Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (North Star)

Bomber shared by Eric, thanks again man. Pours a clear golden color with a small white head. The aroma is full of citrus hops, some lemon and grapefruit. The taste was also full of hoppy goodness; citrus flavors, some herbal goodness. This bottle was a few years old and had lost some of the aggressive hops perhaps, but is was very nice and insanely quaffable.

Scored this via trade and drank is almost side by side with Pliny the Elder. This beat out Pliny overall. Bomber pours a clear orange with a white, creamy head. Nose wasn’t nearly as nice as Pliny but still very appealing with tropical fruits, mango, citrus fruits, a touch of grapefruit and a sprinkling of sweet malt. Flavor is where Sculpin separated from Pliny, tons of sweet, sticky fruits of all shapes and sizes, sweet malts, but mostly a fruit explosion. Finish is bitter, but also clean and crisp. Really well crafted and a beer you could drink every day.

22oz. bomber, with a big thank you to stefanje! Pours a clear golden orange with a creamy one finger white head, good retention and lacing. Aroma is very nice, with island fruits, floral, citrus, pine, and light caramel. Flavor is more of the same, with a milder but enjoyable hops bite that lingers a bit. I have been looking forward to trying this one for a long time, and it lived up to expectations quite nicely. It’s right up there with some of the best IPA’s the West Coast has to offer. Thanks again Stefan!

Orange colored with little white head. Rich aroma, WOA. Flowers, apricot, peach, pine, excellent hoppy note. Medium bodied. Flavor is more bitterly hopped with still flowers dominating in start, same apricot here too. Aftertaste lasts with this piney palate. Well, what can you say, definitely US brew, which we never get too much here in North Europe.

22oz. thanks to Dunk. I think I actually drank this one right out of the bottle. Flavor was citrus, piney, and sweet malt. Nice body and easily one of the best drinking IPA’s out there.

Thanks to SWolf3 for this one! Pours with a clear gold body under a tall, long-lasting white head. This has a marvelous grapefruit and pine aroma. The malts are there too. Sweet grapefruit that quickly moves into a smooth hop bitterness that lasts into the long finish. Great IPA!

Thanks to Shane (I think)! Pours a crystal clear gold/orange with spacious head. Citrus hop aroma is heavenly. Taste is wonderful hops with thin malt backing. Absolutely screams hop flavor without being overly bitter. Could possibly use a bit more malt presence, but I shouldn’t press my luck. This is up there w/ the best of the best for me.

APPEARANCE: Pours a clear gold color with a medium white head that dissipates at an average rate. Very long lasting lacing. SMELL: Sweet citrus (grapefruit) and pine. Hint of apricot. TASTE: Caramel with pine and citrus. Finish is hoppy but not overpowering. MOUTHFEEL: Medium to full bodied beer with a sticky texture. Fizzy carbonation. DRINKABILITY: This is a great tasting beer. Nice balance of sweet and bitter.