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Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (North Star)

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (North Star) - India Pale Ale (IPA)

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 Percentile 
99
overall
Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)

San Diego, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
3114.03/5.04.01/5.07%99.7Shaker, Tulip
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Commercial Description:
The Sculpin IPA is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. Founded in 1992, the Mart continues to be a catalyst for the San Diego brewing scene, setting the trend for handcrafted ales. Inspired by our customers, employees and brewers, the Sculpin IPA is bright with aromas of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Its lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops. This delicious Ballast Point Ale took a Bronze Medal at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival in the Pro Am category. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the most tasty. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 msante79 (782), Orland Hills, Illinois, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Mar 6, 2009  
Bomber thanks to Doubleo. Pours clear golden orange with foamy white head. Aroma is real nice with tons of citrus, mangos, orange, grapefruit, tons of hops and some malt. Flavor is bitter hops, citrus, some pine and malt. Nice thick mouthfeel. Finsihes bitter but has nice malt backbone that brings balance to brew. Great IPA.


 StFun (535), Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/58/103/517/20
Mar 2, 2009  
Excellent IPA. Pours a deep orange/red with a thin, bone white head. Aroma is amazing, wet and juicy oranges, pineapples, mangoes, grapefruit, cream, and Bubble-Yum. Flavor is a nice mix of the juicy oranges and pinecones, with a hint of floral hops as well. Some acidic grapefruit as well, and just a touch of lemon. A bit thin on the palate, which is the only real knock. Otherwise, a great IPA.


 Tweety (337), Vancouver, Washington, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/516/20
Feb 25, 2009  
Bomber, thanks to WeeHeavySD for this one. Pours a light orange color with a nice foamy head, I could smell the citrusy hops the moment I cracked the cap, but it smells like a grapefruit in the glass. The taste is a little bit more subtle than I expected, not as much bitterness, just a LOT of hop flavor and aroma. A tasty brew. Thanks Jon!


 Sonicdescent (374), Donora, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Feb 22, 2009  
Thanks to toncatcher! A solid IPA but really doesn’t quite warrant its reputation. Great, not excellent.


 tjthresh (1748), Greenfield, Indiana, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/57/104/516/20
Feb 21, 2009  
Pours a crystal clear light orange with a thin white head. The nose is an all out assault of juicy tangerine and bubble gum. The flavor doesn’t live up to the expectations set my the aroma, but still its very good with some piny and citrus hops. Medium body and super easy to drink. Thanks for sharing Josh.


 MrChopin (621), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Feb 18, 2009  
Thanks to snojerk321 for the bottle!
Peach-orange color, large fluffy yellowish-white head gone quickly. Nose is quite bitter but contains a lot of fruit sweetness, great stuff in orange, citrus, and cantaloupe. Flavor is downright bitter, just really hardcore stuff There’s a little sweet malt to ease it off and some hints of peach and orange, but the bitterness is direct and bold, through the long finish. Well carbonated and zesty, also a little salty. Very nice IPA, would session with pleasure.


 NobleSquirrel (1100), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/58/104/516/20
Feb 17, 2009  
Bomber via trade with stefanje. Pours a very pretty coppery-gold with dissipating head. Crystal clear. Nose is apricots, catty, pine resin and some citrus, quite lovely and bright. I’d guess amarillo and simcoe, but you never know anymore. Taste is pretty similar, quenching bitterness and not nearly as overpowering as most have made it seem. Distinct catty flavor and resiny, mostly pine with a little bit of fruit character as well. To finish, there’s a big bready backbone to hold it all together. Damn well structured. Tasty.


 IMtheOptimator (1161), Bethel, Connecticut, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Feb 16, 2009  
Poured a clear effervescent amber with a fizzy/frothy white head. Aroma of grapefruit and orange, some pine, some soap, a slight touch of candy sweetness. Flavor is quite bitter with strong notes of grapefruit rind, earthy and bitter pine, a slight touch of soapiness, leading to a very dry bitter finish. No metallic tinge to the bitterness, which is nice. Overall a very bitter IPA witih sufficient complexity and almost no sweetness which maintains a pleasant refreshing character. A major notch in the column of those who do not care for sweet or more “balanced “ IPA’s.



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