3.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 3
Flavor 3
Texture 4
Overall 4
Blue point winter ale. Isn’t it something, when you buy some of these beers, you have no idea of exactly what you’re getting? Winter ale? Could be anything. Looking at RB site, this is amber ale. 12 oz brown bottle. Beery aroma when you pop the cap. Does have some hop smell in there. The pour is darker than your typical pale yellow beer, it is brownish but not dark. There is a froth on top that is white to alabaster in color. Now I think it smells something like a strong ale. I see I have not rated many amber ales. The first flavor hint is that of a medium bitter malty hop. After each sip there is a rise of bubbles. Medium bitterness bite continues but does not build. The flavor of this is on par with Erie Brewing Mad Anthonys Ale and Mendocino Red Tail Ale. However, it does not have the palate of Great Divide Ridgeline Amber Ale (Arapahoe Amber). As I recall, the ridgeline is more enjoyable without the bitterness and lack of carbonation. The finish is medium bitterness and it does linger for awhile but it is not as oppressive as your typical pale ale medicine quality. However, it does let you know that you drank a hoppy malty beer, very little if any roasty qualities.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Feb 2007
at 15:49
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
I had several samples of this at the Blue Point cask fest, served from the "world’s largest cask," which, as durandal points out, was simply a fermenter with a hand pump attached - quite hazy golden out of the pump, with an impressive, and quite foamy head for a cask beer - people talk a lot about hoppy beers having a grapefruit aroma, but this beer had the biggest, brightest grapefruit aroma I’ve ever smelled, along with some other fruits, such as peach and orange - the background of the aroma is mostly sticky sweet-smelling malts,some bready/yeasty character, and suprisingly subdued alcohol - quite full-bodied and "chewy," as they say - the beer is a bit cloying at first, with a lot of syrupy, carmel flavor, but a gradual swell of woody/pine-like, dry, earthy hop character balances it out just in time - the alcohol is a bit apparent, but as this is a young beer, I’m sure that will mellow out in no time - my only concern is that, once they keg it (and possibly bottle it) they will filter all of the goodness out of it - but, on cask, this is one formidable IIPA, and one that stands up to the best of them.
Tried
from Cask
on 28 Jan 2007
at 14:31
6.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask tumbler at DBA on 1/13/07
Dark beige, creamy head is small but well-retained atop a deep milk-chocolate brown body with very dark violet and auburn tints on the edges. Not bright, but not overly muddy/opaque. More like a medium clarity. Little specks of lace are left behind.
Very sweet notes of chocolate fudge soothe the nose. More challenging notes of light roasted barley impart a pleasant vinousness while a bit of dry breadiness balances things on the backside. The malts never go overboard, however, and the beer keeps a rather elegant air about itself, never getting too thickly sweet or cloying. Light, fresh yeast is quite notable on the end, and while it’s very clean and lightly nutty, it cuts short some of the sweetness with an almost nutty blandness. Medium sweet caramel and light toffee are continually found with more dry breadiness mixing with the dark fruits to give a slight tinge of sourness. Soft, graceful hops are moderately aromatic, juicy and floral and do not show any overdone bitterness. No alcohol noted, medium strength of aroma.
Pleasantly sweet in the mouth, quite velvety with layers of soft caramel, light toffee and milk chocolate. Minor breadiness and a lack of exposed, hard crystal malt is readily apparent here (and looking at the commercial description, that’s probably because there is no crystal malt in it, lol). A touch of prunes and light grapes midway through, finishing with dark chocolate, caramel and green, floral hops. Low carbonation, but no looseness of body for a cask ale. Really free from any syrupiness, sluggishness or cloying sweetness, despite the fact that it manages to stay mostly sweet the entire time. Clean yeast dryness is felt on the end. No warming from alcohol and no flaws. A lighter, less complex example, but done very well for what it is.
Dark beige, creamy head is small but well-retained atop a deep milk-chocolate brown body with very dark violet and auburn tints on the edges. Not bright, but not overly muddy/opaque. More like a medium clarity. Little specks of lace are left behind.
Very sweet notes of chocolate fudge soothe the nose. More challenging notes of light roasted barley impart a pleasant vinousness while a bit of dry breadiness balances things on the backside. The malts never go overboard, however, and the beer keeps a rather elegant air about itself, never getting too thickly sweet or cloying. Light, fresh yeast is quite notable on the end, and while it’s very clean and lightly nutty, it cuts short some of the sweetness with an almost nutty blandness. Medium sweet caramel and light toffee are continually found with more dry breadiness mixing with the dark fruits to give a slight tinge of sourness. Soft, graceful hops are moderately aromatic, juicy and floral and do not show any overdone bitterness. No alcohol noted, medium strength of aroma.
Pleasantly sweet in the mouth, quite velvety with layers of soft caramel, light toffee and milk chocolate. Minor breadiness and a lack of exposed, hard crystal malt is readily apparent here (and looking at the commercial description, that’s probably because there is no crystal malt in it, lol). A touch of prunes and light grapes midway through, finishing with dark chocolate, caramel and green, floral hops. Low carbonation, but no looseness of body for a cask ale. Really free from any syrupiness, sluggishness or cloying sweetness, despite the fact that it manages to stay mostly sweet the entire time. Clean yeast dryness is felt on the end. No warming from alcohol and no flaws. A lighter, less complex example, but done very well for what it is.
Tried
from Cask
on 25 Jan 2007
at 10:27
7.6/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Sampled on draft at Rivertowne Inn in North Huntington PA this beer poured a bright orange-amber color with a large yellow-white head. The aroma was sweet fruity and floral hops. The flavor was sweet malts followed by fruity and floral hops that were fairly strong. The finish was crisp, tangy, bitter and hoppy. A pleasant surprise.
Tried
from Draft
on 02 Jan 2007
at 21:03
5.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Sampled on draft at Rivertowne Inn in North Huntington PA this beer poured a vibrant bright golden color with a medium sized yellow-white head. The aroma was light tangy malts and floral hops. The flavor was sour and tangy malts with a light body and a crisp floral hop presence. The hops linger on the finish. Very basic.
Tried
from Draft
on 02 Jan 2007
at 20:59
3/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 2
Texture 2
Overall 3
On tap at the Bocktown Bar in the Robinson Township Shopping Complex. Pours like any other american pale ale - transparent yellow but perhaps a little darker than typical. Same aroma as most IPA, fruity grapefuit. Lotts of bitter grapefruit peel in the first taste. As with any other IPA flavor is intense with hops. Has more personality than I desire. You hop lovers are laughing. Finish is long and lingering astringent bitter. Like medicine.
Tried
from Draft
on 27 Dec 2006
at 18:00
5.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 4
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 7.5
On tap at the Bocktown bar & grill in Robinson Twp. Pours very dark brown/black, with a slight reddish glow, in my glass. Aroma is a little yeasty and pleasant. Initially when it hits your tongue it seems a bit bitter but then it fades to a nice mellow creamyness that is smooth on your tongue. Roasty mellow tones and its still creamy. Finish is enjoyable and not too bitter. It sticks with you for a while and may be a tad weak. Overall a good sweet stout. Of the 8 I tried on tap, this was the best.
Tried
from Draft
on 27 Dec 2006
at 16:03
6.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Hazy golden ale with a thick creamy lightly off white head. A light restrained hoppy floral aroma with resinous qualities. In mouth, a good malt with decent hopping, well balanced with the malt, with orangey notes, and light candy sweetness. Medium bodied. Classy.
Tried
from Can
on 12 Dec 2006
at 17:13
3.6/10
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Appearance 2
Aroma 2
Flavor 5
Texture 2
Overall 5.5
On tap at the Trivia Pub in Moon Twp. Pours like any other darker yellow shade of American lager. Very little aroma. Very smooth flavor, nothing toasty, tho. Nothing offensive detectable. Clean and easy to drink.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Dec 2006
at 20:42
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pours bright gold into a shaker. Off-white micro head leaves mounds and lacing as it slowly recedes. Grapefruit and resin aromas. Creamy sweet upfront with a tangy citrus finish.
Tried
on 04 Dec 2006
at 18:47