Blue Point Winter Ale - Blue Point Brewing Company

lehows

New York

4.72/5  rDev +33.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at The Bellport last night, it poured a brownish-red amber color with a thick cream colored head. Amazing lacing that hung all the way down the glass. Nutty aromas with a malt backbone, some mild spice and hops. Wonderful flavors of nutty caramel, roasted malt bitterness, and a touch sweet spice round out the brew. Don't confuse this with a winter warmer style ale, as some have. It's a solid and highly drinkable red ale, goes well with food too.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2007 15:42:04 | More by lehows

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.55/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Good hard pour in to a standard pint glass from a fresh brewery filled growler.

L - clear deep amber color with a huge foamy sand colored head that left sheets of sticky lacing.

S - roasted malt, nuts and some spices in the smell.

T - roasted malt sweetness and spiced flavors lead to a lightly bitter dry finish.

F - medium bodied with a mild carbonation feel.

D - extemely easy to drink, a winter session beer for me.

Serving type: growler

12-10-2008 23:52:22 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first cask beer. And during my first visit to Spuyten Duyvil (-1-16-2007) in Brooklyn as well.

Pours a slightly clouded dark ruby brown with a thick tan head. Nose is fruity sweet with a sugary presence. Taste is a firm hop presence, but not overpowering. Nice wood flavor that is easy going and not overdone. Feel is smooth and silky. Goes down oh so smooth. Highly drinkable off the cask and well worthy of losing my cask virginity to, apparently.

Serving type: cask

12-30-2007 21:39:56 | More by RblWthACoz

BeerManDanNYC

New York

4.43/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The best winter beer I've been able to find consistently the last couple of years. A full, rich flavor with just a hint of spice and a surprisingly easy finish for a winter ale. The kind of beer you want after a long day on the slopes. Once again, Blue Point delivers on the seasonal brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 20:16:38 | More by BeerManDanNYC

barleyroad

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber in appearance with nice foam. Smell is nice with hops. Mouthfeel is good, this beer leaves the mouth nicely and leaves you wanting more. Taste, is very good, that is why you want more. This is a good beer, however we would not classify this as a winter. This is a great American Amber/ Red Ale. Will go well with what every you are eating. Enjoy

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 01:26:51 | More by barleyroad

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Copper with a khaki head, lots of bubbles streaming to the surface. The frothy head sticks around for the duration and casts a web of lace. I must say that overall this is a sexy looking beer.

S. Sweet malts and apple pie in the nose. Buttery toffee and caramel as well.

T. A nice malty body. Caramel malt comes through with a nice robust roasted finish. Earthy hops drop a line of pine residue. Overall very well balanced, with a slight lingering bitter finish.

M. This is a full bodied beer. Good level of carbonation and a very good and quaffable drinker.

D. A bit filling, but a delight to imbibe. This one caught me off guard. Bought it as part of a mix six pack. A fine session beer and one of the best examples of this style I have had.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 01:48:26 | More by Stinkypuss

clickpush

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured tap to pint glass. Nice ruby/copper color with persistent, sticky tan head. Body is clear with some lazy bubble trails. Aroma is extremely malty, biscuits and caramel. Nice and bright. Flavor is full malt body with finish of light, citrusy hops. Mouthfeel is active and completely helps the flavors develop. Head remains a nice cap the whole time, sticking to the glass, revealing every sip.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 21:11:35 | More by clickpush

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a crystal clear, deep amber color with massive, slightly off-white creamy head.
Smell is summer fruity with notes of peaches detected.
Taste is strong on malt. Some caramel present. A nice balancing bitterness develops to balance the malt perfectly.
The dryness comes throught at the end, and is very enjoyable.
A good beer. Very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2007 21:12:54 | More by tgbljb

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Pitcher’s Pub in Cumberland, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep reddish brown color, with a decent-sized off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is very malty, with traces of tea, smoke, coffee, caramel and some hops.

T: The taste is robust and very smoky, with flavors of roasted coffee, caramelized malt and a bit of hops. The after-taste is sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy body, light-to-medium carbonation, slightly sticky finish.

D: Very tasty, goes down very quickly and is very light for a winter seasonal, it’s an excellent beer to stick with for a whole evening.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2006 23:17:50 | More by TheManiacalOne

kenito799

New York

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

20 oz pour at Press 195, Bayside, Queens, NY

The dark amber ale looks nice enough, small head, pretty lacing.

Nice aroma of malt with warm nutmeg and cinnamon spice. On teh palate a pleasant balance of malt, not too sweet, with definite undertones of cinnamon. Christmas-y. Wintry and warm, yet light on the palate, low ABV, great session beer for winter. Well done.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2010 03:11:16 | More by kenito799

kylehay2004

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: two finger thick off white head with nice retention and lacing on a brown with garnet hues hazy body.

S: lots of sweet caramel and toffee and even a chocolate note.

T: sweet caramel malt and spices up front with a chocolate and semi dry coffee note to the finish. Fairly complex for the style.

M: medium to full body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: This one is actually very good and surprisingly complex. The semi dry finish hurts the mouthfeel but a nice brew overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 23:06:17 | More by kylehay2004

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a reddish brown, fast foam. Some layer remains. Fruity cherry smell. Malty caramel. Taste is a fruity sweet red malt and a mild hop bite close. Nice blend. Maybe a hint of whisky lurking in the back? Good.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 12:13:39 | More by KTCamm

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review copied from my notes. Was poured from a 12oz into a standard pint a few hours ago.

Appearance: Amber in color. Nice off-white head that sticks around and covers the glass pretty well.

Smell: Not picking up much. Slightly sweet smell, a little bit of malt.

Taste: This is a pretty great ale. It is not trying to do anything special, but it hits the mark and is something I would certainly go back to. Malts with a nice spiciness that hits the end for an ale that fits the season but would be appropriate any time.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly carbonated but not bad. Appropriate medium body that goes down easy.

I'd buy this year round if it was available.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:31:10 | More by ColdWaffles

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brightly dark ruby brown color that is brilliantly bold to view through. Capping is smallish and creamy tight of a light sandy tan hue. Keeps a firm skim present the whole consumption period. Packed in spotty lacing is stitched across the glass with good sticking power.

Aroma is soft of cocoa powdered fluff with a bit of whole grain breadyness thats a titch on the sweetened doughy side.

Taste is firm and round of some soft brown bread dough sweetness, some cocoa hints, perhaps a drip of maple. Semi soft and drying hoppy finish that's fresh and green with a hint of grass and grain.

Feel is about medium with fairly solid tone and firm carbonation that keeps a nice tight tang and smallish bite of action adding to the overall flavors.

A nice drinking Winter ale (Red/Brown ale) thats soft, firm, and just tasty enough.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2007 03:09:38 | More by tavernjef

caddybuyer

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass. 2009 date.

A-Mahogany red with filtered clarity and a nice light tan head that laces up very well. I'm a sucker for beers that look like this...A very pretty brew.

S-A light nose. Sweet caramel malts..perhaps a hint of spice, some fruits and nuts in the background. Subtle, but pleasing.

D-Nose carries through to the taste. Slightly sweet caramel malts with a hint of smoke and spice and a clean dry finish with a bit of hop tingle on the tongue.

M-Well balanced overall.

D-This is a very drinkable beer, and one which I would definately buy again. Not sure why the reviews on this are not higher. I was really not expecting much from this based on the reviews, and was prepared to crack it, taste it, and move on, but I really like this one...

I generally like my winter beers big, but it is such a pleasure to see something come in at a sessionable ABV with a very pleasing profile. Is it unique? No, but it is a a real sweetheart of a winter session beer, and one that kicks the tail out of SA Winter Lager in all departments and whips out the old saw..."whats not to like?"

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 21:24:13 | More by caddybuyer

erosier

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L: Pours a nice dark amber-brown color with a short white colored head that laces the glass a bit on the way down.
S: Smells of sweet roasted malts, some vanilla, spices - nutmeg and cinnamon, and a faint hops characteristic at the end.
T: A nice roasted malty base then some layers of cinnamon and vanilla, I really didn't taste the nutmeg I smelled, but then it ended with a slight hop finish that didn't make it too hoppy.
M: Very smooth, fresh, refreshing, and a bit warming.
D: Very drinkable beer. I don't believe it should be categorized as an American Amber/Red, I would call it more of a winter warmer from how it tasted and smelled. Regardless, it was still good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2008 11:38:58 | More by erosier

GnomeKing

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

There's a nice hops bit and moderate spiciness, but this is more of a hoppy amber or even a regular pale than a winter warmer. Don't expect the dark coloring and wide range of spices you get in other members of this style. Enough about what it isn't...

The beer is a rich amber in color, with moderate head and lacing. While the hops do have a kick upfront, the overwhelming characteristics are smoothness and balance. The finish is on the dry side, but there are some hints of fruit in it too--faintly detectable cherries and raspberries. The aftertaste lingers on the tongue for a while; you'll pucker after each sip, which is good in this case.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2006 01:58:59 | More by GnomeKing

plaid75

New York

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a very nice alternative to the typical winter beer offering. The beer has the characteristic winter beer dark hue and less than foamy head, but is not as malty as the rest. It has a nice crisp hop character and a lighter than most mouthfeel. Personally, I cannot drink pint after pint of your typical malty winter brew. This is a nice and unique change.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2006 20:09:58 | More by plaid75

thespaceman

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass:

Appearance: Deep brown/ almost black in color, a minimal head that disaapated quickly, little lacing.

Smell: Roasted malt elements, toasted bread with a hint of nutmeg and other spices. The nose is a little floored yet it's appeasing. A nice touch of caramel & toffee elements as well.

Taste: A good blast of maltiness paired with a roasted nut flavor, holiday spice and a bit of milk chocoalte. Carmelization bleeds through the malt yet get's drowned out by dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Decently carbonated, this one is medium bodied that loses its complexity on the tongue but still holds up smooth and creamy.

Drinkability: This is by far a very simple, yet enjoyable winter brew, alot of the elements have been done better from the likes of Brooklyn Brewery or even Samuel Adams for that matter, but this is still a good introductory beer into the winter styling and a sure bet to please any existing malt lover.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 19:10:02 | More by thespaceman

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: pours a clear dark amber color with a one finger fluffy head that lasts a while.

Smell: caramel candy sweetness with a hint of pepper.

Taste: caramel, ripe red fruits, soft bitterness, and a hint of spiciness. There is also a mild bread-like quality to this beer.

Mouthfeel: smooth throughout. Medium bodied. Short-lived aftertaste of mainly caramel tones.

Drinkability: I found this to be a pretty enjoyable beer that doesn't blow your tastebuds out of the water. A simple session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2006 18:52:29 | More by Gavage

auxiliary

Rhode Island

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

appearance - Reddish brown with a nice head that didn't stick around. some lace.

smell - Smells of grains, malts, amd spices.

taste - Nice malt ans spicey taste, with some hops at the end.

mouthfeel - Medium body

drinkability - amber ale huh? Very interesting taste, spicey-malty-winter warmer, with some bitterness. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2008 04:45:38 | More by auxiliary

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

Boto

Connecticut

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

Cask version @ Cambridge House: This one pours a dark, amber-brown color. There was almost no head and no lacing on this one. The aroma contains notes of spices, caramel malts and some fruits. The taste is good. Fairly malty, with some spices. Chocolate and fruits in the background. A nice winter brew.

Serving type: cask

01-03-2010 00:49:58 | More by Boto

AaronRed

New York

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I thought this was a very nice amber ale. I knew it wasn't going to be a brut, but this beer had lots of flavor. I especially like the way it looked- crisp amber tone with a nice head that stayed though until the end. Not much in the way of smell- but a good deal of flavor. Malty and chewy with a touch of caramel sweetness, but with enough hops to balance it out. A good winter beer without the spice- not too powerful. Just right.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2002 19:05:32 | More by AaronRed

mltobin

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

6-pack bought at local package store.

A - The beer is a deep auburn. The head is medium sized, nice and frothy.

S - The aroma is kinda malty, with traces of smoke, coffee, caramel and many hops.

T - This brew is very nice, kinda sweet but also balanced out by the different elements of hops.

M - Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy body, not overpowering by any means.

D - Very tasty, goes down smooth and easy.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2008 05:15:20 | More by mltobin