Big Eye IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

welldigger888

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a wonderful orangish copper hue with a thick foam stand of 3+ fingers an off white caramel color.

Malty caramel goodness, and after a few pints the hop aroma is a bit muted.

A nice bitter base with lotsa maltiness bringing the heat, west coast style late hop flavor is nice. Burps very west coast as well. NICE.

Medium bodied creamcicle hop like mouthfeel has been best part.

Well, I got my growler filled for a great price and if it lasts will get more. Have had WAY better from ballast point but a good beer.

Serving type: growler

11-22-2012 01:51:33 | More by welldigger888

jvillefan

California

4.6/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: A beautiful deep golden yellow and with a decent head after storing the beer in the growler for ten days.

S: Extremely hoppy. There are a decent amount of caramel tones to the nearly perfect aroma.

T: Very bitter and maybe a little bit too bitter. Ballast Point definitely has a near perfect balance in this beer with the caramel and citrus undertones present in this beer.

M: There was excellent carbonation despite storing in a growler for 10 days. The retention could be a tiny bit heavier but it is still very good.

O: If you have the opportunity to try this definitely do. Personally, I think that this is the best IPA that Ballast Point produces, better than Sculpin IPA.

Serving type: growler

04-05-2012 03:11:18 | More by jvillefan

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a growler into my RR 'tion' glass.

A- This is a dark, mahogany. Very rich looking.

S- Piney and citrusy, very aromatic....THIS is what an IPA (actually DIPAs smell like)

T- Very good hop taste, but not very bitter. There is definately some malt in there, but it is balanced well. There is a good hop resin in there as well. Damn, I love that hop oil!

M- It tastes big, yet is fairly light. Not a big chewy beer, I'm diggin' on it.

O- This beer kicks ass! I'm looking at it on here listed as an American IPA....this absolutely reminds me of a DIPA, way more flavor and smell of a DIPA than some DIPAs I've had. Homerun. Seek this out for sure!

Edit: Just had a bottle, and while great, it is definately not like freshly tapped!

Serving type: growler

08-01-2011 23:07:25 | More by DaveHack

LukeK1231

New York

4.97/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 32 oz. "Big Z" growler into a pint glass.

Appearance: Amber/golden with a 1 finger off-white head

Smell: Unbelievable!! Lots of fruit smells including pineapple, various citrus and maybe mango. Hoppy smells came thorugh almost as strong and made for a powerful yet perfect aroma.

Taste: Bitter hop taste in the beginning followed by a combination of fruits, pineapple taking the lead. Nice combination. Finish was crisp and smooth refreshing; "classic IPA" taste at the end.

Overall: A great IPA that I will make my standard until a better comes along. And at a nice strong 7% a well-rounded beer.

Serving type: growler

04-27-2011 23:00:39 | More by LukeK1231

AlvinStraight

New York

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

This is a magnificent IPA. I never expected to end up with this, as the keg for the beer I was looking for was kicked at Bierkraft. Reluctantly I chose this, and oh what a pleasant surprise it was.

I don't have the terminology or buzzwords to write a point by point review that would pass muster around here, but I can say that I know bad beer, I know good beer, and I know excellent beer.

This beer is excellent.

Serving type: growler

03-09-2011 01:32:44 | More by AlvinStraight

unskinnyhop09

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

If you like the taste and lingering flavor of columbus and centennial bitterness and dry hopping, then this is the beer for you.

it has a perfect amber appearance with a perfect head and lacing that say: hey, i'm here to impress.

the smell is all hops...in fact, i would say it is an outstanding smell. very clean, sharp citrus--not unlike grapefruit. again, dry hop centennial with a decent malt balance.

the taste is not the best ever, but it is one that you will remember because how good it is. it compounds with the consumption of ounce after ounce.

mouthfeel is good. i personally like thick and oily. this one is a hint in that direction without being overbearing (but it might still be intimidating to some). i really like it.

the drinkability depends on the tolerance of the drinker. i could drink this all night, but one who is new to 7+abv should take heed.

big eye is a great brew.

Serving type: growler

01-27-2011 03:44:49 | More by unskinnyhop09

beer2day

North Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich golden pour with very thin head. Retains well what little it has. Very nice lace.

Strong citrus nose with lots of grapefruit. Excellent hop presence.

Hop bite right up front. Bright herbal hops. Nice hop and alcohol burn in the finish.

Feel is spot on for the style. Just the right thickness against the strong hops.

Great drinker.

Serving type: growler

10-23-2010 00:46:34 | More by beer2day

SShelly

California

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

Pour a dark straw/light amber with big white rocky foam head, tons of lacing.

Aroma kinda took me off gaurd, smells like a 5-day unwashed hippy who has been hitting the bong a little too much (ah college memories!) or as someone else said "dirty hop-socks", and yet im enjoying it.

Flavor is fairly well balanced, assuming there is some slightly darker crystal in here as seen by the color, and it comes through in the malt, lots of hop flavor on the backend.

Not overly complex, and really not an ipa I want to drink a ton of but pretty damn tasty overall.

Serving type: growler

08-03-2010 17:29:41 | More by SShelly

mikey711

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nothing quite like a growler of a fresh IPA

A: Deep orange color with great clarity and a nice sized head that holds very well for it being a growler. Decent lacing and some nice rising carbonation.

S: Mild pine and citrus hops. very pleasant with a bit of caramel in the background. Some floral hops present as well.

T: Much maltier than i was expecting as it starts out with a nice caramel note. Herbal and floral hoppiness up front with a touch of soapiness. Some pine and a hint of grapefruit and tangerine

M: Nicely balanced between being light but still having enough body.

D: Very enjoyable IPA however i fear this one would drop off if any less than fresh which is why i feel lucky to have drank it from a growler

Serving type: growler

06-22-2010 23:15:51 | More by mikey711

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my 2nd review as the first was from a bottle, this one is a growler

A: Clear copper color with a nice off white head and moderate lacing.

S: Strong citrus hop aroma and fruity sweetness is present. Mild pine, malty underneath the hops with hints of caramel.

T&M: Medium bodied with very smooth feel. Hop bitterness with nice, mildly sweet citrus hops taste. Hop flavor leaves a nice earthy taste and dry finish.

Excellent IPA. Fresher is always better, but the bottle was very good also. This growler is definitely smoother. Taste is a bit better due to the balance of hops and malts. Great quality and I almost prefer the taste of the Big Eye to the Sculpin. I'll need to try them side by side to determine my preference. This might be a while since both may never be on tap at the same time :( At least in this area!

Serving type: growler

05-08-2010 01:45:58 | More by cdizinno

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler into Imperial pint glass on 2/4/09. Obtained via Growling at the Moon BIF courtesy of d0ggnate.

A - Poured a clear amber/orange body with tons of tiny carbonation bubbles and one finger of creamy bright white head that transformed into thin, sticky web-like lacing.

S - Pungent fume of citrus hops with a big smack of resiny pine and tree sap. Oh yeah, there's some sweet caramel malt too. This puppy is bordering on a DIPA nose!

T - Initial flavor is juicy citrus hops with predominant grapefruit character blended with a bit of pine and resin notes. This is a well-balanced IPA with a sweet caramel malt backbone.

M - Medium body with an oily texture and moderate carbonation. Finish is dry with a lingering bitterness on the palate.

D - Bold and flavorful, Big Eye is a fantastic IPA that actually is meandering into DIPA territory, in my opinion. Ballast Point makes incredible hoppy beers, and this one is no exception.

Serving type: growler

02-06-2009 03:24:09 | More by ffejherb

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

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

WolfsbaneBloom

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a clear amber with three fingers of creamy beige foam.

Smell: A clean lemon and pine aroma cuts through a sugary, sweet citrus (orange, pineapple and grapefruit) backdrop.

Taste: Much like Sculpin, this is a bitter beast. Lots of pine, floral notes, grapefruit rind, and a bit of a soapy lemon flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, crisp and tingly carbonation that coats the tongue.

Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit. It's definitely a bold and bitter IPA and, like Sculpin (it's bigger brother), it teeters on being unbalanced. But as intense as it is, it's also bursting with flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:10:59 | More by WolfsbaneBloom

joeseppy

Illinois

4.09/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish copper hue with minimal dense head and spotty lacing.

Grapefruity sweet aroma and stray hints of pine.

Grapefruit rind bitterness upfront that wanes to the back. Pine, hop leaf and floral aftertaste. This is one bitter brew.

Medium malt body and a hop drying effect. I find this easy drinking.

Pretty decent offering at the right price. A classic IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:35:58 | More by joeseppy

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz can poured into a shaker pint.

Appearance
Golden amber with 1/2 finger of head. Excellent clarity with low-moderate carbonation.

Nose
Candied orange, pine, lemon and papaya.

Taste
Resinous pine, orange zest, lemon rind and fruity esters. Thin caramel backbone with washes of candy sugar. Finishes with grapefruit zest with tons of spicy pine sticking around.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp, bitter and dry.

Overall
Spicy, floral, fruity and zesty. Dry and bitter. Yeah, it's an IPA. Meh, not my favorite.

Serving type: can

05-03-2013 23:56:46 | More by justintcoons

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

ikantspel

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams lager glass
Best by of 8.15.13

Pours a clean clear copper color with a tan bubbly head

Lemon city's zest, heavy hop aroma, bubblegum in the nose

Earth and pine in the taste, with some grapefruit and pineapple.

Super balanced, not an overpowering ipa for the amount of alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 03:00:17 | More by ikantspel

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.84/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Appearance - uncapped, it begins bubble formation and starts creeping up the neck. Very fluffy into the glass, lots of bubbles clinging to the glass. A thick finger of manila foam, very sticky.

Aroma - pineapple, mango, pine, sweet citrus. Smells outstanding.

Taste - caramel malts, to the sweet side for sure. Lots of orange and lemon, some dry pininess in the background. Lots of citrus up front, drying in the swallow and aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - heavier than average, very carbonated but it doesn't come across as much during drinking.

Overall - one of the most enjoyable IPAs I've had in a while. Short list for max sessionability.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 02:00:29 | More by brewdlyhooked13

gillagorilla

Maryland

3.99/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into pint

A: Very nice golden amber with a decent head retention that stays for quite a bit.

S: A very delicate, citrus floral smell that is quite faint. One of the more faint smelling IPAs I have had, but that is not a bad thing, it just shows the complexity and the floral nature of it. With a bit of pine at the end. Quite unique scent actually.

T: Lots of pine coming through, especially in the aftertaste.

M: Excellent strong mouthfeel that just has a good balance and texture to it.

O: A solid IPA, which is interesting in contrast with their other IPA offering, Sculpin. I would like to try them blind. Sculpin has an excellent IPA brother in Big Eye. Great price and availability. Can't go wrong here.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 02:48:00 | More by gillagorilla

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a tulip glass) best by 1/3/13
A- This beer pours a slightly deep copper color with a sticky light beige head and a gentle carbonation gliding to the surface.

S- This beer has a green woody hop aroma that is mellow.

T- The sweet caramel malt has a strange pungent hop flavor with some bright pungent hop flavor in the finish.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a tight fizz in the finish

O- The hops had a nice aroma but a bit mellow especially for the big caramel malt flavor. I drank this beer on 1/3/13 but it is the freshest Ballast Point I have found even though it was at the end of its date.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 13:58:58 | More by rhoadsrage

FlyingBull

California

4.44/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer many times; this time from a 22 oz bomber. This is following a Port Wipe Out IPA to compare.

This beer was poured into a glass from Gordon Biersch that held almost all 22 oz! Medium amber color; clear, 1" light tan head that was persistent throughout the drink with lacing on the sides. Has a lightly resinous aroma with a light citrus aroma but I find a the dominant aroma to be cotton candy-like. There is some caramel and malt aroma too. The mouth feel is medium to medium full bodied; normal carbonation. The initial or front taste is sweet malt with candy hops quickly followed by resinous hops followed by citrus - grapefruit mostly to me. My better half says it's very floral - very flowery overall. :-) The back end is a mild nice lingering bitterness.

This beer is totally different from Wipe Out IPA. Although this beer is also 7%, there are NO alcohol flavors. it's also not as spicy as Wipe Out - doesn't have that Amarillo hop spice in it. It's more typical "West Coast" but it's very good - very solid. I like it and will drink it again...and again.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 04:06:51 | More by FlyingBull

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.21/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pour a brew of deep golden orange. It holds a two finger head of big off-white bubbles, leaving chunky patterns of lacing around the glass. This retains very well. No haze or sediment is noted, and carbonation appears minimal. The aroma gives milky lactics, fresh grapefruit hops, pale and faintly caramel malts, sticky strawberry sugars, herbal freshness, black pepper and cinnamon spice, and bubblegum esters. Our first impression is that the flavoring is nicely fresh, bitter, and clean. As we sip, the flavoring opens with fresh herbal and citric hop bitterness, pale malt wash, mineral, pineapple juiciness, and lactic creaminess. These blend to the peak where the sweetness and fruitiness of the hops shine through, along with wet yeasty breadiness, cheesy musk, and light bubblegum esters. At the tail end of the swallow comes a puckering, bittering hop that pulls to the finish, helping to cut the coolness and evenness of pale, metallic malts. Otherwise the finish is characterized by peppery alcohol, citric hops, vegetable acidity, juicy pineapple and passion fruit, herbal grassiness, warm nuttiness, and more sustained yeast. The aftertaste breathes of pale and metallic grain, booze, big grapefruit hops, bubblegum sugars, lactics, and fresh dill. The body is medium but thick, and the carbonation is medium. There is excellent slurp, cream, froth, smack, sip, and glug. The mouth is initially coated with soft foam, but ends up astringently dried through the citrus and the booze. The abv is fine, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was the massive aroma. This was inclusive of the hearty grain bill, phenols, and booze, but left plenty of room for the hops to come in and balance in full force. This gave a high level of complexity, but with refreshing crispness and cleanliness in the end. The flavoring followed nicely, giving an equally as complex flavoring that fought between juiciness and dryness as it rode down the gullet. Sometimes the bitterness muddles the cleanliness of flavoring, as it sticks true to the west coast style, but the ultimate blend makes for a tasty, reliable, reproducible experience of intrigue.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 04:11:23 | More by TheBrewo

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Though it says: "Enjoy by Jan 23, 2013," let me review this and to the reader who reads the entire review, you`ll understand why:

Into a pint glass:

A: golden body yields a one finger white foamy head, foamy lacing slides down the sides of the glass

S: superior combination of sweet malts to hops, subdued caramel comes out strong as the beer warms

T: sweet and bitter at different times, caramel makes its presence known

M: light, closer to watery, (more so my fault for having it now), sticky sweet finish

O: other than the mouthfeel, this was a very good West Coast style AIPA, but the date that is on the bottle tells me that though I liked this very much, I wonder how good this stuff is fresh ... will definitely have again and will pay better attention to bottle dates

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 00:24:52 | More by kangarooAdam59

BurpingtonDC

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Darn! These folks make some mighty fine IPA. As Big Eye is the little brother to the EXCEPTIONAL Sculpin.

A - Orange/Golden color with a small creamy head. A delicate lacing hangs on the edge of the glass like a jumper having second thoughts.

S - Malty sweet scent with slight pine notes.

T - Sweet malt with a bitter hoppy flavor and orange or apricot notes,

M - Surprisingly clean and refreshing for a brew with such malty profile.

O - Very good IPA, better than average, but one can't help but compare it to Sculpin which is one of the best IPA's going, so it takes a hit on that account--but it's a pretty good IPA on its on merits.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 02:14:50 | More by BurpingtonDC