Toxic Sludge Black IPA - Blue Point Brewing Company

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This brew was served from the cask at The Old Toad in Rochester, NY. It arrived in a house becker glass, showing the color of cola. It held a one and a half finger head of light brown bubbles. This showed awesome retention, with eventual spots of lacing left around the glass. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared low. The nose gave roasty chocolate malts, cooling and sugary vanilla, melon, black cherries, passion fruit, charred woodiness, raw cocoa nibs, drying chalkiness of grain, and a finishing touch of light grassy hops. Our first impression was that there was big complexity to the taste, which was much fruitier than expected for the style, but not following that nose. As we sipped, tropical fruit of passion fruit and pineapple started things off sweetly. Mixing in were lactic and sour cranberry notes, dark chocolate and coffee malts, and a tangerine flesh sweetness. The middle peaked with charred coffee malts, a flash of metallics, white sugar sweetness, plastic bite, and a leathery twang. We finished with more of that smoke and leather, some more chocolate and coffee from the malts, and another plastic flash. Things did, however, lighten up right at the end, with final washes from plastics, drying chalky malts, and lactic sourness of cream. The aftertaste breathed of dark chocolate truffles, grassy hops, fig, dried wood, cashew nuttiness, and light smoky coffee. The body was light and almost watery, with that very cask-like drying bite. Carbonation was very light. The mouth was left wet and satiated, with that light chalky dryness all over. Slurp and smack were okay, but there was little in the way of cream of frothiness to the sip. The abv was fine, and the beer drank easily .

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the wily fruity inclusion in the nose and taste. It really reminded us of Stone’s 15th Anniversary Escondidian Black IPA in its sweetness, but here we found much more plastic, leathery, and chalky cocoa bite. This beer was certainly intense, and it will probably take you by surprise, but not necessarily in a bad way.

Serving type: cask

09-10-2012 22:49:02 | More by TheBrewo

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

on tap at devils den in philly

Pours a cola brown color with a thick, fluffy tanned head resting on top. Retains throughout most of the pour, leaving patchy and ringed lacing all over the glass.

A spike of piny hops in the nose, quickly swept away by a somewhat sweet malty note. Hints of chocolate and char with a faint warmth.

Bitter up front with a decent hop character. Definitely more on the sticky piny side of the spectrum, with a pretty roasty, solid malt backbone lurking underneath. Bready and toasted with a chocolate sweetness in the malts. Finishes fairly bitter and dry with a little suggestion of alcohol.

Medium body, smoother carbonation, very fluffy and creamy on the tongue. This drinks okay (thanks to the cask conditioning), although I there really wasn't an abundance of memorable flavor here.

Serving type: cask

03-16-2012 02:32:11 | More by xnicknj

BranfordBound

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on cask from the eponymous Cask Republic a while back, just getting back into reviews ago. From notes.

Pours a fairly dark brown, opaque from the darkness. Head is only about a finger, it's very 'quiet'.

Nice rich aromas of molasses, chocolate, and roasted malt intertwine in the glass.

Very malty beer, the cask certainly allowed for some hop fade, there must have been no dry hopping here. Lots of smokey roasted malt, epsresso, chocolate, molasses, and even a touch of anise in the middle; really spectacular.

Surprisingly very light mouthfeel makes this one quaffable.

Would love to get this one again, maybe I'll even stumble on an old bottle one day, who knows... great beer nonetheless.

Serving type: cask

09-30-2011 22:33:45 | More by BranfordBound

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Station Taproom, 8/24/11.

A-Pour is a medium to dark brown with some nice mocha froth and decent lacing.

S-Lots of malt, plenty of milk chocolate sweetness and light roast. A little more roast and a bit more sweet would please me more.

T-More roast than in the nose but still a bit unbalanced toward sweetness. Perhaps cask is not the best presentation for this beer.

M-Medium bodied, moderate bitterness lingers.

O-Not bad, decent, ok are words that come to mind.

HV

Serving type: cask

08-25-2011 01:19:38 | More by sholland119

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dark brown color, i want to call it rootbeer looking, but its actually lighter than that. You can see through it and there are a ton of red hughes coming through it. About a 1 finger light tan rocky, frothy head on top. Lots of laving being left on the glass. This really is a cool looking beer. Aroma is grain, toasted barley, dark fruits, raisens, and some toasted bread. Same flavors on the palatte that I got in the nose. Bitter finish, and dry. Good Balance, leaning a little to the side of malty. Creamy medium/full mouthfeel. Litte bit of bite from the carbonation. They say it is a "Black IPA" but it doesnt feel anything like an IPA to me. Think that is just some creative marketing. It is a little too sweet for my taste to drink more than one of these. Still a pretty good brew non the less.

Serving type: can

05-19-2013 02:43:43 | More by Burkbom23

Mister_Falcon

Pennsylvania

4.59/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured a ruby-brown color into a pint glass with a three-quarter inch head. I smell hops! Wonderfully balanced hop to malt character. Roasted malt flavor, bitterness of some hops, tons of carbonation. Feels very crisp on the tongue and goes down easy like a coke on a hot summer day. This is a delicious beer.

Serving type: can

04-15-2013 00:55:34 | More by Mister_Falcon

MadScientist

New York

3.65/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A: A very dark brown with good clarity. The thick head is made of long lasting, light tan rocky bubbles that leave a sticky lacing on he glass.

S: A medium citrus hops aroma with a moderately-strong grassy note from dry hopping. There are medium-low malt aromas of sweetness and chocolate. A strong alcohol character brings a bit of floral note towards the back.

T: The bitterness dominates with a medium-strong hops bitterness and a a fairly strong citrus hops flavor. There is a bit of the malt sweetness coming through with a low chocolate and coffee note. The balance is very bitter, overly so with out enough malt to support it. The finish is off-dry and the aftertaste is all citrus hops and long, lingering bitterness.

M: A somewhat creamy, medium bodied beer with a moderately strong level of carbonation. A light bit of harsh prickle on the palate and some warmth in the back of throat.

O: This is an unbalanced beer with a harsh bitterness, but it drinks better when not too cold. It does have a lot of hops with some dark grain character but it just come together more so because of too much C hops. That being said I'd still try this beer if I found it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 00:12:29 | More by MadScientist

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.64/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to korguy123 for this can. Poured in to tulip.

A - Poured very dark amber; opaque in the middle. One finger of bubbly dirty white head.

S - Coffee and roast are the dominant aromas with some sweet chocolate and piney hop notes also present.

T - Bitter coffee and roast up front with a huge piney hop presence. Some sweet cocoa and brown sugar notes help balance out the bitterness.

M - Medium body with some sticky hop oils present. Light carbonation.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 02:03:17 | More by TheSevenDuffs

wedge

North Carolina

2.69/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark chestnut with a large, slowly deflating head of dense foam. Vaguely hoppy aromas backed by some chocolaty roasted malt. The hops are primarily of the floral, grassy, leafy variety...the more it warms, the more bittersweet, dark chocolate takes over. Tastes of grassy, dried fruit, earthiness, cocoa, and molasses. The malt seems thinner here and there's not enough hop flavor to justify the bitterness. The cryptic code on the bottom of the can isn't a clear date, so I have no idea how fresh this is. There's something sort of amateur homebrew-ish about this that's pretty disappointing.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 00:59:26 | More by wedge

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.54/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a large wine glass. Color was a very dark reddish brown, that was almost black. It was fairly translucent, with a thick foamy dirty white head. Head left solid lacings on the sides of the glass. Aroma was malty, with a bit of sour hops, finishing up as a tad of floral sweet. Flavor was a watery grain, with a small touch of hoppy bite in the end. Came through watery in the mouth, didn't coat much at all. Overall not bad, but didn't stand out. Was a bit lacking in the flavor

Serving type: can

03-18-2013 22:31:53 | More by mountdew1

shand

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Toxic Sludge is a fantastic looking black IPA, it pours out brown with high clarity and a large mocha head. The aroma is richly malty with a solid dose of citrus and pine hops. The taste is rather balanced, with a nice roastiness that reminds me of an Irish Dry Stout. There's also a substantial amount of hops that balance everything out. The strong pine flavors are very well integrated. The mouthfeel is fairly highly carbonated and medium bodied, and the drinkability is fantastic. Overall, Toxic Sludge is one of the better balanced Black IPAs I've had. It's very tasty without relying on the hops overpowering the dark malts.

Serving type: can

03-15-2013 20:56:08 | More by shand

Ego

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

eyes....
black ? sludge ? maybe the toxic moniker will come through because the rest is just not a good description...
dark brown with some ruby hues, pretty clean looking in terms of clarity, a good amount of head rises up, around the 2 finger range and you know what? it decided to stay around without even a proper invite (rude bastard)...
good lacing and nice uniform microbubbles make a nice night cap for the top of this beer...
so the look is sort of give and take.

nose...
hoppy. in the more herbally-honey variety, almost some dry stout tones in there also, not much else for me to expound on

taste etc...
the carbonation seems a bit much, this drinks pretty smooth, there is some hop character, some malt presence, a hint of chocolate.. and that is pretty much it, mostly hints of this or that, nothing memorable is going on
the hops have a decent bite, and there is some warming from the ABV

verdict?
this beer is OK, not bad in any sense but nothing special. some nice hop punch and good ABV kick but it just seems to be missing an all around mission.

Serving type: can

03-10-2013 05:03:37 | More by Ego

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this beer into a glass, it has a black colored body with a small mocha colored head that takes it time to lay down. The aroma has a hop aroma but not to strong. The taste a bitter hop flavor with some chocolate malt coming through. I also get a metal taste also. The mouth feel is smooth and overall this is a good beer, it doesn't impress me to much, I think the metal taste does it.

Serving type: can

03-08-2013 02:58:01 | More by chefhatt

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a completely clear, cherrywood hue. The head stands thin with a contrastingly bright color. The cap leaves a flak jacket of lacing.

S-The malt is clearly the winner here. Yes, behind the dark fruits and roast, there is some mild tea-like hoppiness (maybe some candied citrus hops too). But I have to concentrate to really decipher the hop's language here. The hops are far too silent. This really reminds me of an ESB; I would guess it to be said style is I were tasting blind.

T-A lot of metal. Is it the can? It tastes like the can! Something is a miss here. Tea-like hops and some candied citrus hops again. Behind the metal, I still get the flavor of a darkly malted ESB. The hops lend substantial bitterness but they don't really donate any truly intriguing or gratifying flavors. The malt is molasses-dipped pumpernickel bread and a mist of dark fruit.

M-There is some back-end heat. Softer bubbles. The body isn't huge. The bitterness really creeps up on you.

O/D-Even before the metallic flavor, I was not enamored with this beer. The hops are bitter with no finesse; like a 7 foot basketball player without any touch on the ball. The label art on the can is supremely memorable.

Serving type: can

03-03-2013 03:14:31 | More by VelvetExtract

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Odd but neat looking can reminds me more of an energy drink than a beer. Pours a solid dark brown color with ruby highlights and a huge creamy tan head that persists forever leaving lots of stickiness to the glass. Smells slightly ashy with a hint of wet cardboard on top of light chocolate and earthy floral hops. The nose is kind of disappointing for a black IPA really. The flavor is a bit better with a solid malty chocolate mixed with an earthy spicy hop flavor. Firm but pleasant hop bitterness rounds out a caramel butterscotch malt sweetness quite well. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet creamy mouthfeel. Decent beer that I could drink, but middle of the road and honestly not worth purchasing again.

Serving type: can

03-01-2013 00:19:49 | More by johnnnniee

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Glad they canned this since before it was 11 dollars a bottle! Picked up the single for $2.69 at halftime beverage.com

A - Very impressive full inch of mocha colored head atop of a very dark brown colored ale. Not pitch black "like sludge" but still a very dark IPA.
S - Smells rather balanced I get more roasty malts and chocolate than bittering hops which is a nice change. Citrus hops and peels also.
T - A pretty balanced level of roasty malts to piney resin taste. Some smoke and ash highlight, yet for some reason I expected more hops even though it was good as is. Has a great drying aspect and I do love balance more so it's a win.
M - Mouthfeel is kind of on the thin side which is strange for a black IPA. Still it goes down easy.
Overall with cleaver design (cool looking can) and a balanced taste it makes for a very above average Black IPA.

Serving type: can

02-23-2013 01:57:23 | More by DrDemento456

mnrider

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

1 Pint can. No freshness date.

A: Pours a deep black with a large frothy off white head. Above average retention
and lacing.

S: Fruity, bitter hops, toasted malts, and some nice notes of cocoa.

T/M: Bitter cocoa, bitter hops, dark fruits, roasted malts. Sweetness comes in then
back to some more hop bitterness. Goes down smooth with noticeable carbonation.
Feels a little dry in the finish.

O: The taste is somewhat of a let down, although I am still fairly new to the style. The
feel is really good which makes for some easy drinkability. Tastes good enough that I
would buy again if the price was right.

Cheers!!

Serving type: can

02-21-2013 22:12:17 | More by mnrider

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.61/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16 oz can, no date.

almost black, very dark brown with ruby highlights in the corners. nice off-white head, good lacing and retention. hoppy earthy aroma, a bit grassy, spicy. slight mild roasty flavor in the taste, a bit of bitterness and hop finish. medium body, medium to higher carbonation. overall - okay, but far from the best Black IPA I've had.

Serving type: can

02-21-2013 05:18:36 | More by jmdrpi

jucifer1818

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: more of a dark amber than a black, Still its appears to be quite nice

s: sweet carmel is present, but its smell is dominated by a massive presence of grapefruity/resiny American hops. I for one love american hops
4.5/5

t: their is a Subtle breadyness to this brew, however, it is dominated by American hops. Not enough to drive away a malthead like me, as it works well with its residual sweetness. for a beer being called "a dark IPA" this is little to no dark flavors (except for a small bit or caramel)
4.25/5

M: Resiny and abrasive from the hops, with some grainyness in the body
3.5/5

Overall: This sludge is anything but. This can may make this beer look like Malt liqour, but looks are deceiving: this is a solid example of an American IPA, with a slight dark twist.
My only regret is that it doesn't go far enough with that dark twist, and if it did, I might had given it more points.

but as it stands this beer is solid. I highly recommend it.

Serving type: can

02-20-2013 04:49:23 | More by jucifer1818

brentk56

North Carolina

3.71/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Arrives with the fudge brown liquid being capped by an inch of tan foam; leaves some patchy lace around the pint glass

Smell: Roasty and sweet malts, with piney hops in the back

Taste: Roasty malts dominate the front end, with sweeter caramel and chocolate building in the middle; after the swallow, the piney hops build though there is a metallic edge in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Although the hop bill grew on me half way through, this is just a middling example of the style

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2013 21:32:08 | More by brentk56

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a deep brown with 3 fingers of head which caused very resinous lacing through the entire glass. smell of grassy hops with lots of dark roast notes, coffee and chocolate. the flavor is really more of a hoppy stout.. earthy bitterness with lots of dark roasted flavor, black coffee, and dark cocoa nibs. medium body on the watery side, medium carbonation.

i was a little bit let down by this one, was expecting lots more hop flavor from it. it does have a cool can design at least, though i think any graphic designer would disagree of their font selections, lol.

Serving type: can

02-19-2013 05:20:51 | More by facundoCNB

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a clear but opaque extremely dark amber in color with some garnet red highlights and moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a three finger tall dense foamy light tan head that slowly reduces and condenses to a very large patch (covering the majority of the surface of the beer) of thick film, a very thin film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of dark roasted malts with stronger aromas of citrus/grapefruit and pine hops.

T: Light to moderate flavors of roasted malts with a touch of molasses sweetness. That is followed by a moderate to strong amount of citrus/grapefruit and pine hop flavors. Light to moderate bitterness that fades quickly.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly dry, especially in the finish.

O: This beer is very easy to drink with a pleasant flavor and aroma - there is a hop presence but it is not overly aggressive.

Serving type: can

02-06-2013 23:58:58 | More by dbrauneis

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 11/15/2012. Pours crystal clear dark reddish brown color with a 2-3 finger fairly dense light tan head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of grapefruit, orange zest, roasted malt, cocoa, light char, floral, grass, light pine, toast, and brown bread. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity; much weaker than I expected for the style. Taste of grapefruit, orange zest, cocoa, roasted malt, pine, toast, brown bread, light char, floral, and piney spiciness. Good amount of pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, roasted malt, chocolate, pine, brown bread, light char, and piney spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity of flavors with a nice malt/hop balance; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and sticky mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a nice Black IPA offering. Good complexity and balance of flavors, and very smooth to drink. This was not as robust as I expected for the style, but it was still a pleasantly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: can

02-06-2013 05:28:52 | More by superspak

dogfishandi

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

16 oz. can at fridge temp poured into a snifter. No freshness info.

Pours out what looks like a black color, but when held up to some light, it's actually a really dark ruby red color. A huge billowy off white, to light tan colored head that left a nice foamy cap taller than the rim of the glass off the pour. Really nice tight retention. Sticky lace covers al most every inch of exposed glass.

Piney, fruity, slightly woody hops, some dry citrus, with some grain husk.

A nice even taste. Piney hops mingle with caramel grains. Finishes with a dry citrus bitterness. Some fruitiness somewhere in there. Easy but enjoyable.

Medium in body. Carbonation is about right for the style. A nice bitterness that lingers with just a hint of sweetness.

Pretty solid and drinkable black IPA. One of the more well made beers I've had from blue point.

Serving type: can

01-16-2013 23:30:28 | More by dogfishandi

merc7186

New York

3.66/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

16oz can into a pint glass (a tight fit)

A: Dark Brown/Reddish Hue, Passes Mild Light, Off White Head, Some Lacing

S: Mildly Roasted Chocolate Malts

T: Piney, Roasted Chocolate Malts

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Sticky

Overall, I didnt have high expectations for this beer but it actually isnt bad, not over bearing on the malts or the hops, nice balance.

Serving type: can

01-14-2013 01:40:51 | More by merc7186