What you should know about L.I.'s pride and joy...Blue Point

     So I was at the bar with some friends over the week and decided to have a Long Island classic, Blue Point blueberry ale. As I was sitting in the bar enjoying my brew, I was thinking about how many Long Islanders know about a beer that is brewed right at home. There are a lot of interesting facts about the Blue Point brewing company that many beer lovers may not know. That's what The Brew Crew is here for!
     Blue Point imports a rare type of hop only grown in Oregon that give Blue Point its unique and great taste. The hop is called "Hoptical Illusion" and is featured in both the draft beers and six packs. Blue Point has both summer and winter lagers that are great tasting and have the taste of Long Island. The Blueberry ale (the drink I had to inspire this post) is one of the best kept secrets in the beer world. BP uses 132 pounds of blueberries in each batch to get that unique and sweet taste. If you're a fan of oatmeal and a sweet, dessert tasting beer, definitely check out the Oatmeal stout. It's definitely geared towards a darker beer fan, but the addition of chocolate into the recipe should make fans of lighter beer enjoy this stout.
     Next, we have Octoberfest, a seasonal favorite of mine! Octoberfest was originally started in 1810 to honor the crown prince of Balvaria. Today, we are still drinking this brew to celebrate our love of the autumn season and of course, beer! There are many popular Ovtoberfest brews such as Sam Adams, but if you haven't checked out Blue Point's version you are surely missing out. Lastly there is The "Old Howling Bastard". This beer has an alcohol content of 10% so it is not meant to drink by the case. Try drinking this brew in a wineglass to truly enjoy the carel taste. This would definitely be classified as a sipping beer.

     Now that you have all the information you need about Long Island's Blue Point, pick up a pint next time you're at the local pub. You can also check out the Blue Point brewery in eastern Long Island! Cheers! -John T.