Habanero Sculpin - Ballast Point Brewing Company

ithacabaron

California

4.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a squishy gold with apricot highlights. Looks busy, but appealingly so.

Aroma is of mango and papaya; very little, if any pine here. A little overcooked pepper sneaks in there, a little out of place. Was hoping for a "fresher" hit on the nose. Still, it certainly hints at something powerful underneath.

Taste is surprisingly balanced; this isn't just a firebomb. There's a nice backbone of sweet malt underneath, and the juicy flickers of pure sugar-coated mango and passion fruit round out the swallow. That's not to say that there isn't a nice burn, though. I've always liked habanero peppers for their bright, sweet heat -- those excellent qualities are amplified here by a nearly-perfect match in backing beer. A lovely package.

Mouthfeel is foamy but not dense, like swimming in the ocean the day after a storm.

A very, very nice beer; it would be a dream with Thai cuisine. Not for everyday, but it is a tremendous occasional treat. Strongly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2011 02:21:24 | More by ithacabaron

Rosanne

California

4/5  rDev +5.3%

06-19-2013 03:31:21 | More by Rosanne

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%

06-19-2013 02:56:00 | More by Casey3236

jealmanzar

New York

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

06-19-2013 00:31:41 | More by jealmanzar

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%

06-18-2013 19:18:28 | More by browniewithnuts

billab914

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

06-17-2013 23:55:27 | More by billab914

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from tap into pint at yardhouse in palm beach gardens Florida. Nice creamy head over a golden color. Aroma is citrus hop with a habanero burst. Same with the flavor...big citrus notes like the standard sculpin but a huge habanero spice finish. Its spicy and hot...throat closing and tingly. Really a great chile beer great spice that complements the citrusy ipa. Deff worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2013 21:07:27 | More by DrinkSlurm

Gatordaddy

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

06-15-2013 21:17:21 | More by Gatordaddy

theminutemen

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

06-15-2013 07:15:16 | More by theminutemen

Hubarooski

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -34.2%

06-15-2013 01:04:13 | More by Hubarooski

BltByKrmn

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

06-15-2013 00:02:11 | More by BltByKrmn

calcutron

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

06-07-2013 23:20:26 | More by calcutron

Ranbot

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

06-04-2013 18:16:36 | More by Ranbot

drewone

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

06-04-2013 04:02:18 | More by drewone

MastaShonuf

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

06-02-2013 11:17:31 | More by MastaShonuf

Nightrain87

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

06-02-2013 04:20:19 | More by Nightrain87

Devi0us

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

06-01-2013 21:10:23 | More by Devi0us

riemster

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

06-01-2013 01:56:28 | More by riemster

kojevergas

California

3.79/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served on-draught into a New Belgium stem-goblet at The Daily Pint in Santa Monica. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a two finger head of beige colour and nice frothy consistency. Good thickness, great cream, and excellent retention (~7 minutes). Body colour is a vibrant transparent translucent copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Head is soft, fluffy, and luscious. Very appealing for the style.

Sm: Floral hop aroma is prominently featured. Biscuit malt. Pale malts. Some grapefruit citrus ester bite. A bit nectary. A mild strength aroma. Quite appealing. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable.

T: Prominent floral hops up front with some very balanced citrusy zest hop notes, including grapefruit. It's complemented nicely by a pale malt body which is pleasant and refreshing.

The habanero pepper hits on the climax - seemingly timid at first but burning strong on the aftertaste. The heat waits; most chili beers don't have that effect and tend to be immediately spicy.

No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Lovely execution with a balance of refreshing hoppy notes up front and intriguing but not scorching heat on the back end. The heat - in terms of intensity and duration - is perfect to my tastes. It's exactly what I want from a chili beer. Fantastic execution. Excellent build for the concept and style. The heat disguises the light bitterness found in regular Sculpin. Very flavorful.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Refreshing. Lightly oily. Excellent carbonation. Suits the flavour profile very well. Not biting or rough. It could be a bit softer. Good thickness. Great presence on the palate. Great body.

Dr: Definitely the best chili beer I've had; the habanero isn't overpowering but rather feels well incorporated into the careful balance. Hides its ABV well. I'd get it again, and I could actually have more than one in a night - you can't say that about most chili beers. A great marriage of habanero with hops. Stands out as special. I'd recommend it to friends. Very drinkable, but pricey at $10.00 a pint. Would pair great with pizza.

Low B+

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2013 20:51:48 | More by kojevergas

GuttaMane138

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-28-2013 09:15:02 | More by GuttaMane138

metter98

New York

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

On-tap at Thirsty Monk, Asheville, NC

A: The beer is clear amber in color. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that died down, leaving a patch of bubbles in the center and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: LIght aromas of grapefruit hops and habanero chillies are present in the nose.
T: As you swirl the beer around in your mouth, the habanero becomes hotter and hotter. The heat particularly stands out in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The habaneros make your mouth tingle in the aftertaste.
O: This is an interesting beer, but the habaneros completely turn an excellent beer into a mediocre one. The spicy heat makes it very difficult to drink and I'm glad that I had a small serving size.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2013 14:19:37 | More by metter98

smithj4

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-26-2013 21:05:11 | More by smithj4

huysmans

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-25-2013 09:55:54 | More by huysmans

jakecattleco

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-21-2013 19:19:29 | More by jakecattleco

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-21-2013 18:43:43 | More by RedneckBeerz