Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (North Star)

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
San Diego, California USA

Aroma reminsicent of pine and grapefruit. Pine flavor from the hops comes through very balanced. This beer has everything you love about piney hops.

bottle. Pours a crystal clear light amber color, small half inch of bubbly white head that clears quickly. Bright sharp hop nose of lemons, apricots, and some sticky resinous notes. Nose also shows some heavy bitterness and some light toasted notes. Aroma shows plenty of that sharp citric bitterness from the nose; grapefruit, lemons, and other sharp fruit notes. Light malt backbone of toasted biscuits and caramel. Flavors blend decently, but lack the depth or uniqueness of many other IPAs. Palate is full and creamy, with a light bitter finish. Certainly a good IPA, but nothing especially incredible.

22 oz. bottle from South Bay Drugs. Pale orange in color with a white head. Aroma of grapefruit and fresh cut grass. Surprisingly understated in comparison to their Big Eye IPA. In fact, dare I say, more balanced. Flavors I detect are lemon, pine, and apricot. Dangerously drinkable. I still like the Big Eye IPA better but this is another fantastic beer from Ballast Point.

Bottle from Snojerk321 (Thanks!) Pour was orange pour, medium carbonation and plenty of sweet citrus on the nose. Flavor was mellow orange citrus, pine hops, some grapefruit and apricot. Very mellow and well balanced for being 7% ABV. A well done IPA, although I generally like mine a little more bitter.

22oz. Bottle: Aroma of hops, hop juice, pine, tropical fruit, grapefruit, resin, citrus, and tangerine. Poured amber/orange in color with a medium-sized white head that diminished but lasted throughout. Clear. Slightly sparkling. Good lacing. Light to medium sweet, heavily bitter flavor. Tastes of hops, pine, caramel, hop juice, pale malts, and tangerine. Medium body. Sticky, dry texture. Average carbonation. Bitter, hoppy, dry finish. One of the more bitter beers I have had of late.

Pours a golden color with a fairly nice white head. Big peachy and citrusy nose. Super hoppy flavor with more the aforementioned peach and a piney finish. A solid example of an American IPA.

Bomber poured into a very clean snifter, slightly chilled. Slightly tarnished brass color with streams of healthy bubbles and a casual white cap. Very tropical nose, maybe I hould have an umbrella? Mango, passion fruit, and tangello juice dominate the stage as a sweet grain peeks out from behind the curtain. Palate actually begins dry and bitter, like the skin of stone fruit. The teeth continue to drive into the meat and hop flavor resonates. The grain seems to well up from a terra haut of lush malt and adds an incredible balance to what looks like a hop bomb. This beer drips the sweet smells and warmth of a brewery with refreshments at the end of the tour. A round hop lingers in room but doesn’t f%&k with the thermostat. As good as they come. Re-rate, 8-10. The numbers stay the same. I will say that the nose has turned the volume down with a few months in the bottle. No worries, this is still an intense experience. Last time I was obviously overwhelmed by the nose and entry. The palate is very interesting. This IPA finishes with some subtlety. Carbonation finishes smooth and the hops linger like a recessing tide. Very clean, with just the spice elements of the hops lingering. Interesting. This must be a seriously dry hopped beer.

Strong citrus bitter hop nose. Gold amber, with a small head and great lacing. A little syrupy. Tart acidity undertones