Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

shangwang

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've been fortunate to have Sculpin from a Philly Beer Week firkin before, but now it's time for a proper review. Grabbed a couple of bottles from a friend who stumbled on a case.

Poured with one finger of wet foamy head that stuck around for a while. Ever so slightly hazy golden caramel color. Wonderful smells of sweet pear, grass, flowers, pine, and biscuits. The smell was one of the most pleasant I've experienced from a beer. Tasted slightly sweet at first with a heavy dose of bitterness immediately following. Among the sweet tastes were malt, citrus, and wood. The bitter had a licorice quality to it, and was earthy. Very balanced. Great mouthfeel- some carbonation that created a crispness that foamed with a slightly creamy smooth consistency. Very clean finish.

Overall, Sculpin obviously has its reputation for a reason. For my money easily one of the top 3 IPAs and the fact that it isn't always easy to come by makes it a nice treat when you come across it. One of my favorites!!

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 00:36:50 | More by shangwang

JasonFromLA

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-19-2013 07:13:14 | More by JasonFromLA

ChrisYager39

Indiana

5/5  rDev +12.9%

06-19-2013 03:06:14 | More by ChrisYager39

Rosanne

California

3.5/5  rDev -21%

06-19-2013 03:01:52 | More by Rosanne

slatetupelo

Mississippi

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-19-2013 02:08:42 | More by slatetupelo

Lorihall1

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.9%

06-19-2013 01:54:28 | More by Lorihall1

Bubba569

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

06-18-2013 23:24:42 | More by Bubba569

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -9.7%

06-18-2013 23:06:06 | More by taylor714914

WhiteSoxWynn

Nevada

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

06-18-2013 22:00:16 | More by WhiteSoxWynn

Mountainmanjl

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

06-18-2013 19:21:31 | More by Mountainmanjl

InvalidPacket

Florida

5/5  rDev +12.9%

06-18-2013 19:01:29 | More by InvalidPacket

jbar920

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +12.9%

06-18-2013 17:07:54 | More by jbar920

Flightoficarus

Washington

4.41/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Finally! Ballast Point is available in WA! More San Diego beer goodness for me to get my hands on. Been wanting to try this one for awhile now.

A - Pours a slightly hazy gold/light orange hue, with a nice single finger head that quickly recedes to a thick, but not creamy lace retention.

S - This is one of the finest, if not the best IPA scents I have ever come across - Lots of fruits on the nose (mango, pineapple, orange, lemon), balanced in perfect harmony with a subtle, piney/herbal hop aroma, and a biscuity malt background.

T - Taste is of the aforementioned fruits found in the aroma, with grassy notes, and a light, biscuit-y malt profile (pale malts? I'm not tasting much caramel that I often find in IPAs). The hops are on the herbal/grassy side, and are moderately potent, but far from rip-your-tongue out brutal. Leaves a lingering bitterness on the tongue. Insanely refreshing, and not cloying in any way.

M - Mouthfeel is sublimely smooth. Body is on the medium side, carbonation is spot on, and silky, but with pep, for lack of a better way to put it. Makes this stuff too easy to drink for 7%

O - An outstanding IPA for sure. Glad I finally got to try it, and will be happy to enjoy some more in the future!

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 16:35:04 | More by Flightoficarus

RyV

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-18-2013 06:00:51 | More by RyV

Fuzzy1179

Hawaii

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-18-2013 04:35:14 | More by Fuzzy1179

BlakeAM

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

06-18-2013 02:25:05 | More by BlakeAM

Jpirkle2715

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-18-2013 01:54:37 | More by Jpirkle2715

GratefulNole

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

06-17-2013 21:12:00 | More by GratefulNole

Andreias21

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-17-2013 17:08:45 | More by Andreias21

alelover

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 13:56:22 | More by alelover

spw109

New York

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 07:26:30 | More by spw109

jpbebeau

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 05:24:40 | More by jpbebeau

Erice78

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

06-17-2013 02:06:29 | More by Erice78

MallyOMight

Michigan

5/5  rDev +12.9%

06-17-2013 01:37:00 | More by MallyOMight

tigermaniac72

Alabama

5/5  rDev +12.9%

06-17-2013 01:36:45 | More by tigermaniac72