Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (North Star)

Medium statured light tan head, retention is good with a thin clingy lace. Hazy gold/orange appearence. Nose is fine with notes of pine, fruit, melon, some tropical aromas maybe some mango and a hint of pencil shavings, large and lucious. Body is medium with a prickly carbonation and some gentle resiny notes, lightly acidic and somewhat oily. Big piney hop flavors, grapefruit, grass and some earthy notes as well. Big hoppy flavors abound with maybe a touch of caramel malts shining through. Finish is big and bold, hoppy, dry with a magnificent bite. A really massive IPA, right up my alley! Many thanks to SDbruboy for the bomber. Thanks Cliff! Mucho grassyass bro !!

Overall an exceptional beer. Very unassuming given the competition out there in CA and this style. Really seaking out more and more of the Ballast Point seasonal / rare beers has become an addiction. This was widely available, but very very quickly dissapeared, though lost forever. Very lucky that a friend had some extra bottles that got "lost" for me to have the opportunity to purchase again. Will drink 1 more soon, and keep the other 2 for the next several years. Has more oil and orange flavors than other IPA’s. Complexity of hops thru the finish is what makes this stand out. I can now see why you would ever want to buy a case of a craft beer after this experience. Usually you want to move onto the next one, here you want to come back again and again. Re-tasted again last night... This beer continues to WOW me. The smell is mesmorizing. The hops perfume are very complex and creamy on the nose. Intense and balanced. Great mid and finish also but the star is the nose. Glad I was able to buy more again this week from a hidden stache, which is now no more. Maybe rating this too low.

(Bottle 65 cl) Courtesy of WeeHeavySD. Slightly hazy golden with a small off-white head. Distinct aroma of peach and pine. Medium body with a rather sweet fruitiness. Aromatic and fruity hop bitterness. Lovely. 190608

Botte #27 at Papsoes blindtasting. Cloudy amber coloured with a medium sized white head. Sweet aroma of fruits, grass, pine needles and hops with notes of grape fruits. Fruity flavour of hops, grape fruits and pine needles with notes of cardemomme. Dry hoppy finish.

Bottle. Papsoes MadsBerg homecoming blindtasting, bottle #27. Pours hazy orange with a lacing white head. Solid hoppy aroma with a mild spice note. Flavour is solid dry hoppy. Subdued malt base. Light spice note following. Solid hoppy fruity note briefly appearing too. Ends dry and hoppy, nice one.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle; vibrant orange lightly hazed. Furiously bright mandarin and sweet garlic clove nose; sunspots of brilliant tropical flourishes and a dank bed of florals, needles, and cannabis. Sunny and smooth, with balanced bittersweetness; a really ebullient and unrestrained hop presentation.

Flavor is big and citrusy, almost so bright and tangy as to be sweet with orange and pineapple sugary acidity. Lemongrass and caramelly dough bring it back. Pine-like and grassy aromatic bitterness coats the mouth slowly; commanding and firm, but never aggressive and always careful.

Honey sesame seeds, sweet pine wood, and pastry crusts lend dryness and chewiness; full, almost heavy palate is very resinous and rich, which is my only issue with the beer, really. I’d really love it to retain this punchy, perfectly balanced bittersweetness and dry texture while weighing a little less. Finishes with caramel, tropical fruit, and floral sweetness, lightly dry. Not as fun as it could have been, but it’s hardly a dissapointment; another stellar offering from this fine brewery. Thanks Larry!

(bottle, thanks Stine!) Pours gold with a white head. Aromas of pine, orange, slight lemon zest, caramel, lilac, and pepper that’s really complex and enjoyable. Taste is caramel, with some mandarin orange, grapefruit, and an initial burst of pineapple tartness that appears when the beer warms. Although the flavor improved upon warming, I thought there would be more based on the aroma. Mouthfeel was medium, with a lightly bitter finish.

22oz bottle. Upon initial nosing, you would think this were an IIPA. Heavy resiny aroma. Honey glazed candied ginger. Tangerine and tropical fruit essences with a heavy, sweet malt base. Fresh and spritzy. Spruce. Wet grass and tree bark. Plenty of wet, juicy hops. Pours a mostly clear copper with a decent white head. Flavor has plenty of wet hoppiness. Spruce tips. Fairly resinous. Lots of residual sugar mid-palate but finishes quite dry and doughy. There’s also a good tropical fruit flavor as well. Fairly creamy on the tongue with bright carbonation and a lengthy, dry, bitter finish. Thanks Eben!