Tongue Buckler
Ballast Point Brewing Company

 

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red orange with a small white head. Smells of caramelized grain with slight fruitiness. Tastes of caramelized grain with bright berries and slight citrus notes. Beer is medium/full bodied yet easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This beer is very rare, I saw it on the menu at Ballast Point Brewery & Restaurant in Daleville VA (July 21, 2018) and was intrigued by its description. High ABV beers often have some weirdness in the offering - either they smell strange (or awful) or the color or mouth feel is peculiar or they just taste like someone poured grain alcohol into a regular, average tasting beer. Not so for this delightful, beautifully shiny red beer with perfect carbonation and head. The taste was wonderful, a hint fruity, a taste of malt, lightly hopped , very smooth (!) and a great mouth feel with no surprises in the finish. Very well balanced. Served in an 8-oz goblet, I was able to sip this delicious beer with family at my side as we all watched a dramatic sunset peeking out from behind waning and wispy clouds over the stunning mountainous horizon looking west from Daleville. This beer produced a soft and warm buzz that came over me slowly and held on throughout our excellent 40 minute dinner. Ballast Point lists only 3 other places in the state that offer or sell this wonderful beer. Ah, man.

 

On tap. Poured a clear, golden amber color with a small, tan head of foam. It smelled of toasted caramel, roasted malt and pine. Rich malty flavor with sweet orange flavor. Piney, sharp bitter hops.