Projo Beer Blog

Boulder Beer offered a nice sample with a porter, a pale ale, an amber ale and a winter ale. My favorites were the amber ale and the winter ale, called Never Summer Ale, which is "assertively hopped and brewed with dark caramel malt," according to Boulder Beer's Web site.

And though it might seem late to be drinking those fuller winter ales, Boulder's Never Summer Ale was the perfect complement for a cool spring evening by the grill.

Unfortunately, Rhode Islanders might have to travel to Massachusetts or Connecticut to find Boulder Beer. The Web site indicates that its distribution is restricted to Colorado and 20 other states. I bought it in Buzzards Bay, Mass.

And, heck, from the look of the Web site, a trip to thethe brewery and pub in Boulder, Colo., might be worth the drive.

Closer to home, the Shipyard Brewing Co., makes a trip to its brewery in Portland, Maine, or one of its pubs seem worthwhile, too, although I suspect their offerings are easier to find in southern New England.

Thanks to Shipyard's Captain's Collection, I discovered Shipyard Export Ale, the brewery's flagship ale, which it describes as "a full-bodied ale, with a hint of sweetness up front, a subtle, distinctive hop taste, and a very clean finish."

The Captain's Collection I bought included a couple of brown ales (one of them its Brewer's Choice Special Ale) and a porter, but Shipyard's Web site indicates that it changes the beers included in the collection.