Sculpin
Ballast Point Brewing Company
- From:
- Ballast Point Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #9 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 97
Ranked #592 - Avg:
- 4.38 | pDev: 9.82%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2,640
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Wednesday at 10:39 PM
- Added:
- Apr 02, 2006
- Wants:
- 1,604
- Gots:
- 6,208
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class
Originally named Northstar IPA. Debuted in 2005.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by desint:
Rated by desint from Belgium
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nov 08, 2025
4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nov 08, 2025
More User Ratings:
Rated by eagerbeaver from California
5/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I've enjoyed Sculpin for the past 10-15 years and have never looked back...of course I'm drinking other brews but for now it's my go-to pour.
Wednesday at 10:39 PM
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
4.01/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
can into glass
Really thick and rocky, off-white head. Beautiful medium orange/amber look. Light amount of sweet, medium toasted caramel malt, tangerine peel, tropical fruit and some allspice, for the aroma. Really big hop bite, then after awhile, some tangerine peel, caramel malt, and a touch of spice and tropical fruit, show up, for the taste. The bite rules the finish.
Jun 01, 2026Really thick and rocky, off-white head. Beautiful medium orange/amber look. Light amount of sweet, medium toasted caramel malt, tangerine peel, tropical fruit and some allspice, for the aroma. Really big hop bite, then after awhile, some tangerine peel, caramel malt, and a touch of spice and tropical fruit, show up, for the taste. The bite rules the finish.
Reviewed by CoasterRider from Washington
4.14/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a darker golden color with a medium creamy head that goes away quickly. Aroma is light citrus & grapefruit. Taste is citrus zest with a mildly strong bitterness that stays to the finish. Interesting beer doesn't taste like a standard IPA. BOD 8-1-2025
May 24, 2026
Reviewed by jonwiseman from Florida
4.83/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.83/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Of course I’ve had this beer numerous times. So surprised that I haven’t rated it sooner. Very solid beer with just the right amount of carbonation and hoppy aftertaste. Malt is front forward and makes the beer unique if you will. Rates world class and I agree. In my top five beers overall.
Nov 04, 2025
Reviewed by ttoadee from Texas
4.4/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
RB transfer
Light soft gold pour, thin white head. Ripe soft fruit in the nose (mango & peach) with pine wafting through the back. Pleasant, sharp bitterness. Oily and coating with light dancing malt and and hops through the middle. Creamy mouth feel at the end with a strong, but not overpowering, bitter hop finish. 7% alcohol is so well blended that it only show up now in my notes. Spend the $ and try this one.|1/30/2013
Aug 28, 2025Light soft gold pour, thin white head. Ripe soft fruit in the nose (mango & peach) with pine wafting through the back. Pleasant, sharp bitterness. Oily and coating with light dancing malt and and hops through the middle. Creamy mouth feel at the end with a strong, but not overpowering, bitter hop finish. 7% alcohol is so well blended that it only show up now in my notes. Spend the $ and try this one.|1/30/2013
Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
3.62/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Classic style IPA done pretty well, not great. Tastes like mostly like grapefruit with some lemon and papaya, and subtle orange. Some honey sweetness and a bit of mineral character. Grapefruit pith and pine bitterness. Too bitter for me. Too much pith. An unnecessary amount of pith. But it tastes alright overall.
Aug 17, 2025Reviewed by willelw from Sweden
3.93/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep golden colour with a creamy head. Aroma: floral hops, malt, fresh hops, caramelised orange peel, some mango.
Taste: hops, floral notes, some bitter orange peel, some grass. Quite high bitterness. Balanced. Full bodied.
May 20, 2025Taste: hops, floral notes, some bitter orange peel, some grass. Quite high bitterness. Balanced. Full bodied.
Reviewed by Spankyrightus from Maryland
4.32/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On draught, burnt orange with a decent head and heavy substantial lacing.
Aroma and flavor are mildly tropical, light citrus dominates. Pine and resin aspects are a little subdued, mellow, enjoyable. This along with the mild bitterness and fairly dry finish make an enjoyable experience.
A well done AIPA!
May 09, 2025Aroma and flavor are mildly tropical, light citrus dominates. Pine and resin aspects are a little subdued, mellow, enjoyable. This along with the mild bitterness and fairly dry finish make an enjoyable experience.
A well done AIPA!
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!