Ballast Point Indra Kunindra

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

Ok this if unique, but in my mind way overdone. I get a heavy dose of coconut and cayenne pepper that overpowers everything else.

Bomber purchased at Holiday Wine Cellar 15 months ago ($7.99). I had bought a number of bottles but finally rating my last (aged) bottle now. Pours quite black with some dark brown highlights at the edges and two fingers of creamy brown foam. Aroma is like nothing I’ve come across in any beer with the spice from and center: earthy cumin, dry masala curry powder, fresh kaffir lime leaf (more of a Thai thing than Indian), and some coconut along with dark roasted malts. Seriously, this reminds me of walking through the spice market in Jodhpur, India when I was there a dozen years ago. Flavor starts with some dark chocolate notes but the spice soon makes itself very known with lots of cayenne, curry, and cumin and lesser notes of the coconut (kaffir lime not really in the flavor). Some heat leading into the dry-ish finish. The heat and tang from the spice leads to an unusual but not unpleasant mouthfeel. I recently had a draft sample at Ballast Point and have to say that this aged bottle actually tones down the spice a little bit and brings out more of the "stout" characteristics (chocolate most notably). This might actually pair well with less spicy-hot Indian food...for truly spicy-hot stuff, an IPA would probably work better. It’s interesting to see that most raters here either quite like this beer or hate it. It’s certainly an interesting experiment. Since I’m a big fan of Indian food and the cuisine of my native Louisiana (thanks for the cayenne up in here!), I fall firmly into the "like" group. I’ve liked this beer since it first came out and glad to finally rate it...a really interesting and fun experiment unlike any other beer out there. (169, 766)

I’m going to skip the introductory flourishes and just get straight into it - this smells incredible. It smells like everything the tropics could be, refined into a lovely perfume, with all the spices and fruits and liquors that make the Carribbean such a hot destination. Coconut, cumin, all-spice, shea butter, black pepper, vanilla and any number of other exotic aromas that make this smell genuinely like a 5-star seaside restaurant with a spice market next door. Really, this is an incredible aroma. The flavor is there too, reminescent of jerk chicken, coconut, a mild chipotle or chili spiciness and overall a gourmet experience in a bottle. Exotic, tropical, and all the flavors of the equator, I’ve never had anything like this, and it changes and wriggles and transforms as it warms. Ballast Point strikes again, and makes a beer that truly fits the sunny San Diego environs.

Bottle. Pours a deep dark brown with a tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, cumin, and lime. Taste is spicy and roasty, of toasted malt, wood, cumin, lime and ending with a bit of coconut and cayenne. Lingering hint of spiciness with roasted malt and coconut. Very weird beer, but the taste works.

Pour from the tap at the brewery in Old Grove. Pitch black in appearance with a thin tan head. Scents of dark chocolate and cumin . Nice medium smooth bodied beer. Initial flavor is of moderately subdued indian spice of curry, cumin, and lime. Next up is the dark cocoa, molasses, and roasted malt. On the back end the cayenne pepper makes it self known in moderation. Good lengthy finish. Really enjoyed this beer.

Craziest beer ever so I have to give it a 4. Crazy curry flavor in a beer are you serious?!?!

Pours a dark brown with a lighter brown head. Prominent notes of curry and coconut. Hints of thyme and chocolate. I’ve never had a beer quite like this. Bonus points for uniqueness alone.

On tap at Ballast Point. Truly unique in every way. Deep dark obsidian pour with ruby highlights and a medium but creamy and long lasting brown head. Thin curtains of velvety lacing. Pungent but pleasing aroma of lime, mild coconut, melted bittersweet chocolate and toasted herbs. The curry hits you first then draws you into a complex, mind-bending vortex of favors. Tart lime, roasted malt, chocolate, coconut, sour apple and other herbal, botanical notes. A few sips in you start to get the chili pepper burn and lingers throughout but doesn’t interfere with the flavors. That said, If you’re not a fan of hot dishes (or spicy brews) then you’d probably have a harder time getting past the chilies in this one. Despite the burn the texture is quite silky and the finish is long, flavorful and packs a big final kick of lime and curry. Might be the most interesting brew I’ve ever had and I’m thrilled I had a chance to try it before it kicked.

Draft at Beer Revolution. Full pour so there’s no head. Dark black body. First flavors are of fresh commute and mild curry. Moves into a bitterness on the back end. Would love to have this with Indian or Thai food. Too bad there’s no aroma to speak of.

Bottle. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, light chocolate, curry and lime. Flavor starts off with roasted malts and light chocolate followed by some cayenne spice. From the middle to the finish you get more heat along with a great mix of curry and lime flavors. Overall a nice mix of chocolate, hot pepper heat and curry/lime flavors. A strange but tasty brew.