Big Eye IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

chinchill

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle

Pours clear amber with a towering, over-size, and surprisingly thick head. Plenty of sticky lacing left on the glass.

A: sweet malt; spicy hops, herbs and alcohol esters.

T: Herbal and spicy hops dominate the flavor, although a solid malt base is easily detected. Not aggressive or particularly bitter for style, but has adequate hop flavor and presence.

M: medium body; nicely smooth and well carbonated.

O: Centrist in style but at the same time, unique due to the particular mix of malts and hops. I appreciate the quality here but prefer IPAs that are at least a little more fruity. [3.75]

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 22:40:26 | More by chinchill

davidsumner

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

To me, this expression flirts dangerously close to a Pale Ale or an Amber. The malt is definitely present, but with a strong hop note. But I can't help to keep thinking English Pale Ale when I'm drinking this.

The look is very pleasant and the nose is good. It has a good balanced, light nose. it doesn't take effort to pick up but I wouldn't call it strong. It has a nice malt biscuity sweet caramel note backed up with the centennial? hops.

This would go well with blood sausage, shell fish, salmon and liver. But is a little too bitter/sour for steak.

The finish is dry and bitter. Over all the bitterness is the predominate character of this beer and to me is too off putting. I realize that an IPA should be bitter but, while I do like IPA's, I don't personally like the bitterness to "take over". I also don't like cotton mouth.

All in all, I would pick Sculpin over this as for Ballast point's IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 19:14:41 | More by davidsumner

Artjsantos

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-25-2013 14:19:50 | More by Artjsantos

hockeyfighter19

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-24-2013 05:09:32 | More by hockeyfighter19

bsuedekum

Missouri

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-24-2013 03:59:57 | More by bsuedekum

shehateme

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-23-2013 23:25:43 | More by shehateme

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-23-2013 01:14:14 | More by mikeincharleston

RobertJBeer

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

05-22-2013 20:18:23 | More by RobertJBeer

erialbill

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-22-2013 18:10:18 | More by erialbill

zapahoppa

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-21-2013 23:49:21 | More by zapahoppa

jakecattleco

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-21-2013 19:19:01 | More by jakecattleco

BrySoChi

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-21-2013 06:21:00 | More by BrySoChi

oprefeito

Indiana

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 21:19:41 | More by oprefeito

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -26.7%

05-20-2013 17:29:30 | More by touchmeimsac

DarthBeer

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 17:03:29 | More by DarthBeer

dmueller

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 02:37:01 | More by dmueller

bcuz7

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-19-2013 21:53:47 | More by bcuz7

HardTarget

Texas

3.96/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Picked up at my local HEB; they are going to need a Place review!
Enjoy by 7/25/13 (sampled 5/19/13)

Appearance: Deep amber glass glows a bit golden when back lit, shows off great clarity and sports a full cover of tight cream colored bubbles that lasts and laces.

Smell: Got whiffs of it at arms length; hops come through loud and clear with a slightly sweet crystal malt base. Little bit of soapy something, the hops are pine tar, mildly citric and earthy.

Taste: Sweettart Candy base tends to drown out the hop flavors at first, but there is a firm bitter slightly tonic finish that keeps things from going too far down Barleywine road. The balance swings wildly from the sweet start to the almost burning hop fueled finish. The center of the teeter is nice, but short lived.

Mouthfeel: Very dry, almost puckering finish with a heavy oily texture. Carbonation is a bit prickly, maybe a touch high?

Overall: A fun beer, loads of flavor, but not a "complete package". Someone decided to have the Crystal Malt train head on with the Centennial Hop train; it's a bit of a wreck, but there's something of a performance art quality that has me ok with getting the full 6 pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 21:49:34 | More by HardTarget

Srive009

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-18-2013 23:23:46 | More by Srive009

Sixbolt

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-18-2013 19:13:40 | More by Sixbolt

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 14:50:34 | More by fdig23

jplopez21

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-17-2013 18:31:13 | More by jplopez21

beersvh23

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-17-2013 03:45:05 | More by beersvh23

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-17-2013 03:07:41 | More by ElizabethEleanor

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-16-2013 20:34:40 | More by ZEB89