by Jimmy Cocktail
25. June 2010 05:00
For those of you that don’t know, scrimshaw is an art form that was practiced by sailors on whale boats back in the 19th century. These whaling trips could take up to three years and while they out to sea, the sailors would pass the time by practicing this art. They would take ivory from whales or walrus and etch designs on to the surface. Some of these have become quite valuable and collectable over the years.
While it wouldn’t have surprised me in the least to find a New England beer named for this art form, I did find it a touch out of place that a California brewery named a beer after it. After all, the whaling industry was centered out of New Bedford, Massachusetts and the boats being pulled around by a harpooned whale was called a Nantucket sleigh ride. In spite of this geographic disconnect in the name, I’ve found that Scrimshaw is a pretty decent beer.
First of all, the beer is a pilsner. I tend not to be a fan of pilsners unless it is a hot summer day and I’ve been doing some work. Then they taste pretty decent but even then I’ll opt for something with a little more body if they are available. However, the folks at North Coast Brewing seem to have nailed the style pretty well.
The beer starts with a nice creamy head with very little lacing and a nice golden color. The nose has an underpinning of malt with a bit of pine and citrus mixed in. On the palate you find a nice bit of malt with a touch of hops and citrus. It has a very nice and dry finish. Simply put, I would purchase this beer over any mass market pilsner every time.
Subscribe