Blue Point Blueberry Ale

Blue Point Brewing Company Blueberry Ale 4.6% ABV

Kath: This refreshing ale is a perfect for sipping by the beach or just in your yard. 

I first had this little slice of blueberry pie in a glass at the Springfest with Gab.  I saw the interesting beer tap and had to see the man behind the curtain!  That man was Gary Rosen and he was super friendly and he was just like his business card read...All Around Nice Guy!

After I sampled this a few more times I was on a mission to get more of this ale.  I sent Gab on a treasure hunt and as always she came up BIG!!!  In the meantime I was hitting the internet to read up on the Blueberry Ale.  This is what I found...

First brewed in 1998, this delicious golden ale quickly became a year-round favorite. Our fresh Blueberry Ale offers an unusual twist on brewing that turns out to be a wonderful blend of fresh blueberries matched with a distinctive, thirst quenching ale. We carefully add 732 pounds of fresh, plump and juicy, handpicked, USA Northern Highbush Blueberries to every batch. Even before your first sip of Blueberry Ale, a strong, refreshing sweet fruit aroma emanates from the bottle, kicking your taste-buds into overdrive.

I will have to say the aroma is VERY strong but the taste is not overpowering.  What is also NOT overpowering is the ABV.  It comes in at a low 4.6%.  I am used to my porters and stouts coming in at 8% or higher so this is quite a change for me, but NOT a bad change.  It also was priced pretty well.  Gab grabbed me the last two 6 packs for $7.99 each.

If you like blueberries and love beer I suggest you give this ale a chance.  If you do find it...LET ME KNOW!!!  It is a hard little number to get!

Cheers!

~K~

Blue Monkey Springfest 2011

Well, we made it! Ready for some highlights?

(Photo courtesy of Cory Dunsmuir)

We loved meeting the folks from Weyerbacher. Natalie DeChico was super-friendly and we both enjoyed tasting Verboten Belgian Pale Ale, 5.9% APV and 30 IBU. Gab likey'd, Kath - not so much.   BUT, my (Gab) favorite beer of the evening was Weyerbacher's Tiny, which I closely guarded and kept to myself. It is a Belgian inspired Imperial Stout weighing in at 11.8% - Not so TINY!!. You’ll find big chocolate and roasted notes, balanced with the Belgian flavors from the Abbey yeast strain. 

Nicole, Gab, and Kathleen

Brooklyn Brown Ale - 5.6% APV, was a fave of Kath's. Had a nutty, chocolate color, for what it's worth. Don't really know what color means for craft brews. Guess we have to drink some more to find out, huh?

Blue Point Blueberry Ale from Long Island was another fave of Kath's. Light on the APV (4.39%) with an equally low IBU, it smelled of blueberry lusciousness from the first sip. It is a nice, light, summer-drinking beer, perfect for outdoor parties.

Gab: Not my favorite, and an unexpected taste. I'm not a fan of mixing fruitiness and beer. I feel the same about wine, too! Give me pineapple in my vodka any day, though!!!

Mark Weinmann from Great Lakes Brewing Company was also extremely cordial and took time to talk to us as well. When he heard we were beer bloggers, he did not hesitate to top us off, blah ha ha! His lovely wife sent him to Springfest with wildflower seed packets, love it! Great Lakes Brewing Company is an environmentally-respectful and socially-conscious company. Their Edmund Fitzgerald Porter was another of our faves. Malty, Nutty, with a hint of coffee. 5.8% APV.

BOTTOM LINE: Our one overall favorite was Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale. Complete lusciousness! Described as "the original hybrid, a cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale, and an American Brown. Our Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (magical)". 7.2% APV at a 50 IBU.  For me (Kath) I am so surprised I liked this beer.  I am a Hop-Hater from way back but I really liked this beer. I actually went out today to get a 6 pack. 

Gab: I LOVED Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale, but my #1 fave was Weyerbacher's Tiny. I was very privileged to have tasted it "under the table", I definitely owe my sister for not sharing. Thank you so very much, Natalie! 

One thing I was wondering about, though - where was Flying Fish???? I was so looking forward to sipping some Exit 9, and any Exit, for that matter!

What were your faves from Saturday night? Let us know in the comments, and tell us what you ran out to buy post-hangover on Monday!

Be back tomorrow for Wino Wednesday!

XOXO

K & G