Back Bay IPA - Beer Works

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beer Works Fenway

A: The beer pours a clear, light amber color with a thick white head.

S: Definitely a pungent hop aroma. There is a nice herbal note with some citrus peel and plenty of pine. Quite a bit of grapefruit and a very resinous note to it overall.

T: Moderate bitterness with plenty of pine and herbal hops. Maybe not quite as much in terms of citrus hops, though there is a nice grapefruit and some hints of fruit.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: A well done IPA with good hop character all around.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2011 18:21:20 | More by womencantsail

Gavage

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: clear orange in color with a 1" head. Some spots of lace develop during the session.

Smell: mild hop bitterness and some soft citrus tones.

Taste: caramel and pear sweetness nicely balanced with decent bitterness and orange citrus. Mellower IPA that is mildly refreshing and lightly dry.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp at the start and smoother towards the finish. The bitterness lingers briefly on the tongue after swallowing. Medium bodied.

Drinkability: easy drinking and this is an IPA that is a bit tamer in the flavor department but is still nice. Worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

08-14-2006 12:58:23 | More by Gavage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Voluptuous mouth feel with in a medium body, huge grapefruit hop presence that throws faint piney and citric flavours all over the place. Juicy mild of more hops and a touch of toasty caramel malt flavour. This is a down right kick ass IPA and one I’ll always go back to.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

06-05-2002 17:19:42 | More by Jason

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A light creamy head fades slowly over a hazy orange amber beer.

The nose has some light Belgian malts and fruity Belgian yeast, some nice spicy and fruity American hops, a nice combination.

Taste starts with spicy and bitter American hops. Some light citrus and fresh hop musty resinous flavors. More Belgian malts, slight creamy and fruity Belgian yeast.

Mouth is slightly creamy medium body with lower but decent carbonation.

Finishes slightly astringent and pretty bitter win lingering resinous musty fresh wet hop flavors as well as a slight dry Belgian yeast finish.

Serving type: growler
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

08-22-2010 18:38:12 | More by jlindros

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sample at Beer Works Fenway: Dark, clear golden color with a medium white head that lasts awhile. Patchy lacing. Citrusy hops aroma with hints of pine and malt. Medium-bodied and moderately bitter with a solid hops flavor backed up by some sweet malt and fruit. The finish is resiny hops yet the aftertaste does not linger long. All in all a passable effort.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

10-11-2007 19:26:46 | More by Dogbrick

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A nice deep copper colored beer that had a smooth creamy whitish head. Served chilled, but not too cold. A big hop aroma leads into a grapefruit entrance that introduces this most marvelous of East Coast IPA’s. Having drunk this on draft at it freshest, I have to say that I was incredibly impressed by the overall malt/hop balance. Fresh pine hops, lemon, orange, citric zest and some light spiciness give this beer a real dominance. I am not sure when, or if, I will ever drink this beer again. But one thing is for sure, if I do get to the Boston Beer Works in Canal Street again, the IPA will be my first beer – just as it was on Saturday 1st February 2003.

A really great beer to drink with a fellow BA, as I indeed had the sincere honor to.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

02-04-2003 23:12:57 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed yesterday during the BA bier-bash at BBW Fenway (on a miserable, cold, raw Spring day!).

The pour produced a clean, clear, medium copper-colored bier, with a creamy, albeit short, head. The foam was white, with a fine bead, and left nice lacework.
Aroma was a full, fairly strong whiff of Cascades (or a reasonable facsimile thereof!).
Body was a respectable medium, and the "feel" was just a bit prickly on the tongue. Nothing to make it less than "good", though.
Flavor started with a mild maltiness, slightly toasty, just enough to keep things honest. Then the flavor went into hop overdrive, with a great grapefruity hop essence. The hop flavor really sticks in the throat, giving a super, longlasting rich aftertaste!
A tasty rendition of an IPA. One to savor and enjoy! Prosit!!

overall: 4
appearance: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

525

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

04-06-2003 08:08:37 | More by Bierman9

Durge

Connecticut

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

A light amber color with a somewhat scattered head and spotty lace. The aroma is a solid pine hops and a touch of candied malt. This ale is lightly carbonated and shows a full burnt hops taste. A fairly slick mouthfeel. There's a slight tang with good citrus notes. Although the hops and alcohol are not at all over bearing, the bitter finish is complete. Somehow I think I might not drink too many of these just because the flavor is pretty strong and would grow heavy. However, it is very tastey and highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

09-14-2007 06:13:13 | More by Durge

lordofthewiens

Maine

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice middle of the road IPA. Hazy amber color, thick white head. Decent amount of lacing. Mostly citrus aroma, although there was also a sweet, floral hint. More of a grapefruit taste than anything else. Probably a bit of pine. Could not appreciate much malt. Mouthfeel was mostly the hops. Pretty good beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

07-09-2009 14:26:01 | More by lordofthewiens

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap at Canal Street, and served in a pint glass. The beer is a hazy, brown-gold coloring, with a chunky, off-white, big bubbled head. The beer clings thickly to the glass while you drink. Light citrus and floral nose, with grapefruit highlights. The flavor is floral hops first, followed by smooth, buttery sweet, and a tangy, peppery hops again at the end. The aftertaste is supersweet and tangy, with a citrus sweet and astringent finish.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

09-29-2011 04:07:13 | More by GarthDanielson

mdaschaf

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes. Had on tap at BBW at Fenway.

A: The beer was a clear light copper/amber color with a ene finger, slightly off-white color, with decent retention and minimal lacing.

S: Rather floral and grassy with some citrus mixed in. A little bit of light grainy malt and some caramel malt round it out.

T: There is a nice citrus flavor up front with some lemon and a bit of grapefruit leading to a little bit of caramel malt, slightly doughy too. Has a slightly bitter finish.

M: Maybe a touch thin, it does not have a sticky/dry finish that I get out of most IPAs. Moderate carbonation.

O: A decent IPA, would have liked it a bit bolder. Look forward to going back and sampling some of the other offerings at BBW.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

08-05-2011 19:58:30 | More by mdaschaf

argock

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a slender tapered glass at Beer Works - Canal Street (Boston, MA).

A: Clear lightly amber golden with tight 1-2 finger nearly white head with good retention and decent lacing.

S: Floral and citrus hops greet the noe with a soft pale malt backbone. Hops definitely win out.

T: The flavor is good but the weight of flavor is a little watery and doesn't pack the punch of a more stnadard high tier IPA. I think this is mainly due to undermalting mainly which leaves the flavor without much staying power. The hops flavor is citrusy and floral and a little one-dimensional but still enjoyable overall.

M: Mouthfeel is also a tad thin. THis beer misses the sticky, coating feel most very good IPAs have. The carbonation is midrange and dpesn't sway the feel either way. The aftertaste is floral, citrus hops.

D: A pretty good IPA which could be elevated with a heavier hand with the malts to leave the flavor with more oomph. All in all, though, still I enjoyed it.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

11-05-2010 02:45:11 | More by argock

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Cask Conditioned served at about 60*F.

Appearance: Tawny copperish golden with some haze. Head is an off white creamy looking lace.

Smell: Esters, fruit and a slight bourbon aroma hit the nose. A citrus hop is also evident.

Taste: Rich smooth malt, with almost some honey qualities in the sweetness, then the sumptuous rind citrus hop flavours make an appearance. The after taste is of more hop and a pronounced bourbon whiskey flavour.

Notes: Very complex and Oh so good! This IPA comes from the same batch as the IPA on tap but when conditioned for 7-10 days bourbon chip are added for a twist.

Serving type: cask
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

09-04-1998 00:00:01 | More by BeerAdvocate

RBorsato

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On-Tap 09/30/05 at the Boston Beer Works - Fenway in Boston, MA.

Copper, amber with a tan head. Nice carbonation and decent lace. Nice citrusy hop aroma dominates. Considering the hop rate this is a damn well balanced beer. Not overly bitter like many IPAs. Medium-full bodied and creamy smooth with a nice hoppy finish.

Man do these guys at the Beer Works do a great job with hops or what ?!? Between the ESB, Pale Ale and IPA it's hard to pick a favorite...

Per BBW website: Back Bay IPA
1997 GABF India Pale Ale
A hop lover's delight, this American India Pale Ale is brewed with over 1.5 lbs. of hops per barrel. As with all IPAs, this beer is higher in alcohol, hop aroma and bitterness than regular pale ales, and you don't have to sail to India to enjoy it.
Season: all Color: copper Alc./Vol: 6.5%

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

10-10-2005 15:37:47 | More by RBorsato

BeerSox

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Beer Works at Logan Airport in Boston (C Terminal).

Clear honey tinted amber hue with a thin white head that settles to a rim along the glass. Light and biscuity, with some strong orange and lemon citrus. Very sharp aroma. There is strong grapefruit in the flavor which lingers for a long time. Seems to mimic the grapefruit very well. Full bodied. The malts are in the background for the most part, don't do very much for the aroma or flavor. A decent AIPA.

Serving type: bottle
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

05-23-2009 00:09:38 | More by BeerSox

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear, bright orange/amber color. Poured a 2 finger rocky off-white head with good retention. Decanted lightly. LAced in wide rings.

S: Citrus and floral hops; also topical fruit and pine. Pale anad crystal malt in the foundation.

T: Crystal malt more prominent in the flavor. Hops come through as more of a resiny feel, rather than flavor, in the middle. Flavor a little disappointing after the nose.

M: Light to medium body. Moderate carbonation. Smooth and little resiny.

D: Fair IPA, just no holding power in the taste; finishes wanting.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

12-19-2010 21:44:40 | More by Haybeerman

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hoppier than the Impy IPA. Poured a shiny brown with a filmy head. The nose was citrus and hops. The flavor was preety woody and piney. The hops are followed by a slight malty base tha is kind of odd, but still quite good. The mouthfeel was very full-"ish". This is one of the first piney beers I think I have actually enjoyed.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

04-11-2005 04:13:57 | More by MuddyFeet

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy light orange/amber color with a decent sized head, leaves some lacing along the glass.

Smell is adequately hoppy for an IPA but has some malt backing to mellow things, nothing extraordinary but more than enough to please.

Taste has a good citrus/hop kick but fades fast in the mouth, decent bitterness, easy to drink and is a solid beer in Beer Works regular line-up.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

03-21-2010 19:29:11 | More by deltatauhobbit

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz glass at Salem.
It pours a deep coppery amber with a medium-sized off-white and some patchy lace.
The big fruit and floral bouquet aroma sets this one apart from any others of the IPA style. A light cut hay smell and citrusy notes peek through.
A biscuity and dry malty flavor lay a nice foundation for the ample citrusy and slightly metallic hop taste. The nice taste of pink grapefruit lasts throughout. Mild tastes of tart berries also add an interesting touch. The 6.5% ABV is hardly noticed.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

07-19-2004 00:34:46 | More by BeerResearcher

goodbyeohio

Oregon

2.6/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

orange, bright and clear with a retentive head and even lacing. smell is rife with fresh cut grass, hops, and plantiness. taste is full of bitterness but light on flavor. nasty chalkiness without any discernible fruit or malt. light, yes.. but limited drinkability due to terrible aftertaste and lack of taste. bitter and nasty.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

07-03-2005 17:16:45 | More by goodbyeohio

taez555

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Cask Conditioned.

This beer poured a translucent amber body with a white bubbly cask conditioned head.

The nose was beautiful. Lots of citrus hop smell. A touch of malt, but mostly... citrus hops.

The taste was very light and smooth. Almost no carbonation at all and at cellar temperature. A nice light caramel malt taste, a touch of wood, very fresh, but for the most part... Hops. Cascade, citrus hop bitterness and flavor all the way. It tasted like chomping on cascade hop pellets after a while.

Overall it's a nice beer. I don't know if I'll hit up the cask version again. It's just a little too hoppy and warm for me. But as IPA's go, it's very easy drinking and never over the top. A great all around IPA from BBW.

Serving type: cask
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

09-29-2003 07:22:06 | More by taez555

vfgccp

New York

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Light apple cider color, light beige head with decent head retention, and great lacing with amazing retention.

S - Green pepper and squash notes are present with a nice bitterness aroma throughout.

T - Herbal hop notes, pine, spruce, slight soapiness.

M - Sharp, nicely carbonated IPA that goes down smoothly. Leaves a very nice and pungent bitter note on the back of the palate.

O - A great hop presence, but not overly bitter. Very smooth and has a nice malty base making it very drinkable.

Serving type: growler
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

10-23-2011 04:00:55 | More by vfgccp

bruachan

Rhode Island

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

there's no mystery to this style. alll NW pacific hops

the liquid is pure gold with a lame head (with some extensions up the glass, but nothing special)

big hop aroma and flavor (at first i though centennial, but then i decided warrior). huge grapefruit aroma...and little else

the brew is sticky with hop oils—piney (like all my burps) and featuring some wintergreeny finish. in the end, malts are merely skeletal

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

08-03-2007 02:57:29 | More by bruachan

Gehrig

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at the Logan International Airport Beer Works.

Two lush fingers of white foam top a clear amber-golden body. Dense lacing and good head duration get things kicked off quite well. Big, beefy nose filled with citrus and no shortage of biscuit malt with some caramel. Lots of grapefruit, orange, and some lemon in the aromas.

The taste is excellent--very hoppy and citrusy, but also well balanced by loads of caramel malt and strong biscuit flavor, with a hint of chocolate. This is really, REALLY good IPA, and hop lovers should really be fond of Back Bay. I am not sure which hops they used, but my hunch is that is loaded with the C's--Chinook, Centennial, Cascade (not Celtics).

A dense coating of hops coats the tongue, just what every hops fan should love. Easy on the palate, Back Bay came right out of the Green Monster in Fenway at me--left field and then some. Nothing short of outstanding, I'd highly recommend Back Bay to IPA lovers everywhere.

Tremendous.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

01-09-2011 05:31:35 | More by Gehrig

jmz62565

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden orange with a large white foamy head. The smell is mild hops,not too overpowering, citrus fruit. The taste is like an English IPA,more mild than your typical American version,but very good, Creamy citrus flavors dominate this beer making this a must try. The m/f is light with all flavors mixing well making this a session/like IPA.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

05-19-2007 22:49:28 | More by jmz62565