Abandon Ship
Ballast Point Brewing Company

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From:
Ballast Point Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Rauchbier
ABV:
6.1%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 11.65%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
92
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 17, 2018
Added:
Feb 26, 2008
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jsanford:
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Rated by jsanford from Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

Jan 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Gay_Autist
Reviewed by Gay_Autist from California

3.56/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
As San Diegan natives, Ballast Point really brings it home in this smoked lager. Inspired by the rich losers of La Jolla, Abandon Ship Smoked Lager contains Mexican Malted Barley smoked drift wood and fermented cold with lager yeast. Deep latino hues and low bitterness help the non-smoked crystal malts compliment, not contrast, the smoky/savory look of the homeless population. If you taste the cultural medly that is this drink, you will certainly taste the bitterness of San Diego. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment here is the marvelous name, intriguingly mirroring their recent investments away from San Diego. Abandon Ship indeed!
May 17, 2018
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

3.94/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had a couple of pints of this today at Cask & Vine, during a meet & greet for an exhibit of my photography. Each pint was $6.50.

Color was a clear, medium-golden. had some soft carbo, and a thin, fine layer of white foam, mostly rim-clinging. Aroma was a bit crackery, with a faint wisp of smoke present. Body was medium, and it was fairly smooth heading down the hatch.

Flavor followed the nose, with crackery, bready, toasty malts contributing light sweetness to the proceedings. The smoky aspect was subtle yet noticeable. It was quite dry and clean, reminding me of the Spezial Rauch from Bamberg. Prosit!

3.94/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1982
Dec 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by The_Jerk from California

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by bccocx from Texas

Oct 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.9 by jaydoc from Kansas

Oct 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jpd7374 from Pennsylvania

Oct 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by LoveStout from New York

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.3 by acurtis from New Jersey

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Screper from Massachusetts

Sep 15, 2014
 
Rated: 2.8 by BcOneSeven from Michigan

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by robear from Wisconsin

May 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Wolberjs from California

Mar 09, 2014
Photo of wedge
Reviewed by wedge from North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
@ Raleigh Times

Dark brown with a soft white head. Aromas of Beechwood smoke, rich malt, clean lager yeast, and sweet bread with some subtle citrus. Clean, spicy, smoky flavor…rich German malt sweetness and a touch of salted caramel. Medium, crisp, and clean, with some finishing lager yeast. Pretty enjoyable and easy to drink.
Jan 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jan 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by sisterthelonious from Wisconsin

Nov 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BigLittleHokis from California

Oct 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ralphw56 from Nevada

Sep 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Beardcore from Nevada

Sep 16, 2013
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

3.84/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled on tap @ 1702, Tucson; February 2012
Arrives from the tap with a frothy, almost half-finger thick, pale amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is a dark amber color with a bright, clear hue to it. The aroma has a nice, smooth, rich smokiness that seems to be beechwood smoke in derivation. There isn’t a whole lot of base beer character noticeable underneath the omnipresent smokiness. A subtle, grainy, pale caramelized malt character comes out a touch as the beer warms up.

This has a zippy, prickly carbonation, a touch of viscosity to it so that it isn’t overly light and in fact gets a bit chewier in my second sip. There is a fat smokiness here that is supported by a subtly sweet, savory accentuating malt character that supplies a bit of lingering, lightly toasted grain / malt character. Touches of caramelized malt serve as an accentuating, though balancing smoothness for the dominant smoke flavors so that it doesn’t unbalance the flavor profile; of course this assumes that you enjoy smoky beer. There is an almost nuttiness to this beer at time, it sort of reminds me of a smoked almond in some ways.

Amply smoky, perhaps a touch simplistic, but it is exactly what I was hoping for when I ordered this. You will of course have to really like smoked beers to like this, and I really like that they stayed away from the alternate smoked malts; so many of the newer (and peat too) smoked malts get harsh and weird tasting.
Aug 31, 2013
Abandon Ship from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 92 ratings