Big Eye IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

MadCat

New Jersey

4.11/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very clear copper color, good white head, leaving good lacing

Smell: Fruity, citrusy hops, some caramel malts show through

Taste: Hops hit first with bitterness, fruit, and citrus. Some nice malt character shows through, with some grains and caramel flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium body, good carbonation

Overall: A pretty good IPA, though a little hard to drink in quantity.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2013 05:21:01 | More by MadCat

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a clear copper with a foamy beige head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and grapefruit juice. Taste is much the same with a citrus zest flavor 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 good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2013 09:03:07 | More by UCLABrewN84

Climber9

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: Amber color, excellent clarity. Head comprised of fine white bubbles that drop away quickly.

s: Citrusy hop aroma dominates with some light sweet malt in the background. Diacetyl noticeable. No esters or fusels.

t: Big citrus hops on top of caramel pale malt. Diacetyl is present but hiding behind the big hops. Clean fermentation profile otherwise (no clove, pepper, smoke, etc). Finishes with a flourish of citrusy hop bitterness and flavor, with some slight caramel malt in the background as the finish fades out.

o: Aside from the excessive diacetyl in this sample, the beer is very tasty and within style for an American IPA. This sample was poured from hotel tap system in San Diego, and I have no idea how their lines or kegs are treated. Usually, diacetyl is a fermentation byproduct (not enough yeast pitched, or the beer removed from the yeast too soon). In any case, I will give this another shot and would recommend trying this if you're into big citrus hops and a not-so-dry finish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 07:02:23 | More by Climber9

DrLasers

California

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a very popular beer in San Diego and for a good reason. It embodies what I (and many other locals) consider to be a West Coast IPA. It hits all the marks expected without going overboard in one certain area. In 2012 alone I added 3, 1/6 barrels to my kegerator rotation and it was exceptional every time.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2012 06:46:01 | More by DrLasers

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is a clear amber colour, with a moderately-sized white head. Good retention.

Smell is very nice. A bright, citrus hop scent. Orange and pineapple are both there.

Toasted caramel malt can be tasted, along with lots of hop flavour, primarily citrus fruit (grapefruit, orange, pineapple). Quite bitter.

Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. A bit oily.

Overall, quite a good IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 20:40:29 | More by jrenihan

ninaturner

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber color, nice lacing on the glass

Aroma: Big pine smell, but also hint of citrus

Taste: Not much grain/malt taste to this beer, hops that build the more you drink it. I also picked up a strong taste of grapefruit.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full

Drinkability: Definitely drinkable, but takes more time to drink with all of the flavors and the mouthfeel of the beer

Overall: Great IPA for hop heads!

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 00:35:47 | More by ninaturner

delapowicz

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Great IPA in the shadow of neighbor Stone. Of course you have to have an IPA. Why wouldn't you. It ois a standard that is set for brewing prowess. T does not disapoint. I Believe every brewer needs to brew a good IPA before they die. Think they can say done that and move on. Excellent mouthfeel and baiance. At first it seems pedestrian but the alance strts to take over the impression in a positive way and finishes wanting more. Cheersb

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2012 01:57:40 | More by delapowicz

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap @ Boulders on Broadway in Tempe, AZ.

A: Beautiful copper-yellow with a fluffy, white head and sticky, white lace all down the glass.

S: Fruit hops. More than citrus, which is great. Earthy, grassy.

T: Awesome. A unique IPA. More than just dry, citrusy, piney hops. There's juicy, bright fruit in there. Like spiced, green apples. But there's also enough malt in the finish to keep it balanced.

M: Nice tingle from the carbonation. Great fruity hop flavors. Easy and enjoyable to drink.

O: An awesome contrast to Sculpin. A fruity, unique IPA that won't disappoint. Well done Ballast Point.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2012 04:00:57 | More by Gatch

stewart124

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Orange in color with white head. Brilliantly clear with visible carbonation.

Nose has plenty of fruity characters and some citrusy notes.

Medium in body with a good amount of carbonation. Great addition of citrusy/pineapple hops and light caramel malts. Some biscuity bready characters and just an overall delicious blend. Very easy drinking throughout.

Great lingering juicy fruit character and light hop resin on the tongue. The malt character really blends beautifully with the hops to make a wonderful IPA

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2012 14:52:23 | More by stewart124

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

@ Ould Magoun's Saloon

Bright jack-o-lantern orange with a frothy white head. Haughty display of lace all up and down my glass. A fine lookin' IPA.

Enticing aroma. Though bubble gum and tangerine citrus hops are predominantly on display, an underlying sweet floral nectar belies malty sweetness. The taste follows up on that promise with juicy tangerine, pine and bubble gum hops soaked in a sticky sweet base. One of the sweeter IPAs I've had recently.

I don't know what the IBUs are but the abv is plenty. As a light weight two 7% IPAs made for a headachey night. Wish I'd gone with something more sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 20:29:53 | More by donkeyrunner

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this on draft at the Fridge in Lancaster served chilled in a pint.

The color is beautiful, golden and has a thick creamy pale cap, the lace clings in thick rings on the glass. The bead is fine and there is visible carbonation. The smell is very good with some moderately vibrant citrus rind elements, very orange-y which brings to mind centennial hops, but only a mild malt element in the nose which is gentle and accents the intensely aromatic hops. The feel is great...just as close to perfect as it gets for an American IPA in my opinion. The bitterness is right on without going too far toward Imperial IPA bite and the alcohol is there without outpacing the slight oily texture from the hops. There is moderate carbonation and the feel finishes with a mostly dry quality.

The taste of this IPA is very citrus yet there are other elements that come off as herbal/floral without much in the way of vegetal, just a mild amount of hop spiciness. The citrus starts grapefruity but seems to hit the lemony side and verges toward orange rind zest in the middle when the malt sweetness is a little more noticeable. The flavor lasts well after the swallow with a mild peppery quality which blends well with the mild alcohol which seems to add a dry quality to the overall flavor, very juicy throughout and the flavor really rocks, I find the bitterness to be very smooth. Overall you can't find many better IPA's in the west coast style. This is a solid beer through and through. I don't think there can be much in the way of improving this I put it pretty close to the top.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2011 22:35:03 | More by Slatetank

Brent

Kentucky

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

California brewers seem to have a knack for the American IPA, and this is no exception. Amber-gold color with a bright whiff of hops right away. Nice balance of bittering and aroma hops, with perhaps a bit less than average malt sweetness. Easy to drink despite the 7% abv. A nicely crafted beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 14:41:09 | More by Brent

srandycarter

California

4.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful deep honey color, clear, nice sticky creamy head. Tons of lace.

S - Smell was very light. Sweet malt and hops were there, in small amounts.

T - YUM. Great blend of caramel sweetness and bittering hops to reign it in.

M - Medium body good balance and carb.

D - Oh so drinkable. Now on tap at Petco Park. Yeah!

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2011 02:37:54 | More by srandycarter

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep gold, cloudy. Thick creamy white head dissipates rather quickly. Good lacing. Ok retention.

Smell: White grapefruit, citrus, caramel pine. Can detect some alcohol.

Taste: Grapefruit, citrus, caramel, burnt sugar.

Mouthfeel: Oily for the most part but turns to dry due to the massive dose of bitter hops. Little carbonation

Overall: Super hoppy, yet somewhat balanced. Good bit of malt presence. Wasn't expecting the sweet burnt sugar.

Note: leaves quite the spicy/bitter taste on the tongue. Lasts a long long time.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2011 23:38:44 | More by soulfly1492

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear orangish amber color. Provides a small 1 finger off white foam head that had moderate retention. There is some lacing but not much.

S: There is ample amounts of lemon and orange citrus hops. There is also some flowery hops. Not much in the way of malt character.

T: From start to finish this has a nice hop bitterness. Ample amounts lemon, citrus and grapefruit flavors start off. In the middle there is some mild flowery hops, but the citrus is most predominant. Finishes with more citrus on the back end. Not much of a malt presence.

M: This is a nicely carbonated full bodied beer. Leaves a bitter dry citrusy taste on the palate.

O: This is a really nice IPA. Tons of citrus flavor. If there was a little malt in the back, this would be one of my favorites, but it is still a fantastic brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 23:32:25 | More by IronCitySteve

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear amber with a white head. Nose is sweet juicy tropical fruits, caramel malt, citrus rind, hops. Mouth is bright, very hoppy, fruit sugars, orange candy. Bitter throughout the palate. Quite good, maybe better than Sculpin though I'd want them side by side.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 03:54:01 | More by JAXSON

ChrisSimpson1968

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quite a good IPA here. Pours a deep orange-amber into the glass, with a small cap that diminishes to a thin ring, leaving nice soapy lace. A large amount of citrus and pine comes through in the floral bouquet. The flavors, impeccably balanced, weave a blend of soft caramel malt, citrus and rind zest, some grapefruit and moderately peppering bitters. The finish lasts nicely, bringing back grapefruit and zest, closing with lingering pine resin. Everything about this brew is refreshing and clean. The mouthfeel is crisp and quaffable, with well-integrated carbonation levels. Very fine example of the style, and I’m so glad I picked up a case to enjoy for some time to come. Superb.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 21:01:21 | More by ChrisSimpson1968

cosmicevan

New York

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

Had on tap at the Good Life in Massapequa Park with some good food and great friends. Beer arrived in a scotch ale tulip. Beer had a nice deep amber color with good visual carbonation and a nice head. Flavor and nose lead with bittery hops. The hops lead the way, but are not too intense. Hops are a bit sweaty and a bit piny, but nicely balanced out with malts giving an even rounded sweetness. There was a good malt balance and nice sweetness. Medium to light bodied a bit on the watery side, but it works well for this beer. This is a pretty solid and cooling IPA that I could drink many of.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2011 18:34:33 | More by cosmicevan

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a clear copper color with nice long lasting white head. Smells of pineapples, mangos & other citrus like fruit with a tinge of pineness. Has a sweet smelling, sticky hop aroma to it that's also noticeable in the taste. A little too sweet for me. Wish it was a tad more balanced in bitterness. It's rather light & drinkability is good but I think the sweetness would limit me to only a few of these at a time. A nice IPA, but I think this one's not in the upper echelon.

Re-reviewed from notes on 9/8/11 after buying a bottle fresh from the Home Brew Mart. My scores reflect a change from previously. Fresh from the brewery, this is one of my favorite IPAs:

-pours amber with hop particles suspended, otherwise clear.
-smells very piney, spicy, peppery.
-hoppy taste, bitter, resin-like.
-caramel malts, slightly syrupy-like due to the sticky sweet hop complexity.
-overally - an excellent IPA!!!

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 21:24:11 | More by jwhancher

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap in a shaker pint. See-thru light amber that arrives with a modestly sized head that appears to be the falut of the pour rather than the beer itself. Nice combo of drippy and streaky lace from the creamy off-white head.

A fair amount of sweet pale malt in the nose. Hoppy aromas seem equal parts floral and citrus zest. Bitterness is more aggressive than the nose suggests, a touch piney at times, but the citrus and floral qualities are more prominent. Finishes nice and dry, a bit toasty. A minor complaint is that it's rather boozy for only 7%. Not bad, but forgettable in the grand scheme of things, particularly as a west-coast IPA. Gimme a bottle date, Ballast Point, and I'll be glad to revisit. Hard to believe this comes from the same brewery that produces the incredible Sculpin.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2011 01:13:10 | More by PDXHops

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap at the brewery, the beer was served in a pint glass. It pours a hazy, copper-gold coloring with no discernable head. The nose was hoppy and sweet, with green characteristics like fresh-cut grass. The flavors are peppery-hops initially, with flowery sweet follow-up to balance. The beer is crisp and light-bodied, with an increased carbonation to help carry the flavors. The aftertaste is once again spicy-hopped and slightly bitter. The finish is a little rough, as the downside to increased carbonation rears its ugly head. The beer is good, but the finish makes it a tougher drink than some other IPAs I've had. Very tasty beer, though!

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 04:51:57 | More by GarthDanielson

gopens44

Virginia

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

Purchased a pint at Capitol Ale House Midlothian, VA.

A - 1/2" foamy slightly off white head with moderate lacing on top of a clear amber colored beer.

S - Dense earthy hops shining through.

T - Grapefruit but not much else. The bitterness seems to overpower most anything else in this one.

M - Full bodied with a terrific bitterness left on the palate.

O - I enjoyed this, but it was a bit of a palate wrecker (in a good way) that made it difficult to pick up any other tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2011 12:09:36 | More by gopens44

Chizoad

California

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the best looking IPAs around. Deep amber, great lacing and head.

Although it was good, the smell was maybe a little worse than the rest of the beer. Some citrus and malt.

Good malty IPA with plenty of hop characteristics. Never too bitter.

The mouthfeel was creamy, low carbonation. More like a porter or a stout than an IPA. It lacked the crispness that higher CO2 imparts. But this was not a bad thing, just quite different.

Enjoyable IPA that I would be happy to have again and again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2011 02:46:04 | More by Chizoad

argock

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a clear pint glass at Beer Run (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Amber with 1/2-finger of tightly bubbled off-white head after a careful pour. Ample lacing down the glass.

S: Raw grapefruit and pine resin cut with a one-dimensional pale maltiness

T: Grapefruit and pine meet some floral notes and are tempered by pale maltiness but the bitterness is profound and puts the bottled version to shame

M: Smooth and coating as a good IPA should be with firm medium body

D: Too easy to take down. The bitterness is big, but the smooth feel and solid body make this a pleasure to drink. Glad I had a chance to have a fresh on-tap shot at this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 04:29:48 | More by argock

drtth

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a standard shaker pint glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer is a bright clear orange/amber color with a ¼" head that recedes relatively soon. Sipping leaves some modest lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: The aromas are faint but piney with some citrus fruits added into to the mix. There seems to be some grapefruit here but touches of something else, maybe a touch of tangerine?

Taste: The flavors are much as expected from the nose in that there's a lot of pine resin and grapefruit, modulated with some additional orange or tangerine zest. The malt backbone stays in the back ground and serves to prevent the beer from rasping over the tongue and balances without dominating the bitterness and flavors of the hops.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is medium to light bodied, with a good level of carbonation. The finish is moderately long, but crisp and clean with a piney bitterness that fades to dryness.

Drinkability: While I enjoyed this beer I also found myself wishing once in a while that the malt sweetness would assert itself just a bit more and pop in once in a while to break up the grapefruit/pine resin bitterness. That said I'll be happy to have this one again next time I find it since it is a good, well made beer with few things to fault.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 02:43:21 | More by drtth