Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

CharlesRamsey

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What can you say about one of the best? Some might call this a hop bomb, but its balanced so well they would be as wrong as Ariel was for taking those girls. A strong, dry hop presentation with spice, pine notes off of a thin white, low carbonation head. Beers like this make me want to live in the ballast point parking lot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2013 02:12:22 | More by CharlesRamsey

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: anice hazy orange color with a white head that leaves a lacing

Smell: hops, citrus, floral and maybe some pine

Taste: has all the hops of the smell but a very subtle honey sweetness

Mouthfeel: starts of very smooth. the bitterness builds up over time

Overall: a good well crafted ipa but id like a stronger showing of the smooth and sweetness

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 16:32:54 | More by SportsandJorts

JDizzle

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served an Imperial pint at Dingle House in West Chester, Oh. $7

Pours a light golden copper with a lacing white head. Superb!

Smells like hop perfume!! F me! Might as well chop up hops and snort them.

Really citrusy, no booze, floral, little malt, It's a beaut Clark!

Bitter, perfect carbs, and a nice finish.

One of the best of its kind.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 01:21:07 | More by JDizzle

wes123

Pennsylvania

4.69/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Very clear media amber color, light head that fades quickly, some sticky lacing. Stong smell of grapefruit and and pine. Strong bitter taste on the front end. A very complex hope flavor with floral elements, grapefruit and pine. Floral hops linger in the mouth. Sweet malt back that nicely rounds out the hops. Very nice carbonation and just a bit of a creamy mouthfeel. Overall, this is an excellent IPA. One of the best.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2013 01:40:40 | More by wes123

JamesQuaff

California

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Tried a bottled Sculpin for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was very good, but didn't exactly blow me away. I think it may have been sitting on the shelf for a minute. Last night I was fortunate enough to get in on a freshly-tapped keg of Sculpin at Taylor's Restaurant, and felt it worthy of a re-review.

Served in a tall snifter.

Pours a deep orange-amber with a 3 finger white head that left so much clinging lace it looked like a psychedelic doily stuck to the inside of the glass. Slightly hazy. Gorgeous IPA.

Huge aromas of peaches and mangoes, floral hops, some bready malt. A nose unlike any IPA I've ever come across. I just sat and inhaled my first glass for several minutes before tasting, the aromas were so juicy and delicious.

The taste was a counterpoint to the fruity nose - it has a spicy, peppery quality, and the perfect amount of hop bitterness to balance out the sweetness of the malts. The hop flavors are so nuanced and delicate for such a highly hopped beer. Big and awesome. Pure deliciousness.

Body was medium, the carbonation had a velvety feel, a little bit of mouth-coating action on the finish.

Overall I'd have to say that now that I've tried it on tap, Sculpin is the finest standard American IPA I've ever had. Complex and multifaceted, huge flavors, but so delicately and masterfully balanced. I'm going back for more before they kill that keg...

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 22:49:06 | More by JamesQuaff

dougfur

New York

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Bridgeview Tavern in Tarrytown, NY. Nice straw color, pretty clear, very nice head, a great looking beer! The smell is all grapefruit and it's good; not overpowering, but good. The taste is good as well, but doesn't quite live up to the smell. Carbonation, mouthfeel, etc. all really well done. It's well balanced and is just a solid American IPA!

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2013 14:23:45 | More by dougfur

elNopalero

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Updated:

On tap:

This is such a tasty brew—when fresh. Worth the hype, and then some.

This pours a clear golden color with nice foam. What an aroma! I absolutely love the tropical fruit notes—pineapple, mango, honey melon and a squeeze of guava. The taste is equally incredible. It’s lightly hoppy, not a bitter bomb, with this absolutely fantastic tropical fruit flavor. Great finish. One to savor, sip, or sling back. This brew is fantastic. Loved it.

Previously:
From the bottle.

Forgot to look for a date stamp on this but I’m assuming it was as fresh as possible considering where my buddy picked it up. Reputable bottle shop with good turn-over for the win!

This pours a golden straw color, clear and clean. Billowy foam, and a bright, hoppy aroma. I get a real crisp citrusy scent. Lots of orange—orange flowers, leaves, zest from the fruit—and pineapple. It’s bitter and slightly chewy with a real clean finish. The citrus and pineapple comes across on the palate. It’s fantastic, and every bit as delicious as I was promised.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 21:56:29 | More by elNopalero

dar482

New York

4.91/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Sculpin has a light head with a golden yellow/orange that is slightly cloudy. The aroma is incredible. Almost like grapefruit and pineapple juice. Just stanky and amazing.

The taste is beautifully flowery and fruity. I think pineapple, grapefruit's tart, and more complex notes. The hops leave an aftertaste, but it's mellow enough that you keep wanting to go in for more of the total package of flavors this beer as to offer. There is actually a big malt backbone with this along with some dank pine notes.

It's so easy to drink and the finish is dry, but easy to handle. Just one of my favorite beers and my favorite IPA next to Maine Beer Co. Lunch.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2013 03:22:38 | More by dar482

LarryK

New York

4.09/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: Orange-hued, a bit on the lighter orange side for an IPA.

Smell: Fairly straightforward west coast IPA aroma, if a bit subdued.

Taste: A very flavorful, easy-drinking IPA. Despite the presence of numerous hops -- CTZ, Chinook, Cascade, Northern Brewer, Centennial, Galena, Amarillo, among others – none of them particularly stand out, though this isn’t a bad thing. The Simcoe/Amarillo dry-hop definitely announces itself ahead of the other flavors, with mild spice and citrus, but again, nothing too overpowering.

Mouthfeel: Medium, a bit tart likely due to the presence of Simcoe.

Overall: A very good IPA, though there are a fair number of other west coast IPAs I would take over Sculpin if I were stranded on a desert island and had to choose just one.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 18:38:48 | More by LarryK

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Off the tap into a tulip glass. One finger of head on a deep golden colored body.
The aroma is lemon and grapefruit. Nice.
The taste is biting bitterness with a bit of honey at the end.
A crisp texture and a bit smooth with moderate carbonation and medium body.
It's a great IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2013 03:04:29 | More by Fatehunter

Ford

Texas

4.91/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

On tap at Nobi Public House in Webster, Texas.

Wow. I'm not an IPA fan.. or at least I don't think I am.. but after having this.. maybe I am... I liked Bell's Hopslam when I had it... really good.. but it didn't make me want to drink another.

I like Saint Arnold's double IPA Endeavour a lot.. but I generally only drink one every once in a while when new kegs hit the Houston area.

The first on tap IPA I really liked was Hop Manna from Shmaltz.... but this was even way better than that.

So much grapefruit smell and taste.. AND it wasn't an overpowering bitter finish.. it was still hops bittery... but it didn't overpower anything else..so dang good.

I haven't had Pliny or that top east coast IPA... but I'll be very impressed if they are better than this for me.

Oh yeah.. Ballast Point.. thanks for finally coming to Texas!

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 05:46:01 | More by Ford

FLAbeergutinMASS

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is my first review in an number of years, partially becasue....well, whatever. Anyhow, had this on tap at the Sierra Grill in Northamton. Just a fantiastic beer. For those who are fans of Nugget Nectar, this is one if for you. Huge floral hops bursting with the resin from the hop profile. Super hoppy with only the slightlest bite of bitterness on the palate.

The 7% in this feels more like 13%, could really feel the effects almost immediately warming, delish, "yes please, I'll have another.

Super beer!

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2013 12:45:55 | More by FLAbeergutinMASS

Ryanthebear

New York

4.28/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- a gold colored brew with a light white head that seems like it could just hang out on top of my beer all night.

Aroma- like sticking your nose in a barrel of hops, a little grapefruit and pine present.

Taste- hop bitterness up front, there is a hint of malt sweetness, but the hops win out in the end. I actually would have preferred just a little more malt backbone to this beer. But only a little more, and honestly it's still fantastic.

Mouthfeel: nice crisp, light mouthfeel. Moderately carbonated.

Overall: great beer. I could drink this one all night.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 01:23:08 | More by Ryanthebear

Climber9

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Crystal clear, very pale amber. White head of fine foam with excellent retention.

S: Grapefruit (hops) and clean pale malt, neither overwhelming. No diacetyl.

M: Medium body, medium high carbonation. Not creamy. Slight hop-derived astringency on the finish.

T: Grapefruit citrus hops dominate. Clean pale malt with very little crystal malt residual sweetness (trends toward dry). Clean fermentation profile (no esters, fusels, or other byproducts). Finishes with strong grapefruit hops flavor that lingers long after the sip has gone.

O: Well made American IPA, on the hoppy side more in the bitterness and flavor areas than in the aroma. Mild malt base and apparent use of only small amounts of crystal malt leave this beer feeling lighter on the palate than most Am IPA's. Delicious in my opinion and comparable to Lagunitas IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 04:26:50 | More by Climber9

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap a Smoke & Barrel

Beer pours a clear yellow-orange with a thin white head. Aroma is great, a big blast of citrus hops is prominent here. Flavor follows the nose - it's awesomely citrusy and juicy with a nice bitterness and a only minor malt character. Very light and easy to drink. It's medium-bodied with nice carbonation. Overall, this is an awesome IPA that's packed with the flavor of a DIPA but with a lower ABV that makes it dangerously drinkable. I'm so happy that Ballast Point now distributes to DC as this may very well replace Bell's Two Hearted as my go-to IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2012 03:27:57 | More by starrdogg

Broden

California

4.6/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap into a standard pint glass.

A- This beer is a crystal clear golden color with a thin white head that quickly dissipates. Little lacing noted. Very attractive IPA.

S- HUGE hop nose with a variety of citrus that jump out.

T- A great hop bitterness, with a small amount of malt. No apparent alcohol makes this dangerously drinkable.

M- Light to medium bodied beer. I need to research what type of yeast Ballast Point uses because I love how this beer is fermented. Not dry but at the same time does not have an overly sweet malt character.

O- Overall this beer is difficult for me to score. It is one of my favorite beers, not to mention one of the best IPA's I have had the opportunity to have. I usually prefer beers that are very balanced, but this beer is the exception to that. The hops definitely dominate this beer, but they are so complex, and so well done that I have a difficult time even mentioning any issues with its lack of balance.

GREAT IPA...GREAT BEER!! This is one of my go to favorites and I have a hard time not ordering it any time I see it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2012 02:21:22 | More by Broden

ckollias

Maryland

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this brew on tap out of a standard pint glass at Frisco’s in Columbia, MD.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden hue with a thin 2-finger white head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace.

S: Huge complex hoppy aroma with a blend of many citrus fruits.

T: Hoppy bitter brew, again with a fruity background. Hints of citrus and pine in the middle and finishes nice and hoppy.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: This was a really good American IPA – not my favorite and was little disappointed because it was hyped up so much. But I enjoyed it thoroughly and would grab it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 03:35:38 | More by ckollias

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Library Ale House in Santa Monica, listed as 6.5% ABV.

Poured a brassy golden colour with white head and impressive residual lacing. Aroma a citrus wonderland with grapefruit, tangerine and others I can't distinguish. Truly beautiful. Unfortunately the taste isn't as impressive as the aroma. Not as well balanced as I'd hoped. Some roasted malt sweetness with surprising tropical fruit tones, followed by a sharp bitterness. The finish lingers for an impressive length of time, but without the full citrus spectrum.

Would definitely purchase again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 18:32:39 | More by hopsolutely

wspscott

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle in Sam Adams glass
best by 12/28/2012

A: Crystal clear, light copper/dark straw color with a one finger almost white head that leaves lots of lace.
S: Citrus and tropical fruit, a sense of sweetness
T: Sharp bitter, but not at all unpleasant, oranges and pine, and something that reminds me of flowers. No sign of the alcohol.
M: Very crisp, with a tingly amount of carbonation.
O: An excellent example of a west coast IPA. There is a lot going on, but it is not an overwhelming/dominating beer (you can have a conversation about something besides the beer). I wish this was a 6% beer vs. 7% so I could drink a six pack over a whole Saturday :) Something makes me think of Two Hearted, I think I need to pick up some for comparison.
Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2012 19:41:02 | More by wspscott

silentdonkey

California

4.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Simzy's in Long Beach, CA.

A: Beautiful golden orange pour with a nice creamy fluffy white head.

S: A beautiful bouquet of hops! Lots of citrus and tropical hops. Slight malt sweetness.

T: This beer is everything it's hyped up to be. Tons of juicy hop flavor. Lots of mango, grapefruit, orange, peach, and passion fruit. A good amount of bitterness up front, but not overpowering. Transitions perfectly into the hop flavor. Balanced nicely with a mellow malty backbone. Finishes smooth, clean and crisp.

M: Medium body with a good amount of carbonation. Slightly syrupy, but not to the extent of a lot of the other big IPAs.

O: Such an awesome beer! Easily one of the best IPAs out there. It is so well balanced and the citrus and tropical hop flavor is unmatched. The dry hopping shows through nicely and the simple malt profile keeps it perfectly balanced. Seem to always come back to this one.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 23:20:35 | More by silentdonkey

FlyingBull

California

3.25/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer on tap at Hamilton's in SD today, and at the brewery tasting room 30 days ago. I've also had it in bottle multiple times over the last 4 months.


A: Transparent light amber body with a 1/2" head (generous pour or I think it would be bigger...). Lots of lacing left on the glass as the small head subsided.

S: Strong pine and citrus nose; dominated by tropical fruitiness to me. That was follwed by strong pine. Lots of grapefruit and astringent notes picked up.

T: Starts with a dominant hop bitterness with grapefruit citrus and pine, followed by a strong pine bitterness, and finishes with a strong, dry astringency dominated by a grapefruit taste.

MF: Medium mouthfeel, good style appropriate carbonation. Again, this beer has a strong biting bitterness and dryness.

O: A really solid IPA that everyone loves. For me, it's not to my taste. I've given it a few tries, and I just can't get myselft to like it. But, I think for those that like strong IPAs, it's a winner. So, drink and enjoy! I won't try and steal you beer. LOL

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2012 02:16:31 | More by FlyingBull

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

10oz serving served in a Boulevard Tulip at Salty Pig in Boston.

A- Translucent slightly brownish golden with about two fingers of white fluffy head that has decent retention but slowly recedes to a thin layer leaving decent lacing. Has a decent steady stream of small carbonation bubbles rising from the middle of the glass but slightly below average carbonation for an IPA.

S- Aromas of citrus hops, oranges, mango, some light grapefruit, spices, and a bit of booze in the background. Definitely a little bit more oranges upfront then your average IPA. Definitely slightly above average aroma strength.

T- Fruity citrus hops, oranges, mango, some grapefruit, some spices, finishes very bitter with a slight lingering citrus aftertaste. Very fruity, spices give it an extra bitter finish, definitely more bitter then your average IPA.

M- Medium bodied, nice carbonation, biterness tingles the tongue a little bit, finishes with a very light booze burn but pretty well hidden.

O- This was a solid IPA with a nice fruity, citrus hop taste however it was definitely too bitter for my liking, which I think takes away from the taste a little bit. I would drink this again, however there are plenty of IPAs out there that I definitely prefer. I'd recommend trying this if you like fruity IPAs, if you don't like beers that finish fairly bitter I'd probably stay away though.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2012 14:45:08 | More by jaasen64

57md

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is burnt orange with a half finger of head that dissipated rather quickly. The nose is reminiscent of a fresh pine forest. There is some light malty flavor, but the big taste comes from the hops. The bitterness simply grows into a hoppy crescendo. Frankly, I would consider this more like a DIPA than a straight-up IPA since the tongue tingles even after the last sip of this offering is gone.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 03:59:28 | More by 57md

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Until tonight I hadn't had Sculpin in years. Glad to have it tonight with some really good carnitas tacos.

They served it in a chalice style glass. There was about a centimeter of foam at the top.

Off the top I get citrus and a decent amount of malt to balance this beer.

The flavor was good. I remember better... I also read better. The beer hadn't gone bad, but it was really subtle. I don't know what I expected. I get the hopping and malt. There is decent balance.

I'm going to try this again next week to see if this changes.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2012 00:55:55 | More by ummswimmin

cosmicevan

New York

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

consumed on 6/29, while I was "on Hiatus." stopped by Blind Tiger while in NYC today

a - brew arrived in a pint glass and sported the classic IPA orange with a finger's worth of classic IPA off-white head.

s - smells of subdued piny hops with a nice malt backbone. very classic.

t - tast is just like the nose...piny hops with a balanced malt backbone. the pininess blends really nice with the malts for a hop dominated IPA, but extremely well balanced and classic to the core. simply a solid go to IPA.

m - mouth is smooth and easy drinking.

o - overall, this is a standard solid go-to IPA. not offending and a long time fan favorite. always tasty and enjoyable.

on-tap

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2012 01:17:10 | More by cosmicevan