Bass Ackwards Berryblue Ale
Sebago Brewing Company

Bass Ackwards Berryblue AleBass Ackwards Berryblue Ale
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From:
Sebago Brewing Company
 
United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
4%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.43 | pDev: 11.95%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 11, 2017
Added:
Nov 25, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Bass Ackwards Berryblue Ale is brewed during the Maine blueberry harvest. It is an unfiltered, all-natural mild pale ale made with real Maine blueberry juice. It is a refreshing, well balanced beer that has a crisp, fruity aroma and finishes clean and dry. The name Bass Ackwards Berryblue Ale is for its unconventional use of only fresh blueberries in the fermenter. The result is a surprisingly simple drinkability that enables you to drink more than one. Try a Black and Blue, our Bass Ackwards mixed with our rich Lake Trout Stout.

13.4 IBU
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Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a nice hazy dark brown close to light purple tinges along the sides of the glass. There’s a decent light sliding lacing trickling down the sides of the glass. The smell had the blueberry obviously up front. It comes in fairly hard with a nice drive of some light malts to back it all up. The taste was mainly sweet through the blueberry and the malts. It leaves a decent sweet sticky blueberry aftertaste and a super refreshing finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation was mainly subdued and lets the blueberry just coat my mouth and tongue. Overall, this was a pretty good beer to have as a dessert on late Summer in the evening.
Jun 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jul 07, 2013
Photo of BEERMILER12
Reviewed by BEERMILER12 from Maine

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
2012 bottle

A: Pours a mixture of copper and ruby red, with definite blueberry-colored hues and almost no head

S: Blueberries, light crusty maltiness, and very light hops

T: Follows the nose, almost like a low-sugar blueberry pie in terms of how the blueberries work with the malts. Definitely not on the sweet side for a fruit beer

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, nothing out of the ordinary

O: One of the more "true" fruit beers that doesn't try to sweeten or put artificial fruit in, but it's fairly one-dimensional and bland in the flavor department. It's really difficult to pull off a "true" fruit beer and really please people, though, and this one is well done at least. Just could use a little more kick or something to really give it an upper hand
Aug 01, 2012
Photo of BeerKangaroo
Reviewed by BeerKangaroo from Alaska

3.37/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
At South Portland location:

In a chalice:

A: hazy yet dark maroon/amber colored body with barely any head and some spider-web lacing was left on the glass.

S: centered around the blueberries and some wheat faintly in the background.

T: pretty much the same with a slight malty bready flavor.

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, just a decent feel between wet and dry.

O: this was nothing special and nothing to necesarily need to have again.
Jul 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Nov 27, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by nmann08 from Virginia

Nov 26, 2011
Photo of viaingo
Reviewed by viaingo from Maine

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Type: Fruit Beer
Color: Amber
Body: Lightly carbonated
Head: Off white thick head that lasts
Taste: Dry and fruity. This is a perfect balance of taste with the earthy taste from being unfiltered and the tarty taste of the berries.
Aroma: Dry, malty, hint of berry.

Overall, this is the best blueberry beer I have ever tried. Bass Ackwards certainly plays to the fruity lovers and the beer lovers. The fact that it's made from real Maine blueberries is just a bonus.
Nov 17, 2011
Photo of Duhast500
Reviewed by Duhast500 from Rhode Island

3.32/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 750ml. bottle into a Budweiser pint glass.

The color is hazy maroon/amber with a slight wisp of head and no lacing left on the glass.

There a slight blueberry aroma in the nose but the malts tend to play a little difficult game of cat and mouse. It is hard to really place the just about all the aromas but it is a bit spicy.

The taste is has a bit of berry but there is something that hold off identifying things a bit. There is a slight bit of juicy flavor that has some blueberry muffin flavor and a malt bready flavor. There is a sugary flavor as it goes down and it has total attention till the end where is some slight bitterness.

The feel of this beer is as expected. A beer that is a little hard to cover at first but them is all about making things right. It goes from too sweet to just right and really goes down without a thought.
Aug 15, 2011
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. So begins THE BLUEBERRY BEER WAR! 1 of 3!

An off pink and white foamy head of about three fingers tall, even kind of peach orange colored. Simple red amber body and cloudy with not much lacing. Looks alright.

Bouquet is fruity but strangely more peaches or apricot like. Light malt, but also some sour like yeast.

Taste is not the most noticeable thing, it's the large feel. Very good body on this for a light abv. Creamy texture and finish a little bit. Slight little light toasty bread on the finish, but not very fruity or even sweet or sugary tasting. Some gaseous tastes though as well. Slightly hop with a dryness also.

Overall though it's not very blueberry, but for probably a simple ale it's quite impressive actually so I call good overall.
Aug 09, 2011
Photo of KTCamm
Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Pours purplish brown, dark colored, with a touch of foam sticking at the top. Blueberry smell (obvious, right?). Tartness in the nose. Sweet and sour taste, full of fruit and malt. Blended nicely. Hearty. Light hop finish, very clean. Good one.
Jul 08, 2011
Photo of bishopdc0
Reviewed by bishopdc0 from Maine

3.8/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in a tulip pint dark amber almost brown color with a hint of blue purple. The head remains as a ring on the edge

The aroma is fresh pale malts with mix slight berry aroma earthy subtle

The taste is fresh pale malts with an earthiness and a mix of tartness from the blue berries very nice

I gave a better overall as they use fresh Maine blueberries and it is a true beer rather then a crap malt beverage. The best blueberry beer i've ever had.
Jun 27, 2011
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tulip.

a - Pours a amber color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of blueberry, oatmeal, and bready malts.

t - Tastes of light blue berry, oatmeal, bready malts, light fruity malts.

m - Light body and low carbonation. Smooth and creamy, goes down easy.

d - A very easy to drink blueberry ale.I enjoyed the smell much more than the taste. Wouldn't seek out again but would probably give another shot.
Oct 24, 2010
Photo of Dewey0603
Reviewed by Dewey0603 from Connecticut

3.21/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a surprisingly dark amber mahogony with a large tan foamy head. A very nice looking beer. The smell is OK with a pungent bread yeast aroma with little else. The taste is crisp with citrus hops,malt,but very little blueberry? Where's the blueberry? The m/f is light with the little flavor mixing only so-so. Aren't fruit beers supposed to taste like fruit.
Oct 17, 2010
Photo of aepb1
Reviewed by aepb1 from Maine

2.84/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A- Deep amber into a red at the edges with barely any head

S- With the minimal head, very little nose... maybe a hint of malts?

T- Malts up front that turn to a little hop bit at the end. Not sure I get any blueberry at all. Perhaps some at the end but probably psychosomatic because of the name...

M- Light with good carbonation just as a summer seasonal should be

D- Very easy summer beer though I question the "blueberry."
Aug 27, 2010
Photo of ericlawton007
Reviewed by ericlawton007 from Connecticut

2.53/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass, reddish amber color, with little head, and slight carbonation. Smells kind of like a weak pale ale, nothing too strong stands out. Upon tasting this beer my first thought was where were the blueberries. Very bland flavor, and after letting the second half of the bomber warm, still no blueberry taste. Drinkability is average as it is quite sesionable, but on the occasion that I should want a fruit beer, this would not meet my expectations.
Aug 16, 2010
Photo of StevenBilodeau
Reviewed by StevenBilodeau from Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Wow, one of the best Blueberry beers I have ever had!!!

I love how it looks like and tastes like!!!

Pours into a glass, a purple amber color... maybe mahogany or burgundy blend. With a nice head... and smells so good.

The taste is of beer goodness, blueberries, and that sweet malty background a blueberry ale should have... with a nice balance of hops and body this beer does it self some justice.

And I love me some justice, all hail Blue Berry Beer!
Jul 14, 2010
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

2.82/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: 1/4 inch head that fades quickly, amber in color, slightly hazy

Smell: blueberries and toasted malt

Taste: toasted malt, hops in the middle, and blueberries at the end

Mouthfeel: medium body and carbonation, slightly bitter with a sweeter end

Drinkability: This to me is more of a pale ale with blueberries at the back end--similar to how I remember Boston Beer Works being. The blueberries are far from dominate, but do not taste artificial. That being said, I want to finish the bottle, but have no desire to purchase a second one. If you like subtle fruit, this may be your beer.
Jan 27, 2010
Photo of CheckMate
Reviewed by CheckMate from Maine

3.95/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22oz bomber obtained at Whole Foods in Portland, ME. pours a hazy purpleish red color with a quarter of an inch of off white head that dissipated after a minute. scents of fresh wild blueberries graces the nose with its presence, some maltiness. taste of wild blueberries on the tongue with a little bit of biscuity quality from the malts (reminds me of blueberry pancakes) with a fairly clean finish. light carbonation. nice fruity beer. one of my faves out of all the blueberry flavored beers i have tried.

Cheers!
Aug 21, 2009
Photo of u2carew
Reviewed by u2carew from Massachusetts

3.42/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
22oz bomber.
A) Very thin head. Lacing is not all together and just a bit sticky. Ruby to mahogany in color.
S) Blueberries. Caramel malts. Some citrus notes.
T) Very mellow caramel sweetness and blueberries up front. Moves to a dry hoppiness. Has a light sourness to it.
M) Crisp. Light to medium bodied.
D) Decent. Always looking for lots of fruit when it's a fruit beer.
Aug 10, 2009
Photo of jonziefle
Reviewed by jonziefle from North Carolina

2.63/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Poured a slightly cloudy brown, with hints of blue. Barely any head at all (gently pour); what is there is white/off-white. Carbonation is present.

Smell: Smells of malts and fermented fruit, but not blueberries specifically. Very interesting smell, definitely not typical. Some darker hops deep down.

Taste: A very malty ale, with sour bitterness, instead of a hoppy bite. No real strong taste at all, very bland. If I didn't know blueberries were in the beer, I wouldn't have even tasted them.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied, with a good amount of carbonation tingliness. Oddly, kind of filling.

Drinkability: A very subpar ale or blueberry beer or whatever its supposed to be. I couldn't taste the blueberries at all, and what did taste was very bland and flavorless.

Special Note: This is the second Sebago beer that has let me down. It is disappointing, because I have visited their brewery and had beers straight off their taps. They were beyond excellent there. Out of the bottle in front of me? Not so much.
Mar 15, 2009
Bass Ackwards Berryblue Ale from Sebago Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 30 ratings