Sculpin - Grapefruit
Ballast Point Brewing Company

Clear, golden color. Nice, white head. Grapefruit and citrus hops in aroma. Sharp, hoppy bitterness in taste. Great West Coast style IPA.

 

 

 

Big fan of Ballast Point. This one, v Halftime, not the freshest bulb on the tree (030625). First half poured clear light golden color with two fingers of stiff eggshell collar that resists fading; rings of thick 3D lacing. Serious bit of dregs near the bottom. Enough to cloud up the works significantly. This one an aged grapefruit clementine bready mixture in the nose mirrored in the flavor. Medium weight effervescent tangy resin. Head & Shoulders American.

 

 

 

Drank a ton of the original Sculpin back in the day. That seemed to have plenty of grapefruit notes. This one was gifted to me by someone out of state where it's apparently still sold. Never was interested in trying the extra-grapefruit aspect, and wow this goes so over the top with that characteristic, that it's both impressive and kinda gross as the same time. Glad to have experienced finally, but one and done.

 

RB transfer

Their regular IPA already tastes mostly like grapefruit. So in this one they decided to add more grapefruit. And it really makes it better. It softens the excessive bitterness of the hops and reveals a bit of floral character. Lime and a bit of peach appear. It smells and tastes a bit like prickly pear and tequila. A bit of desert flavor. Combined with the grapefruit… hey! Paloma. Yum. Turns the IPA from a pretty good but somewhat regular beer, into something unique.

 

Review: 2469
Name: Sculpin - Grapefruit
Brewer: Ballast Point Brewing
Location: San Diego, CA
Style: IPA
ABV: 7%
Canned: 07 May 2025
Date: 3 Aug 2025
I found a Sculpin Grapefruit. I have been wanting to review this for some time now. I am using a tulip glass, and the serving temperature is 42 degrees. The pour created a frothy, creamy, two-fingered off-white head with above-average retention. The somewhat slow dissipation left chunks of lacing on the glass. The color is amber with golden yellow hues, has an SRM of 6, and is transparent. The overall appearance of the IPA is above average.
Nosing the beer, I noticed toasted bread crust, malty sweetness, grapefruit, tangerines, floral bouquet, light bay leaves, a touch of fruity sweetness, and a hint of grass.
The first sip reveals the adjunct of grapefruit; however, the addition of pairs seamlessly with the hop profile. I taste notes of lemons, mandarin oranges, peaches, grass, herbal, and floral esters. Sipping the beer again, I also notice toasted bread crust, malty sweetness, and light earthiness.
The mouthfeel is astringent, finishing crisp and clean. The body is medium-light and has a good amount of carbonation.
Final Thought: I enjoy the original Sculpin; this is like a bonus with the addition of grapefruit. The astringency is not overpowering, but it provides enough tannins to let you know that it is an IPA—a delightful beer to sip on this Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Look: creamy bubbly head, golden, scattered lacing
Smell: grapefruit, pine resin, citrus rind
Taste: grapefruit, pine, melon, apricot, grapefruit rind
Feel: med body, moderate carbo
Overall: 7% abv. Just like regular Sculpin, this is a great beer too. The grapefruit is not overpowering though. To me it's just an added bonus along with the grapefruit rind too. When in San Diego, seek this brewery out. Enjoy this kick ass brew from Ballast Point that pairs well with Lay it Down by Ratt.

Pint from draft at the Little Italy location during their laughable happy hour where it’s $5 for a pint of this beer and only this beer. Pungent and dry if you like grapefruit, otherwise similar to the base beer, one of the OG WC IPAs. Doubt it’s the same recipe at this point but it’s drinkable and enjoyable for the price. Otherwise, I always pass on BP now, which is sad in a way.