Even Keel Session IPA | Ballast Point Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Ballast Point Brewing Company
California, United States | website
Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.80%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
A session beer for Hop-heads, this ale gets double dry-hopped.
Added by xlperro on 06-06-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 166 | Ratings: 878
4.81/5 rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
There is an old light house that sits on top of Point Loma in San Diego that overlooks the land in one direction and in the other direction overlooks the sea. This strip of land is ubiquitous when looking outward from the beaches and it towers over everything else in the area. This is literally/geographically and figuratively Ballast Point. Why write that about Even Keel? Because like every other beer they brew, this session IPA towers over everything else. Just flat out dynamite...
★ 493 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
There is an old light house that sits on top of Point Loma in San Diego that overlooks the land in one direction and in the other direction overlooks the sea. This strip of land is ubiquitous when looking outward from the beaches and it towers over everything else in the area. This is literally/geographically and figuratively Ballast Point. Why write that about Even Keel? Because like every other beer they brew, this session IPA towers over everything else. Just flat out dynamite...
★ 493 characters
3.88/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I was actually very surprised with this beer. At 3.8% I kind of laughed before i opened it. The hop profile is very present, and looks good as well. It is a very light bodied beer, but still tastes so lovely. I could drink a million of these and be very happy. Definetly a beer on a hot summers day, that won't dry you out. I think this will server well as an entry brew for people just getting into the scene. Not over powering by any means, and still has that IPA aroma and taste.
★ 483 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I was actually very surprised with this beer. At 3.8% I kind of laughed before i opened it. The hop profile is very present, and looks good as well. It is a very light bodied beer, but still tastes so lovely. I could drink a million of these and be very happy. Definetly a beer on a hot summers day, that won't dry you out. I think this will server well as an entry brew for people just getting into the scene. Not over powering by any means, and still has that IPA aroma and taste.
★ 483 characters
4.09/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pour is medium yellow with great foamy head. Smells of hops, citrus, and little pine. Taste is very smooth with light bitters and hops, citrus abounds. Very light and smooth beer, this is such a tasty beer and just awesome for a hot summer day and you want a light beer with tons and tons of flavor. Just a solid beer and a great IPA taste without the heavy ABV.
★ 362 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pour is medium yellow with great foamy head. Smells of hops, citrus, and little pine. Taste is very smooth with light bitters and hops, citrus abounds. Very light and smooth beer, this is such a tasty beer and just awesome for a hot summer day and you want a light beer with tons and tons of flavor. Just a solid beer and a great IPA taste without the heavy ABV.
★ 362 characters
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Smell is all citrus and tropical fruit (orange, lemon peel, passionfruit, mango). Taste is citrus, mango, some breadiness, and just a light bitterness. Pretty much a quintessential session IPA.
★ 195 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Smell is all citrus and tropical fruit (orange, lemon peel, passionfruit, mango). Taste is citrus, mango, some breadiness, and just a light bitterness. Pretty much a quintessential session IPA.
★ 195 characters
4.59/5 rDev +18.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Even Keel by Ballast Point was an awesome session ale.
Drank out of a 12oz can, poured into a Ballast pint glass.
2 finger head. Lacing stuck around well after beer was gone!
This was a great beer. Low ABV but the hop profile is still very present like an IPA. I would suggest this beer to anyone who likes Ballast Point, great beer, or someone looking for something to drink on a hot day and not get dizzy.
★ 411 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Even Keel by Ballast Point was an awesome session ale.
Drank out of a 12oz can, poured into a Ballast pint glass.
2 finger head. Lacing stuck around well after beer was gone!
This was a great beer. Low ABV but the hop profile is still very present like an IPA. I would suggest this beer to anyone who likes Ballast Point, great beer, or someone looking for something to drink on a hot day and not get dizzy.
★ 411 characters
3.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Poured from the can into a Piraat tulip/snifter-type glass. Body is tangerine orange with a half-finger whitish head on top.
S: Modest hops - citrus, citrus zest and a bit floral.
T: Mix of citrus (grapefruit mainly), citrus peel and tropical fruit (mango comes to mind). Modest bready malt foundation.
M: Thin. Befitting to the style, I suppose, but it feels a bit more watery than most.
O: Good. Solid flavor for a beer with an ABV under 4.0.
★ 454 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Poured from the can into a Piraat tulip/snifter-type glass. Body is tangerine orange with a half-finger whitish head on top.
S: Modest hops - citrus, citrus zest and a bit floral.
T: Mix of citrus (grapefruit mainly), citrus peel and tropical fruit (mango comes to mind). Modest bready malt foundation.
M: Thin. Befitting to the style, I suppose, but it feels a bit more watery than most.
O: Good. Solid flavor for a beer with an ABV under 4.0.
★ 454 characters
3.87/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
rich amber orange, very spongy/fizzy quarter in head
smells of bold and bright citrus. lot of mango, organge, grapefruit, pineapple, apricot, pine. a bready sweetness underneath
not as sweet as expected. hits back of tongue with some floral bitterness. very grassy, piney, a sort of flat hoppiness.
feels light, very slightly carbonated
smells awesome. for a very light beer (3.8%) it's pretty flavorful, but a little bitter for easy drinking
★ 443 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
rich amber orange, very spongy/fizzy quarter in head
smells of bold and bright citrus. lot of mango, organge, grapefruit, pineapple, apricot, pine. a bready sweetness underneath
not as sweet as expected. hits back of tongue with some floral bitterness. very grassy, piney, a sort of flat hoppiness.
feels light, very slightly carbonated
smells awesome. for a very light beer (3.8%) it's pretty flavorful, but a little bitter for easy drinking
★ 443 characters
3.29/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Clear Amber, almost bronze pour. Ok lacing and retention.
Smell is an off-lemon scent, a little soapy and almost a seaweed type of smell. Some subtle orange peel.
Taste is pretty much bready malt foward, with a hint of lemon and orange peel. One dimensional and not too much going on.
Easy drinker, moderate carbonation.
★ 320 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Clear Amber, almost bronze pour. Ok lacing and retention.
Smell is an off-lemon scent, a little soapy and almost a seaweed type of smell. Some subtle orange peel.
Taste is pretty much bready malt foward, with a hint of lemon and orange peel. One dimensional and not too much going on.
Easy drinker, moderate carbonation.
★ 320 characters
3.93/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 fl oz. can, coded canning information on the bottom of the can. Acquired a single can as part of a mixed six pack at the local Binny's.
Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.
A - Pours a crisp golden / bronze orange body, two fingers of frothy white head that leaves good scattered soapy lacing behind. Body has some light sediment floating around. Apt carbonation. Looks good.
S - A fresh, floral, soapy, hoppy aroma. Light bready pale / crystal malts, and fresh notes of floral, creamy, earthy hops. A good aroma for such a light IPA.
T - Taste follows the nose: lots of fresh, fruity, floral hops for such a low abv beer. Notes of grapefruit, oranges, lemongrass, peaches, pine. Good bready pale / crystal malt content for balance. Lots of flavor for such a low abv beer.
M - Ridiculously smooth, crisp, & easy-drinking. Quintessentially light-bodied.
Overall, session IPA's have been growing on me lately, and this one was no exception. A very nice take on the style from Ballast Point; huge hop flavor and balance for such a low alcohol beer. Very nice.
Ballast Point Even Keel Session IPA -----4/5.
★ 1,121 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 fl oz. can, coded canning information on the bottom of the can. Acquired a single can as part of a mixed six pack at the local Binny's.
Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.
A - Pours a crisp golden / bronze orange body, two fingers of frothy white head that leaves good scattered soapy lacing behind. Body has some light sediment floating around. Apt carbonation. Looks good.
S - A fresh, floral, soapy, hoppy aroma. Light bready pale / crystal malts, and fresh notes of floral, creamy, earthy hops. A good aroma for such a light IPA.
T - Taste follows the nose: lots of fresh, fruity, floral hops for such a low abv beer. Notes of grapefruit, oranges, lemongrass, peaches, pine. Good bready pale / crystal malt content for balance. Lots of flavor for such a low abv beer.
M - Ridiculously smooth, crisp, & easy-drinking. Quintessentially light-bodied.
Overall, session IPA's have been growing on me lately, and this one was no exception. A very nice take on the style from Ballast Point; huge hop flavor and balance for such a low alcohol beer. Very nice.
Ballast Point Even Keel Session IPA -----4/5.
★ 1,121 characters
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
can courtesy of my boy mike. enjoyed side by side with the mango version. looks identical but the mango got that nose. regular is nice. session ipa all day. less like a watered down ipa and more like a pale though this has some age on it. far from my jam but a good session.
★ 274 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
can courtesy of my boy mike. enjoyed side by side with the mango version. looks identical but the mango got that nose. regular is nice. session ipa all day. less like a watered down ipa and more like a pale though this has some age on it. far from my jam but a good session.
★ 274 characters
3.54/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
I picked up a can of Ballast Points Even Keel Session IPA for $1.89 at The Lager Mill. Now that Ballast Point is in Michigan I thought I would start off with their session Ipa, so lets see how it goes. 2015 Vintage. Poured from a 12oz can into a imperial pint glass.
A- The can looks good it's got a nice clean design to it and it's just a little eye catching. It poured a nice golden amber color that took on more of a golden color when held to the light and it was pretty clear with almost two fingers worth of fluffy off white white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and it left some nice patchy lacing behind. This is a very nice looking beer. I have no complaints.
S- The aroma starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart a very nice mixture of green hops, citrus, berries and some tropical fruit aromas showing up in the background along with a little bit of creaminess. Up next comes some doughy yeast that leads into the malts which impart some bready, pale malt, biscuit and grainy aromas. The aroma is good, I like the hop profile and it's well balanced.
T- The taste seems to be not to similar to the aroma and lighter, it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops still being the first to show up this time they just impart a generic hop flavor with a medium amount of bitterness. Up next comes the doughy yeast that leads into the malts which impart the same aspects that they did in the aroma. This is a decent tasting beer, I wish the hop profile was more like it was in the aroma.
M- Smooth, crisp, clean, medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is pretty nice and it works well with this beer.
Overall I thought this was a decent beer and it was pretty close to being an average Session IPA, the aroma had me thinking this was going to be really nice, but when I got to the taste I was disappointed. This beer didn't have the best drinkability, half a glass is enough for me, the flavor doesn't keep me coming back for more. What l like the most about this beer is the aroma and appearance, those were the highlights of this beer. What I like the least about this beer is the hop profile in the taste, it lost what made it good in the aroma. I wound't buy this beer again and I can't say I would recommend it, it's not hard to find a better example of the style. All in all I was a little let down with this one and it didn't make for the best first impression for this brewery. It's not bad, but I think it it could be better, better luck next time.
★ 2,623 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
I picked up a can of Ballast Points Even Keel Session IPA for $1.89 at The Lager Mill. Now that Ballast Point is in Michigan I thought I would start off with their session Ipa, so lets see how it goes. 2015 Vintage. Poured from a 12oz can into a imperial pint glass.
A- The can looks good it's got a nice clean design to it and it's just a little eye catching. It poured a nice golden amber color that took on more of a golden color when held to the light and it was pretty clear with almost two fingers worth of fluffy off white white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and it left some nice patchy lacing behind. This is a very nice looking beer. I have no complaints.
S- The aroma starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart a very nice mixture of green hops, citrus, berries and some tropical fruit aromas showing up in the background along with a little bit of creaminess. Up next comes some doughy yeast that leads into the malts which impart some bready, pale malt, biscuit and grainy aromas. The aroma is good, I like the hop profile and it's well balanced.
T- The taste seems to be not to similar to the aroma and lighter, it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops still being the first to show up this time they just impart a generic hop flavor with a medium amount of bitterness. Up next comes the doughy yeast that leads into the malts which impart the same aspects that they did in the aroma. This is a decent tasting beer, I wish the hop profile was more like it was in the aroma.
M- Smooth, crisp, clean, medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is pretty nice and it works well with this beer.
Overall I thought this was a decent beer and it was pretty close to being an average Session IPA, the aroma had me thinking this was going to be really nice, but when I got to the taste I was disappointed. This beer didn't have the best drinkability, half a glass is enough for me, the flavor doesn't keep me coming back for more. What l like the most about this beer is the aroma and appearance, those were the highlights of this beer. What I like the least about this beer is the hop profile in the taste, it lost what made it good in the aroma. I wound't buy this beer again and I can't say I would recommend it, it's not hard to find a better example of the style. All in all I was a little let down with this one and it didn't make for the best first impression for this brewery. It's not bad, but I think it it could be better, better luck next time.
★ 2,623 characters
4.07/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
The colour is gold (7 EBC), the liquid is clear. The two finger head is off-white and airy; it sinks slowly leaving no lacing on the glass.
The smell is loaded with lemon and grapefruit juice, plus orange juice sweetness. Hints of rubber and fruit candy.
The taste is bitter with lots of lime and some grapefruit. Passing dry bitter flavours. Smooth notes of fruit candy and lemon drops. Medium body. Growing sweetness in the aftertaste, as well as notes of rubber and dried flowers. The smooth finish got notes of fresh squeezed lemons and lime peel.
The carbonation is medium to strong, the few mid-sized bubbles are long-lasting. The liquid is light with some stickiness.
Compared to BrewDog Dead Pony Club, one of my standard beers at home, this one is less aggressively bitter and more balanced. Very refreshing and highly drinkable.
★ 842 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
The colour is gold (7 EBC), the liquid is clear. The two finger head is off-white and airy; it sinks slowly leaving no lacing on the glass.
The smell is loaded with lemon and grapefruit juice, plus orange juice sweetness. Hints of rubber and fruit candy.
The taste is bitter with lots of lime and some grapefruit. Passing dry bitter flavours. Smooth notes of fruit candy and lemon drops. Medium body. Growing sweetness in the aftertaste, as well as notes of rubber and dried flowers. The smooth finish got notes of fresh squeezed lemons and lime peel.
The carbonation is medium to strong, the few mid-sized bubbles are long-lasting. The liquid is light with some stickiness.
Compared to BrewDog Dead Pony Club, one of my standard beers at home, this one is less aggressively bitter and more balanced. Very refreshing and highly drinkable.
★ 842 characters
4.25/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours brilliant gold under a ½” white foam collar that dissipates to a thick film.
S: Grass, mint, melon with some biscuit.
T: Melon, citrus, biscuit to bread crumb, malt is medium. Hop flavors are medium high, hop bitterness is medium.
F: Medium body and carbonation.
O: An easy to drink session beer.
★ 312 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours brilliant gold under a ½” white foam collar that dissipates to a thick film.
S: Grass, mint, melon with some biscuit.
T: Melon, citrus, biscuit to bread crumb, malt is medium. Hop flavors are medium high, hop bitterness is medium.
F: Medium body and carbonation.
O: An easy to drink session beer.
★ 312 characters
3.96/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can, no date, poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: Pale-ish, mostly clear amber, with carbonation bubbles. 2F head with decent retention, some lacing, and cap.
S: Lots of tropical fruit, light citrus, light pine, faint light malt.
T: Doesn't really follow nose. Pretty bitter, some citrus
F: Light bodied, medium carbonation for good drying on palate. Good balance, very refreshing.
O: Crisp and sessionable, but maybe could be a tad less bitter.
★ 454 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can, no date, poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: Pale-ish, mostly clear amber, with carbonation bubbles. 2F head with decent retention, some lacing, and cap.
S: Lots of tropical fruit, light citrus, light pine, faint light malt.
T: Doesn't really follow nose. Pretty bitter, some citrus
F: Light bodied, medium carbonation for good drying on palate. Good balance, very refreshing.
O: Crisp and sessionable, but maybe could be a tad less bitter.
★ 454 characters
3.62/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Consumed 3/31/16
A: Somewhere between burnt gold and medium amber, with some orange honey around the edges - clear - pours with a medium sized, slightly off-white head, fades to wisps, retains a small collar, leaves some spots of lacing
S: Bright and light - bright orange and grapefruit, mostly floral citrus and zest, but some citrus flesh as well - lightly herbal with a touch of resin - a touch flowery - light, pale malts and a touch of caramel - bread dough - again, light overall (this IS only 3.8%), but interesting
T: Light citrus, with some tangerine, orange, and ruby red grapefruit flesh and zest - touch of oily citrus - lightly herbal, touch of pine, touch of grass - more bitterness than expected, with some dry, straight-up aspirin flavor - malts are faint, but some perceptible pale malts, touch of caramel grain, and light bread
M: Light body, crisp, medium carbonation, clean finish
O: Bro, do you even keel?
While Ballast Point deserves some props for cramming some nice hoppy aromas and flavors into a 3.8%ABV beer, I wouldn't place Even Keel among my favorite session IPAs. It is on the watery end of the spectrum, and the lingering bitterness seems a little out of place.
★ 1,201 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Consumed 3/31/16
A: Somewhere between burnt gold and medium amber, with some orange honey around the edges - clear - pours with a medium sized, slightly off-white head, fades to wisps, retains a small collar, leaves some spots of lacing
S: Bright and light - bright orange and grapefruit, mostly floral citrus and zest, but some citrus flesh as well - lightly herbal with a touch of resin - a touch flowery - light, pale malts and a touch of caramel - bread dough - again, light overall (this IS only 3.8%), but interesting
T: Light citrus, with some tangerine, orange, and ruby red grapefruit flesh and zest - touch of oily citrus - lightly herbal, touch of pine, touch of grass - more bitterness than expected, with some dry, straight-up aspirin flavor - malts are faint, but some perceptible pale malts, touch of caramel grain, and light bread
M: Light body, crisp, medium carbonation, clean finish
O: Bro, do you even keel?
While Ballast Point deserves some props for cramming some nice hoppy aromas and flavors into a 3.8%ABV beer, I wouldn't place Even Keel among my favorite session IPAs. It is on the watery end of the spectrum, and the lingering bitterness seems a little out of place.
★ 1,201 characters
3.88/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Try 6. Tough call who makes the best session IPA. I'd have to blind test them (Boat, All Day, Even Keel).
A - beer pours a clear, bright rich copper amber body, with 1.5 fingers of puffy, foamy white head, which lasts and laces like a much stronger brew.
S -Best part. It smells of pungent red grapefruit, orange, and sweet lemon, bready pale malt, minerally water, and weedy, floral hops.
T - The taste follows smell but is more confused, but has a nice chalky feel.
F - Finishes pungent and dry. Refreshing and definitely a session beer.
O More to like than All-Day 3.86, an equal to Boat 4.
★ 601 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Try 6. Tough call who makes the best session IPA. I'd have to blind test them (Boat, All Day, Even Keel).
A - beer pours a clear, bright rich copper amber body, with 1.5 fingers of puffy, foamy white head, which lasts and laces like a much stronger brew.
S -Best part. It smells of pungent red grapefruit, orange, and sweet lemon, bready pale malt, minerally water, and weedy, floral hops.
T - The taste follows smell but is more confused, but has a nice chalky feel.
F - Finishes pungent and dry. Refreshing and definitely a session beer.
O More to like than All-Day 3.86, an equal to Boat 4.
★ 601 characters
4.49/5 rDev +16%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a clear golden orange color with a tight, white head that fades quickly leaving chunks of lacing.
Smells of bright tropical fruit notes.
Tastes of the bright hops layered over a decent malt backbone. Hops lead off with notes grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and guava as well as some pine. This gives way to a little grainy malt. Not much sweetness to it, but doesn't come off as overly bitter. Finishes fairly clean with a bit of lingering fruit.
Mouthfeel sied medium-light with a crisp amount of carbonation.
Overall, this is a tasty session beer and is my new go to for those occasion when I want a session beer.
★ 627 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a clear golden orange color with a tight, white head that fades quickly leaving chunks of lacing.
Smells of bright tropical fruit notes.
Tastes of the bright hops layered over a decent malt backbone. Hops lead off with notes grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and guava as well as some pine. This gives way to a little grainy malt. Not much sweetness to it, but doesn't come off as overly bitter. Finishes fairly clean with a bit of lingering fruit.
Mouthfeel sied medium-light with a crisp amount of carbonation.
Overall, this is a tasty session beer and is my new go to for those occasion when I want a session beer.
★ 627 characters
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - nice clear golden amber color with a head that dissipates pretty quickly and therefore doesn't leave much lacing
S - nice grapefruit, pine, some dank garlic onion. Passionfruit.
T - same as smell, a little more muted though. Grapefruit, pine, dank garlic onion.
M - very light. Alcohol covered. Aftertaste is grapefruit/dank.
O - pretty damn decent, I like it better than the mango version.
★ 397 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - nice clear golden amber color with a head that dissipates pretty quickly and therefore doesn't leave much lacing
S - nice grapefruit, pine, some dank garlic onion. Passionfruit.
T - same as smell, a little more muted though. Grapefruit, pine, dank garlic onion.
M - very light. Alcohol covered. Aftertaste is grapefruit/dank.
O - pretty damn decent, I like it better than the mango version.
★ 397 characters
4.3/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Didn't expect to like this quite so much, not being much of a SIPA guy, but a couple things really make this work for me. 1) It's a legit SIPA @ 3.8% ABV. Sorry, but if your session beer goes much over 4.5% (and, frankly, that's being generous, as I really think it should be closer to 4.0 or below), it's not a session beer anymore. I've had some great small IPAs/pale ales that hover around 5.0%, but if you're gonna specifically market something as a session beer, you may as well go all the way with it and make it legitimately sessionable. (Stops to climb down off high horse.) 2) Even Keel has a legit, noticeable malt base. The complaint is as frequent as it is legitimate: too many SIPAs taste like hop water. Even Keel starts out crisp, veers toward watery mid-palate, but then pulls it all back together with a nice, toasty malt finish. Really, really dug that aspect of it.
Other detail... Copper out of the can, a little over 30 days old, nice foam on the pour that hangs around just enough and leaves a bit of lacing. Smell is, well, hops. No one note screams from the nose, but it's all pleasant and satisfying, lightly piney, a touch of fruit, a bit of green/herbal note. Palate is similar, a nice, zesty hop bite off the top, a touch weak mid-palate, then a harmonious toasty malt + lingering hop finish. And, again, at 3.8% this is a legit candidate for summertime crushing. In my neck of the woods, it's already warming up, and the thought of a cooler full of these bad boys on warm days and nights is a delight indeed. Kudos to BP for nailing a hard-to-get-right substyle.
★ 1,592 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Didn't expect to like this quite so much, not being much of a SIPA guy, but a couple things really make this work for me. 1) It's a legit SIPA @ 3.8% ABV. Sorry, but if your session beer goes much over 4.5% (and, frankly, that's being generous, as I really think it should be closer to 4.0 or below), it's not a session beer anymore. I've had some great small IPAs/pale ales that hover around 5.0%, but if you're gonna specifically market something as a session beer, you may as well go all the way with it and make it legitimately sessionable. (Stops to climb down off high horse.) 2) Even Keel has a legit, noticeable malt base. The complaint is as frequent as it is legitimate: too many SIPAs taste like hop water. Even Keel starts out crisp, veers toward watery mid-palate, but then pulls it all back together with a nice, toasty malt finish. Really, really dug that aspect of it.
Other detail... Copper out of the can, a little over 30 days old, nice foam on the pour that hangs around just enough and leaves a bit of lacing. Smell is, well, hops. No one note screams from the nose, but it's all pleasant and satisfying, lightly piney, a touch of fruit, a bit of green/herbal note. Palate is similar, a nice, zesty hop bite off the top, a touch weak mid-palate, then a harmonious toasty malt + lingering hop finish. And, again, at 3.8% this is a legit candidate for summertime crushing. In my neck of the woods, it's already warming up, and the thought of a cooler full of these bad boys on warm days and nights is a delight indeed. Kudos to BP for nailing a hard-to-get-right substyle.
★ 1,592 characters
3.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Ballast Point Brewing 'Even Keel Session IPA' @ 3.8% , served from a 355 ml bottle purchased for $3.30
A-pour is gold from the bottle to a clear orange/gold in the glass with a medium size white head leaving a spotty lace along the pint
S-pine , hint of floral
T-crisp & clean tasting , can feel the low ABV on the swallow
MF-ok carbonation , feels medium body , real big dryness lingers on the palate
Ov-ok beer & session IPA
prost LampertLand
★ 445 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Ballast Point Brewing 'Even Keel Session IPA' @ 3.8% , served from a 355 ml bottle purchased for $3.30
A-pour is gold from the bottle to a clear orange/gold in the glass with a medium size white head leaving a spotty lace along the pint
S-pine , hint of floral
T-crisp & clean tasting , can feel the low ABV on the swallow
MF-ok carbonation , feels medium body , real big dryness lingers on the palate
Ov-ok beer & session IPA
prost LampertLand
★ 445 characters
3.9/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 11/19/2015. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, light pine, honey, light caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of bright citrus/tropical hops and light-moderate bready malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, pine, honey, light caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Moderate pine/citrus rind/grassy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, melon, lemon/orange peel, pine, honey, toasted bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Moderate dryness from bitterness and lighter body that increases through the glass. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp/sticky/resinous, and lightly creamy/grainy/bready balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish as expected of 3.8%. Overall this is a very nice Session IPA style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt flavors; and very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,830 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 11/19/2015. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, light pine, honey, light caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of bright citrus/tropical hops and light-moderate bready malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, pine, honey, light caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Moderate pine/citrus rind/grassy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, melon, lemon/orange peel, pine, honey, toasted bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Moderate dryness from bitterness and lighter body that increases through the glass. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp/sticky/resinous, and lightly creamy/grainy/bready balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish as expected of 3.8%. Overall this is a very nice Session IPA style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops and light-moderate bready malt flavors; and very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,830 characters
3.98/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On draft in tulip
Clear golden in color, good lacing. Very fruity hop aroma - berries, orange. Similar tastes, little malt character. Thin body. overall, one of the better "session IPA" beers I have had.
★ 204 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On draft in tulip
Clear golden in color, good lacing. Very fruity hop aroma - berries, orange. Similar tastes, little malt character. Thin body. overall, one of the better "session IPA" beers I have had.
★ 204 characters
3.89/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
color is nice on this one. amber, with a white head that fades.
smell is some pine with bread dough. not getting much in the way of fruitiness, but that's ok.
taste is really just bitter hops. that pine really pops. not bad, but that's all there is to it.
feel is a bit thin.
overall, this has a lot of character for a sessionable beer. i don't know as i'd want more than 2 in an evening, but if you're going light, this is a good way to go.
★ 447 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
color is nice on this one. amber, with a white head that fades.
smell is some pine with bread dough. not getting much in the way of fruitiness, but that's ok.
taste is really just bitter hops. that pine really pops. not bad, but that's all there is to it.
feel is a bit thin.
overall, this has a lot of character for a sessionable beer. i don't know as i'd want more than 2 in an evening, but if you're going light, this is a good way to go.
★ 447 characters
4.35/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Spectacular session IPA from Ballast Point. Lots of hops balanced with malts to produce a great tasting IPA without the elevated ABV. Hope to see this more widely available. Canned from somewhere in Sarasota.
★ 209 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Spectacular session IPA from Ballast Point. Lots of hops balanced with malts to produce a great tasting IPA without the elevated ABV. Hope to see this more widely available. Canned from somewhere in Sarasota.
★ 209 characters
Even Keel Session IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company
3.87
out of 5
based on 878 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a golden and light amber color. An aggressive pour from the can yields a bubbly head that soon disapates into a sudsy cap and thin crown.
Citrusy in the nose, then mostly clean, and later followed by a stronger scent of caramel malt as the drink warms.
In the mouth the piny hops leave a prickly feel, a dry palate, some citrusy zest and a moderate bitterness in the finish. Light and crisp, it quenches the thirst really nicely.
I'm a bit confused about this brew's designation, as it is referred to on here as an APA and a session IPA in the can. Whatever you want to call it, it is indeed a nice sessionable brew.
★ 622 characters