Grunion Pale Ale
Ballast Point Brewing Company
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- From:
- Ballast Point Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Pale Ale - American
Ranked #185 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #7,845 - Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 9.36%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 26, 2022
- Added:
- Oct 02, 2013
- Wants:
- 89
- Gots:
- 485
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Notes:
Our Grunion Pale Ale wasn’t born on a beach, but in a backyard. Originating from an employee-only home brew contest, this award-winning hoppy pale ale is named after the tiny local fish known for late night frolics on shore. A pair of new hop varieties lend strong yet balanced summer melon aromas and herbal flavors, while a soft caramel malt sweetness holds it all together.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
2.95/5 rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
by Strid from Sweden
Tastes like a thousand other IPAs, does not stand out very much. Very bitter. Lots of hops. But quite well-balanced to be of this kind of more "heavy" IPA that I am not super fond of. Not one to drink several of exactly. Wouldn't be my first choice if I bought an IPA, but it's not a bad beer either.
Feb 26, 2022
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
by Strid from Sweden
Tastes like a thousand other IPAs, does not stand out very much. Very bitter. Lots of hops. But quite well-balanced to be of this kind of more "heavy" IPA that I am not super fond of. Not one to drink several of exactly. Wouldn't be my first choice if I bought an IPA, but it's not a bad beer either.
Feb 26, 2022
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by JamFuel from Sweden
Pours a fairly clear amber with fine head.
Smell is fruity with notes of citrus, nectarine, pine, melon and tea.
Taste is fruity and citrusy with notes of pine, papaya, peach and some herbal hints. Moderate bitterness.
Mothfeel is medium, well carbonated.
Overall, a very nice, easy to drink APA/IPA.
Feb 19, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by JamFuel from Sweden
Pours a fairly clear amber with fine head.
Smell is fruity with notes of citrus, nectarine, pine, melon and tea.
Taste is fruity and citrusy with notes of pine, papaya, peach and some herbal hints. Moderate bitterness.
Mothfeel is medium, well carbonated.
Overall, a very nice, easy to drink APA/IPA.
Feb 19, 2022
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
12 ounce can poured into a tulip glass.
L---Lightly cloudy, rich golden color. Puffy, white head with good retention and ok lacing.
S---A little bit of pine. Some bitter citrus rinds.
T---Stronger than the nose, fortunately. Orange, grapefruit, malty.
F---Medium plus mouthfeel. Good carbonation. Easy drinking.
O---A very nice pale ale. Very flavorful. I'll take another, please.
Mar 01, 2021
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
12 ounce can poured into a tulip glass.
L---Lightly cloudy, rich golden color. Puffy, white head with good retention and ok lacing.
S---A little bit of pine. Some bitter citrus rinds.
T---Stronger than the nose, fortunately. Orange, grapefruit, malty.
F---Medium plus mouthfeel. Good carbonation. Easy drinking.
O---A very nice pale ale. Very flavorful. I'll take another, please.
Mar 01, 2021
3.46/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Sigmund from Norway
355 ml can, as Ballast Point Grunion IPA, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 5.5%. Slightly gushing can. Slightly hazy orange colour, large white head. The aroma has distinct notes of pine, also notes of grapefruit. Pine / resin and grapefruit in the flavour too, a sharp bitterness in the finish. A slight sweetness of crystal malts.
Dec 14, 2020
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Sigmund from Norway
355 ml can, as Ballast Point Grunion IPA, from Vinmonopolet Kvadrat. ABV is 5.5%. Slightly gushing can. Slightly hazy orange colour, large white head. The aroma has distinct notes of pine, also notes of grapefruit. Pine / resin and grapefruit in the flavour too, a sharp bitterness in the finish. A slight sweetness of crystal malts.
Dec 14, 2020
4 by TallGuyCM from California on Jun 16, 2020
4.09 by gboley from California on Dec 10, 2019
3.75 by rare_bird from Michigan on Dec 02, 2019
4.28/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
Great representation of the style.
Well made, on point with no off flavors.
Oct 21, 2019
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
Great representation of the style.
Well made, on point with no off flavors.
Oct 21, 2019
4 by ChrisG523 from Massachusetts on Sep 22, 2019
3.5 by Daneve76 from Australia on May 31, 2019
3.68 by lrend13 from Wisconsin on May 09, 2019
4.32/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
by Smurfman584 from Texas
Poured from a can into a taster glass. Beer has yeast sediments and looks unfiltered. I like that. Golden color. Minimal pacing. Smell is unique, probably from the lesser used Calypso hops. Smooth taste, slightly sweet, dry finish. Medium carbonation. Not as polished as the few other great pale ales, but very good nonetheless.
May 02, 2019
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
by Smurfman584 from Texas
Poured from a can into a taster glass. Beer has yeast sediments and looks unfiltered. I like that. Golden color. Minimal pacing. Smell is unique, probably from the lesser used Calypso hops. Smooth taste, slightly sweet, dry finish. Medium carbonation. Not as polished as the few other great pale ales, but very good nonetheless.
May 02, 2019
2.02 by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington on Apr 30, 2019
3.75 by Griffith from Connecticut on Apr 24, 2019
4.08/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Squire from Mississippi
Clear amber gold color with white cap and lacing.
Aroma of slightly caramel malt and herbal, citrusy hops.
Taste is slightly hop forward quickly followed by caramel malt sweetness with all the flavors closely entwined. I usually find hops resting on a malt base but here the caramely sweet malt seems to sit atop a herbal hop base with the citrus hops riding as a third layer above the other two. Well made, well balanced, remarkably good.
Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.
This is a very balanced APA where the malt and hops play well together.
Apr 07, 2019
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Squire from Mississippi
Clear amber gold color with white cap and lacing.
Aroma of slightly caramel malt and herbal, citrusy hops.
Taste is slightly hop forward quickly followed by caramel malt sweetness with all the flavors closely entwined. I usually find hops resting on a malt base but here the caramely sweet malt seems to sit atop a herbal hop base with the citrus hops riding as a third layer above the other two. Well made, well balanced, remarkably good.
Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.
This is a very balanced APA where the malt and hops play well together.
Apr 07, 2019
3.85 by SANDSTORM from California on Apr 03, 2019
3.25 by JayKay412 from Pennsylvania on Mar 12, 2019
4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania on Mar 06, 2019
4.26 by markallmon from Tennessee on Feb 10, 2019
3.5 by aztraz from Sweden on Jan 22, 2019
3.74 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden on Jan 06, 2019
4.25 by Explosion72 from Michigan on Jan 06, 2019
4.04 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts on Nov 28, 2018
3.75 by BSEDS from Illinois on Nov 19, 2018
3.5 by Pretendeer from Washington on Oct 22, 2018
4 by JohnDon from Texas on Oct 11, 2018
3.95/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by psycHOPathy from Georgia
Slightly hazy amber body, thick head
Rich earthy hops, citrus, caramel, pine, brown sugar, yeast
Orange peel, grass, malts
Medium body
Taste is a bit of a disappointment compared to the smell, but still a good beer. Malty and earthy, hoppy
Oct 07, 2018
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by psycHOPathy from Georgia
Slightly hazy amber body, thick head
Rich earthy hops, citrus, caramel, pine, brown sugar, yeast
Orange peel, grass, malts
Medium body
Taste is a bit of a disappointment compared to the smell, but still a good beer. Malty and earthy, hoppy
Oct 07, 2018
3.43/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by SB2017 from Iowa
At first taste, I loved this beer. After halfway through my six-pack, it began to feel like a chore to drink. I lost track of the clean, refreshing bitter sweetness and mild malts of my first couple, and became bogged down by nondescript hops. All in all, a decent go to for a pale ale.
Sep 30, 2018
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by SB2017 from Iowa
At first taste, I loved this beer. After halfway through my six-pack, it began to feel like a chore to drink. I lost track of the clean, refreshing bitter sweetness and mild malts of my first couple, and became bogged down by nondescript hops. All in all, a decent go to for a pale ale.
Sep 30, 2018
4.24 by Tjb14 from Michigan on Sep 28, 2018
3.71 by vRatchanon from Thailand on Sep 04, 2018
5 by Kwright from North Carolina on Aug 28, 2018
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours deep orange with a tint of yellow and a fluffy white head. Smells of sweet citrus, but with a slight tropical fruit note. Tastes of sweet grain with citrus and slight tropical fruit notes. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.
Aug 21, 2018
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours deep orange with a tint of yellow and a fluffy white head. Smells of sweet citrus, but with a slight tropical fruit note. Tastes of sweet grain with citrus and slight tropical fruit notes. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.
Aug 21, 2018
4 by COBEERHUNTER from Colorado on Jul 16, 2018
4.01 by Luckydog91 from Texas on Jul 15, 2018
3.93 by Xxambersky89 from New York on Jul 05, 2018
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by REVZEB from Illinois
This is actually a very nice pale ale. Nothing too innovative, but wonderfully balanced. The hops bring pine, rind fruit and hop spiciness. Taste has a good hop snap finish, where nose lets them linger. The malt mixture base has a honey and roasted herb complexion. All together this beer comes together to make a nice west coast pale ale.
Jun 30, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by REVZEB from Illinois
This is actually a very nice pale ale. Nothing too innovative, but wonderfully balanced. The hops bring pine, rind fruit and hop spiciness. Taste has a good hop snap finish, where nose lets them linger. The malt mixture base has a honey and roasted herb complexion. All together this beer comes together to make a nice west coast pale ale.
Jun 30, 2018
3.75 by jbarletto from Massachusetts on Jun 23, 2018
4 by npdevil27 from Massachusetts on Jun 07, 2018
4.33 by Chilmer from Iowa on May 23, 2018
3.64 by Jodio from Texas on Apr 28, 2018
Grunion Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
1460 ratings