Even Keel - Ballast Point Brewing Company

71ADub

Virginia

2.73/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on draft, pint glass at the Cloverleaf, Caldwell, NJ. on sight, nice golden hue. not much hops in the nose. slightly bitter on the tongue, but not strong. finishes ever so slightly bitter, not much backbite. could use more hops during the finishing stage of the boil or during dry hopped, as well as a little more boil hops. good smooth mouthfeel. just needs more hops, would be a good IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 21:01:40 | More by 71ADub

joebrewer

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed at Stone Brewery. Billed as a "mild IPA" by the server.

C: Gold, poured with a very thick head (the short pour isn't BP's fault). There were flecks of hops in the head.

S: honeysuckle

M: slick and oily.

T: Lacks sweetness to balance the hops. Very hoppy, but initially I don't think the beer can stand up to it. Spicy hop flavor. I was expecting more citrus. By the end of the beer, I had gotten used to hop/malt imbalance and the last few sips were refreshing. I'm still a bit up in the air about this approach to the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2009 21:35:28 | More by joebrewer

Halcyondays

California

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours amber with a fluffy one finger white head with good retention and lace.

S: One dimensional pine notes, light malt.

T: Again I got mainly the one note of pine in the hop flavour and some biscuit/toasty malt. A very simple ale.

M: Rather light-bodied and low in carbonation makes it sessionable as it is described.

D: A nice little ale from Ballast Point, if it were cheaper, a pint to stick with for the night, it's a beer that's easy to drink, tasty enough, and you don't have to think about it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2009 21:06:19 | More by Halcyondays

Durge

Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Found this one on tap at the Fish Market Restaurant in San Diego. Poured cold into a pint glass this showed a light golden color with a whispy white cover and very good lace. The aroma is mild malty citrus, very mild. Taste is light and bubbly wheat and citrus hops, but the hops are very mild, maybe more grassy than citrus. A little harsh, not much sweetness or malt presence. And the hops are way too tame, so what do you have left? Not that much. Drinkable enough if it happens to grow on you, but I wasn't highly enamored.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2008 06:37:18 | More by Durge

ChrisPro

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Draft at Devil's Den.

A - clear golden with a quickly dissipating bubbly head.

S - Huge orange and grapefruit notes in the nose. The dry hopping really dominates here and I don't get any sweetness, which is indicative of what's to come

T - No sweetness whatsoever. This is a dry crisp super bitter APA. I love the hopping, but this beer cleaned up too much. Either it attenuated too much or it was over-hopped, but this beer is just sheer bitterness. I would've wanted something like 30 IBUs with a great nose, but this was just overly bitter and resinous.

M - clean, crisp, decent carb. A little tannic on the finish.

D - I had high hopes for this given the ABV and incredible aroma. The first few sips were sublime, but it would be a struggle to drink anything more than a pint of this unbalanced beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2011 13:41:14 | More by ChrisPro

magictrokini

California

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Tap @ Local. Pours clear gold with a bubbly white head. Crisp hops and grass in the aroma, with white grapes. Straw and hops in the front that turns nicely into lemon and resin with drier malt/bread flavors. Very light, shocked to see it was classed as an APA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2008 00:04:38 | More by magictrokini

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Notes from San Diego trip.

A- Golden amber body with a small white head. Creamy ring and cloud atop the beer and a bit of spotty lace.

S- Light biscuit caramel malt. Hops are floral and citrus tropical fruit but certainly not dominant, balanced.

T- Pine, herbal and floral hop presence on top of a solid biscuit caramel malt backbone. Yeast bread hints.

MF- Light body with moderately high carbonation. Slight bitterness and somewhat watery feel.

Good balanced session ale. Both hops and malts are used quite evenly.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 23:46:08 | More by cbutova

Nugganooch

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Notes from Homebrew mart visit on 07/14/11

*On tap at the brewery

A: Even Keel pours a super clear light copper pale color hue with a small fizzy tan head. Well carbed with some really nice legs on it.

S: Aromas are citrusy and faint tropical fruits but they do fade rather quickly.

T: Taste is overall a bready biscuit like malt character with that classic citrus and piney hop combo going on. Low bitterness. Flavors are soft. Very light, crisp, and refreshing.

M: A light stickiness in mf but overall a nice creamy texture and superlight body.

D: Drinkability rates high given this is a nice summer sessions type of beer that you can sip all day long but as I previously noted the flavors are a bit soft and really just have me wanting something more.

A nice session offering by BP and something I would choose to order as a starter. Working my way up to bigger brews. Tasty drink but pretty straight forward.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2011 18:11:28 | More by Nugganooch

notchucknorris

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very cloudy light brown color. Reminded me of an unfiltered apple cider.

S: Some dank wheat along with some grapefruit. Faint tropical fruit notes.

T: Grapefruit pith and grapefruit juice. Some citrus acidity on the finish. I wanted a little more from this one. Definitely not my favorite from Ballast.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2011 23:30:14 | More by notchucknorris

Cavery

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap at Blue Palms 3rd Anniversary, a lower ABV brew to relieve the stress of potentially pounding multiple BA stouts throughout the day.

notes from Aug 13th 2011

A: Slightly diluted honey amber with some early morning sunshine. Looks fairly light in the body with some almost see-through white foams. Some high water mark lacing that sticks with little else below it, it floats over the body of the beer like clouds on a coastal horizon. Nice color, some okay lacing, but the thinness of the bubbles was a bit strange.

S: Connective tissue of lemons and grapefruits. A bit of lime rind bite that I like. Tamarind sweetness with a dash of salt. Sweet nose character that doesn't quite hit the candy level, but it's almost like the making of a hardened candy that hasn't quite hardened yet.

T: Lavender dusted popcorn, haha seriously.A drizzle of earthy leaf infused agave nectars. Funky light yet flavorful citrus rinds. Cantalope with some honey and marmalade. Lavender really creeps up in the back where there would normally be a presence of alcohol. Creepy almost non-alcoholic taste. A bit of watery tropical fruits that burst in the absence of alcohol.

M: Light body, but highly drinkable. Spritzy watery character that makes this thing drink like a slightly carbonated fermented tea. The after feel in the mouth is extremely wet, but refreshing. Like eating a fresh melon while sipping on a lemonade.

O: This is a sound alternative to drinking some "beers". Not to say this isn't beer, it's just maybe something that might be worth having in replacement of the typical onslaught. I think there is a place for this beer, especially in the current market, but I think I'd personally only drink this as a launching pad towards bigger and better beers. However, I think this could be improved upon. I am not opposed to this idea, and I wouldn't give up on the big flavor low alcohol market.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 04:17:27 | More by Cavery

SDtastentune

California

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A- Looks good, good lace, light yellow/pale orange.

S - Hops, but not too much, kinda more ale'ish.

T - Taste was kinda wierd (end of cask) Hops like an IPA but toned down into a drinker/session brew.

M - Not too good because of the end of cask... but it was flat and warm by that time. Good aftertaste though.

O - Overall I need to try a normal tap version before I can rate this better, good hop flavor for a session brew.

Serving type: cask

05-27-2011 00:14:41 | More by SDtastentune

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Devil's Den in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a dark amber color with rose edges and a two finger, frothy light beige head that has excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap.  Steaks and spots of soapy lace left behind.

Resinous earthy hop aroma with subtle hints of citrus countering the dry, grassy pine character.  Underneath there's a nice malt presence with some caramel, toffee and nut.

On the fuller end of medium bodied with a blast of bitter dry hops up front that linger over the sweeter notes into a slightly dry finish.  Lots of earthy pine, grass and soil countered by orange peel, mango and grapefruit.  Well balanced by decent makt backbone with hints of caramel, toffee and light fruit notes.  Overall this is a solid, well balance, easy drinking session ale that has a very strong hop profile.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2012 00:06:54 | More by corby112

UCLABrewN84

California

3.69/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Blue Palms Brewhouse in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear orange with a foamy off-white head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with earthy hop flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is tasty and very drinkable for the ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2013 05:27:35 | More by UCLABrewN84

m1ked

California

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Clear golden bronzy. Clear enough to read through. Nice white head that fades away to a rimming, and center skimming. Few streamers.

S- Piney hops with tangerines with a very subtle hint of biscuit back in there somewhere. It smells like a west coast IPA to me.

T- Bitter, but not too bitter hops up front. Subtle malt in the back end. While it does not seem very complex to me, I appreciate the straight forward nature of this brew.

M- Thin, little carbonation, but crisp. Leaves the mouth dry.

D- This is not an "extreme" beer, and I am alright with that. Not every beer has to be a blend, barrel aged, or mega hopped. This is hoppy for a Pale Ale, but I do live in San Diego. Very sessionable beer.

Serving type: growler

04-21-2008 00:34:23 | More by m1ked

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Downtown Johnny Brown's (San Diego, CA) on 3/18/09. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a clear copper with a finger of foamy brite-white head. Retention stays rich and frothy, leaving some solid spotty lacing behind. The aroma is floral and fresh smelling, with a touch of hop spices and some light notes of citrus and bread. Not overly assertive but still pleasant.

The taste is similar, with some sturdy pale malt character and some moderate bitterness to it, with a splash of citrus in the back. The mouthfeel is ligher bodied with a thin creaminess to the carbonation and extremely easy feel.

Solid Pale Ale that was quite refreshing and quaffable after a good sized downtown walk on this warm, nearly spring day. Easy body and sessionalbility and this packed just enough flavor to keep me interested. Good lighter offering form Ballast Point.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2009 16:46:18 | More by Kegatron

mactrail

California

3.74/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Ballast Point store on Linda Vista Dr. Dry and thin but full of flavor. Resiny and hop scented but not terminally bitter. Pale brownish amber with a modest head.

Fresh tasting and highly refreshing. A big taste of browned biscuits with a long bitter aftertaste. More on the IPA end of the spectrum, but a great example of good taste with less alcohol content than a Utah supermarket beer. After setting the glass aside for a few minutes, that last sip confirms the big aromatic quality.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 03:14:09 | More by mactrail

DoubleJ

California

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Hollingshead's on to the beer:

Clean-filtered, glowing orange in color, with a thick head that offers good retention. Hmmm...this smells hoppy. Good whiff of hops hits the nose, alongside some honey and malt. To taste, it is a lighter tasting beer, but at least with a little flavor. Mildly intense floral hops start off the journey. Eventually, a light wave of crackery malt shows up to play. for a brief moment, it goes sweet, but then it is back to the floral hops. It's light, oily, leafy, and well-carbonated as it sits in the mouth. Thirst quenching to say the least....good for a hot day like today.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2009 02:53:25 | More by DoubleJ

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

A - Slightly hazed golden with a small white head that has decent retention and little lacing.

S - Prominent citrus hops, mostly orange, with some floral, and a nice, strong, sweet caramel malt undertone.

T - Hop flavors again with grapefruit and pine. Surprising punch of grapefruit bitterness through the finish.

M - Light body, medium carbonation, a little thin.

D - A proper pale session beer. As a hophead at heart, this is something I could drink all day.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2010 22:20:24 | More by garuda

koopa

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on cask at the Pony Bar over the weekend.

Appearance: Pours a light amber with a 1 finger white crown that shows some retention and lace.

Smell: Nice notes of floral hops, citrus hops, and a touch of pine that is faint.

Taste: Same as the nose but it doesn't come through as much.

Mouthfeel: Light side of medium bodied with enough carbonation.

Overall: Super sessionable and fairly enjoyable. Hard to pay the same NYC pour price for a 3.5% abv beer though when I can get something up to 7.9% abv for the same price at the same bar.

Serving type: cask

06-06-2011 11:09:16 | More by koopa

armock

New York

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the main brewery's tasting room.

A - Poured a copper color with an off white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is a nose full of grapefruit hops

T - Just like it smells lots of grapefruit hop juice

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

O - I love this beer its super sessionable with a good taste and low abv there needs to be more beers like this made definitely worth getting if you see it

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2011 23:54:52 | More by armock

turboedtwo

California

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Toronado in North Park. I had assumed this was an IPA but I guessed wrong, at least according to this site.

A - Clear and gold. Your standard pale ale coloring.

S - I got a nice whiff of hops and a bit of a flowery aroma.

T - No doubt about it, this is a hoppy one. Has a bit of a pine taste as well.

M - It hast a light feel on the tongue with a little bite.

D - Drinkability is good, but I don't know if I could keep going. It's great but not something I'd stick to. I'd have to switch it up.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2009 08:32:08 | More by turboedtwo

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright gold with a good-sized off-white head. The aroma is very nice, with some floral and citrus hops that aren't too overpowering, but are well situated for the style. The taste has the floral and fruity character from the hops, a little bit of bitterness, and a little bit of bready malt. Light to medium-bodied with good carbonation. Not as enjoyable overall as some of the other Ballast Point offerings, but a very nice and sessionable hoppy brew.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2010 15:31:08 | More by Thorpe429

tonistruth

Nevada

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

on tap @ Stone's Bistro in Escondido, California

A- straw with bronze hues, not much of a head, id say just a little white crown sits on top of the beer

S- floral, citric, fruity malts

T- a bitter sweet flavor battles back and forth throughout with the bitterness winning in the end, soft citrus flavors, a flash of harsh strong citric rind in middle, earthy and a bit soapy, moments of nice balance

M- dry and coarse with some tongue numbing bitterness, dry after

D- a very sessionable and hoppy beer, very interesting and enjoyable, hop heads looking for a sessionable beer should look here, smells awesome, but a bit soapy for my liking

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2008 23:44:49 | More by tonistruth

beagle75

Iowa

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Draft service into a shaker pint glass at Churchill's in San Marcos.

A: Clear, light amber color with less than one finger of very fine diminishing white foam head. Heavy, step-wise, lacing remains on the glass.

S: Very mild, with faint multi-grain toast and floral and earthy--tea-like--hops.

T: Begins dry, with mild pale malt that shows a hint of caramel, delicate floral and herbaceous hop aromatics, and bright acidity of moderate intensity. Malt becomes lighter, more crackery, in the middle where floral hops persist. Hops turn more herbaceous, even coniferous, in the finish that is mildly bitter with faint mineral crispness.

M: Thin viscosity, wet and slightly acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: This session pale ale owns the distinction of being the forebearer (and perhaps the inspiration for) Stone's San Diego Session Ale collaboration. As far as sessionable beers go, Even Keel goes one step beyond the beer it inspired, delivering its bounty in a package that is significantly under 4% abv. It walks a fine line between being satisfying and underwhelming, as many in the sub-style slide toward. In this case it stays appealing and nuanced from start to finish, with layers of flavor emerging through sustained study. Even Keel is an accomplished session ale, but it is difficult to say that it is any better than the San Diego Session Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2011 19:07:32 | More by beagle75

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled 1702, Tucson AZ; August 2009
This beer arrives from the tap a darker color than I was expecting; it is an amber, lightly hazy hue that is topped by a thin, pale tan colored head that is typical for a tap pour. There is a nice, clean hop citrus aroma to this that has notes of orange zest, some bright tangerine character, grapefruit, and a solid lychee note. There is a hint of crystal malt character here in the nose that adds light notes of toasted grain and caramel.

This has a nice biting bitterness to it as it first hits my tongue. It is quite dry which mutes the citrus hop flavors, but not completely as notes of grapefruit, tangerine, spicy citrus oil, a touch of lychee and a lingering apricot note in the finish are all noticeable. This is nice and light feeling on the palate, the hops actually provide some astringent mouthfeel that makes this beer seem a bit fuller than it actually is. Some pine and menthol flavors are also here and help to add to the hop complexity. There is just a hint of malt backbone here with notes of toasted grain and a touch of caramel.

This is very nice, I could drink a lot of this if the alcohol is anywhere near 4%, unfortunately there seems to be quite a bit of conflicting information on the actual alcohol content of this beer. This is perhaps not complext enough, but the mix of dominant hop character and light malt backbone in a low-alcohol form makes for a very nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2009 02:57:16 | More by Gueuzedude