Blue Point (Sour) Cherry Imperial Stout | Blue Point Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Blue Point Brewing Company
New York, United States | website
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.20%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by plaid75 on 05-27-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 90 | Ratings: 350
3.46/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Overall a pretty good stout, but definitely not enough cherry. I may or may not have had beers with more cherry that wasn't even advertised. Worth a try if you see it, but no need to seek it out--especially at the price point.
★ 228 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Overall a pretty good stout, but definitely not enough cherry. I may or may not have had beers with more cherry that wasn't even advertised. Worth a try if you see it, but no need to seek it out--especially at the price point.
★ 228 characters
4.32/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Comes out of the tap a warm sable just a scratch above black with a fairly thick and fine-bubbled tan head. Malty aroma has chocolate, caramel, cherry and nutty hints. Satisfying flavor has a core of roast malt plus notes of cherry, more sweet than sour, Texture has good body and plenty of fizz. If you like cherries and stouts, this is a must!
★ 345 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Comes out of the tap a warm sable just a scratch above black with a fairly thick and fine-bubbled tan head. Malty aroma has chocolate, caramel, cherry and nutty hints. Satisfying flavor has a core of roast malt plus notes of cherry, more sweet than sour, Texture has good body and plenty of fizz. If you like cherries and stouts, this is a must!
★ 345 characters
3.71/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A bit disappointed by the name sour but not really the flavor. While the cherry blends well with the regular coffee/cocoa/vanilla flavor mapping of an Imperial Stout, it imparts a fruitiness that is not sweet, but not sour either.
★ 231 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A bit disappointed by the name sour but not really the flavor. While the cherry blends well with the regular coffee/cocoa/vanilla flavor mapping of an Imperial Stout, it imparts a fruitiness that is not sweet, but not sour either.
★ 231 characters
3.5/5 rDev -6.9%
Dark roasted malt, sweet and dark chocolate dominate. Very smooth. The cherries are present in the aftertaste, but are not as strong a flavor as I would have liked. An above average beer.
★ 190 characters
Dark roasted malt, sweet and dark chocolate dominate. Very smooth. The cherries are present in the aftertaste, but are not as strong a flavor as I would have liked. An above average beer.
★ 190 characters
3.94/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance was pitch black with a coffee colored head. The smell was a lot of coffee and sweet scents with hints of cherry through out. The taste was great with a lot of classic imperial stout flavors like dark chocolate and nuts that was softened and enhanced by the subtle sour/sweetness of the cherries through out the taste. The mouthfeel wasn't as thick as I was expecting but overall a very nice beer that I would definitely recommend to fans of dark beers.
★ 463 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance was pitch black with a coffee colored head. The smell was a lot of coffee and sweet scents with hints of cherry through out. The taste was great with a lot of classic imperial stout flavors like dark chocolate and nuts that was softened and enhanced by the subtle sour/sweetness of the cherries through out the taste. The mouthfeel wasn't as thick as I was expecting but overall a very nice beer that I would definitely recommend to fans of dark beers.
★ 463 characters
3.51/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Notes are from 5/30
Though black as night and opaque, the look doesn't imply heaviness in the body, per se. The off-white head is barely less than one finger tall with good retention and strong patchy lacing that sticks well.
Overall, this beer shares the same character in aroma and flavor. It's heavily roasted with the cherry notes focusing as sour rather than sweet, though it brings a little of that. Lots of char lingers in the heavy dark malts. I would call the cherry underused rather than subtle, which is an important distinction, though it is there. There's a bit of cocoa powder and caramel in the malts presence, and a dry sort of bitterness throughout. Alcohol isn't too hot but definitely shows itself. I get fruity esters and the like in a lot of beers, but in this one they get a little too strong, distracting and offensive in an otherwise good stout.
Carbonation is light, at a good low level for the style, and with an adequate light crispness. This stout is light in body, though, on the bigger side of medium without the depth to hold it up. It's also shy of clean, scraping the tongue just a little as it goes. It's relatively smooth, though, and it moves fairly well.
★ 1,192 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Notes are from 5/30
Though black as night and opaque, the look doesn't imply heaviness in the body, per se. The off-white head is barely less than one finger tall with good retention and strong patchy lacing that sticks well.
Overall, this beer shares the same character in aroma and flavor. It's heavily roasted with the cherry notes focusing as sour rather than sweet, though it brings a little of that. Lots of char lingers in the heavy dark malts. I would call the cherry underused rather than subtle, which is an important distinction, though it is there. There's a bit of cocoa powder and caramel in the malts presence, and a dry sort of bitterness throughout. Alcohol isn't too hot but definitely shows itself. I get fruity esters and the like in a lot of beers, but in this one they get a little too strong, distracting and offensive in an otherwise good stout.
Carbonation is light, at a good low level for the style, and with an adequate light crispness. This stout is light in body, though, on the bigger side of medium without the depth to hold it up. It's also shy of clean, scraping the tongue just a little as it goes. It's relatively smooth, though, and it moves fairly well.
★ 1,192 characters
2.91/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Nice n' dark it pours with a two finger tan head. Splitting this with my gal in 15 cl St. Bernardus snifters. The nose has hints of chocolates and a woody-fruity nose.
My girlfriend picked this out and I was pleased to try it as she usually passes up on anything that is a stout and above 6% ABV. It intrigued her so I obliged. Tastes as if it is a RIS made with some strain of Belgian ale yeast. If that were its billing, that would make total sense and I think I would be a bit more receptive to it. Not sure I get the sour cherry per se, although I definitely perceive sourness. If I was asked, though, which fruit was in this, I might guess cherry; I might guess something entirely different. Chocolatey and fair malt profile but a bit on the thin side. I'm curious if there was a sugar addition because it is quite light but still has a sufficient alcohol %. On the other hand, it is drinkable and that is nice.
This is not bad but it isn't great either. I can think of too many stouts in this category that are well worth the bother and calorie expenditure. So for me, something this nondescript claiming to have some signature quality (i.e., sour cherry) is a bit of a let down.
I'd say if you are offered a glass, it is worth trying and, if you like stouts, you should find it drinkable. But if you are looking for an interesting riff on the style, this is probably not it for you.
★ 1,395 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Nice n' dark it pours with a two finger tan head. Splitting this with my gal in 15 cl St. Bernardus snifters. The nose has hints of chocolates and a woody-fruity nose.
My girlfriend picked this out and I was pleased to try it as she usually passes up on anything that is a stout and above 6% ABV. It intrigued her so I obliged. Tastes as if it is a RIS made with some strain of Belgian ale yeast. If that were its billing, that would make total sense and I think I would be a bit more receptive to it. Not sure I get the sour cherry per se, although I definitely perceive sourness. If I was asked, though, which fruit was in this, I might guess cherry; I might guess something entirely different. Chocolatey and fair malt profile but a bit on the thin side. I'm curious if there was a sugar addition because it is quite light but still has a sufficient alcohol %. On the other hand, it is drinkable and that is nice.
This is not bad but it isn't great either. I can think of too many stouts in this category that are well worth the bother and calorie expenditure. So for me, something this nondescript claiming to have some signature quality (i.e., sour cherry) is a bit of a let down.
I'd say if you are offered a glass, it is worth trying and, if you like stouts, you should find it drinkable. But if you are looking for an interesting riff on the style, this is probably not it for you.
★ 1,395 characters
3.09/5 rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Poured a dark brown into a teku with lots of carbonation. Way too carved for the style.
The smell is the best part of the beer. Standard imperial stout nose of dark chocolate and coffee with a touch of roast and cherry in the end.
The taste falls flat. It is like coder flavored cherry cola and makes no sense.
The mouthfeel is so heavily carbonated, moreso than even a Belgian style stout. It's frothy and creates a thin palate.
This was certainly not the worst beer I've ever had but I would look elsewhere. And ten bucks for a number? Very disappointed.
★ 560 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Poured a dark brown into a teku with lots of carbonation. Way too carved for the style.
The smell is the best part of the beer. Standard imperial stout nose of dark chocolate and coffee with a touch of roast and cherry in the end.
The taste falls flat. It is like coder flavored cherry cola and makes no sense.
The mouthfeel is so heavily carbonated, moreso than even a Belgian style stout. It's frothy and creates a thin palate.
This was certainly not the worst beer I've ever had but I would look elsewhere. And ten bucks for a number? Very disappointed.
★ 560 characters
3.72/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Blue Point Brewing Company - Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, poured into a Fiddlehead snifter.
Look - Pours thin viscosity brown and settles black with slightly translucent brown around the outsides when held up to the light. Bubbly mocha head that dissipates quickly. OK lacing.
Smell - Roasted malt, touch of chocolate and cherry. Subtle but tasty aroma.
Taste - Cola carbonated but full flavored malt and chocolate with a dash of cherry at the end.
Mouthfeel - Lighter bodied with high carbonation. Not at all boozy with good drinkability.
Overall - This is just OK, not a breathtaking experience at all. Not really a great example of a RIS, or an imperial stout, but oh well!
★ 680 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Blue Point Brewing Company - Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, poured into a Fiddlehead snifter.
Look - Pours thin viscosity brown and settles black with slightly translucent brown around the outsides when held up to the light. Bubbly mocha head that dissipates quickly. OK lacing.
Smell - Roasted malt, touch of chocolate and cherry. Subtle but tasty aroma.
Taste - Cola carbonated but full flavored malt and chocolate with a dash of cherry at the end.
Mouthfeel - Lighter bodied with high carbonation. Not at all boozy with good drinkability.
Overall - This is just OK, not a breathtaking experience at all. Not really a great example of a RIS, or an imperial stout, but oh well!
★ 680 characters
3.48/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Three finger tan head from a solid pour. Jet black brew. Decent retention and fluffy lacing that slides down the glass.
Roasted chocolate malt aroma, just a hint of cherry or grape tartness. Wheat, and milk or cream.
There's a definite tartness and it is far more sour than I expected. Coffee does not hit until the midtongue, and the cocoa is on the back end only. Not the flavor profile that I expected, and not one that is great.
Slightly chewy, but a little bit light for the style. Overall medium mouthfeel. No hint of alcohol. No sting, and no bite.
I'm very disappointed. This is simply a mediocre beer. It's not bad, but I feel the tartness does not work. Further, it's not a good stout by itself. Not terrible, but I recommend you skip this one.
★ 758 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Three finger tan head from a solid pour. Jet black brew. Decent retention and fluffy lacing that slides down the glass.
Roasted chocolate malt aroma, just a hint of cherry or grape tartness. Wheat, and milk or cream.
There's a definite tartness and it is far more sour than I expected. Coffee does not hit until the midtongue, and the cocoa is on the back end only. Not the flavor profile that I expected, and not one that is great.
Slightly chewy, but a little bit light for the style. Overall medium mouthfeel. No hint of alcohol. No sting, and no bite.
I'm very disappointed. This is simply a mediocre beer. It's not bad, but I feel the tartness does not work. Further, it's not a good stout by itself. Not terrible, but I recommend you skip this one.
★ 758 characters
3.73/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
1pt bottle
no date
A- Opaque black that you cant see thru, has many small champagne like bubbles under a strong light. 1 finger high head that stuck around for about 5 minutes.
S- from the bottle, quite a bit of chocolate. From the glass it has a very sweet smell, chocolate, vanilla some roastyness. Did I mention quite sweet...
T- Chocolate, bread, a sweet tartness, not much fruit..
M- Full body, very silky and smooth, kind of fizzy
O- Decent flavor, easy to drink, had a slight tartness but nothing I would consider sour. Still think it is kinda sweet, but not a sugary or candy sweet, must be from the cherrys ? I would drink this again.
★ 648 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
1pt bottle
no date
A- Opaque black that you cant see thru, has many small champagne like bubbles under a strong light. 1 finger high head that stuck around for about 5 minutes.
S- from the bottle, quite a bit of chocolate. From the glass it has a very sweet smell, chocolate, vanilla some roastyness. Did I mention quite sweet...
T- Chocolate, bread, a sweet tartness, not much fruit..
M- Full body, very silky and smooth, kind of fizzy
O- Decent flavor, easy to drink, had a slight tartness but nothing I would consider sour. Still think it is kinda sweet, but not a sugary or candy sweet, must be from the cherrys ? I would drink this again.
★ 648 characters
4.05/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This was interesting. Sampled on draft ar Gainesville House of Beer. Pours black with nice head. Smells like chocolate milk. No cherry on the nose or flavor, but an interesting sour smoke flavor going on with the heavy chocolate notes. Medium mouthfeel and alcohol very well hidden. Honestly, this was pretty good but I think many raters are disappointed by the lack of cherry flavor they were expecting. I am generally not a huge fan of cherry in the stout so this worked for me. Nice beer.
★ 491 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This was interesting. Sampled on draft ar Gainesville House of Beer. Pours black with nice head. Smells like chocolate milk. No cherry on the nose or flavor, but an interesting sour smoke flavor going on with the heavy chocolate notes. Medium mouthfeel and alcohol very well hidden. Honestly, this was pretty good but I think many raters are disappointed by the lack of cherry flavor they were expecting. I am generally not a huge fan of cherry in the stout so this worked for me. Nice beer.
★ 491 characters
3.72/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Dark khaki 3 finger head towers over a shiny coal black colored body. The head is plush, breaching the vessel's rim with a mushrooming cap remaining forever strong. Spongy textured lace on the glass.
S: Roasted coffee, chocolate cherries. Limited spectrum.
T: Flavor of vanilla coffee, roasty milky chocolate, marshmellow, with a dark earthy bitterness. The cherries come through with a light sourness on the finish, more background ambience then focus. Some sherrry alcohol from the 9.0% with a really deep coffee roastines, though was very silky smooth.
M: Full bodied, silky smooth textured, soft carbonation with some sherry alcohol.
O: Overall very smooth and polished flavor and drinkability. The alcohol is tolerable, though you will feel it later. Not as sour as i expected, the dark milky chocolate malts and earthy bitterness is the highlights here while the sour cherries are soft background ambience. solid good.
4.25 3.5 3.75 4 3.75
★ 958 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Dark khaki 3 finger head towers over a shiny coal black colored body. The head is plush, breaching the vessel's rim with a mushrooming cap remaining forever strong. Spongy textured lace on the glass.
S: Roasted coffee, chocolate cherries. Limited spectrum.
T: Flavor of vanilla coffee, roasty milky chocolate, marshmellow, with a dark earthy bitterness. The cherries come through with a light sourness on the finish, more background ambience then focus. Some sherrry alcohol from the 9.0% with a really deep coffee roastines, though was very silky smooth.
M: Full bodied, silky smooth textured, soft carbonation with some sherry alcohol.
O: Overall very smooth and polished flavor and drinkability. The alcohol is tolerable, though you will feel it later. Not as sour as i expected, the dark milky chocolate malts and earthy bitterness is the highlights here while the sour cherries are soft background ambience. solid good.
4.25 3.5 3.75 4 3.75
★ 958 characters
3.9/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Thirsty Monk in Asheville.
Very dark; decent but small head. Decent lacing.
The sour cherries come through in the aroma but this beer is not especially sour. Rather, it has a nice sweet/tart balance. The "sour" refers to the cherries, not the beer, as some other reviewers failed to recognize. The cherry component is a bit more subtle than I'd prefer, being barely detectable in the mouth, and even then emerging as a somewhat generic fruitiness. Hints of chocolate in both the aroma and flavor.
Medium plus body; very smooth.
★ 546 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Thirsty Monk in Asheville.
Very dark; decent but small head. Decent lacing.
The sour cherries come through in the aroma but this beer is not especially sour. Rather, it has a nice sweet/tart balance. The "sour" refers to the cherries, not the beer, as some other reviewers failed to recognize. The cherry component is a bit more subtle than I'd prefer, being barely detectable in the mouth, and even then emerging as a somewhat generic fruitiness. Hints of chocolate in both the aroma and flavor.
Medium plus body; very smooth.
★ 546 characters
3.66/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pretty bottle art. Dark brown pour sits opaque black in my glass. Hot chocolate colored head that thins but retains well.
Smells like cocoa powder and dark malt. The cherries show up more as it warms.
Chocolate biscotti in front and mildly roasted dark malt in back. Black cherry is there but sometimes catches the alcohol and comes across like cherry cough syrup. Hearty mouthfeel. Like chocolate cherry Dr. Pepper.
The least sour sour ale I've ever had. I then read the bottle and it mentions that Sour Cherry Stout isn't supposed to be sour, BP was going for more of a Valentine's day cherry cordial theme. Ok. Good beer, poorly named.
★ 642 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pretty bottle art. Dark brown pour sits opaque black in my glass. Hot chocolate colored head that thins but retains well.
Smells like cocoa powder and dark malt. The cherries show up more as it warms.
Chocolate biscotti in front and mildly roasted dark malt in back. Black cherry is there but sometimes catches the alcohol and comes across like cherry cough syrup. Hearty mouthfeel. Like chocolate cherry Dr. Pepper.
The least sour sour ale I've ever had. I then read the bottle and it mentions that Sour Cherry Stout isn't supposed to be sour, BP was going for more of a Valentine's day cherry cordial theme. Ok. Good beer, poorly named.
★ 642 characters
3.61/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from tap into pint at sharkeys in Radford VA. Deep brown pour with no head. Roasted malt and chocolate sweetness aroma..something fruity as well.
Taste is almost tropical. .like a frozen drink on the beach in the carribean...coconut and fruit mixed with chocolate and roasted malt. I dont know weather to put it in the cellar or put an umbrella in it. I mean its tasty but a bit too strange or sweet. Really smooth though.
Decent brew...just want it actually sour not just with cherries added...
★ 504 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from tap into pint at sharkeys in Radford VA. Deep brown pour with no head. Roasted malt and chocolate sweetness aroma..something fruity as well.
Taste is almost tropical. .like a frozen drink on the beach in the carribean...coconut and fruit mixed with chocolate and roasted malt. I dont know weather to put it in the cellar or put an umbrella in it. I mean its tasty but a bit too strange or sweet. Really smooth though.
Decent brew...just want it actually sour not just with cherries added...
★ 504 characters
3.78/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 ounce bottle into snifter, late 2012 bottling. Pours fairly pitch black color with a 1 finger dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of lightly tart cherry, cherry skin, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, roasted malt, cocoa, coffee, toast, and roasted earthiness. Nice and interesting aromas with good balance of roasted malt notes with a moderate amount of cherry presence. Taste of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, lightly tart cherry, roasted malt, cocoa, toast, coffee, light floral, and roasted earthiness. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, roasted malt, cherry, toast, light coffee, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted malt flavors; with a fair amount of cherry flavor and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and lightly slick mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good fruit imperial stout. Good balance and complexity of roasted flavors with a fair amount of cherry notes; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,253 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 ounce bottle into snifter, late 2012 bottling. Pours fairly pitch black color with a 1 finger dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of lightly tart cherry, cherry skin, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, roasted malt, cocoa, coffee, toast, and roasted earthiness. Nice and interesting aromas with good balance of roasted malt notes with a moderate amount of cherry presence. Taste of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, lightly tart cherry, roasted malt, cocoa, toast, coffee, light floral, and roasted earthiness. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, roasted malt, cherry, toast, light coffee, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted malt flavors; with a fair amount of cherry flavor and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and lightly slick mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good fruit imperial stout. Good balance and complexity of roasted flavors with a fair amount of cherry notes; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,253 characters
4.15/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Blue Point Sour Cherry Imperial Stout
22 oz brown bottle
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass
Pours a pitch black, reminiscent of ink. Opaque in appearance as I contrast the beer to background light and nothing penetrates. A thin ring of a head forms on top with a sudsy light brown form.
Dark roasted coffee notes with a smokey background and a faint whiff of candy sweetness.
Each sip provides flavors of dark chocolate and espresso. This is a super malty brew, an interesting imperial stout that intertwines a reasonable amount of cherry sweetness. Perhaps a tad sour as advertised, but nothing overwhelming. One thing I particularly like is that the cherry profile is subtle and not artificial tasting like some other beers.
Think Cellas Chocolate Covered Cherries in pure liquid form with a deceiving and surprising 9% ABV. This is a nice lil sipper on this Friday evening as I watch the Red Sox game.
★ 905 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Blue Point Sour Cherry Imperial Stout
22 oz brown bottle
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass
Pours a pitch black, reminiscent of ink. Opaque in appearance as I contrast the beer to background light and nothing penetrates. A thin ring of a head forms on top with a sudsy light brown form.
Dark roasted coffee notes with a smokey background and a faint whiff of candy sweetness.
Each sip provides flavors of dark chocolate and espresso. This is a super malty brew, an interesting imperial stout that intertwines a reasonable amount of cherry sweetness. Perhaps a tad sour as advertised, but nothing overwhelming. One thing I particularly like is that the cherry profile is subtle and not artificial tasting like some other beers.
Think Cellas Chocolate Covered Cherries in pure liquid form with a deceiving and surprising 9% ABV. This is a nice lil sipper on this Friday evening as I watch the Red Sox game.
★ 905 characters
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 22 ounce bomber into a perfect pint glass.
Pours very dark brown, bordering on black, touches of foam. Faint cherry smell, light malt. Taste is a fruity malt, with a robitussen like cherry taste. Bit of a bite at the end. Not very sour. Sherry hints, backed with chocolate. Takes some getting used to - essentially a fruity stout.
★ 343 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 22 ounce bomber into a perfect pint glass.
Pours very dark brown, bordering on black, touches of foam. Faint cherry smell, light malt. Taste is a fruity malt, with a robitussen like cherry taste. Bit of a bite at the end. Not very sour. Sherry hints, backed with chocolate. Takes some getting used to - essentially a fruity stout.
★ 343 characters
3.78/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Served on-tap at Rattle N Hum in New York, NY
A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with minimal amounts of visible carbonation and some light amounts of cola brown highlights. The beer has a half finger tall off-white head that reduces rather quickly to a medium patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Light to moderate aromas of dark and roasted malts along with sour cherries.
T: Upfront there are light to moderate flavors of dark malts and roasted malts. Moderate flavors of sour cherries which get a little stronger as the beer warms up. Light hints of alcohol.
M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.
O: I really enjoyed the flavors of sour cherries in the imperial stout style - I found it to be interesting and a touch unique but enjoyable. Alcohol is well hidden and this one is easy to enjoy sipping on for a while.
★ 944 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Served on-tap at Rattle N Hum in New York, NY
A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with minimal amounts of visible carbonation and some light amounts of cola brown highlights. The beer has a half finger tall off-white head that reduces rather quickly to a medium patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Light to moderate aromas of dark and roasted malts along with sour cherries.
T: Upfront there are light to moderate flavors of dark malts and roasted malts. Moderate flavors of sour cherries which get a little stronger as the beer warms up. Light hints of alcohol.
M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.
O: I really enjoyed the flavors of sour cherries in the imperial stout style - I found it to be interesting and a touch unique but enjoyable. Alcohol is well hidden and this one is easy to enjoy sipping on for a while.
★ 944 characters
2.78/5 rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
Bomber into a tulip, the brew pours black in color with a khaki finger of head. The cap displays decent retention but as it fades leaves a webby pattern of lacing effect on the glass.
The smell includes noted of cocoa and some earthy roasted grain aspect. A little bit of dirty to vegetative character emerges in the nose across the back and increases in character as it warms up. Overall the smell of this is quite yeasty.
The flavor includes cocoa and chocolate grain, mild roast. Quite an abundant amount of yeast fills the profile with some mineral elements that are not that enjoyable. This is a marginal stout with some off character. Where are these mentioned cherries? Sour what?
This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. This has a well masked alcohol inclusion but is certainly not tart nor sour at all. The overall yeastiness and mineral aspect found in this brew make consumption a bit of a chore. With or without the advertised cherry character I would avoid this one.
★ 1,008 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
Bomber into a tulip, the brew pours black in color with a khaki finger of head. The cap displays decent retention but as it fades leaves a webby pattern of lacing effect on the glass.
The smell includes noted of cocoa and some earthy roasted grain aspect. A little bit of dirty to vegetative character emerges in the nose across the back and increases in character as it warms up. Overall the smell of this is quite yeasty.
The flavor includes cocoa and chocolate grain, mild roast. Quite an abundant amount of yeast fills the profile with some mineral elements that are not that enjoyable. This is a marginal stout with some off character. Where are these mentioned cherries? Sour what?
This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. This has a well masked alcohol inclusion but is certainly not tart nor sour at all. The overall yeastiness and mineral aspect found in this brew make consumption a bit of a chore. With or without the advertised cherry character I would avoid this one.
★ 1,008 characters
3.94/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours with one finger of medium brown foam on top of a black body with just a hint of ruby showing through. The foam settles at a moderate pace and leaves nice lace.
S - Chocolate, light cherry, and a bit of caramel.
T - Thick, sweet malt up front with notes of chocolate and nutty caramel. Some fruity character comes out in the middle with a bit of espresso and a finish of cherry, coffee, and molasses.
M - A fairly thick, syrupy body, moderately low carbonation, and a sweet finish.
D - Not bad It delivers on the cherry in the flavor more than the aroma. There is some coffee and other roasty character, but it mostly focuses on dark sugar. It borders on cloying, but doesn't quite get there. It is drinkable enough, but it would need some barrel aging or something else to make it anything special.
★ 812 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours with one finger of medium brown foam on top of a black body with just a hint of ruby showing through. The foam settles at a moderate pace and leaves nice lace.
S - Chocolate, light cherry, and a bit of caramel.
T - Thick, sweet malt up front with notes of chocolate and nutty caramel. Some fruity character comes out in the middle with a bit of espresso and a finish of cherry, coffee, and molasses.
M - A fairly thick, syrupy body, moderately low carbonation, and a sweet finish.
D - Not bad It delivers on the cherry in the flavor more than the aroma. There is some coffee and other roasty character, but it mostly focuses on dark sugar. It borders on cloying, but doesn't quite get there. It is drinkable enough, but it would need some barrel aging or something else to make it anything special.
★ 812 characters
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours a dark chocolate brown color with little to no head at all. Some tiny bubbles at the edges.
S: Aroma of sour cherry, deep roasted malt and some mild base malt aromas.
T: A nicely rounded sweet malt and sour cherry flavored imperial stout. There is nothing overpowering on either end, instead the flavors just seem to meld well together. Prickly carbonation that adds to the sour flavors and there is a chalky finish on the end, reminding me of a lactose like chalkiness that I think is from the strain of yeast used here.
M: Prickly stinging carbonation and a medium body. The carbonation is way to high in my opinion and takes this down a notch in my opinion. The mouthfeel/body otherwise is pretty good.
O: Overall its a decent stout, but nothing is really begging me to revisit this. I guess this has beaten my expectations in terms of flavor. Bluepoint can make good beer, I just have not had anything in a long while that really knocked my senses out. This at least seems to be a notch up from some of their seasonal releases that are less than exceptional yet tolerable.
★ 1,092 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours a dark chocolate brown color with little to no head at all. Some tiny bubbles at the edges.
S: Aroma of sour cherry, deep roasted malt and some mild base malt aromas.
T: A nicely rounded sweet malt and sour cherry flavored imperial stout. There is nothing overpowering on either end, instead the flavors just seem to meld well together. Prickly carbonation that adds to the sour flavors and there is a chalky finish on the end, reminding me of a lactose like chalkiness that I think is from the strain of yeast used here.
M: Prickly stinging carbonation and a medium body. The carbonation is way to high in my opinion and takes this down a notch in my opinion. The mouthfeel/body otherwise is pretty good.
O: Overall its a decent stout, but nothing is really begging me to revisit this. I guess this has beaten my expectations in terms of flavor. Bluepoint can make good beer, I just have not had anything in a long while that really knocked my senses out. This at least seems to be a notch up from some of their seasonal releases that are less than exceptional yet tolerable.
★ 1,092 characters
3.88/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours very dark. Light doesn't penetrate much. Thin tan head is barely consistent. Very light lacing.
A-Well, the label correctly states "sherry notes" all over the place. A pleasant mix between fruit and roast. Chocolate-dipped maraschino cherries. Not an excessive amount of tartness. The nose is very unique. It has its goods and bads. The charred notes remind me of an extinguished matchstick. Digging the sherry aroma.
T-The flavor is on par with the nose. Again, there are positives and negatives. The sherry flavor is present but its not really close to being sour at all. Chocolate and coffee with some maraschino cherry added in. Flat Dr. Pepper. Still sticks close to its RIS roots.
M-Body isn't too viscous or heavy. Light carbonation. Alcohol hidden well. Slightly sticky.
O/D-I was expecting it to be a lot crazier. I think the use of the word 'sour' on the label is bold. When you judge it just on its flavor and disregard the information behind it and its name its a pretty neat brew. I am happy to try it.
P.S.- I am awkwardly ecstatic that I didn't get any gross cough-syrupy/medicinal cherry extract flavor. I often find such a flavor in (non-lambic) beers that somehow institute cherries in the brewing process. Kudos to Blue Point for that.
★ 1,268 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours very dark. Light doesn't penetrate much. Thin tan head is barely consistent. Very light lacing.
A-Well, the label correctly states "sherry notes" all over the place. A pleasant mix between fruit and roast. Chocolate-dipped maraschino cherries. Not an excessive amount of tartness. The nose is very unique. It has its goods and bads. The charred notes remind me of an extinguished matchstick. Digging the sherry aroma.
T-The flavor is on par with the nose. Again, there are positives and negatives. The sherry flavor is present but its not really close to being sour at all. Chocolate and coffee with some maraschino cherry added in. Flat Dr. Pepper. Still sticks close to its RIS roots.
M-Body isn't too viscous or heavy. Light carbonation. Alcohol hidden well. Slightly sticky.
O/D-I was expecting it to be a lot crazier. I think the use of the word 'sour' on the label is bold. When you judge it just on its flavor and disregard the information behind it and its name its a pretty neat brew. I am happy to try it.
P.S.- I am awkwardly ecstatic that I didn't get any gross cough-syrupy/medicinal cherry extract flavor. I often find such a flavor in (non-lambic) beers that somehow institute cherries in the brewing process. Kudos to Blue Point for that.
★ 1,268 characters
Blue Point (Sour) Cherry Imperial Stout from Blue Point Brewing Company
3.76
out of 5
based on 350 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark enough where no light shines through. Moderate head which leaves single ring of lace. Spots thereafter.
The smell is fruity sweet, cherries as expected. I get some nearly burnt malts on the second smell.
More chocolatey than coffee. I would describe this beer as good porter, not a stout and certainly not an imperial stout. The alcohol is very deceptive, meaning I don't notice it. There's a bit of sourness in the swallow and aftertaste, but it is far more chocolate than anything else.
★ 497 characters