Blue Point No Apologies Imperial IPA - Blue Point Brewing Company

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this one on tap at the Khyber after Anthrax, Motorhead, and Slayer beat the heck out of Camden in this year's Mayhem Fest. Needed some quality beers after a long, hot sweaty night where the venue overcharged for crappy macro beers, but I digress...

This one is a hoppy beer with a bubble gum-like sweetness. Copper in color with amber tints. Nice lacing. Tastes bready with sweet candy and tropical hop notes (mango, pineapple, citrus, etc.). Agree with a previous review that it borders a barley wine. Very tasty. Alcohol is masked but my head can tell it's there. A good brew, maybe just a little too sweet tasting.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 04:01:35 | More by jwhancher

Atricapilla

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark and hazy amber in appearance. A bit fizzy at first with a dirty white head which laces away to a nice ring. Slightly astringent in mouth feel slightly resinous as well. Taste is of malt and dark bread followed by pine and yeast. Light aroma of pine and bread dough.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 23:12:00 | More by Atricapilla

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a bright orange color. Slightly murky. Small white head. Light lacing as well.

S-Balanced and not overly intense. Sweetness mixed with citrusy hops. Lightly boozy. Hops are mostly citrus and display both orange and grapefruit notes.

T-I find the taste to be an upgrade over the aroma. The citrus is quite lively. Fresh orange flesh and white grapefruit. Plenty of malty balance. Not very abrasive. One sip would leave me a bit disappointed, but the next step somehow revamped my attraction to the flavor.

M-Dry and moderately bitter. Booze comes out in the feel. Not very resinous. Medium carbonation.

O/D-I did enjoy this beer a bunch. Its overall lack of coercive hoppiness does't allow this beer to be a very memorable DIPA. But it was a damn good DIPA. Just a shade below awesome.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2012 02:08:37 | More by VelvetExtract

mdfb79

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap today at Fireworks in Arlington, VA at their Blue Point Steal the Pint night. Served in a tulip.

a - Pours a deep reddish-copper color with one finger of fluffy off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pine hops, caramel malts, fruity malts, and light citrus hops. Maltier than I thought it would be.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, grapefruit, tropical fruits, pine hops, fruity malts, and light floral hops. More hops in the taste, and some medium bitterness.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Body is super smooth with no alcohol; doesn't feel like 10%.

o - Overall a pretty nice DIPA. The nose is decent and malty, but the taste is much better and full of fresh hops and fruity. Would have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 23:06:30 | More by mdfb79

wscotti

New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a tap into a snifter

A - Pours a light copper color with a tight head which fades very quickly and leaves moderate lacing on the glass.

S - A citrus and grapefruit aroma with a moderate piney / hops aroma in the backround.

T - Bitter up front with almost a citrusy barleywine type finish on the back end. A nice combination of pine, citrus and hops. Doesn't have any overpowering alcohol taste that you might expect with other 10% IIPAs.

M - A medium bodied, yet solid mouthfeel.

O - A very good representation of a IIPA with 10% ABV. This is a limited release that is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2012 04:24:20 | More by wscotti

david18

New York

3.03/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

They started offering this beer at my local beer pub and I was interested to taste it, as I'd never had a double IPA from Blue Point before. In general it's very much an east coast double and may be a little hot for my taste.

Appearance was typical of the style, dark straw. Very cloudy with a good fluffy head.

Aroma was not hoppy enough. Smelled strong with a lot of malt. Not bad, but not a stand out.

Flavor, as mentioned earlier did not have enough hops and was a bit to alcohol present for my taste.

Worth trying if you've never had it before but not my favorite out there.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 20:31:17 | More by david18

troysoy2

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this brew on tap at my now-usual spot, and I enjoyed it enough to take a growler home with me.

Poured into a pint glass, the look is that of a slightly deeper amber. The head is an interesting egg shell color, but with a little more yellow than your average egg shell. The head dies down quickly to a film on the beer's surface, and provides sporadic lacing here and there.

Admittedly, the smell didn't strike me as all that interesting. Sweet and sticky hops, muted citrus, and a good malt backbone.

The taste actually surprised me quite a bit. The first few sips were glorious, very spicy, bitter, with a throat-warming sweet malty aftertaste. Grapefruit is present, I suppose, and the alcohol is nicely covered up by the flavor. It mellows out a bit as your taste buds adjust, but still, I really enjoy the taste. There's just something about the spiciness that I can't put my finger on...

The mouthfeel is a tad watery, but I am glad that this beer doesn't turn into a mouthfull of foam. Good carbonation, but not over the top. As some people have mentioned, a slightly thicker feel might be nice.

But hey, it's extremely, dangerously drinkable, considering its ABV, and I will very much enjoy cuddling up with a growler full of this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2011 01:05:34 | More by troysoy2

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at The Pony Bar in New York.

Pours a deep, orangey copper colour, with a beautiful, fine head of cream-coloured bubbles. Lacing is rich, languid and full—it sticks to much that as the beer goes down it looks as though the head just falls into a cavern. Body is surprisingly light, but I forgive that; everything else is awesome.

Nose is big. Resiny, pungent hops with big, sticky, gooey caramel mix together to form a slightly savoury salted toffee kind of character. It's a big brew and a pungent one; not redolent and fruity and tropical like a big West Coast example. It's almost roasty-astringent with hop bitterness. Potent at least.

Taste is biting and bitter, with enough malty, grainy sweetness to drag it back into the realms of decency. But the bitterness is all earth, and roast and bite and astringency. Phew. It's something to wrap your lips around. The thin feel doesn't help the palate overall, making it a bit weak, and lacking the cushion to soften the blow of the hops.

No one's disputing the strength of this. This is a big IPA, full of booze and bitterness. I'd love it to use more of the palate, but there's certainly no complaints at this end about the strength.

I know what they'd say if I complained, anyway.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2011 03:33:42 | More by lacqueredmouse

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear copper in color and has a light amount of carbonation. It poured with a thin beige head that died down, leaving a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of caramel malts and grapefruit hops in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste also has flavors of caramel and grapefruit and has a good balance between the malts and hops. It shares some characteristics with the flavors you would expect in a barleywine, except for the alcohol.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Considering its strength, this beer is rather easy to drink because the alcohol is well masked from the taste, it is very smooth and there is also a good balance between the malts and hops.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 11:35:24 | More by metter98

cosmicevan

New York

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the brewery. Beer arrived with the classic IPA look, frothy head. Smells of sweet hops and candied goodness. A bit sticky and sweaty. Taste opens with sweet hops, then gets an almost american barleywine malty twist before finishing pretty bitter. I really liked this one. Great local double IPA!!!

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2011 20:15:30 | More by cosmicevan

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap, pours a clear, reddish/amber color. Has a light, even, creamy head across the top, no carbonation to speak of. The aroma is of sweet, piney hop character with a little malt doughiness. Taste has a mild malt, almost butterscotch flavor that's sweet up front followed by a bitter, sticky finish. The mouthfeel is velvet smooth with a little watery finish. (more watery on the finish than my personal liking) Overall, it's O.K. I'm an IPA lover, especially the D-IPA's and bigger but this one doesn't do much for me. For a D-IPA, I consideer it to be more on the mild side, not alot of depth or body. This beer needs more b*lls for a double IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2009 05:48:34 | More by jzeilinger

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A. Poured on-tap into a pint glass. Brownish in color with a large off white head that documents every sip.

Smells of hops and caramel.

This beer drinks smoothly and has a earthy, mineral hop taste. Caramel malt lays the foundation for balance. Dark fruits are brought out as the chill dies out.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy, not as stinging to the palate as some D.I.P.A's tend to be.. The smoothness made drinking very enjoyable.

The balance in this beer was most surprising. Piney, fruity hops played with the malt sweetness and everything was balanced very well. Worthy.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2009 21:38:46 | More by Stinkypuss

treyrab

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I have never heard of this beer, but saw it on tap last night so I decided to grab it. This is retired? Not sure why a retired DIPA just went on tap, but here goes...

A: Pours a murky, completely hazy copper with a small bone-white head. Not a very impressive look, but not the worst either. Not much lacing at all.

S: Smell is very, very barleywine-like with tons of sweet caramel, sweet toffee, munich malts, and aged hops. Some vanilla creeps through in the smell as well. This DIPA smells like is has some age on it.

T: Just like the smell, this DIPA seems like it has some age on it, but the flavors are still pretty good. Sweet caramel comes to the forefront with some sweet vanilla beans and toffee.

Oveall, there is nothing great about this beer that makes it stand out. It is a decent IPA with tons of barleywine characteristics.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2009 01:07:15 | More by treyrab

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.38/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 8/9/08. On tap at the brewery. Pours a deep orange with a small white, creamy head that leaves nice lacing. Aroma of light citrus hops. Flavor of sweet malt, citrusy hops, slight pine. Pretty decent and somewhat balanced, although it is a bit sweet.
7/4/7/3/12 (3.3/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2008 23:07:22 | More by LilBeerDoctor

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Batdorf in Annville, PA on 10/1/08. Looks like this brew came out of retirement.

A - Hazy burnt orange body with an unfiltered appearance and one-finger creamy white head that settled into a thin film of retention and left huge swatches of sticky lace around the glass.

S - Caramel malt and burnt sugar up front with a bit of piney hops, followed by a fruity aroma with hints of sweet pineapple, mango and peach. A touch of alcohol also sneaks through. With that said, the nose is a little musty overall.

T - Juicy and fruity with mango, grapefruit and pineapple as well as more more subtle hints of pine. There is also quite a bit of caramel malt with a slight burnt flavor. A musty character also appears, which throws off the flavor and bit, resulting in a slightly muddled flavor profile.

M - Full bodied with a creamy yet slightly thick, syrupy texture and moderate carbonation. Finish is bitter and metallic.

D - Nobody at my table cared for this at all, but I thought it was decent. It has potential, but the hop profile needs to be cleaned up a bit and the musty qualities need to disappear. Otherwise, this is a drinkable DIPA.

Brewslut's Quote of the Day:
"Mothballs."

Deuane's Quote of the Day:
"Tastes like a hoppy gym sock!"

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2008 13:16:38 | More by ffejherb

erosier

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

L: Pours an ornage amber color with a medium sized and thick white head that laces nicely down the glass.
S: Very sweet malts underneath very big hop and some fruit aromas.
T: Same as the nose which was really enticing for a DIPA. Very sweet malts under a big peppery, citrisy, and piney hop flavors and then a hint of vinous fruits. Very interesting take on this style.
M: Very warming with the right amount of carbonation. It was slightly crisp from the hops but more complex than a simple DIPA with a ton of hops.
D: Very drinkable. The complexity is really interesting and makes it a very drinkable beer as it is not just a hop bomb. Even though it has a lot of alcohol, it is still very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2008 14:26:07 | More by erosier

Biggness

New York

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer this evening @ cantebury ales in Huntington. NY. I was amazed to see this on tap because I had only ever seen it previously @ the brewery. I was also laughing @ the guy at the bar that kept referring to it as a "wine because it has so much alcohol" Ah it sucks to be so elite around here with your tastes, so few you can share with. The appearance is beautiful, a cloudy amber with a slight white head. The smell is very rich of nuts, citus and malts. The taste is beautiful as well, very malty for a dipa imo but not overly so. The citurs and malts are perfectly balanced and with a 10 % alcohol level its very well hidden! All around a homerun in my eyes. I am amazed that they haven't started selling bombers of this and the sour cherry imperial stout yet. The mouthfeel is very pleasant and its something I could drink all night but I am aware many can not. Well done!

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2008 01:42:41 | More by Biggness

doubleipa

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at KClingers in Hanover. Big head, but fully diminished. Aroma - not much aroma for a double IPA, A little citrus, a little pine sesin, but not what I would expect froma DIIPA. Taste - a hint of pepper. Palate - creamy, can really taste the alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2008 22:11:07 | More by doubleipa

jwc215

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Gingerman, NYC:

Pours hazy amber/copper with a thick, white head that thins and lasts. Dotted lacing sticks to the glass.

Odd smell, but a nice one. Smoky notes with dried tobacco leaf, fried banana and other tropical fruitiness (mango?)

The taste is sweetish - tropical fruits, leaning towards banana/plantain. Herbal notes, though not too bitter (just enough to give some balance to the sweetness, and to add some spicing to the finish.

Fuller side of medium-bodied. Smooth. Alcohol pretty well covered.

A nice, unique, fruity sweetish DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2008 12:28:44 | More by jwc215

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Rich amber body with thin off-white head... fades fast.. minimal lacing

S: Floral hops up front with a sweet malt balance...

T: For a double IPA the hop taste is slightly bland... the aroma left me with higher hopes but the taste was a bit too balanced...

M: Crisp and smooth. Medium bodied.

D: Not too bad. 10% is well hidden, but the lack of a hop barrage in the flavor profile left me a tad disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2008 15:08:14 | More by callmemickey

sinistrsam

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this one on tap at MaHaffey's in lovely Canton/Baltimore. Poured a hazy gold color with decent lacing on the glass.
I first thought I smelled a barleywine, with vanilla, malt and hops exploding all over the place.
The taste was also unexpected; alcohol for sure, but sugar and sweet and sour fruits. Also a healthy dose of piney hops.
The feel was bitting and bittersweet up front, with a fade into sweet and smooth coming ni the finish.
Overall an excellent beer, although I'm not sure I'd call it an IPA. I'm nto sure what I'd call it...

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2008 19:15:18 | More by sinistrsam

aerozeppl

New York

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Mahar's in Albany.
From notes

A) Beautiful amber color. Nice thick and fluffy white head.

S) Hoppy and earthy.

T) Hoppy, slightly malty taste. Hoppy again in the finish.

M: Medium body with the right amount of carbonation.

D) Very drinkable for the style and ABV. This was my fourth big beer that night and I was wondering why it hit me so hard when I got home. I place the blame squarely on this beer. I would have this again if available though.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2007 16:46:59 | More by aerozeppl

LeftyBWS

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Smokin' Joes, South Side of Pittsburgh, PA.
A: Orange-amber in color, with a medium layer of lightish tan head that fell back pretty slowly and left a thin layer of cling down the glass.
S: Nippy, citrus and floral hops. Overtones of grapefruit, flowers, and lemony zest; lesser notes of caramel, too.
T: A pretty solid citrus hop character leads the way, with strong flavors of bitter grapefruit and lemon. Floral hops kinda mellow out the bitterness towards the finish. Aftertaste is an interesting mix of these two tastes. It left me smacking my lips a little.
M: Somewhat drying in the finish, but fine other than that, pretty much what I expected from a DIPA.
D: Really good. Never noticed the 10% ABV. One of the more quaffable DIPAs I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2007 23:50:56 | More by LeftyBWS

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale orange-ish / yellow color, with a white head. Aromas are all hops, very small grapefruit too. In the taste, big hops and a little sweet. Deffinatly a east coast style IPA. A smooth small bitter mouthfeel, and a hoppy aftertaste. Big hops, but balanced, a nice bitter, yet smooth. It hides the ABV very well.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2007 17:20:57 | More by OWSLEY069

garcia2a

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another rare treat. This beer poured a deep golden color with a satisfactory amount of haze. A thinning head that dissipated within a few moments.

The bouquet was sweet with a hoppy balance. The taste was full bodied with hops enveloping the taste buds. The hoppy nature of the beer lead to a heavy, full bodied mouth feel. The beer finished well with a light, fading aftertaste.

This is a very drinkable beer that is sure to refresh!

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2007 03:25:20 | More by garcia2a