Point The Way IPA - Golden Road Brewing

Philousa

California

4.08/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Imbibed at Gden Road Brewery on 11/4/12.

Pours a very clear amber, almost copper metallic color with a thin layer of white head. Not much lacing to speak of. The nose starts with lots of grapefruit, lemon, and light citrus notes. I get a little bit of almond nuttiness in the malt but not much else. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in brute force. Taste starts somewhat nutty with wheat bread flavors. The hops are soapy and aggressively bitter, especially for the amount of malt in it. It's grassy and reminiscent of summer in a bright flavor kind of way. Feel is balanced, finish somewhat dry.

This is a really solid IPA. It has a lot of the bitterness and hop aroma & flavor that imperial IPAs have, with a fraction of the malt to counter it. Really impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 22:56:56 | More by Philousa

elNopalero

Texas

3.61/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

This review is of the “new and improved” Point the Way.

I’m a little disappointed. The cans have a date stamp of 04.03.2013, however the box they came in were stamped 4.30.2013. That’s the difference of a month, and a big difference when it comes to wanting to drink something on the fresher side. (I made my purchase and had the first of the four pack on June 1, 2013.)

From the can this beer just doesn’t do all that much for me. But poured a golden color in a pint glass with two full fingers of foam that dies down in minutes this has some life left in it. I actually enjoyed the aroma once it opened up. It's citrusy & piney, with some orange zest and pine needle. The pine dominates the flavor with a rounded citrusy sweetness on the end and a piney, pleasingly bitter finish. More enjoyable than I had expected.

A tall boy of a sessionable friendly 5.2% ABV IPA from Los Angeles? Sign me up!

Only downside was the date stamped at the bottom of the can—1.31.2012—which places this at least 6 months past the bottling date. (Or longer, if it is a “fresh-by” date). Didn’t think to check at the store. Oh well.

Appearancewise this beer looks good. It poured with a generous three fingers of foam that dissipated and compacted into a tight white lace of bubbles atop a clear, bronze glass of beer.

There’s a nice aroma of citrus and pine notes with some orange zest hiding in the back. To be honest, this beer smells nice for a pale ale… I imagine that fresh the aroma is even more spectacular.

The flavor has a light bitterness –pleasing to sip and share with a non-hop head, in fact—and a sweet rounded citrus. Tangerine, perhaps, or some Minneola tangelo hybrid that I can’t place. It’s pretty laid back and mellow, the opposite of a bold, aggressive west coast IPA. But then again, I wonder how much of that has to do with the time this brew has had to chill out.

I’d certainly, gladly try this one again. A surprise pick and a surprise that it’s held up so well.

Serving type: can

06-10-2013 06:38:15 | More by elNopalero

VaTechHopHead

California

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

06-06-2013 21:28:40 | More by VaTechHopHead

TheReese

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

06-05-2013 21:41:04 | More by TheReese

bh123

California

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

06-04-2013 04:52:28 | More by bh123

Hatzilla

California

3.61/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Canned 4/22/13, sampled 6/2/13

Pours a clear golden straw with a fluffy, long-lasting head which leaves distinct lacing. Scent is muted for an IPA: Some cereal grains and the slightest note of citrus hops. Unlike the nose, the hops are more present in the taste. Earthy grapefruit and lemon citrus are nicely balanced with the malts. Mouthfeel is smooth with medium carbonation, a dry finish and a lingering grapefruit aftertaste. This was my first Golden Road IPA. It wasn't the greatest but definitely better than some. I have a can of their DIPA in the fridge so I'm looking forward to trying that one too.

Serving type: can

06-03-2013 04:48:01 | More by Hatzilla

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

05-30-2013 19:48:34 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

blguillen

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

05-30-2013 03:31:43 | More by blguillen

RaulMondesi

California

3.51/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Raul gets this on tap at Staples Center, but today as he watches the Kings game from home, it's out of a can and into the teku.

Aite like a 5 dolla foot long. You take a bite, look around, take another bite, look around... Like said 5 dolla, after you take a sip, there is no real savoring gong on. This aint no Sprinkles cupcake, not even a glazed Krispey Kreme. It's an ok slice of German Chocolate cake from your granmama that can kind of cook aite enough. And you know what? Raul is ok with that.

Peace!

Serving type: can

05-27-2013 00:49:15 | More by RaulMondesi

Shogun730

California

4/5  rDev +10.5%

05-25-2013 17:09:42 | More by Shogun730

dugly2ugly

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

05-22-2013 02:29:20 | More by dugly2ugly

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.36/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Only decent beer I can find at LAX on 5.21.13

A - Served a hazy medium orange with a small cream colored head with good retention.

S - A touch of orange and a touch of pine. Pretty mild.

T - Light orange with some bready malts. Again pretty mild tasting.

D - Good carbonation with a light to medium body.

O - Mild, weak ipa. I guess it beats the Shock Top.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2013 00:58:47 | More by HuskyinPDX

thampel09

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

05-20-2013 20:11:07 | More by thampel09

baybassboy

California

3/5  rDev -17.1%

05-14-2013 04:33:25 | More by baybassboy

warnerry

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

05-14-2013 04:25:47 | More by warnerry

slugman

California

4.74/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I have gone back to this beer over and over again. My taste has conformed to citra hoppy flavors with that strong special smell. I have a hard time finding beers that give me what I am looking for. It is not even a dollar amount at this point, it is a yearning. Starting off with flavors from Halo, then Double Jack and even lighter beers like Ranger and my favorite limited brew x-114, Point the Way gives me what I yearn. I cannot wait to visit the pub. It is only about 1 hour from home. If you can find it (I get mine at Trader Joes, but randomly) try it. If you like any of the beers I listed, you will enjoy it. Cheers!

Serving type: can

05-12-2013 23:31:58 | More by slugman

eulerthegrape

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

05-10-2013 15:56:47 | More by eulerthegrape

SoCalBeerIdiot

California

4/5  rDev +10.5%

05-08-2013 05:44:19 | More by SoCalBeerIdiot

jealousmonk

California

3.79/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A--kind of a weird hue, very hazy. Doesn't look quite like an IPA, but not unappetizing. I usually drink it out of the can anyway so whatever.

S--strong malts, mild hops. The smell is boring and even sweeter than the actual taste. Probably the least appealing aspect of the beer.

T--very sweet and malty up front, but a fair amount of hops lingering into the aftertaste. Can't taste booze at all. The hop profile is largely devoid of citrus.

M--nice and light, as I want a session beer that I can carry around outside in a can to be. It's not what I would rate highest, but it's what I want this to be.

O--I like this beer quite a bit. It's not great, and I wish it was a little more hop forward, but it's a great go-to low alcohol IPA. Something about the 16 oz can just feels satisfying to hold. Great for picnicking and other public outdoor activities.

Serving type: can

05-07-2013 01:25:39 | More by jealousmonk

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

05-04-2013 17:56:43 | More by browniewithnuts

rainfairy

California

4.75/5  rDev +31.2%

05-03-2013 07:21:37 | More by rainfairy

Jessenimmo

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

04-26-2013 05:52:30 | More by Jessenimmo

GeoBrewer71

California

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

04-23-2013 03:45:01 | More by GeoBrewer71

aslamm75

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-22-2013 00:11:06 | More by aslamm75

brotherloco

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-21-2013 22:25:21 | More by brotherloco