Points West
Somers Point Brewing Company

 

Pint on draught at the brewery. It's a pretty, orange-amber color with a thick, super creamy, ecru-colored had and thick, creamy, clinging lacing. It looks like a nitro pour although it's not. I was impressed with the thickness and longevity of the lacing. The smell is very subdued; it's malty and slightly resinous with traces of pine and grapefruit rind. The taste opens with considerable malt and caramel sweetness that's balanced by the bittering Ekuanot and Summit hops. Still, it's only 49 IBU. There is very little fruit presence - just a hint of grapefruit rind. This ale features a nice, thick mouth feel with pleasant carbonation. This batch has a slightly lower ABV of 7.4% and a second pour is not a problem. While SOPO describes Points West as a "classic West Coast IPA," to my taste it's more like an English or Southern, malt-forward IPA. Regardless how you categorize the style, it's an enjoyable offering.