Blue Point Hoptical Illusion

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

Draught: This one pours a clear, lighter amber color. There was a bit of a white head on it that leaves some lacing. Decent enough aroma. Grapefruit nose with a hint of pine. The taste is decently bitter, with some grapefruit and pine notes. Pretty well balanced with a decent malt body. A very good example of an IPA.

At Oliver Twist
Amber color. Strong fruity hops (grapefruit…). The body structure is not very complex, the bitterness is pleasant, and very long.

Bottled. Pale amber, average head. Rich lychee aroma. Sweet and fruity with clean, rounded mouthfeel and solid malt structure. Really hoppy with loads of oranges and lychee. salty, tarry finish. Well crafted, but does not score points for originality.

Pours a clear bright golden with a thin, lightly lacing white head. Aroma has a nice piney hoppy presence and subtle pale maltiness. Starts smei-sweet, turning more bitter toward a thin, but hoppy finish. Nicely balanced, crisp and enjoyable, a good IPA. Thanks goldtwins!

Full amber with some suspended yeasties or whatever. The aroma is fairly stinging hops. The malt balances the hop bitterness well. The hops are a little harsh, but not too much so.

This was tasted at the Blue Ridge Bevaerage Distributor in Salem , VA. It has a great aroma of citrus. The 6.2% alcohol is well balanced with the hops and malts. The color was golden with a full head. This is a solid IPA worth seeking out. The smooth finish with some bitterness just the way I like my IPA. IPAs are what beer drinking is designed for. another on 9/12/09 the alcohol is higher 6.8 %. The golden clear color and frothy white head are very inviting.

Would quite possibly have rated higher had this been chilled ever so much more. I blame it on the freak of a woman that ran the B&B I was in and her incessant rambling, thus keeping me from throwing it back in fridge for just a bit. That and the heat wave making all of Long Island muggy. That said, this had plenty of piney, floral character and nice bittering with the malt. Other than the usual elements found in a decent IPA and wishing that for once I might have been drinking the dreaded "ice cold beer" all was okay and not a lot more. Perhaps I’ll luck into a tap or another bottle and rethink the matter.

Medium sized white head, good retention and a nice lace. Clear copper/ amber hued brew. Large flowery hop nose, grapefruit, pine, big and juicy. Light/medium body, sorta thin. Large hop flavors up front, pine, citrus and some melon notes. Medium sweet malts, caramel buried under the fresh hop flavors. WOW, 6.2% alc! Finish is dry and fruity. This beer brewed in MD.