This week we’ll have a look at what I can only assume is the pride of Blue Hills, Massachusetts; a Blue Hill I.P.A. Now, I thought the only thing in Blue Hills was the “mountain.” My cousin went skiing at for his high school ski club; the one with only four trails…
Well good news for Blue Hills, there’s a decent brewery!
The Blue Hills Brewery opened in January of 2009, serving two beers, a pale ale and an I.P.A. Since then they have grown to six regular beers on tap as well as seasonal specialties. Nestled into the rural-feeling suburb of Canton, Blue Hills is just a short half hour from Boston. Major bonus… the brewery features weekly complimentary tastings on Wednesdays from 5 – 8, Friday 3:30 – 6:30 and Saturday from 2:00 – 6:00. They have also hosted several festivals and events, including an Oktoberfest.
The Blue Hill I.P.A.
- Pour- A deep amber/copper with a white head that settles quickly.
- Aroma- Not overwhelming, but not a bad scent… traces of wood, wet leaves, a little bit of lemon. Enjoyable.
- Taste- similar to the aroma, the hops are earthy and well balanced with a just a bit of sweetness. It starts sweet with caramel malts and then tries to hit with the expected bitterness of an I.P.A but comes up a little short. The rest of the taste almost seems to be “Generic I.P.A. Bitterness”. Starts strong, but leaves you wanting more.
- Mouth Feel – Medium bodied, medium carbonation, good hop presence the whole way through.
Overall- Like The skiing your I.P.A leaves much to be desired. By no means a bad beer, certainly drinkable. However, if you’re looking for a true craft beer experience there’s better beers for the money.
Grade: C
Confused about all this beer talk? Check out the style guide to choosing the right beer for you.
