What started out years ago as a party with some fellow brewers in the parking lot has turned into one of the most popular cask ale events in the entire region. Saturday, April 14, we’ll host more than 30 brewers with upwards of 100 casks for the 8^th Annual Cask Ales Festival.

If you’re new to the scene, cask, or real, ale is essentially unfiltered, unpasteurized beer that is conditioned in and served directly from a cask (sometimes called a firkin), without the addition of nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. Festival attendees will be able to walk right up to casks and sample the freshest, highest quality beer they’ve ever tasted from some brewers that they may not even be familiar with. This event is so special to us because it gives craft beer fans the opportunity to sample beer in its most pure form and we’re able to raise a glass, or several, with fellow brewers from near and far!

Confirmed so far this year are Long Island favorites, Black Forest Brew Haus, Blind Bat Brewery, Great South Bay Brewery, Greenport Harbor Brewing, John Harvard’s Brew House, Long Ireland Beer Company, Southampton Publick House, and newbies Port Jeff Brewing and Spider Bite Brewing Company. Also in the lineup are: Bronx Brewery (NY), Butternuts Beer & Ale (NY), Cape Ann Brewing (MA), Captain Lawrence Brewing Company (NY), Cigar City Brewing (FL), Cricket Hill Brewery (NJ), Defiant Brewing Company (NY), Empire Brewing Company (NY), Flying Dog Brewery (MD), Keegan Ales (NY), Lagunitas Brewing Company (CA), Peekskill Brewery (NY), Sixpoint Brewery (NY), Sly Fox Brewing Co. (PA), Smuttynose Brewing Company (NH), Southern Tier Brewing Company (NY), Squirrel Tail Brewing Co. (NY), and Stone Brewing Company (CA). The Brewers East End Revival (B.E.E.R.), Long Island Beer and Malt Enthusiasts (LIMBE), and The Brewer’s Collective will be representing Long Island’s homebrew clubs.

Just about everyone at the brewery has chipped in with ideas for cask versions of at least 20 different Blue Point brews including: Ghost in the RastafaRye, toasted marshmallow Oatmeal Stout, Zythos dry hopped Hoptical Illusion primed with cotton candy and Syrah oak aged Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, just to name a few.

The festival takes place rain or shine from 2-6PM under the tents in the brewery parking lot. Tickets are $47 ($15 for designated drivers) when you buy them in the tasting room or $47.50 plus online fees here. Local faves Bobbique and Lumpy’s Food Truck will be selling good eats throughout the day and there will be live music with House of Waters.

If you follow us (and why wouldn’t you?) on Facebook and Twitter you can enter for a chance to win a ride to and from the event with S&G Limousine. This event also supports Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank with a can drop at the brewery on the day of the event and everyone is encouraged to bring any non-perishable food to donate. Only those 21 and over with valid photo ID will be admitted to the event.  No children or pets will be permitted. There will be no parking at the brewery. Please park in the train station, Municipal or County lots, or better yet, take the train.

We hope to see you at the festival…cheers!

Our latest featured beer blog is Short Girl, Long Island and Michele’s story on our beer pal Niko, who writes Super Neat Beer Adventure, Yes!! for Long Island Pulse. They’re both regulars on the local craft beer scene and can be seen at the tasting room from time to time…thanks for spreading the love guys!

Enjoy the read(s) and look out for them around the way.

It’s been a long time coming but the first bombers of No Apologies ever to be bottled hit the tasting room this morning! Weighing in at 10% ABV and 93 IBUs, our Double or Imperial IPA is not for the faint of heart. Or tongue. Since our very first batch, we set out to craft a big ale that would pack a wallop but still leave you coming back for more.

Brewed (and now bottled) only in small batches from the finest European malts and American hops, the huge, earthy dry hop aroma of No Apologies finishes with a pleasing caramel sweetness. Five hop varieties round out this fully balanced brew that will tantalize your taste buds and warm your soul.

As part of our Small Batch Release Series, we’ll only be bottling this big bruiser of an ale every few months – so stop in for a pint in the tasting room and be the first on your block to take home a bottle or two. And if you run across any on shelves in the next couple weeks, grab as much as you can carry.

Just FYI, if you happen to find a lot of bittering hops to be offensive, well, we offer No Apologies!

There’s a lot more riding on Super Bowl XVLI than local pub pools and the usual bragging rights.

This morning, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer placed a friendly bet with his colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, on the Super Bowl. Schumer wagered beer from six NY craft breweries: Brooklyn Brewery, Blue Point Brewing Company, Saranac Matt Brewing Company, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Ithaca Beer Company, and Brown’s Brewing Company. If the Giants beat the Patriots, Shaheen will have to buy a beer from the six NY breweries, for each member of the Senate. If the Patriots beat the Giants, Schumer has to buy some New Hampshire’s Smuttynose Brewing Company brew for the entire U.S. Senate.

“I can’t wait for Senator Shaheen to participate in the ‘I Love New York Brew’ Campaign by buying the best craft brews in New York and supplying them to every member of the United States Senate,” said Schumer. “When Big Blue brings Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to their knees, the entire U.S. Senate will understand why we love New York brew. Go Giants!”

Shaheen countered “This Sunday, the only thing sweeter than the taste of craft beer brewed in the Granite State will be the taste of victory when the Patriots beat the Giants. I look forward to joining the rest of my fellow Senators as we wash down New England’s win with some of New Hampshire’s best brews, courtesy of Senator Schumer.”

Way to up the ante, Senator…six NY breweries vs. a lone New England brewery will be quite a boost for the “I Love NY Brew” campaign.

Go Big Blue!

Toasted Lager is featured in the Better Homes and Gardens Super Bowl party segment on the Today Show this morning. Go Big Blue and home team brew!

Here’s some news that should speed up your heart rate and tantalize your taste buds. If you’re a fan of No Apologies, the day you’ve been waiting for is getting close.

Our 22-oz label has been approved for production and we’ll be releasing our Double IPA in bombers some time next month. Keep in mind that No Apologies is not for the faint of heart…or tongue. If you happen to find a lot of bittering hops to be offensive, well, we offer No Apologies!

2011 was a big year for Blue Point Brewing Company and we have all of our friends and fans to thank. We couldn’t brew it without you.

Stay tuned for some big things on the horizon this year and hopefully the world won’t end…

Here’s to a great 2012!

Have your picture taken with Santa at the brewery!
The tasting room is open from 12-7pm December 22, 23 and Santa Brandon will be on hand for pictures from 3-6:30pm.

Merry Christmas from everyone at Blue Point Brewing Company!

November’s featured beer blog(ger) is “afternoon brews”, posted by Hummusbird. Thanks for stopping in, glad you had a good time at the brewery. See you next fall…or sooner!?

http://hummusbird.com/category/beer/

Fresh for this weekend.

CASK:
White IPA

DRAFT:
Golden Ale
Toasted Lager
Oktoberfest
Delta Blues Session Ale
Pale Ale
Extra Special Bitter
Pumpkin Ale
Blueberry Ale
Oatmeal Stout
BP Toxic Sludge
White IPA
Hoptical Illusion IPA
RastafaRye Ale
The Great Wet Hops Experiment
Sour Cherry Imperial Stout
No Apologies Double IPA

Sour Cherry Imperial Stout returns today, come in for a jug or two!