Big Ballard Imperial IPA
Redhook Brewlab

Big Ballard Imperial IPABig Ballard Imperial IPA
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From:
Redhook Brewlab
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #2,062
ABV:
8.6%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,835
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 11.86%
Reviews:
100
Ratings:
230
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 02, 2023
Added:
Apr 24, 2010
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  29
In 1982 Redhook was born in a converted transmission shop in the Ballard District outside of Seattle, WA. After 28 years of brewing, Redhook is paying homage to its roots by releasing Big Ballard Imperial IPA. Big Ballard has a rich, deep golden and a very assertive hop character that hits you in the nose before reaching your lips. The flavor and aroma are balanced with complex malty undertones. While it has a friendly side, make no mistake - Big Ballard is brewed for diehard IPA fans.

73 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.85 by redbrew from Massachusetts

Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.53 by DerwinWentworth from Utah

Nov 17, 2023
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
BA undecided about this very classic, Engish style DIPA. I like it for its assertive bitterness.

L - Gotta love the amber clear body sporting lasting, lacing, sticky white head.
S- West Coast blend of citrus and pine, medicine.
T - Bitter orange twist up front, then adds earth, pine, grass, medicine chest, and bready plus peppery finale.
F - Medium body, prickly, ABV present, masculine.
O- Almost smoky tobacco leathery masculine English IPA.
Sep 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.59 by Lucnifter from California

Sep 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.54 by benjaminsa from Vermont

Sep 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.11 by TreeTopCasino from Washington

Apr 13, 2023
Photo of whynot44
Reviewed by whynot44 from Missouri

3.94/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Slightly hazy amber color with a modest light tan head that recedes quickly to just a ring that does last and produces some lacing.
The aroma is caramel malt, citrus and pine.
The taste is sweet caramel malt with hints of toasted fresh bread and plenty of floral, herbal hops and even hints of tropical fruit. bitterness is obvious but moderate, emphasis more on flavor.
The body is medium, carbonation is moderate, very drinkable.
Altogether, this is a a nicely balanced tasty brew with mildly sweet malt and earthy, floral hops finishing with grapefruit zest and a bit of pine resin.
Jan 30, 2023
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Rated by Khocolate from Tennessee

4.85/5  rDev +30.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
With almost a perfect score, this is a very tasteful IPA.
Jan 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by rfreed from Washington

Jan 10, 2023
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Reviewed by NorsemanOne from Utah

3/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz can BB Date 12/26, consumed on 12/24

Purchased from the State Liquor Store for about $2.50

Pours mild hazy with a fair white head

Piney, strong, bitter aroma

Piney, hoppy, fresh and slight citrus notes
Dec 27, 2022
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Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.09/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
12oz can stamped 13JAN 23 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 8.6% ABV. The beer pours bright medium amber with light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is caramel malt and cereal grain. The taste is bittersweet malt with a watery hint of caramel, stewed vegetables, more cooked cereal, citrus, ethanol and pine. Moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, not good, will not finish. Overbearing ethanol and cooked grain for the little bit of caramel malt and hops.
Dec 26, 2022
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Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours orange red with a small white head. Smells of citrus hops with malty notes. Tastes of grassy and citrus hops, with nice malt notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 25, 2022
Photo of LucidoMMA
Reviewed by LucidoMMA from California

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a semi translucent golden Orange color with a retentive thick sticky head.

Aroma is definitely as advertised hops. straight in the nose.

Taste begins with some grapefruit and grass, then hop start to dominate into a semi bitter finish leaving some sticky lacing.

Decent IPA in my opinion definitely more on the bitter side.
Oct 10, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by mpenske from California

Sep 03, 2022
Photo of Radome
Reviewed by Radome from Florida

4.28/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 19.2 oz can bought in California.

L - Medium gold color and just shy of perfect clarity. Sticky, pure white head is fairly persistent.

S - Assertive aroma of fresh hops; classic West Coast IPA blend of citrus and pine, but tending toward pine pitch. Malt peeks out as a hint of sweetbread.

T - Sharp citrus at first, like bitter orange rind. In mid-palate the malt comes through as bread with a slight graininess, then the hops reassert, with an earthy note and pine. The finish is fairly dry, but the hops linger as a strong aftertaste.

F - Medium body, spritzy, moderate carbonation. Strong, clean hops bitterness. Alcohol is apparent, but it does not drink like 8.6% ABV.

O - An excellent Imperial IPA, worthy of being the anniversary recipe from this pioneering brewery.
Aug 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by ChuckTom from Arizona

Jun 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.68 by peachy-tay from California

Jun 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.74 by QuintusHorace from California

Jun 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by Anacross from Oregon

May 29, 2022
Big Ballard Imperial IPA from Redhook Brewlab
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 230 ratings