Ballast Point Tongue Buckler Double Red

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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The aroma is sudden and awesomely rich and reminiscent of fresh and hot caramel that then - unfortunately - allows itself to calm to release other notes that don’t quite achieve what was initially offered. Oh, well. The body is perhaps wanting to be opaque; the head is average - somewhat frothy; and the lacing is nice. The flavor disappointed me. There is too much of a bitter tea quality going on, but it on the way down into the aftertaste does have something juicy to savor - especially as it warms which is when the aftertaste mostly becomes this pleasantly burnt caramel flavor and how it feels is surprisingly good to chew. However, it’s basically too bitter to me. I would have liked more flavor and aromatics than bitterness. Still, it’s good. And, I’m feeling like my rating isn’t fair although purely personal/hedonistic. I mean! TONGUE BUCKLER!!! If that’s not a warning, I don’t know what is...

22 oz. bottle. Pours a deep reddish amber color with a medium sized off white head. The aroma has grapefruit citrus and pine resin with some moderately sweet caramel malt. The flavor has grapefruit, citrus ans pine resin hops up front that remain throughout. What malt character there is becomes secondary to the hops; perhaps some caramel and toasted bread. The bitterness remains on the palate for some time. Some alcohol is noted, but not too distracting. This is one of the hoppiest imperial reds I’ve had.

In the glass it has a reddish amber color with a medium head. Aroma has big hops with some pine. Taste has bitterness up front with a sharpness in the taste. There is some grapefruit aqnd pine almost like an IPA. Bitterness lingers in the finish.

Draft. Murky light brown color, coca cola head. Aroma of pine and butterscotch. Taste starts very sweet caramel and transitions quickly ti very bitter pine resin and scotch. Interesting.

A - pours burnt amber red with high fluffy white head that clings to the glass. S - strong caramel malts up front, leads to a faint soapy piney hops. Simple. M - medium bodied high carb brew. Lingering bitterness. T - strong caramel malts up front, goes immediately to a grassy bitter citrus hop palate. Honey and candied citrus undertones. Lingering sharp bitter hops with soapy notes. Very sweet tones float under the bitter hop bite. O - pretty good. 6

22 oz. bottle - Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a 2/3 finger thick light tan head. Light lacing. Aroma is toasted malt and pine hops. Flavor is floral, citrus, and pine hops and toasted caramel malt. Finish is fairly smooth and not overly bitter. Medium to full body. Good beer.

On cask. Ruby red pour with little cask bubbles. Aroma is earthy malts and floral hops. The flavor is initially malty, but is followed up by a punch of fairly one note massive bitterness. I think this would have been better on normal draft with more carbonation.

Clear red-chestnut to mahogany beer under a huge yellow head, leaving lace. Very orangey nose, sugared oranges on liqueur and orangepeel, point of mineral aroma, some banana, and lots of dry hops. Bitter, with a background of caramel and toffee. Faintly roasted and very hoppy flavours. Bit leafy/earthy retronasal. Dry-out effect, medium bodied. Nice red ale, Californian style (meaning hopped to the gills). Txs to the people at Linda Vista!

Pours a ruby red color with an off white head.The aroma was of a strong floral hop sent with a spice not to it.The flavor is of a syrup and hop bitterness to it.The body was full with a very strong bitter aftertaste.Overall a good beer.

Slightly sweet, full mouthfeel. The alcohol is evident, but not obtrusive Like a red IIPA. Nice!

22 oz. bottle shared by bsuedekum- thanks again, Blake! Pours a clear copper color with a small eggshell white head. The aroma is fairly one-dimensional, with grapefruit citrus, piney hops, sweet and caramel malts. The flavor is super bitter, with piney, resinous, grapefruit hops with a toasted caramel malt backbone. Almost chemically bitter. Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel that coats the palate with bitterness. Interesting but not my thing.