Arcadia Ales- Barrel Aged Shipwreck Porter: It plunders your taste buds!
Monday, May 23, 2011 at 3:54PM | by Wes 
It is not often that I can say I have never tried a certain style of beer, but I can safely say that I have never had a barrel aged porter. Shipwreck was a hookup from my Michigan connection Ryan. When a single 12 oz. bottle is waxed sealed and costs seven bucks a piece, it better not suck. Since Pirates of the Caribbean 4 comes out this weekend, the timing seemed just right. Let’s see if Shipwreck steals the booty or walks the plank?
Shipwreck BAP pours black and thick like molasses. The carbonation was minimal and the head was as sparse as a library in Arkansas. Anyone hoping to pick up traditional porter scents like roasted malt and coffee will be disappointed. This beer smells like bourbon on top of bourbon. There is a slight hint of vanilla as well. Shipwreck has an amazing profile. It smells like a mall Santa’s breathe, in a good way.
Arcadia Ales has created a beast in this bottle. The bourbon aging is actually much more subtle in the taste than it is in the nose. The initial mouthfeel is warm and scotchy. That flavor quickly gives way to a roasted coffee and malt blast that finishes very dry. Honestly Shipwrecked is actually a little too dry, it reminds me of wine. The fact that I write for a beer-blog should let you know how I feel about wine.
Shipwreck reminded me a lot of Two-face from the Batman universe. One side is good and at the flip of a coin the other half is pure evil. Shipwreck BAP is amazing aesthetically and tastes like heaven initially. But like an old lemon of a car, it takes some time to find all the faults. The ending is just not my cup of tea, or coffee… or wine… or… ok, you get my point. Arcadia has a cool idea, but sometimes ideas are only awesome on paper, i.e. “The Hindenburg.”
ABV: 12%
Consumed: Ionic Pint Glass
Verdict: Buy A Six Pack
