Blue Point Hoptical Illusion

Brewed by Blue Point Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Patchogue, New York USA

Clear amber pour with high carbonation and a one finger large-celled white head that leaves moderate to minimal lacing. Aroma is caramel biscuity with an odd yeasty citrus profile. A bit of soap in the nose near the end. Flavor is mild and astringent with some resinous citrus and adjunct. Chemical and soapy with a mildly bitter finish. Palate is thin and a bit acidic that finishes semi-dry. Not impressed.

12oz bottle from total wine in norfolk. pours a clear, golden orange with a thin, white head and solid lacing. aroma is very nice with sweet, floral hop notes, grapefruit, a touch of pine, and light, sweet yeasty notes. flavor is quite good with grapefruit and orange hop notes, a touch of pine, and the slightest balance of caramel malts. palate is smooth, medium bodied, and nicely carbonated. overall, a solid drinking IPA.

Pours copper with a small white head, a bit of yeast, don’t remember if there was lace. Nose is yeast, big malt, citrus and pine hops. Taste is big malt, and minor hop finish. Didn’t expect this much malt in an IPA, that wasn’t classified as a belgian ipa. Medium bodied, normal carbonation, smooth texture. Quite sessionable btw.

Pours a classic copper with a white head, unfiltered with some floaties in there - which I don’t mind. Pleasant floral/grapefruit hop nose of moderate intensity. Flavor has notes of grapefruit/citrus, orange, light pine, light base malt and minimal caramel - which is why I think the flavor is holding up well on this bottle that has been in my fridge since December. Well-balanced with ample yet smooth bitterness. Medium bodied with a smooth texture and and moderate carbonation. Solid IPA.

I rated this beer just to move up the Blue Point top raters list, I actually haven’t rated the 2 most common brews. Fortunately, this is a beer I actually like and have had numerous samples over numerous years. This particular rate was on tap at Rattle’n’Hum, imperial pint to boot as well. Aroma is all hoppy (fruit punch and sweet bubblegum) and fresh. Flavor is similar with no malt getting in the way at all. Easy drinking stuff, good hop character with no flaws. I can see myself keep drinking this for years to come.

Pours a rather nice golden hue with a decently long lasting white head and very active carbonation in my Sam Adams Sensity Glass. Smells of muted grapefruit and pine. Good but weak. Tastes very good! Same notes as smell which in and of itself wouldn’t qualify this as any more than average but something here is done right that I can’t quote put my finger on. Mouth is solid at a medium body with medium carbonation. A very good IPA and one I’d try again.

12oz screw-top bottle obtained at McKinnon’s in Salem, NH. Pours a crystal clear yellow-amber body with virtually no head. Butterscotch with a bit of citrus in the aroma. Minty grassy hops dominate the flavor with a bit of bready and caramel malt. Light bodied with moderate to low carbonation. An okay IPA at best, an okay beer in general I guess. Could afford to be more focused and cleaned up IMO.

Pours an orangey-amber, Nice white head that lasts for awhile. Lemon, grapefruit, piney scent. Taste is very good, very subtle. Sweet finish, almost makes you forget you’re drinking an IPA. All in all a pretty solid IPA.