Blue Point Winter Ale - Blue Point Brewing Company

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a pint glass.

A: Poured a dark amber color with ruby and hazel highlights with a two-finger head of tan foam. Carbonation is rather lively and the head retention and lacing is adequate.

S: Smells a bit soft, with notes of cinnamon, vanilla ginger, coriander and a good dose of roasted caramel malt.

T: A very smooth blend of sweet roasted caramel malt, a bit of coffee and toffee robustness and a nice dose of brown sugar intensity. The mouthfeel and flavor are made up to be more than a session brew, but the ABV and dark, sweet flavors beg otherwise.

M: Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, full of sweet, brown sugar and crystal malts, with a dose of coffee, toffee and bittersweet cocoa.

D: Despite a rather rich mouthfeel and flavor, the sessionable ABV and modest finish make this winter ale an exceptional, albeit filling brew.

Really, a disappointing style for the brewery and it's potential, but a good brew nonetheless. Nothing spectacular here, but a nice solution to a sessionable winter ale. Move on for better spiced porters, stouts, ales and lagers, but stop here for a a steady drinking ale with a mouthfeel and drinkability worthy of the cold winter months.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2008 04:59:41 | More by Gambrinus1184

DCH

New York

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%

06-13-2013 02:17:35 | More by DCH

samibr

New York

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

06-12-2013 23:29:50 | More by samibr

MikeyJ777

New York

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

06-01-2013 01:25:14 | More by MikeyJ777

Johnnyv310

New York

4/5  rDev +13.3%

05-29-2013 01:31:49 | More by Johnnyv310

Altoon88

New York

4.5/5  rDev +27.5%

05-26-2013 16:04:52 | More by Altoon88

Lucoli

New York

2.5/5  rDev -29.2%

05-21-2013 01:15:54 | More by Lucoli

twenty5

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -29.2%

05-10-2013 14:58:57 | More by twenty5

tdm168

North Carolina

3.31/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

A - amber with a thick, off white head with good retention

S - caramel, grains, sweet

T - caramel, apple, mild bitterness

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is an incredibly disappointing beer. It's super-simplistic with esters and caramel dominating, but there is also an off-putting graininess throughout. I'll pass this is up in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 23:20:29 | More by tdm168

jiffymon

New York

3/5  rDev -15%

04-16-2013 19:52:58 | More by jiffymon

lupercmda

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%

04-09-2013 03:28:06 | More by lupercmda

Gschaf

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

04-07-2013 00:44:57 | More by Gschaf

BigTrubble

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

04-02-2013 22:53:19 | More by BigTrubble

acurtis

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -15%

03-30-2013 23:51:03 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -15%

03-30-2013 23:50:26 | More by djrn2

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.85/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours light copper color with a thick two finger off white head. The head has a nice level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a decent level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is heaviest of a caramel sweetness and a moderately strong toasted malt smell. Mixed with these aromas is a bit of a nutty and alcohol smell, producing a rather warming smell overall.

Taste – The taste begins with a flavor of a caramel sweetness mixed with toasted malt. As the taste moves forward, it sweetness further with toffee like flavors hitting the tongue as well as a bit of nuttiness. About this time some flavors of a light bitter hop of a more herbal/grassy nature meet the tongue. The mainly sweeter and toasted malty flavors take the taste to its end where they are joined by flavors of a light alcohol, some oak, and as well as a light spice of nutmeg and cinnamon. In the end with the advent of the spice, oak, alcohol and hop, the tongue is left with a warmingly sweet and malty flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is slightly creamier then average with a carbonation level that is on the lower side. Both the lower carbonation and thicker body suit well the warming, light nut, hop, and spice flavors of the brew quite well and make for a nice slow drinker.

Overall – A somewhat complex winter warmer style with a rather nice blend of spice, nut/oak, hop, and sweet malty flavors. It is a rather enjoyable brew to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 01:21:58 | More by Darkmagus82

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

03-29-2013 04:03:20 | More by mendvicdog

Bieniek30

New York

3/5  rDev -15%

03-25-2013 23:56:46 | More by Bieniek30

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -43.3%

03-21-2013 00:00:54 | More by BGsWo22

drt72

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

03-19-2013 21:08:20 | More by drt72

flyers1980

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

03-16-2013 00:59:00 | More by flyers1980

chinchill

South Carolina

3.81/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Undated 12 oz bottle served in a Trois Pistoles snifter.

A: The beer is a deep reddish brown color with some fine looking carbonation bubbles, all covered by a good sized off-white head. The head reduces to a lasting partial coat and ring, and plenty of lacing is left on the glass.

S: The aroma features sweet malts, with a good bit of caramel, some alcohol esters and traces of hops. Some light floral and smoke notes.

T: The taste is a step towards an imperial amber, with flavors of darker roasted malts than usual, Some coffee and smoke in the finish and aftertaste. Hops are obvious in the finish and lend a very good sweet/bitter balance. The alcohol very well hidden.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, slightly dry finish.

O: Light in body and ABV for a winter seasonal, it’ is darker and richer than average for an amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:26:41 | More by chinchill

metter98

New York

3.56/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a two finger high light beige head that took a long time to died down, settling to a short head covering the surface and lots of lacy rings of bubbles around the sides of the glass.
S: Sweet aromas of toffee malts are present in the nose.
T: The overall taste is quite malty and has lots of flavors of toasted malts and toffee along with notes of sweetness and spices—nutmeg stands out in particular.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is quite malty, but the high amount of carbonation in the mouthfeel makes it seem to be a little lighter and helps with the drinkability. The alcohol is well hidden from the taste. I'm not sure if I could drink more than one of these at a time because it is rather sweet and malty.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 02:46:43 | More by metter98

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15%

03-09-2013 14:18:06 | More by ejimhof

Zkman87

New York

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

03-05-2013 15:21:00 | More by Zkman87