Grapefruit Sculpin | Ballast Point Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Ballast Point Brewing Company
California, United States
ballastpoint.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our Award-winning IPA, with a citrus twist.
Our Grapefruit Sculpin is the latest take on our signature IPA. Some may say there are few ways to improve Sculpin’s unique flavor, but the tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements our IPA’s citrusy hop character. Grapefruit’s a winter fruit, but this easy-drinking ale tastes like summer.
The Sculpin IPA is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. It showcases bright flavors and aromas of apricot, peach, mango & lemon. The lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin fish is considered some of the tastiest. Something that has a sting but tastes great; sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale. This version of our Sculpin IPA has grapefruit added; the grapefruit flavor really enhances the citrus aroma of the hops.
Added by arfenhouse on 01-19-2013
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 6,131 | Reviews: 863
4.31/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.71/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Sculpin is hard to beat, but adding Grapefruit kicks it up a notch. It's subtle, not overdone.
95 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Sculpin is hard to beat, but adding Grapefruit kicks it up a notch. It's subtle, not overdone.
95 characters
4.31/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Nice, lacey head. Very smooth, the draft more so than the bottle. To me, the grapefruit knocks down the hops a bit and brings out the malt. Nice nose.
150 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Nice, lacey head. Very smooth, the draft more so than the bottle. To me, the grapefruit knocks down the hops a bit and brings out the malt. Nice nose.
150 characters
4.16/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.23/5 rDev -25.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4.21/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.99/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
That hoppy grapefruit taste from this beer is delightful on the palate and makes for a smooth drinking experience.
114 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
That hoppy grapefruit taste from this beer is delightful on the palate and makes for a smooth drinking experience.
114 characters
4.44/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I hate all fruit beers, except this one. The grapefruit pairs perfectly with sculpin’s hop profile. It’s not overdone in anyway, which IPA lends itself to, but it does what it should perfectly. Widely distributed and simple to find, and pricey. My beer was bottled on 30jan18, so it’s two months old currently.
L: held up to the light it’s a beautiful clear bronze, obvisously filtered, fine bubbles streaming up to the top
S: grapefruit, hoppy goodness, some of the malts come through the nose as well
T: very citrusy, nice bitter finish
F: refreshing, light bodied for a big ipa
O: solid American style IPA
622 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I hate all fruit beers, except this one. The grapefruit pairs perfectly with sculpin’s hop profile. It’s not overdone in anyway, which IPA lends itself to, but it does what it should perfectly. Widely distributed and simple to find, and pricey. My beer was bottled on 30jan18, so it’s two months old currently.
L: held up to the light it’s a beautiful clear bronze, obvisously filtered, fine bubbles streaming up to the top
S: grapefruit, hoppy goodness, some of the malts come through the nose as well
T: very citrusy, nice bitter finish
F: refreshing, light bodied for a big ipa
O: solid American style IPA
622 characters
4.35/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
great summer brew , ballast has other great beer as well
56 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
great summer brew , ballast has other great beer as well
56 characters
4.4/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful rose gold color with white cap and lacing.
Grapefruit grows on trees so it's a flowering fruit and I don't know what grapefruit flowers smell like but that's what I'm reminded of here. An aroma of bright, flowery citrus hops with a definite grapefruit hit.
Flavor is well defined among the hops in a way that is less sharp yet richer than the regular Sculpin. There is more of a malt presence than the regular Sculpin as well though not enough to compete with the hops, just support them.
Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.
Overall it seems a bigger yet more refined version of the regular Sculpin. I can't say this is just the regular with grapefruit added, it's something more, rounder, smoother (that word again) with a bigger room presence. Stream fishermen are familiar with stream bed stones that have tumbled around for thousands of years becoming rounded down and worn smooth. That's what I mean by smooth, an absence of jagged edges. This is a round stone beer that's strong enough (7%) to be pushy but isn't and hoppy enough to be brash yet it's not. A beer of substance and manners that simply sits down and joins the conversation like a genial, good humored friend.
1,211 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful rose gold color with white cap and lacing.
Grapefruit grows on trees so it's a flowering fruit and I don't know what grapefruit flowers smell like but that's what I'm reminded of here. An aroma of bright, flowery citrus hops with a definite grapefruit hit.
Flavor is well defined among the hops in a way that is less sharp yet richer than the regular Sculpin. There is more of a malt presence than the regular Sculpin as well though not enough to compete with the hops, just support them.
Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.
Overall it seems a bigger yet more refined version of the regular Sculpin. I can't say this is just the regular with grapefruit added, it's something more, rounder, smoother (that word again) with a bigger room presence. Stream fishermen are familiar with stream bed stones that have tumbled around for thousands of years becoming rounded down and worn smooth. That's what I mean by smooth, an absence of jagged edges. This is a round stone beer that's strong enough (7%) to be pushy but isn't and hoppy enough to be brash yet it's not. A beer of substance and manners that simply sits down and joins the conversation like a genial, good humored friend.
1,211 characters
4.04/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle
appears clear, orange golden in color, white head. fruity grapefruit aroma, very citrusy. taste is fruity too, but nice underlying bitterness. thin to medium bodied.
182 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle
appears clear, orange golden in color, white head. fruity grapefruit aroma, very citrusy. taste is fruity too, but nice underlying bitterness. thin to medium bodied.
182 characters
4.39/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled 1/4/18, consumed 2/25/18
Poured crystal clear golden amber with a decent head that left good lacing.
Aroma is primarily grapefruit with some floral and earthy hops. I probably prefer this aroma slightly over the tropical regular Sculpin.
Taste is grapefruit with heavy earthy and dank hops - not exactly balanced, and the grapefruit flavor taste added rather than from a natural hop profile.
Mouthfeel is a bit heavy for a regular IPA with huge, strong, lasting bitterness. Light carbonation.
Overall, a decent IPA, right there with the regular Sculpin, but not really worth the premium price over every other available IPA. I can probably think of 20 others I would pick up first.
697 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled 1/4/18, consumed 2/25/18
Poured crystal clear golden amber with a decent head that left good lacing.
Aroma is primarily grapefruit with some floral and earthy hops. I probably prefer this aroma slightly over the tropical regular Sculpin.
Taste is grapefruit with heavy earthy and dank hops - not exactly balanced, and the grapefruit flavor taste added rather than from a natural hop profile.
Mouthfeel is a bit heavy for a regular IPA with huge, strong, lasting bitterness. Light carbonation.
Overall, a decent IPA, right there with the regular Sculpin, but not really worth the premium price over every other available IPA. I can probably think of 20 others I would pick up first.
697 characters
4.19/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.34/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.6/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.79/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Grapefruit Sculpin from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.32 out of
5 with
6,131 ratings
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