Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

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

A - Clear amber-orange with a 2-finger off-white head with mild to moderate lacing.

S - Pineaplle, passion and mango fruits, mild citrus, pine and hop floral. Very aromatic in this fresh growler.

T - Pale malt, pineapple, mango, pine, orange rind. I like the way the bitterness is dispersed through all stages of tasting. The fairly-bright, semi-sweet citrus and pale malt flavor extends into the aftertaste but is never one-up on the orange peel bitterness.

M - Light to medium body and medium-high carbonation. Crispy-creamy and resinous.

D - I never grow tired of this delicious brew.

Serving type: growler

09-06-2011 21:58:28 | More by Tucquan

saintwarrick

South Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Couple half growlers of this confirm it as probably the best beer I have had. Orange-ish gold color has a frothy white head, leaving white lacing down the entire glass. Not quite as aromatic as the bottled version. Taste does not suffer. Lip-smacking citrusy hops and a perfectly-balanced body hold this brew down. Taste is smooth and bitter. A rare treat on tap or in any version. Fantastic brew that everyone must have.

Serving type: growler

05-31-2011 06:06:41 | More by saintwarrick

gatorbreath

Fiji

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

Impressed with this offering in every capacity except East Coast availability.

App - Decent, orange, copper slick look with a foamy head to settle after a good while.

Smell - Lots of citrusy floral notes, very little malt i detect.

Taste/MF - Slick, not sharp, smooth and very full of flavor. Lots of floral hoppy notes with citrus to balance. Very well-balanced, indeed.

Overall - I enjoyed this beer from a growler fill for the first time, ventured to find some bombers and enjoyed them as well. I cant wait to hopefully get closer and try the freshest of offerings from ballast point.

On up there with my favorite IPAs.

Roots to Ballast Point on this offering.

Serving type: growler

05-28-2011 19:04:17 | More by gatorbreath

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Courtesy of the Charleston Beer Exchange

A- Poured golden orange into my tulip glass ~1inch off white head. A fair amount of lacing left behind on the glass. Ok retention

S- Hoppy with a bit of sweetness. Piney hops are very distinct, citrusy aromas are present as well. Smells awesome

T- Quite bitter, delicious combination of mostly pine but also citrus (mangos, grapefruit, etc) hops. Both very bitter and sweet

M- Medium bodied or less - good carbonation

O- Top 5 favorite IPA here, bitter citrusy and piney. The dry refreshing bitterness stands out most to me

Serving type: growler

05-22-2011 21:27:47 | More by MacQ32

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.98/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ballast Point Sculpin, growler filled at The Pony Bar in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, $19 (plus tip).

Appearance: Served in my Sierra snifter, pours very carbonated and free-flowing, no effort whatsoever. At least two fingers of extremely white head- reminds me of the crown of a Belgian brew. Great retention and lacing. Color is a very light amber, sort of clear honey.

Smell: Floral aromas that remind me of bees pollinating freshly-bloomed flowers. Beautiful sweetness, apple cake, some coconut. Fruity bitterness, pomelo zest, some candied orange.

Taste: Follows nose, but less intense. Some honey-like sweetness, pollen feel, a bit of sour apple at the end. Reminds me of the open fields outside Columbus, Ohio, in late summer. Subtle or disappointing? Maybe both? A tad of spice and yeast, as if Ommegang had gone West Coast IPA in Cooperstown.

Mouthfeel: Undeniably a lightweight (more so considering the super-high expectations). Medium-low body, a tad watery, that feels "diluted" in the mouth. Unlike in the initial pour, carbonation is less than stellar during the taste. Very refreshing and sessionable, though. Sweet, tingly finish.

Overall: In the all drinkability, this would get a "5" and beyond. You could drink this all day and night without getting toasted. There is no stickiness or chewiness here, as in other California IPA's. No overwhelming hops or bitterness. Whether that is a good or bad thing, it is up to you. I find it a little tame and not totally satisfying, kind of like a coitus interruptus (hence my "4" overall), but I sure do appreciate the incredible drinkability.

This is the second growler I've had of Sculpin. The first one I got at Fat Head's in Pittsburgh and I liked it better. Next time I want to try Sculpin out of a bomber and see how it changes. Nice beer, but its cult status within the beer world is overblown, in my opinion.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2011 01:16:48 | More by DoubleSimcoe

Nesued

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a growler obtained from the fine staff at Green's on Piney Grove Road. Part of their weekly "Rare Keg Thursday" offerings. Kudos to these fine chaps for bringing outstanding beers to Columbia (not only in bottles but also on-tap).

Appearance - Yellow/amber in color. Crystal clear. Huge head (to the tune of 2in) formed on the pour. Ample lacing developed as the head receded to a frothy white cap on this beer. Light carbonation present continuing to feed the ring.

Smell - As expected from this big IPA, awash in citrus, piney resin notes. Some apricots as well as some general nondescript sweetness to round out the aromas.

Taste - In a word, "refreshing". Crisp opening filled with a big (not huge) hop-forward presentation (as expected). The middle is chewy with the citrus and hop oils causing more than one or two lip-smacking gestures as an almost natural response. The end is subtle. Not a typical hop bite closing. More of a retraction to the mean, leaving you primed for the next sip.

Mouthfeel - Light to moderate body on this beer. Having it on-tap I'm sure provides a different level of carbonation than right out of the bottle. Cleansing to the palette as only a hoppy be can do.

Overall - Well now. As not a big IPA/DIPA fan I'm having to critically look at this beer in terms of its style and enjoyablity. For that, I give it high marks. An easy drinker. Easily a fine summer beer that will refresh you after a long hot summer day. Enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

03-18-2011 00:43:52 | More by Nesued

CHickman

New York

4.58/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Pours hazy gold color with a massive 2 finger foamy off white head that faded very (very) slowly, leaving great spotty lacing clinging to the glass and rings as it went down.

Smells of citrus hops, grapefruit, orange peel, lemon, floral hops, flowers, light caramel, coriander, sweet malt, biscuit, hay, grass and light yeast; very fruity and hoppy with soft subtle hints of citrus and sweet malt.

Tastes like it smells with citrus hops, piney hops, grapefruit, orange peel, lemon, grapes, floral hops, flowers, light caramel, coriander, sweet malt, biscuit, hay, grass, pepper, light spices and light yeast; really nice hop and spice combo, with great balance, and a real nice malt backbone and crisp citrus flavor. The sweetness is mild and yet has pronounced citrus flavors, really highlighting the grapefruit. Really mellow for such a potent IPA, very enjoyable overall, hiding the ABV masterfully and making it extremely easy to drink.

Mouthfeel is creamy, oily slick and smooth, with little to no carbonation, a medium chewy body and a slightly bitter finish that trails off like fresh hop oil was left as residue.

This is a highly drinkable beer with no sign of the alcohol, and a crisp refreshing feel that lets the brew flow down with ease. A definite session beer that I enjoyed and will seek out again.

5/29/13 NOTE: Just had this again from a bottle and it was outstanding.

Serving type: growler

02-13-2011 21:44:21 | More by CHickman

welldigger888

South Carolina

4.97/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from growler in to an imp. pint glass, Huge 2 finger rocky snow white head that laced all the way down. Slight hazed golden orange hue.
Tropical fruit grapefruit mango and the like.
Like drinking a grapefruit cream soda with mango and light golden biscuit.
Creamy dreamy!
Pour some more, send us more! These folk hit on an outstanding reciepe!

Serving type: growler

02-07-2011 04:31:21 | More by welldigger888

aasher

Indiana

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

This growler was courtesy of thagr81us (thanks Calton!), who sent it to me for my birthday despit the package I sent him being destroyed by FedEx. The growler "popped" when I unscrewed the lid, unleashing a multitude of in your face bitter and hoppy aromas. This was poured into a Goose Island pint glass. It poured a rich and beautiful gold in color with a two finger, whispy off white head that laced the glass. The aromas are very wet, bitter, and full of pine. It features very citrusy and sweet hops. There is so much going on here for an IPA! I love the variation. The taste of is of pine and honey. I'd say that this is somwhere in between Hopslam and 90 Minute. It's excellent and a must try. It drinks very crisp and has excellent carbonation. It doesn't leave you with cotton mouth like many IPAs and actually leaves your mouth watering for more. This beer is superb! Thanks for the birthday growler Calton!

Serving type: growler

01-31-2011 23:49:23 | More by aasher

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Thanks to Paul (Lunch) for sharing this growler.

A: Mostly clear and light yellow in color with a thick, white head and an ample amount of sticky lacing.

S: Great fresh hop and tart citrus aromas. Simply wonderful.

T: Absolutely awesome flavor. Grapefruit presence is very prominent. Tangy and hop forward, this beer is incredibly smooth and bursting with flavor.

M: Medium / thin in body, the feel is smooth and creamy with just the right amount of carbonation.

D: I could drink this all night. One of the best IPAs I have ever had.

Edit:
I have had a few experiences with this beer where the aste was phenomenal. however, Sculpin is inconsistent, whether from the tap or the bottle. Too many decent to mediocre experiences to sustain the soaring high score I gave it initially.

Serving type: growler

01-30-2011 01:13:01 | More by Huhzubendah

pmlondrigan

New York

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

Great honey golden orange color. Puffy dense white head, noticable lacing that slides down the sides of my tulip glass. The aroma is a blend of strong citrusy hops, grapefruit, pinapple and fresh cut grass. Really fresh, real nice. A hop explosion, grapefruit, citrus, tropical fruits and grassy undertones. Simple clean grain flavor. Long lasting lemon citrus bitter finish. Nice mouthfeel, not watery, not thin. And oh so drinkable.
NB. I do believe I personally prefer this to Pliny, that may be however due to how fresh this is.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2010 02:00:25 | More by pmlondrigan

kinged8th

South Carolina

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

Picked up a growler of this from my local shop. Was really impressed with it. Great appearance! Pours a hazy golden color with a nice head that left a decent lace. Mouthfeel of citrus and pine. Excellent hop presence which is what I like. I would like the mouthfeel to be a little more heavy. Overall, believe all the hype behind this beer. Though it is over priced, its well worth it. Too bad its not readily available round here.

Serving type: growler

11-28-2010 01:17:38 | More by kinged8th

beermanbrian

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Fresh growler from Brass Rail.

Golden color with a big creamy soap bubble head. Head sticks to the glass like glue and does not go away. Color is a little lighter than expected but there is nothing wrong with that.

Smell is a blast of citrus and pipe. Slips into grapefruit range, which is my favorite flavor in an IPA. Smell has me looking forward to that first sip.

First taste doesn't disappoint. Citrus up front and then it slips into oily pine. Very good.

This is one of those few beers that's been able to live up expectations lately. This one didn't let me down and has me looking forward to the full growler.

Serving type: growler

11-06-2010 20:15:11 | More by beermanbrian

jeffthecheff

Germany

4.22/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half growler purchased fresh from Decicco's. Pours into a tulip glass with a billowing, thick white head of foam atop a hazy, amber-gold color. Great lacing and at least a finger of retention.

Aroma is pungent, citrusy hops. There is so much citrus going on here, it reminds me of a wheat beer brewed with citrus zest. Strong grapefruit aromas are at the forefront, with a bit of mango and tropical fruitiness. There is only a slight herbal hop bite in the back. I usually wouldn't give a perfect aroma score to a hoppy beer without much of an herbal balance, but the strong, complex fruitiness deserves a 5.

The flavor is simple, with a dry, bitter tone dominating the brew. Malt profile adds nothing behind all these hops. Bitterness is very strong, with a somewhat harsh profile. Hops bring some grapefruit peel, grass, and leaves. Not as much fruitiness is represented as the nose does. I think the fruity hop profile could have given this more depth, but it's hard to please the palate after the aroma is so great.

Serving type: growler

10-10-2010 17:57:28 | More by jeffthecheff

Ryan011235

Ohio

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

Poured into a snifter on 9/4/10

Much appreciation to PDXHops for the fresh Sculpin hookup

Bright, with extreme clarity, Sculpin is apricot/amber in color. This is a sharp looking beer. Pours one finger of foam that dissipates after several minutes. A bubbly skim & sporadic, droopy lace are left. Swirling revives some head retention. I some into a tulip; lacing was a touch better.

The aroma is simply phenomenal; it's a veritable fruit cocktail of tropical, hoppy excellence. Tangerine, peach, mango, lemon zest, apricot & hints of grapefruit. The hops are vibrant & juicy. Nips of pine here & there. Not much malt going on, just faint a toasty bread note. The aroma is more assertive than from the bottle I had earlier this year.

Sculpin boasts outrageous hop flavor, moderate bitterness & excellent dryness. Notions of pine underpin the strong citric hops; both of which work wonders together. Notes of tangerine, peach, nectarine, apricot with hints of grapefruit & lemon zest. It's a choice balance of hop flavor & bitterness; something of a controlled explosion. Malts are even less apparent that in the aroma.

The feel is pretty incredible, too. Maybe a touch lighter than medium bodied with fairly ample carbonation, especially when cold. Eschewing vigorousness, the carbonation is lively, accenting the hop flavors. An abundance of tropical tones linger on the finish.

Drinkability is superb. Out of a bottle of undetermined age, this was great. Fresh, from a growler, Sculpin is one of the finest I've tried from the IPA family. Thanks Jeff!

Serving type: growler

09-07-2010 01:27:42 | More by Ryan011235

scottyshades

Florida

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

Growlers of Sculpin for $14 at Green's in Greenville, SC? Yes please

A: Pours a slightly cloudy bright orange color. The head is fluffy, billowy, and retains very very well.

S: In growler form, the nose is a little different than its bottled cousin. The hops are much more aromatic and intense, giving strong notes of pineapple, grapefruit, mango (not as much as the bottled version), lemon, and other citrus fruits. Not really piny or resinous ,which is what I prefer. Malts are subtle, but give enough balance. Truly awesome stuff.

T: Compared to the bottles, this growler tastes amazingly fresh. The hops are bright and flavorful- lots of citrus, tropical fruit, and zest. Bitterness is a little more up front it seems, but definitely manageable. The yeast may be the best part. It adds this unique flavor that is best described as "fresh". Malts balance a little, but this is just a hoppy beer.

MF/D: Carbonation is sometimes a major flaw in IPAs, but this was right on the money. Medium feel to the body. The finish is mango and pineapple juiciness with some bitterness. Alcohol is completely hidden.

Notes- bottle vs growler:
There are minute differences, but I would say that I prefer the growler version due to the freshness of the hops and the aroma. Its really close to call, and either way, its amazing and my personal favorite

Serving type: growler

09-03-2010 17:15:03 | More by scottyshades

PDXHops

South Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Growler poured into a Duvel tulip. See-thru glowing golden orange body with impressive retention from the seemingly modest 1-finger head. Loads of crackly lacing.

While points get docked for not looking perfect, make no mistake about it: this is a perfect IPA. I've had it before bottled and was extremely impressed, but I was blown away by the freshly tapped version. Massive fruitiness in the nose- mango, pineapple, peach, grapefruit, melon- with some honey and floral notes as well. The fruitiness carries over into the flavor profile, but is joined by a substantial pine bitterness. Interestingly, a vanilla-like smoothness attempts to join the fun toward the swallow, only to be swatted away by the hop explosion. Malt minds its own business and watches from the sidelines; the only sweetness comes from the fruit. Very juicy and a bit toasty in the finish. Incredibly fresh tasting and delicious, briefly making me wonder where the "6" choice for Taste is. It actually reminds me quite a bit of HOTD Blue Dot, another one of my favorite beers.

Overall impression: Sunavabitch, this beer is good. If it's not the best (D)IPA out there, then it's sure as hell in the discussion.

Serving type: growler

08-31-2010 23:09:43 | More by PDXHops

SiepJones

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a Growler into a snifter

A: Pours a clear gold into the glass. There is a half-inch layer white bubbly head. The bubbles seem very tightly packed into the head.

S: I could smell the citrus hop scent on my pour from the growler. Aroma of sweet citrus fruit: orange, mango, grapefruit, and a little pineapple. Well-balanced aroma as the fruit nor the pine overpower one another.

T: Citrus flavors up front, more specifically grapefruit. Those flavors wash away quickly with the taste of pine hops. The hops finish has a sappiness to it. This is a very well balanced yet complex flavor.

M: The mouth is slick with a slight touch of crispness due to the hops. There is also a slight creaminess to the finish.

D: Really well balanced IPA, the body and flavor of this beer make it an easy drinker that won't completely ruin your taste buds. Enjoy this beer and don't worry too much as the ABV is only 7%.

Serving type: growler

08-20-2010 00:24:15 | More by SiepJones

BeerThursdays

Delaware

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

Short review, because I only got a taste. Growler was filled less than an hour before tasting

A - Poured from a growler into a small taster glass. Was a clear golden color with a small amount of head.

S - Amazing. Citrus all the way. Smells like a fresh cut tangerine. Smelled so good, my friend put his nose right into the beer.

T - Just as good as the smell. Super citrus from the hops. Mango and orange. Not super bitter at all, but the sweet bitterness from this type of IPA. Love this style, just fades so fast, it's hard to come by this good.

M/D. Was served cold, and we only got a taster, so not a lot of time to warm up. As served, it was pretty light and carbonated, but I expect it becomes more full bodied as it warms. Was excellent cold, I would think even better a little warmer.

Love this one. Wish I could get it this fresh more often.

Serving type: growler

08-10-2010 21:17:13 | More by BeerThursdays

Hershdawg

California

4.65/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler into Duvel Tulip

A: Nice white head, good lacing. Golden color. The head becomes a ring around the glass. Overall a great appearance for an AIPA.

S: A huge pile of hops. Lots of late addition hops. Little malt smell.

T: Hops but not extremely bitter. Lots of citrus, and pine flavors from the hop resins. Very nicely balanced.

M: Very light mouthfeel. Less then normal for IPA. Not a bad thing but a little out of style.

D: Very drinkable. Though most probably shouldn't go through more then a bottle.

Great IPA. Highly recommended. Few are this good without being highly bitter.

Serving type: growler

07-18-2010 02:43:11 | More by Hershdawg

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked up a growler at Capone's the other day and figured one more review of this excellent beer would do it no harm.

Sculpin pours a prototypical peachy orange color with very good head retention and lacing (obtained the growler fill on Sunday and opened it on Tuesday). The nose is just typical sculpin perfection and immediately lets you know that you're in the presence of IPA royalty. I get an outrageous and intense aroma profile of dank earth, light tropical fruit flavors, marijuana, black pepper and tobacco. This is just an altogether fine smelling IPA, and is the standard by which all IPA's should be judged. The flavor profile generally replicates the nose, though it's not quite as intense or complex. In any event, this is a West Coast IPA all the way, with the modest sweet malt flavor completely dominated by the lovely hoppy bitterness. The finish in this excellent IPA is dry, long and bitter. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, but there's a mouthwatering quality that one sees all too infrequently. The hoppy bitterness gives way to a crisp, refreshing finish. Drinkabiliy is unparalled... the beer is light and refreshing, with the alcohol barely an afterthought. I'm not sure I can think of another IPA where the alcohol is as well integrated into the flavor profile as it is with this outstanding beer.

Not much more to say really. Clearly, this is one of the best IPA's on the planet and is always an absolute treat to find fresh and on tap. Even poured from a 2 day old growler, this beer is/was just terrific. Yummm!!!

Serving type: growler

06-30-2010 15:39:24 | More by johnmichaelsen

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: Poured into a tulip glass from a growler purchased at "GREEN's" at Piney Grove in Columbia, SC.

EDIT: 08-27-10 I had to bump up taste from 4.5 to 5.0. This stuff is incredible and powers up throughout with a nice fruity, piney hop taste.

A: Clear golden amber color. Two+ fingers of white head with moderate, fluffy lacing.

S: Grapefruit, piney hops with mild sweet floral aroma. ALL HOPS BABY!

T&M: Crisp, semi-smooth with pine, citrus hops. Mainly grapefruitish with a mild hoppy, pine bitterness. Semi-dry finish with the typical hop-oily rawness on the tongue. Not too heavy, but mild sandpaper hop roughness. Medium bodied.

Excellent IPA! This stuff is close to the smell of Hopslam and excellent.

Serving type: growler

04-30-2010 23:12:36 | More by cdizinno

ChinHoFive0

California

4.68/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from my new 1/2 gal growler fill from Ballast Point's Scripps Ranch brewery into my trusty Stone IRS tulip glass.

Full house today after their 2010 Beer Cup award & gold medals

A - Bright gold colored, lots of carbonation

S - Smell of pine, citrus, grapefruit, tropical

T - Grapefruit again, nice hoppy bitterness and a crisp, dry-like finish. Almost effervescent, cornicopia of fruits at play. Slight booziness well hidden. Feelin' good right now!

M - Good medium-light body, slight oily feel on lips and tongue.

A damn fine beer. (Piny light) West Side IPA represents at it's best!

Serving type: growler

04-14-2010 04:47:08 | More by ChinHoFive0

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.55/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Fresh filled growler served in a standard pint glass.

Clear golden color with a huge white head that settled to a layer leaving plenty of sticky lacing behind.
Citrus hops in your face!
The taste is full of bitter/sour citrus hop flavors with just enough malt to keep things semi-tame.
Medium bodied with a good carbonation level and feel.
Extremely easy to drink and extremely enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

02-13-2010 17:45:18 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

JBogan

Nevada

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

Poured from a growler filled at the brewery (a HUGE thanks to Euel for sharing this). Beer doesn't get much fresher than that.

A clear orange/golden color liquid with a tight white head which stuck around for a long time and left good lacing. A nice but fairly typical looking IPA.

Now for a sniff...and we have a beauty. The aromas coming from the glass make you want to dab some behind your ears and wear out to a fancy restaurant. It's that good. Plenty of citrus fruits and pine, along with some other fruitiness (maybe strawberry and mango) make this an alluring smelling gem.

The tastebuds are greeted with the expected large dose of hop bitterness, but balanced nicely by a little bit of sweet malts. A bit of pepper as well. Only the slightest hint of alcohol present.

Mouthfeel was slick with a medium/thick body. Very smooth and slippery, along with just the right amount of carbonation to give it a lively feel on the tongue.

Anyone who enjoys IPAs owe this one a try. Certainly right up there among the better ones in this style.

Serving type: growler

11-22-2009 15:33:44 | More by JBogan