Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

paytoplay

California

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Cask at Hamiltons in SD. This from cask is stunning. The aroma is tops with any beer ever. Cask from the 1st batch might have been life changing. This recent batch doesn't have the corn flavor like I tasted in the previous 2. Smooth and a bit short and watery on the finish. Cask conditioning changed all that. Great texture, nice that it was served cold. Super aroma. Nice complexities and finish that stretched further than any other sculpin. But man that nose was stunning.

Serving type: cask

04-25-2009 18:55:52 | More by paytoplay

seaoflament

California

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

Had this one on cask at Hamilton's Tavern on April 24, 2009.

The beer was poured into a regular pint glass and exhibited a straw yellow color with a soapy 1 ½ inch of foam. Excellent retention and some thick coating on the sides of the glass.

The aroma was full of resin and pungent hops, grass, pineapple, apricots, mango, and orange citrus peel. Behind the hops was a lightly toasted malt and soft cracker malt base. Very appetizing and floral but the aroma did tone down after a few minutes.

Lots of hop flavor upfront, very similar to the aroma but the bitterness was more reserved than the tap or bottled version. Orange peel, grapefruit peel, red apples, pineapple, apricots, and hints of grapes. There's also the dry graham cracker flavor in the finish that I love in this beer. More flowery hops near the end.

Low carbonation and a tad watery but that is somewhat expected from a cask. The drinkability thought is off the charts! I could have easily guzzled down this pint in no time but it took me a few more minutes because I was reviewing it.

Serving type: cask

04-25-2009 09:01:19 | More by seaoflament

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

Had several of these on cask at Bella Vista at their grand re-opening yesterday. Definitely was the highlight.

Similar in color to the bottled version with a little more haziness. Fantastic looking head, great retention and lacing. On the nose, this beer is incredibly floral and hoppy with a good deal of fruitiness. Pretty much a crushed hop pellet. On the palate, it's hops all the way, like the bottled version, only better in that there's an excellent balance between the flavor and the bittering hops. Surprisingly well-carbonated for a cask ale, it's a treat on the palate with a great balance, apart from the occasion hop particle that's there. Drinkability wise, this beer is almost bar none - I drank more than I should have!

Serving type: cask

10-06-2008 14:05:19 | More by DefenCorps

Floydster

California

4.2/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

5 ounce serving today at Ballast Point 's 11th Anniversary celebration, only cask beer available, their Sculpin IPA on hand pump which they call "Firkin" because it does not have CO2 and it is grav fed

Color was a light cloudy yellow orange with a nice soapy head that stuck around for quite some time

Smell was not very hoppy and pretty mellow overall, hints of grapefruit were evident as well as some sweet piney aromas

Taste was much like several different San Diego IPAs (Oggi's, Stone, and Green Flash), pretty light on the bitterness scale, more citrus than I could smell, nice sweet and slightly dry finish

Could drink a lot of this, especially on cask but never had this bew on a normal tap, a lot lighter than originally expected, pretty strong for an IPA though

Glad to see at least one cask at the event and an IPA was a good break from all the barrel aged brews and assortments of doubles and other strong tasting beers

Serving type: cask

10-21-2007 06:51:06 | More by Floydster

scottoale

California

4.35/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this is one heck of an IPA. Cask-conditioned and pumped into a pint glass, amber-gold with a glow, topped with an off-white head of 1/2 inch. It looks like a sparkling beer with a perfect carbonation to it. Good head retention and some nice sticky lace clings to the glass.

Grapefruit and pine make up the very brisk and refreshing nose.

The flavor is sweet citrus with white grapefruit dominating in the intro then turns sharply into a dense pine forest, a hop-bomb pine forest. Mouth puckering down to the finish that leaves your mouth feeling clean and refreshed with a later after taste of sweet oranges. Spikey, spicy and floral that damn near pushes to a DIPA. Really, really tasty stuff, I'd like too compare it to the regular Sculpin side-by-side just for fun.

Medium body with the alcohol well burried, I'd have to guess it's around 7%ABV, very high drinkability and hop-head friendly...one of the best IPA's I've ever tasted!

Serving type: cask

08-19-2006 08:32:23 | More by scottoale

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

CoachC

Florida

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

A - on tap at the World of Beer; pours a nice orange color with a 1/2 inch head.

S - smells unbelievably fresh; west coast hops invade the palate with force

T - best IPA I've ever tasted on tap, really nice tropical fruit flavor with a powerful yet mellow punch of hops that make me want more.

M - perfect on the palate, not too filling. I could drink this all night. Wait, I did drink this all night...

O - Sculpin, when on tap, is my favorite IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2013 23:57:27 | More by CoachC

goochpunch

Texas

3.69/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a clear brassy gold. Thin head. Some piney/citrus hops in the nose with a pale maltiness that's fairly prevalent. Touch of booze in the nose. Taste is fairly balanced overall. Quite a bit of maltiness and sweetness up front. Dries out in the finish a touch. Doesn't beat you over the head with hop flavor but has a pretty punchy bitterness in the finish. Bitterness lingers. I enjoy the bitterness, but I'd prefer a touch more hop flavor. Mouthfeel isn't thick and syrupy, which is a very good thing, but it could use a bit more body. Carbonation could be a little more assertive for my tastes. Overall this is a pretty solid IPA with nothing really "off" about it. I really just don't understand the $15 price tag for the 6 though. Give me a Stone IPA over this in flavor and price, but I can't really hate on this either. Again, this is solid, but I just don't understand the hype.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 23:54:55 | More by goochpunch

bmwats

Louisiana

4.36/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

A: Golden orange hue. Pours a half finger, bubbly, white head. Dissipates quickly leaving a dry beer ring as it does. Thick beer ring lacing. Head renews fully with each pour.

S: Sourdough bread, grapefruit, lemon citrus, wood, tangerine, and pine resin.

T: Pine resin, Italian bread, and kind of a woody grapefruit citrus combo. Nice.

M: Syrupy and thick. Sharp hops in the front. Woody and slightly sweet finish. The hop bite liberates itself from the palate after a few seconds.

D: Sip and thoroughly enjoy.

Atmosphere is great. Deep golden hue, decent head, and thick persistent lacing. Nose is pungent bread, all sorts of citrus notes, and pine resin. Italian bread base malt, pine resin and woody citrus notes comprise the flavor. Full, thick body. Overall, this is a great quaff.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 04:41:19 | More by bmwats

CowsandBeer

Kansas

4.21/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to jbaker67 for the bottle! Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Enjoy by 06/21/2013 stamped on the bottle.

Appearance: Pours a 2 finger bone white head. Tight and bubbly. Clear golden color.

Smell: Resiny hops, big citrus fruit, ends with some sweet tropical fruits. The malts are starting to come through a lot more since it's near the enjoy by date.

Taste: Follows the nose. Big piney hop bite. Sweet hops, honey, and fruit salad. Malt is present on the taste but not by much.

Mouthfeel: Lively carbonation appropriate for the style. Too easy to drink.

Overall: The hop flavors aren't as complex as when I last had this but then again this isn't a fresh beer. A beer to never turn down if offered and a hop bomb that should be tried by all. My only complaint is that I can't walk down to the gas station and buy a bomber of this.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 06:13:29 | More by CowsandBeer

T100Mark

California

4.19/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A 12 ounce bottle poured into a shaker pint glass.

Appearance - Almost pumpkin orange in color. White, foamy head that never entirely disappears. Sticky lace on the inside of the glass. A fine looking brew!

Smell - Big! Smells like oranges. There is some malt in the background.

Taste - Bold. Big citrus hit upfront but the malt comes through soon after. In addition to hops and malt, the beer has an herbal flavor to it. Wow!

Mouth - Good carbonation. A little oily. This beer attacks your tongue.

Overall - Normally, I'm not a big fan of hop bombs (and make no mistake, this is a hop bomb). This beer, however, balances out the hops with a sturdy malt foundation. A very good beer. Not for the timid.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 02:21:52 | More by T100Mark

JG-90

New Jersey

4.41/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a moderate sized head with okay retention. Beer is golden orange in color. Leaves a little less than a moderate amount of spotted lacing. Smells of grapefruit, pine, and orange, just a touch of breadiness.

Amazing grapefruit flavor paired with tangerine, and a little bit of piney/resnous hops. Has a grapefruity / resinous finish. Not much in the way of malts, but what is there is light and just enough. Has a moderate body and moderate/high carbonation for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 20:55:38 | More by JG-90

Jekyll

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

What is the relationship between a fish on a label and a killer IPA? I don't know but it seems that the majority of IPA's I drink with some kind of fish, fisherman, etc are kickass and this one is no different. This one was recommended to me by someone at the local bottle shop as I was browsing. At first I was hesitant to purchase an 22oz IPA for $7.99... I mean a DIPA maybe but an IPA??? He assured me it would be worth it so I took the bait(no pun intended with the fishing analogies). Well I'll be hooked(hey another fishing analogy) but he was right... this is one killer IPA. A perfect balance between hops and malt and everything in between. Amazing! Reminds me of another IPA with a fish on it from the great lakes... very nice. I know I shouldn't base part of my score off of price but I'm gonna have to slightly lower the overall by .25 simply due to it is overpriced for a 22oz bomber IMHO though I assume not the brewery's fault... if i could find this in a 6pk in my area it just may be a go-to. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 20:44:37 | More by Jekyll

utopiajane

New York

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

Pours clear light amber with an orange hue. Not much head, no real retention. Bubbles are streaming up from the bottom of the glass. Soapy wet lace. Nose is good deep caramel malt, breaddy and it smells really smooth. Hops are fruity and tropical. Mango, hints of citrus, very floral and tea like and just a touch of pine for depth. Peaches too. The malt is really captivating me and I love malt. Taste is scrumptious. It drinks light and fruity and like iced tea. Body is supple but not biting, carbonation is ample but soft. The malt is so smooth and offers plenty of bread and a little cracker. It doesn’t outshine the hops though which remain delicate as the fruit takes over the palate. It’s juicy and sweet. It isn’t too oily or resinous but it has a good bitter and it it’s almost dry but not quite. It has perfect balance and it isn’t too sweet and the bitter isn’t all there is.

This was so well done. The malt was immediate, always near at hand. The hops were civilized and cultivated in this drink. It was bold but not audacious. This was extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 12:22:55 | More by utopiajane

schwemjw

Ohio

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

A: a very light orange with a one finger fluffy head that is hanging around. looks like a standard ipa

S: Bam! a ton of citrus and grapefruit. A light touch of tropical fruit but very floral and grassy. Sweet caramel malt. a little bit of orange rind and pine on the finish. Truly smells amazing.

T: Oh sweet glorious hops. Tart citrus and orange juice. Earthy pine and grass notes. a huge bitter hop blast on the finish! The flavors are all very straight forward, just executed to perfection! A dry, dry bitter finish!

M: light bodied, medium carbonation. Just easy drinking stuff.

O: Like i said, everything is straight forward, nothing too complex. But WOW. Just awesome stuff. A ton of hop flavors and just bitter enough to know its an IPA. Good for one beer or 6. Refreshing and flavorful. pick this up now! /96

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 02:12:05 | More by schwemjw

funkymonks

California

3.69/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: light pale, almost golden, medium head out of can

Aroma: citrus, grassy

taste: citrus, mellow grassy, buttery, biscuit

palate: light-medium malty body feel

overall: a great go to IPA that isn't overwhelmingly hoppy, tastes great out of a can.

Serving type: can

06-10-2013 04:17:07 | More by funkymonks

blane1

New York

4.34/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear golden body. light white foam head - 1-1.5 inch in height

S - Fantastic hop blast with citrus and pine notes.

T - Everything a IPA should be - Hop kick with citrus, and pine finish. One of the best example of the variety

O - A must try for all hop-heads.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 03:24:01 | More by blane1

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Nice clear golden body. White foam head - 1-1.5inch in height with aggressive poor.

S - Fantastic hop scent with citrus and pine notes.

T - Very good IPA - All the right notes of hops, citrus, and pine with a sweet complex finish. So good that I may make a brewery trip part of my California vacation this year.

O - Great Session IPA. Certainly needs to be part of the summer IPA rotation. Excited to try some of the other offerings from Ballast Point. Nicely Done!

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 21:28:05 | More by Bowers-Brew

bdonbdonbdon

California

5/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

An absolutely amazing India Pale Ale. This is a west coast IPA at its best!! The clarity of the beer is great. A wonderful balance of bitterness and dankness!! As huge fan of IPA's this along with Bear Republic's Racer 5 are my go-to's on any given day!! Keep up the great brew's Ballast!!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 02:39:32 | More by bdonbdonbdon

JFresh21

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bomber poured into a pint glass.

When reading reviews, people keep mentioning West coast IPA. After one sip I muttered the same thing. Its malt forward but quite delicious.

This better gets much better after warming for 5 minutes. Very tasty but not earth shattering. Picked up a bottle for the Blackhawks game and I'm enjoying it thoroughly.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 01:32:45 | More by JFresh21

Omnium

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle > Pint Glass

A - Pours a nice gold color, average finger of head, medium lacing.
S - Some dank hops, grapefruit, pine and a light crystal malt.
T - Citrus hops, orange juice, nice balanced malt flavor, pine on the end.
M - Very clean beer, balanced, and not too heavy.
O - A classic West Coast IPA done right, though last time I got this, it was $64 a case, yikes. Good on taste, bad on value.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2013 01:53:46 | More by Omnium

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

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

A: poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass, light orange amber colored with a huge white head that lingers leaving good lacing, cloudy

S: big hop bomb of what smells like cascade hops, grapefruit, citrus, malt

T: bitter citrus hops up front, orange, lemon zest, grapefruit, finish is dry and bitter

M: medium with good carbonation

O: top notch IPA

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 18:28:42 | More by M_C_Hampton

Slackerville

California

4.01/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

One of the classic IPAs coming out of Southern California. Filtered clean with a rich, golden orange color when served at the bar. The combination of the hop flavor and aroma is what I really enjoy about this beers. Not piney but more floral/citrus. The malt body on Sculpin is minimal but not critical since the hops are not overpowering and the beer finishes clean and refreshing.

Ballast Point has developed a national following and can be found on tap at bars throughout the country and even along the East Coast. It will be interesting to see how the flavor profile changes as demand for this beer increases and hops used become more difficult to get.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2013 17:22:48 | More by Slackerville

Fcolle2

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: pour light amber with a nice off white one finger head. Good lacing all around. Head has good retention

S: a little bit of everything, very nice. Some nice pine, citrus and a slight spice. Lots of great hop aromas.

T: mild bitterness upfront followed by some of the citrus and pine hops pulling forward before the malt finally comes through. Dry bitter finish.

M: light feel with moderate carbonation. Dry if finish.

O: complex ipa with a lot of different hop aromas and flavors. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 01:28:30 | More by Fcolle2

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.24/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

this ballast point ipa is pretty good. nice color- slightly cloudy. the smell is super hoppy with a touch of citrus. the taste hast that nice ipa bitterness, a good solid bitter. i do wish there was some more citrus in the flavor. that complaint is a stretch- thats all i got, if i have to say something. bottom line- if youre in the mood for an ipa this one will definitely hit your spot .

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 19:59:46 | More by mattkoon