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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?  
 neepsntatties (281), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Feb 16, 2009  
Colour... pours a medium amber. The nose... OH MY! WHAT A NOSE!! Take the me down the hop-a-dise city, where the hops are green and ale is pretty!! The palate... Indian River grapefruit, impetuously hoppy bite runs amuck over the entire palate, piney, resinous, dangerously quaffable, quite a fetching IPA!


 Hophead22 (1056), Redlands, by way of Wisconsin,, California, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Feb 15, 2009  
22oz bottle. Golden pour with a pretty nice white head. Nice piney aroma. A bit of sweetness up front, with a good light hop bite in the end. Pretty decent brew.


 j12601 (1149), Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/516/20
Feb 14, 2009  
Bottle shared by some of the excellent people at the Rosso release at Captain Lawrence. Pours a hazy brown amber with a soft off white head. Aroma is piled high with pineapple. Reminds me of the Green Flash imperial in that regard. Lots of citrus and pine notes as well. Body is light and a little bit thin, and not as complex as the aromas lead me to believe. Finishes well with a deep grapefruit bitter. If the middle of this was a little fuller I’d probably be in love.


 MoDog (909), Griffith, Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Feb 13, 2009  
Poured from a 22oz bomber (thanks Torry) and served in a shaker. This poured a lightly hazed amber with a foamy, beige cap that left some decent lace. The aroma consisted of strong apricot, peach, and orange. Also some pine needles. The flavor had a big hop profile, but there was also a nice toffee element. Piney and citrusy with a stiff bitterness. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied and slightly sticky. This was an insanely quaffable brew. The alcohol was well hidden but packed a good punch. A really nice IPA.


 coldbrewky (716), Saugerties, New York, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/518/20
Feb 8, 2009  
Bomber in trade with Stefanje. Nose is rich and has peaches, passionfruit, and heaps of pine sap. Body is on the light side of medium. Floral rounded hop infused malt balances easily on ones tounge. Hops are not omnipresent but certainly not wallflowers. A sweet even bosy and finish that blend into one another s well that the finish is nearly undetectable other than the lack of beer in your mouth. Very nice.


 Coltrane (108), South Carolina, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Feb 6, 2009  
Maybe the best IPA iv’e ever had, although it feels more like a double. All the citrus you could possibly want, almost as Hopslam and Nugget Nectar had a baby. A truly fantastic beer.


 ksurkin (354), Norfolk, Virginia, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Feb 5, 2009    Updated: May 8, 2009
bomber from south bay drugs poured into a pint glass. pours a very clean and clear golden color with a very thin white head and slight lacing. aroma was extremely fresh and clean. the nose drifted out of the glass immidiately with huge, gorgeous fruit notes of apricot, pear, peach, and grapefruit along with a fresh, floral, piney hoppiness and a touch of sweetness. flavor was outstanding and very unique. started off with a slightly spicy hop kick followed by big citrus notes of grapefruit and orange and some sweeter tropical fruit notes of pineapple and apricot. the finish had a wonderful piney and almost minty/herbal quality that i’ve not tasted in an IPA before. great bitterness but also very well balanced with light, roasted malt flavors. palate was medium bodied and extremely clean and smooth. amazing drinkability with a great long lasting, bitter finish. one of the best IPAs i’ve tasted and damn am i glad i had the chance to have this one.


 jrob21 (1250), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Feb 1, 2009  
Big for a straight IPA. Thanks to snojerk for sending another fine CA brew. Clear dark yellow color. Grassy citrus hop aroma. Mostly grapefruit hop flavor with a bit of green apple hiding in the back ground. Finish is a bitter metallic but pleasant. Running the gamut of hoppy goodness here.



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