Big Eye IPA - Ballast Point Brewing Company

obrike

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally got Ballast Point in Texas...was eager to try this one. Got a 6 pack at Round Rock Specs for just under 10 bucks.

Poured a golden amber. A decent light khaki head...some sticky lacing. I like.

Smell is very good, very citrusy, mostly tangerine and grapefruit. Seem to be picking up some spices as well. Nice.

Taste is juicy orange/tangerine. A bit of spice as well. Very flavorful. An easy drinking IPA with a medium body with good carbonation. Almost DIPA like on the flavor, but lacks the sweet malt kick at the end.

I'm a fan. Still have not tried Sculpin but I'm sure I will soon. Price point on this one pulled me in first. Happy to have another go to IPA at my fingertips when I get the itch.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 01:43:55 | More by obrike

gtermi

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer pours a dark golden body with a thin white head that quickly fades away and leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass.

S: Oh yeah! Tons of citrus hops and a little bit of sweet malt that mixes perfectly together.

T: Now this is how IPAs should taste! it tastes super fresh and has a lot of citrus hops that are perfect with the sweetness of the beer. As the beer lingers, the hops become a tad bit spicier.

M: The beer has a decent amount of crispness on the back of the throat and as it goes down. It is for sure super easy to drink too.

O: This is one of the greatest IPAs that I have ever tasted. Thank god Ballast Point has finally started to ship to Texas. I freaking love everything that they make.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 07:19:35 | More by gtermi

MacQ32

South Carolina

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

A - Pours a hazy golden/light amber color with a solid finger of cream colored head. Decent retention, a full layer remains across the surface about 5 minutes later. Very nice lacing.

S - Lots and lots of citrusy hops. Grapefruit, mango, and passion fruit. Slightly tart and bready. Citrus really dominates the nose.

T - Bitter, sweet, and citrusy. The hops have a nice resinous quality to them. Citrus is still very much present but is less aggressive in the taste. Dry and bitter initially; grapefruit, resin, and a mild but welcome alcohol burn take over through the finish which is mostly dry/bitter/alcohol.

M - Medium bodied, appropriate carbonation. Rather refreshing as I find most dry & hoppy beers

O - Very good, kind of one dimensional, but its a very good dimension.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 23:29:40 | More by MacQ32

RockyRaku

Arizona

2.93/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The appealing coopery color poured with a thin creamy head at first with nice lacing. The head diminished. The aroma hit me with a sweet estery (more sweet than spicey) aroma, slightly bready. Overall appealing nose. The taste was piney..earthy bitter on the back of the tongue that seemed to sustain itself between swigs. Light-medium body with light and crisp carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 18:58:35 | More by RockyRaku

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

GPHarris

Alabama

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

a - poured a one finger thick light tan head into a snifter that left a thin ring that left some good lacing. the body was a bright amber color.
s - very bready with a light hop aroma.
t - big piney hops with a nice bready and caramel backbone. balanced.
m - medium thickness and lively carbonation.
o - another solid IPA from BP.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 18:51:29 | More by GPHarris

wspscott

Kentucky

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

12oz bottle in Sam Adams glass
best by 12/21/12

A: Looks like an IPA, crystal clear, copper color with a 1 finger white head, lots of lace.
S: Relatively muted nose, pine, a little sweetness, and a hint of flowers.
T: Definitely American hops (lots of pine with a hint of citrus, a little bit a medium caramel malt and a grainy dryness. I just looked at the website, it mentions Columbus and Centennial hops which fit with what I am tasting, no mention of a grain bill.
M: Very crisp, highly attenuated, goes down very smooth
O: An excellent example of an American IPA, I would not necessarily seek it out again, but I am glad JC picked up a sixer for me and I would happily drink this if I found it in a KY bar. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 00:40:06 | More by wspscott

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

fredmugs

Indiana

2.1/5  rDev -48.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This is my first Ballast Point beer and it is horrible. I don't know if it went bad somehow. It has a date of Dec 5, 2012 and I bought it from Halftime but all of the other beers I have drank from there are great.

The beer has no hop smell at all. I detect and taste the maltiness but that's not doing much for me either. Very disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 00:25:36 | More by fredmugs

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Slightly hazy amber color with a 1 finger head and nice lacing.

S: Very refreshing and inviting smell. Floral and citrus hops with some very faint malt in the background.

T: Much like the smell, the first thing you taste is the hops...sweet and floral. The malts provide a nice balance. It's not overly bitter and could be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a nice tingle. Very refreshing.

O: I'm quite impressed with this offering from Ballast Point. I opened this bottle before the Sculpin because I think I'll like the Sculpin better and I didn't want to short change the Big Eye. I'm glad I did. This is a well-balanced and very drinkable IPA. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 22:02:16 | More by nUgZ

larryi86

Delaware

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

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- A clear amber color with a small white head.

S- Citrus hops, touch of tropical fruits, floral.

T- Citrus, pine, earthy, pepper, spices, bready.

M- Smooth, crisp, medium body.

O- A solid IPA, but I like Sculpin better. Very happy to be able to buy Ballast Point near me, can wait to try more.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 22:11:20 | More by larryi86

hoppytobehere

Colorado

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

12 oz. bottle, enjoy by 2/1/13

A: Pours a nice amber color, thin head with decent retention and lacing along the glass.
S: Bitter hops, a little hint of alcohol. Some malt in there as well.
T: Nice flavor from the centennial and columbus hops. Less citrus and a little more malt compared to their Sculpin. A nice beer.
M: Not much criticism here. A little creamy in the head, medium-bodied. A delight to drink.
O: I think I prefer Sculpin if I'm to choose, but this is still a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 20:41:01 | More by hoppytobehere

gleemonger

California

4.78/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Mostly clear, deep yellowish orange & red with a nice off-white head. Some lacing, but not much, and not much retention.

Not a huge aroma, so might be a little out of date. Some pine and citrus with sweet malt. Hard to pick up much else.

First hit with some sweet yet toasty malts, but mixed with some tasty, piney, citrusy, grapefruit hops. Each of these flavors pretty well linger into the aftertaste, leaving a nice, refreshing toasty malt with not much bitterness, but just a good little punch. The very last thing to stick around is a pleasant bitterness. Super well balanced and tasty, in more of a non-West Coast kind of way, but also not overkill on the caramel malts like many of the East Coast varieties are.

Moderate body with fairly light carbonation, but just enough to keep it crisp and refreshing. Smooth and fairly creamy.

This was one of the first IPA's to break me through into loving IPA's and every time I revisit it, I still love it. I remember there being more aroma in the past, so I might have faulted it too much in that dept, but I have to review the one I'm reviewing right now. Will have to try again, maybe on tap if possible, to see if the fresher version has more aroma. For a maltier, more "balanced" version of an IPA, this one definitely stands out to me.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 19:41:47 | More by gleemonger

mpedara429

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Poured out an amber color with two fingers of frothy, off white head. Good retention, only a little bit of lacing.

S: Malty and floral with a little pine and citrus. A little faint.

T: Sweet citrus and bitter pine. Very well balanced. A boozy bite at the end.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation. A little sticky.

O: A good IPA, but I won't go for it again. I was truly expecting more out of it. It was pretty basic for something so pricey. There are better IPA options out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 20:23:52 | More by mpedara429

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

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

I just got this beer two days ago and was surprised I was able to find it, and especially for $5. I wanted to save it, but im foregoing my pumpkin beers to drink this.

A: This beer pours a deep, orange reddish color with a solid 2-in bright, white head, that is sure to leave some lacing, but is slow to dissipate.

S: Aroma comes right out of the glass with the scent of citrusy pine, some apricot and a small trace of honey at the end.

T: Very sweet citrus on top, not a lot of bite, like I was expecting for a beer this hard to come by, but is consistent with the smell. I get apricot and pine through the middle of the taste, with some honey and yeast notes at the end. Does have a bitter, dry finish!

M: Sweet, yet tart. Very flavorful and rich of citrus and pine. Of course its drinkable!

O: My only complaint about this beer is the lack of hop bite. It didnt throw me on my ass, but it was rich in flavor and drinkability. I guess this would be considered a big beer by IPA standards, but is not the total package like I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 02:23:02 | More by SouljaSaia17

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

jtierney89

New Jersey

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

Nice bright orange hue with brilliant clarity. About a finger of off white head.

tropical fruit on the nose. dried papaya, hints of pineapple and grapefruit with a bit of citrus. some dried mango as well.

Not an in your face IPA but rather a simple and damn tasty one. Medium mouthfeel with smooth carbonation. Goes down real easy and is super refreshing. Some sweet malt gives life to the dried fruit flavors of the hops. Ends semi-flowery with a nice underlying yet balancing bitterness. Really really good. This IPA takes the classic west coast flavors of an American IPA while presenting them in a subtle and super drinkable english-style. Unique, amazingly balance, super flavorful, and dangerously chuggable. That's what makes a damn good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 22:49:36 | More by jtierney89

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the brewery, 7% ABV, 91 IBUs.

Pours a clear deep amber color with a foamy long lasting head. Lace trails coat the glass on the way down. The aroma is moderately hoppy with pine and citrus showing, balanced by a biscuity maltiness. The taste follows suit with citrusy, grapefruit hops balanced by a toasty, bready malt profile. Herbal hop bitterness shows with warmth. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with plenty of carbonation. The finish moderately bitter and also malty and grainy.

This is a great IPA, very well balanced. By San Diego standards it's restrained, but still very quaffable and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 06:41:49 | More by CAMRAhardliner

oddb0d

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was a surprise find for me. I just moved from WA to CA and checked out my local Whole Foods after not finding anything worth drinking at my local grocery stores.

Right off the bat, this beer struck me. I've had quite a few high class / sort after beers of late, but this one right away made me say to my wife "WOW, come and take a sip of this!"

The smell, the color, body, everything was first class.

A - Good lace, nicely carbonated, great copper look.

T - Not an overbearing hop taste to the beer. Very even flavor profile. Nice balance of herbs, spice, citrus, hops and malts.

M - Medium body, nice smoothness to it. Decent carbonation, moderate.

0 - Definitely on my list for getting more of these. Also makes me want to check out the Sculpin. I liked the balance of the citrus fruit taste. Not too fruity. A very solid west coast IPA. Pretty much everything I love about IPAs in a glass! Probably a great beer for someone who is making their way into the IPA world and is not yet a fan of the extreme hoppiness that some IPAs have.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 08:22:46 | More by oddb0d

AnthonyMcConnell

3.13/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is my first review!

A - Warm/clear Copper, well-carbonated, nice lace on glass

S - Citrus, slightly piney

T - Grapefruit, mild hops

M - Moderate, sticky

O - Very great IPA! More hops please! I am always impressed with Ballast Point. I prefer Sculpin over Big Eye but really enjoyed each.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 08:11:42 | More by AnthonyMcConnell

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

GregBlatz

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Copper in color. Slightly off-white head that starts around 1/2" and settles to 1/8'. Laces very nicely. Bubbles are very tight and not pillowy at all. Beer is very clear.

S - Strong combination of resinous pine and strong fruitiness. Very very estery. Hops dominate but there is some warm side fermentation and some sweet malt. This is a very bold smelling beer.

T - Bitter and citrus flavors hit me up front. Sort of grapefruity. darker caramel malts are strongly at play after the punch from the fruitiness. This balanced out pretty well. Often you won't find the darker malts in an IPA.

M - A little chewy and med to med-high carbonation. Somewhat slick mouthfeel.

O - This is a big strong IPA. Definately west coast style. I'm guessing a lot of high alpha acid hops and likely some simcoe. I really enjoy this.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 22:52:02 | More by GregBlatz

TBoneJones

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Caramel, sparse bubbles, decent head.
There's a nice orange zest of a nose to this, fruity pepper. Great complex smell.
Taste follows suit. Orange, citrus-based hopfest that leaves a subdued linger of bitterness on the palate. Spices live in here, pepper, and a tangy orange rind throughout.
Zesty beverage. Carbonation is good.
A complex, orange-based IPA that's very well-done, as is their Sculpin.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 03:27:57 | More by TBoneJones

mooseo

Pennsylvania

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

12oz bottle into tulip.

A - Clear amber-orange with about an inch of creamy white head.

S - Faint citrus, floral hops, grainy caramel malt.

T - Lots of citrus, orange peel, caramel malt, and pine. A mild bitterness is present throughout. Finish is grassy mixed with a nice earthy wood flavor.

M - Ultra smooth, medium body, decent carbonation. A little dry.

O - A nice, standard American IPA. Good balance and blend of flavors. Dangerously drinkable with no alcohol present. Definitely not the best example of the style, but very solid.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 01:48:17 | More by mooseo