Habanero Sculpin - Ballast Point Brewing Company

mactrail

California

2.75/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

This is one of those "I dare you" beers. I suppose people either love it or hate it. Looks nice enough in the glass with a decent foam and the attractive clear orangey amber color.

On first taste this seems to open a raw stripe down the throat. I can't even seem to taste the usual hop overdose, it's just hot with the afterburners blasting down your gullet. I would think there would be some aroma but my nose seems to be anaesthetized. Clearly they went for the maximum capsaicin rather than any flavor subtleties. I always find a gulp of IPA when eating hot food just throws fuel on the fire. So I suppose this is the case study of IBU plus Scoville index equals hellfire.

I"m trying to taste this objectively, but it's really more pain than pleasure. On tap at California Kebab in Pacific Beach.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 05:12:46 | More by mactrail

jakecattleco

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

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

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5%

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

dkline72

New York

4/5  rDev +5%

05-19-2013 13:20:13 | More by dkline72

Zbeetleman

California

1.25/5  rDev -67.2%

05-15-2013 03:41:09 | More by Zbeetleman

Shilt

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-13-2013 15:45:56 | More by Shilt

stevec32

New York

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-10-2013 00:05:03 | More by stevec32

RyanAU

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-09-2013 21:39:44 | More by RyanAU

ElijahRivera

New York

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

05-07-2013 22:50:26 | More by ElijahRivera

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Hunahpu's Day. The nose is mostly straight sculpin, it has the hop explosion with a faint spice to it. Taste is much more spicy, extremely peppery and hot in the finish with the juicy hops up front. Spice is so strong and lingers. Well carbonated smooth light body.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2013 18:32:41 | More by cpetrone84

Mag00n

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-05-2013 17:25:53 | More by Mag00n

dllman25

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5%

05-04-2013 15:12:22 | More by dllman25

Cinderwiesche

California

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

05-04-2013 03:03:36 | More by Cinderwiesche

IPAyForHops

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-02-2013 23:28:56 | More by IPAyForHops

brycevolk

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5%

04-30-2013 13:06:33 | More by brycevolk

jpd7374

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-30-2013 01:22:59 | More by jpd7374

dar482

New York

4.3/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

The color is clear golden color with a foamy IPA head. Regular Sculpin has a haziness that this does not have.

The aroma has some citrus, big pineapple, IPA dank hops, and a bit of spiciness.

The taste has a citrus pop and light malt, but then a huge round spiciness. Sometimes with spiciness, it hits the tongue and soaks in, this is different. It rolls all over your mouth with the first sip and then it hits the back of the throat. It's very powerful. I wish it had more hoppiness and bitterness to counteract the spiciness.

This is a weird beer. I wish the spiciness was a bit different and toned down. However, if there was a spicy IPA, I couldn't really imagine it being too much better. Definitely try it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2013 20:40:35 | More by dar482

ADTaber

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-27-2013 01:52:44 | More by ADTaber

TheSixthRing

California

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Capitol Beer and Taproom in Sacramento, CA

Appearance - A clear, pure golden color, served to me in a 12oz nonic style glass with a white, half finger of head. Fair retention, leaving a thin film of microbubbles on the surface. Nice lacing around the glass with good stick.

Smell - Pineapple, pine, citrus and spice from the habanero.

Taste - Follows the nose; sweet, hoppy fruitiness strikes first in the form of pineapple, hints of mango, citrus and pine before giving way to the strong, but manageable habanero burn. Really natural, authentic pepper flavor, however, skips the unsufferable burning sensation of the habanero and goes straight to the afterburn.

Mouthfeel - Light in body with moderate carbonation. Much like it's predecessor, the Habanero Sculpin goes down so impossibly smooth and light that it's near detrimental; I wanna know I'm drinking a beer.

Overall - Nice variation on an already great beer, though truth be told I much prefer the standard version. They nail the habanero flavor, for sure, without the insane scoville level that normally accompanies it. Good, but for the price, this is probably the first and last time I'll have it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2013 02:30:11 | More by TheSixthRing

DudMan

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-23-2013 22:14:25 | More by DudMan

GrindFatherBob

New York

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

04-22-2013 21:46:07 | More by GrindFatherBob

CreightonSM

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +31.2%

04-22-2013 01:54:03 | More by CreightonSM

John_Schlaffer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5%

04-21-2013 22:30:19 | More by John_Schlaffer

Resuin

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

04-14-2013 06:24:49 | More by Resuin

BuffaloTapHugger

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-14-2013 04:05:06 | More by BuffaloTapHugger