Sculpin - Grapefruit
Ballast Point Brewing Company

Sculpin - GrapefruitSculpin - Grapefruit
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From:
Ballast Point Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #29
ABV:
7%
Score:
96
Ranked #1,143
Avg:
4.31 | pDev: 9.28%
Reviews:
932
Ratings:
6,407
Status:
Active
Rated:
Friday at 03:37 AM
Added:
Jan 19, 2013
Wants:
  592
Gots:
  3,136
SCORE
96
World-Class
Sculpin - GrapefruitSculpin - Grapefruit
Notes: 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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.58 by funku2 from Colorado

Friday at 03:37 AM
 
Rated: 4.11 by rfreed from Washington

Apr 01, 2023
 
Rated: 1.87 by morsa_95 from California

Mar 21, 2023
Photo of AlCaponeJunior
Reviewed by AlCaponeJunior from Texas

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
My shock and horror to see that after all these years I hadn't reviewed sculpin grapefruit! Well no more. I love this beer, as grapefruit is a lovely way to compliment the biting hops of sculpin. Not for amateurs or posers, and BMC drinkers head's will aspolode upon the first sip. Similarly to arrogant bastard, keep this one away from the unsophisticated newbies.
Mar 19, 2023
Photo of hbeimers
Reviewed by hbeimers from Illinois

4.56/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had to have while visiting San Diego. Perfect west coast IPA to drink while on the west coast. perfect amount of grapefruit and perfect sipability to the whole brew
Mar 07, 2023
Photo of LoganFarinhas
Rated by LoganFarinhas from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Not much to say... Beer like this makes me Hoppy! Absolutely delicious! Smell taste body is all 10/10
Jan 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.79 by lakewy17 from New Hampshire

Jan 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.38 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Oct 24, 2022
 
Photo of dano213
Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can purchased off the shelf as part of a mix-a-six pack for $2. PKG 07APR22, so this is almost four months old.

Look: Pours a very pretty copper color. Almost completely clear; just a very faint haze that appeared after I poured the bottom of the can. There was a thick, rocky off-white head that slowly reduced to a very thin layer.

Smell: I definitely smell the grapefruit aroma up front. It smells nice. Other fruity, caramelly, and herbal/vegetal notes but nothing distinctive besides grapefruit. After delving into it, I can detect nice apricot and orange zest aromas.

Taste: It's very tasty. Up front, there's grapefruit flavor with a bit of acidity. The mild, gentle initial grapefruit flavor explodes into an oily, bitter, pithy profile that attacks the sides of the tongue and the back of the palate. The finish is long, piney, resinous, and bitter with lots of grapefruit peel and pith. Eventually, I can detect a pleasant caramel malt sweetness after the bitterness subsides. Even though this beer is so bitter, I feel like there is an element of balance to it because along there's also a lot of caramel malt to help counteract the strong bitterness.

Feel: Medium bodied with an appropriate level of carbonation. Someone oil, slightly chewy mouthfeel.

Overall: This has got to be one of the quintessential West Coast IPAs. I tried regular Sculpin IPA many years ago, and I was utterly unprepared for how bitter it was. This is also very bitter, and I think that my palate has adjusted over the years and now embraces bitterness. This beer requires a palate adjustment for many folks, and that's okay because many folks' palates (and minds) need to be adjusted! It's also nice to see that this beer can hold up to Father Time; at almost four months old, it's still very aromatic and flavorful.

Grapefruit Sculpin
India Pale Ale
With Natural Grapefruit Flavors
Sep 06, 2022
Photo of azak99
Rated by azak99

1.36/5  rDev -68.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.5
I found the taste to be completely unpalatable. Way too bitter, not very smooth. Hated it
Aug 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by GenoplayBA from Florida

Aug 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.29 by not2quick from Missouri

Jul 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.07 by dfillius from Iowa

Jul 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.49 by Sinister from New York

Jul 02, 2022
Photo of JR215
Rated by JR215

4.17/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Delicious summer drink. Great fresh taste (glass bottle preferably).
Jun 30, 2022
Photo of rudiecantfail
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania

4.27/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce can poured into a tulip glass. Canned 2/24/22, so less than ideal, but not horrible.

L---Pours a medium amber color with good clarity. Fluffy, off-white head faded slowly and left beautiful lacing.

S---Well, um, grapefruit. But not hit you over the head with a hammer stuff, it's more subtle than that. Hoppy & fruity.

T---Tart grapefruit. Again, subtle, which is a whole lot better than most folks do with adding fruit flavor. Hoppy with a little bit of pine.

F---Medium bodied and well carbonated. Lightly quenching from the grapefruit.

O---A very nice one.
May 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.4 by cold_beer

May 07, 2022
Photo of BlakeT49ers
Reviewed by BlakeT49ers from Colorado

4.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Really fantastic. One of the most refreshing IPAs. Ballast Point has a super great flavor developed here with awesome balance. Not too bitter but definitely hoppy enough you know you’re into an IPA
Mar 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.17 by Humanusfermentum from Virginia

Mar 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by D-Duvelicious from Illinois

Feb 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.35 by ckaplanmd from New York

Jan 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by slimntubbs from Pennsylvania

Oct 31, 2021
 
Rated: 3.98 by DrewTheBrew from Ohio

Oct 16, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by Blitz23 from Pennsylvania

Sep 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.71 by soarinsteven from Illinois

Aug 29, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by akk14 from Illinois

Aug 25, 2021
Photo of izraelc
Reviewed by izraelc from New York

3.75/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light amber. Thick foam. Mild grapefruit aroma. Big bitter grapefruit body. Bitterness persists. Could use a little sweetness at the end. Average at best.
Jul 19, 2021
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Canned 3/10/21

As mentioned in my Sculpin review (last night), this was also one of the first beers that got me into the craft scene. Thusly, I never got around to actually reviewing it. At the time I just knew that I liked it, but couldn't articulate what about it I liked. Finally, 3 years later it's getting an actual review. Let's dive right in

Pours a cloudy amber gold with 3 fingers of soapy white head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing

Obviously some hops can give off a pithy grapefruit character, but it's easy to tell that it's just straight up grapefruit used in this one. I'm picking up on aromas of fresh ruby grapefruit, bready malt, white pepper, earthy hops, and light pineapple

In the OG, the aroma is far superior to the taste. Here, they meet in the middle and equalize, matching each others intensity. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting orange rind, sweeter grapefruit juice, grassy hops, bready malt, and light lemon. The swallow brings notes of toasted grain, pithy grapefruit, orange rind, bready malt and light pine

A light medium body pairs with very gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick yet biting beer. Finishes mostly dry without much sweetness

It's good, great even. But it doesn't match the smoothness of the original. Definitely a worthy variant and it stands on its own as a good beer
Jul 12, 2021
Photo of rapayn01
Reviewed by rapayn01 from Kentucky

4.31/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
It's been some years since I had this as one of my neighbors gave me a can he purchased in Cincinnati. For a few years after Sculpin was widely available locally, but now I rarely see it. In any case, it had the great hop bitterness of regular Sculpin -- with grapefruit on top. I liked it, but have not sought it out.
Jun 16, 2021
Photo of blazerkor
Reviewed by blazerkor from Nevada

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Obviously very citrussy scent with the sweetness of a little malt.

The taste is almost exclusively bitter which is good and then the grapefruit and some bready malts.

It's thin with moderate carbonation.  The finish is actually both bready and a little citrus.

Overall it's a very solid IPA.  I give it a 4.9 out of 6.
Jun 16, 2021
 
 
Rated: 3.7 by Gregory88 from California

Jun 04, 2021
Photo of Mugman8
Reviewed by Mugman8 from New York

3.73/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Have seen this around forever and bought a six. Not impressed. Has a nice puffy head and plenty of lace, but it tastes like grapefruit peel and is more bitter than anything else. Won't be buying again....
May 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.52 by Sorrbm2 from Pennsylvania

May 27, 2021
Photo of KT3418
Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado

3.79/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
For a fresh pack im kind of disappointed. Feel is great there is definitely a grapefruit taste so that's a win but the hops don't come through as much taste wise. The overall feel is great though.

Upping the taste a little bit as since this is a variation the grapefruit should be the featured flavor and I did get it
May 26, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by parkwood from Pennsylvania

May 23, 2021
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Reviewed by deleted_user_1314598

4.51/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
First off this is definitely my favorite grapefruit beer of all time..Its been awhile since I've seen it on the shelves but it just showed up at my local hipster, labodega, gourmet beer store so I was enticed to pick up a can. ..

The date shows that it's only a month and a half old which is game on for an ipa, and I've had it in the past so it was like running into an old friend that your actually happy to see..

I poured this beauty into my speigelau IPA glass and got a perfect 2 finger head with a slight carmelized note and a pure strong grapefruit scent like no-other beer I've ever experienced...

Like I said before, best grapefruit beer on the market period!!! And at a solid 7% abv you can't go wrong!!! HOMERUN!!!!
May 22, 2021
Sculpin - Grapefruit from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 6407 ratings