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Grunion Pale Ale
Ballast Point Brewing Company


- From:
- Ballast Point Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #167 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #7,968 - Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 9.36%
- Reviews:
- 274
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 06, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 02, 2013
- Wants:
- 89
- Gots:
- 486
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.
Reviewed by Strid from Sweden
2.95/5 rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
2.95/5 rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
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, 2022Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2022Smell 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.
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2021L---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.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.46/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
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, 2020Rated by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
4.28/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Great representation of the style.
Well made, on point with no off flavors.
Oct 21, 2019Well made, on point with no off flavors.
Reviewed by Smurfman584 from Texas
4.32/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
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, 2019Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi
4.08/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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, 2019Aroma 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.
Grunion Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
1462 ratings
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