghum unpleasantness is retained for the trail-off. 

Bottom Line: Not great.

1.0/5