The Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
The Brew: Sculpin IPA
Availability: 6-packs, 22 oz. & draft
ABV: 7% // IBUs: 70
Rating: 10/10
Location: Home
The Story? My first introduction to Ballast Point was through my friend Maciej - a real hop head who, at the time, was working his way through the best American IPAs before heading back to Poland. The order of operations is a bit fuzzy, but I was obliged to assist in his search, offering to trade a can of The Alchemist's Heady Topper for some of his delicious, hoppy session homebrews.
As most beer exchanges go, he invited me in and offered to split a few bottles he'd been lining up to try out. At the time I had my head buried, focusing on the wild/sour/farmhouse side of things and had backburnered my love of IPAs. As soon as he popped open his bottle of Sculpin, fresh, aromatic hops filled the air as we sat sipping, gazing off the hill-top apartment across the fastness that surrounds Ithaca. With my friend back in Poland and my love of IPA back in full swing, would it be the same fantastic experience as that hot, early summer day?
The Beer? A very fragrant pour with blooming, lacy head. Minerally nose with lots of fresh hops and notes of citrus and apple. Color is on the verge or opaque.
Majestic seems to be a good word to first describe the pure IPA bliss that hits your tongue. Uncontrolled statements like "Oh, my god..." and shivers may also be involved as deep, rich hops fill the palate, swirling with flavors of pine, grass, rock, and a variety of citrus and tropical fruits. The moutfeel is superb - slippery and refreshing with a staying dry, tart/bitter hop finish. Despite the massive gathering of hops, Ballast Point are wise to keep this one down to 70 IBUs, issuing a full bouquet of hops which never becomes overbearing or numbing.
Unique, dynamic, pale, fresh, and tart. Amazing and pretty much perfect.
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