Bridgeport IPA - BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub

RTitus

Arkansas

4.31/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Purchased in a mixed six pack in Memphis 5.5% abv. No freshness date.

A: Hazy dull orange. One finger of off-white head, good lacing, still has good film halfway through glass.

S: Floral and Citrus with a bready undersmell. Hints of grass

T: Hop bite on the tongue. Dry but not overly so. Taste almost perfectly matches the smell. Citrus, Floral, and Pine resin. Good mouth, a little oily, good carbonation.

This is without a doubt the best balanced IPA I have ever had. Some others are hoppier or stronger, but this melds all the elements of the style in an almost perfect package. I am a fan of the southern craft brewers, but the PNW still seems to be the leader of the craft beer scene.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 21:54:41 | More by RTitus

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A finger and half of foamy head on a hazy, medium straw colored body.
The aroma is lemon, pine and a little peppercorn.
The taste is moderately bitter with a nice malt sweetness to round it out well. Great balance with no edges.
The texture is smooth with moderate carbonation.
A great IPA, nice hop profile with the perfect balance to make it a drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 05:21:25 | More by Fatehunter

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a murky orange color. Tinted head is of moderate stature. It leaves good lacing too.

S-Citrusy hops and a biscuity malt. Balanced and status quo. Does what it needs to do. Leans more towards the hops but they seem to be rather level.

T-More of the same. Getting some nice tangerine, clementine and grapefruit. Lighter grass backing. Pleasantly citrusy but I have experienced it hundreds of times before. Biscuit and dough malt with caramel lining.

M-Light side of medium. Dry. Middle of the road in terms of bitterness. No booze.

O/D-A citrus stressed IPA. I have had this same cut of cake hundreds of times; or so it feels. $4 a bomber didn't hurt. It failed to express anything unique which shouldn't necessarily be a fault. A good personal example of how the grass isn't always greener: there are plenty of East Coast IPAs with much more to offer me.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:48:49 | More by VelvetExtract

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into standard pint.

A: hazy straw colored. Pretty standard color for an ipa but a tad hazier like it were a hefe. No measurable head but a substantial ring around the glass.

S: runs the gambit of ipa aromas. Pale malt and decent hop aromas. A bit of citrus, a little flowery, and an inviting malt backbone.

T: one of the lightest ipa I have had as far as hop bitterness. Good pale malt body that is well balanced. Hop flavor follows nose well and in the best way. Not overwhelmingly bitter.

M: solid medium body, nothing more nothing less.

O: nothing phenomenal about this ipa but what it lacks in standout characteristics it makes up for in excellent balance. Would call it an average ipa but it is so well balanfed thst it exceeds average.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:29:44 | More by N3rdM3t4l

RockAZ

Arizona

3.18/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I too, have been trying this beer at least once a year in a bottle for over a decade now. A reasonable IPA, nothing too fancy, certainly not my favorite but it does remind me of the Bass beer I loved in the '70's and 80's when there wasn't a whole lot of other interesting beers easily available. Not a bad beer at all, a good working recipe I have been grateful to get in a few otherwise dry bars around this country.

Another reviewer said "copper", and I am not sure I know what they meant by that, but I probably agree with it. The aftertaste has a metallic tang to it that keeps me from loving it. Other flavors in it are more appealing to me, but the aftertaste keeps this one down to one a year for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 07:50:52 | More by RockAZ

DenverLogan

Colorado

2.6/5  rDev -33%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Nice lacy head that lingers and hangs onto the tulip glass. Copperish color. Not a big aroma to me, but slight malts and hops are there.
I've had this beer for many years and always find the flavor a bit bitter in the wrong way...bordering on a metallic. The carbonation is fine, color, minimal aroma, that's all fine...but the overall mouthfeel just doesn't do it for me because of my perception of metallic water, rancid nuts, infected lines, or just a lack of enough ingredients to give it a enjoyable body. It may also be this hop combination combined with yeast esters that give it that flavor profile. I buy a bottle once a year just to experience that flavor profile, and remind myself of the enjoyable inherent values of more flavorful IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:47:26 | More by DenverLogan

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice looking, tannish orange with a good head and lacing.

Smell is fruity hops, biscuit malts.

Tastes of an array of nicely fruity and citrusy hops, a good blend of malts, earthy and perhaps a little nutty. Very balanced.

Body is medium, well carbonated, with a smooth bitter hops finish.

Very enjoyable. An easy to drink IPA that I rather liked. Not too over the top, but a good everyday beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 21:02:37 | More by AlCaponeJunior

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.78/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne.

Pours a mildly hazed golden hue, with a fizzing but reasonably substantial head that sits as a couple of millimetres of film above the top of the glass. Lacing stretches fine fingers up where the beer moves to. Carbonation is tight and tiny. Looks reasonably good.

Nose is disappointing. Mild sweet fruit characters, more like apple and pear than anything else. Slight tea-like characters, perhaps a hint of pepper and an almost candy sweetness. It's not very robust by any account, and even what characters it gives are disconcerting. Unimpressed.

The palate is similar or even perhaps worse. Very faint hop characters on the front lead to a mild, appley mid-palate, with a thinness to match overattenuated cider. The back has a weak carbonation bite and even a hint of Pride of Ringwood hops. It also just feels thin and bland, with very little going for it. There's an odd hint of sherbet on the finish that sneaks up on you and provides some interest, but it's a matter of "too little, too late".

Very unimpressed. This is really dull stuff, even if it doesn't actually court the "offensive" vote. But it's really not much good as an IPA. Perhaps it's better fresh, but given that it's officially imported here into Australia now (the importer's information is even printed on the label), I have no qualms about reviewing it as-is.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 06:36:22 | More by lacqueredmouse

LiquidAmber

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy golden amber with a half finger fine white head with good retention and lacing; nice active carbonation. Aroma of sweet malt and citrus hops. Pleasant flavor of citrus and bready malt finishing with biscuit malt, mildly spicy hops. Medium bodied with some creaminess. A very nicely made IPA with a light, but good touch of hops.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 21:24:36 | More by LiquidAmber

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.15/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a large head.
Nose shows restrained fruity hops with some clean malt and soft bready notes underneath.
Flavours seem a little lacking to, with some grapefruit and soft lychee, but little else. Quite a sharp bitterness in the finish.
Much too highly carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 09:49:45 | More by CrazyDavros

rangerred

Tennessee

3.63/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a hazy medium orange with a thin soapy head. Not much in the way of lacing either.

Aroma is citrusy with orange and lemon. Not really tropical but more of an earthy note. Some wet leaves along with a little bready malt. Really a unique aroma and different from most American IPA's on the market.

Lemon and orange on the taste along with wet leaves and earth. Really a unique combination. A little bit of toast and bready malt supporting the hops. Bitterness is surprisingly mild and never overwhelms the flavors in the brew. Mouthfeel is solid with a dry finish leaving a slight stickyness.

Overall, a really solid IPA that is different than many others out there. Doesn't go overboard on the hops and has a nice balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 00:26:25 | More by rangerred

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got a 6pack of this from Woodman’s in Janesville, WI in October 2012.

It pours a cloudy copper orange color with a slight white head. Scent is rather mild with hints of hops and citrus. The taste is smooth and refreshing. The texture is perfect as is the amount of bitterness. The added hints of citrus and lemon zest add to the complexity of this reasonably priced brew. Overall, this is a fantastic tasting beer for under $8. Well done Bridgeport.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 03:45:05 | More by Lemke10

GilGarp

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle served cold into a pint glass.

Bridgeport IPA is a loudly amber color. Part of that is down to a significant amount of sediment. Head is smooth and creamy with good retention and nie Laing.

Aroma is pleasantly hoppy with grapefruit and pine.

Flavor is nicely balanced with a light caramel malt base and bold but balanced hops. Similar hop character to the aroma.

Mouthfeel is light in body an nicely carbonated.

Overall a very nie traditional American IPA. Not the huge over the top versions you see coming out these days but instead one that was pretty radical back in the day.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:04:46 | More by GilGarp

peabody

Kentucky

2.58/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours out a cloudy yellow with a slight amber tint. 1/2 finger of white sudes that leave quickly. No lacing to speak of.
Smell is Budweiser with mabey a hint of more hop and some lemon peel. Really the malt is hidden as is the hop by the aroma of Budweiser. Yeeech!@
Taste is dirty water and Budweiser with a slight hint of bitterness toward the end of the taste. No pine, no Grapefruit, just a big dissapointment.
Mouthfeel is fairly clean but by this time of the tasting it also is a dissapointment.
Overall this is trash.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 22:23:37 | More by peabody

ScorpyX

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a translucent, light orange hue, reminiscent of the color of straw. A two finger width wide head initially that dissipates and leaves a nice amount of lacing behind.

S: Very strong pine scent along with a generous supply of hops. Like a number of IPAs I've had, but that's certainly not a bad thing. There's a clear sour note in there as well.

T: Very much follows the smell. A sharp bite of pine followed by a good amount of hops, though not overwhelmingly so. The sourness was really felt in the throat.

M: Medium bodied. Nothing much to say about it.

There are better IPAs out there, and this one is kind of simple, but still, a solid choice. I wouldn't say no to having one again.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 04:06:06 | More by ScorpyX

bundy462

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: More on the darker brown side for an IPA, thick frothy head.

S: Citrus and pine, soft, non-overpowering to the nose for an IPA.

T: Earthy and light on the hops in my opinion, for the style.

M: Incredibly smooth going down.

O: Average in the IPA world, good brew, but just good.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 05:26:24 | More by bundy462

OregonDuckinTexas

4.93/5  rDev +27.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Ok, sports fans (or anyone who actually reads these reviews), this is my favorite beer in the whole world. Light, crisp and with a definitely strong hop note. IMHO, Bridgeport nailed it with this IPA. For my taste, it's got a great aroma and the flavor is perfect. A lot of IPAs and many microbrews, suffer from a pretty blah after taste that I've never quite been able to figure out. In some cases, this is clearly intended to keep their beer as close to the mid-ground (think Bud) as possible while still having enough flavor to lable it IPA, Stout, or whatever. Bridgeport didn't do that. This is an honest IPA with a unique balance on the palate and great smell.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 17:23:25 | More by OregonDuckinTexas

khensley

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Straw yellow with a great pillowy head. Head made great rings on the glass that stuck around even after my second bottle.

Smell: Lots of pine and sweet caramel resonate to the nose. Makes my mouth water in anticipation.

Taste: Instant rush of cresent rolls hit the front of the tongue, followed by a banana ester. The beer finished with a grapefruit wash that lingers for a few seconds, begging you to taste again.

Mouthful was thin, but the small bubbles, only produced by way of bottle conditioning swirl the beer into a light creamy texture.

Overall, this beer is what I consider the standard by which all Pacific N.W. brewers are compared to. Hoppy, not overpowingly bitter, and extremely addictive = amazing IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 22:19:03 | More by khensley

lwillitz

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12-oz bottle into Samuel Smith "Tulip" pint glass

A - 3 1/2 fingers of foamy off-white head atop a cloudy body of golden orange; a few rising carbonation bubbles

S - citrus, biscuity bread, spice, touch of yeast, hint of alcohol

T - citrus, hop oil, spice, bready backbone, fruity character, dry hoppy finish; complex and delicious

M - sticky medium body, average carbonation, smooth

O - a good IPA

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 00:06:57 | More by lwillitz

intensify

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy mix of amber and honey colored body. The one finger head held its own for a decent amount of time before dropping to a cloud that floats atop the beer. Nice lacing, too.

S- Hoppy, earthy/grassy, orange, apricot and spices.

T- Its a bitter hop festival in this beer. Finishes with an orange kick and plenty of earthyness. Mostly, it follows closely behind the smell. Tastes more like an APA then an IPA.

M- medium bodied, and ends with a dry finish.

Solid brew from Bridgeport. Even though it was more on the APA side it was still enjoyable enough to to sip on.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 07:39:45 | More by intensify

TheAmbassador

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured From a 120oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Gold color with a white head. smell is of hops but not very stong. the taste is good, not a huge IPA but a good one none the less. Hoppy but a very easy drinking sessionable IPA. at $7.99 a 6 pack a very good deal.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 00:39:46 | More by TheAmbassador

kylehay2004

Florida

3.3/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: two finger frothy head with nice retention and lacing on a murky golden with crimson hues body.

S: sweet citrus hops a little wheat and malt.

T: this one is a little watered down with some citrus hops but overall the hop character is very simplistic and short lived with each taste.

M: lighter body than I would expect. moderate carbonation.

Overall: I feel I rated this one generously. Drinkable but not great or memorable.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 00:48:41 | More by kylehay2004

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a good ipa, but in the wake of their hop czar, this one feels a bit bland and unremarkable. pours a crystal clear deep honey color with an average white head. smells great, big grassy and citrusy hops permeate, good crystal and pale malt backing. flavor is identical to the nose, but less intense. flavors mesh well, and the bitter finish is welcomed here, very crisp. feel is average to slightly above average. medium body, fair carbonation, and a quick finish. overall a very drinkable ipa, but this is a saturated market, and this ipa just doesnt stand out. the bridgeport hop czar is the way to go.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 19:17:31 | More by StonedTrippin

Beermazter310

Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz poured in Zenyatta pint glass. hazy orange with Quarter inch white foam. floral hoppy aroma. tastes good, floral and orangey but not a lot of flavor for an ipa and not a lot of hop bitterness. mild carbonation, very light and watery for an ipa, probabaly the lightest one i ever had, only 5.5 abv. overall a good refrshing ipa

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 06:01:30 | More by Beermazter310

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pub glass.

This is one of the dirtiest IPA's I had. I'm loving the looks of this. Roused the brew to get the yeast from the bottom - worth every bit. The color is a very dirty orange colored brew that is a few shades away from brown. The foamy off white head quickly fades, but leaves some nice lacing behind.

Smells of pine resin, citrus hops and a hint of biscuity malt and fruit sweetness.

Good earthy, nutty, ripe IPA. This is different. Strikes a great balance with the hop bitterness and malt that leaves a very crisp, clean finish. Incredibly smooth and creamy. Very complex flavors going on altogether - and very well. Bright fruit sweetness, earthy with plenty of piney, citrus hops to go around.

This is my first from BridgePort - I was just telling my wife (who gave me this as a gift) that I'd love to have a case of this stuff. Sadly, there is only this one single 12oz...of which there is about 3 fingers left.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 00:47:43 | More by ujsplace