BALLAST POINT SCULPIN IPA


Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. This beer has been on my to-do list for a while. I’m a big fan of the Ballast Point Big Eye IPA and I have heard good things about this one.
It’s bang-on the typical stats for an American IPA, 7% ABV and 70 IBU. Strangely, I couldn’t find any info regarding malts or hops used in quick Google search. Sculpin fish have poisonous spikes on their fins and they look quite bad arse so I imagined this beer is going to pack some punch.
Golden yellow colour, slightly opaque, fine head with hop oils. Medium body, moderate carbonation with fine bubbles. Sweet caramel malt, pine and peach hop aroma. As it warms up it starts to get a tropical fruit aroma. Sweet caramel malt flavour upfront followed by a pine, mango and peach hop flavour with a dry finish. It also has a clean citrus, particularly lemon finish as it warms up. It’s not your typical American IPA. It’s lighter, fruiter and more easy-drinking than I was expecting.
In terms of style it seems more like an American pale ale than a big, bold in your face American IPA.
8/10



