Steve Austin's Broken Skull IPA
El Segundo Brewing Company

ovaltine from Indiana

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a gorgeous golden straw color, nearly clear, with a sudsy white head. Really beautiful WCIPA. The nose has some citrus and a bit of pine, along with a bit of bready malt, but is a bit muted.

This beer opens up on the taste, with ripe tangerines, resiny pine for bitterness, and some of that bready malt. This is a pounder.

The mouthfeel is medium and a bit oily, perfectly in line with the WCIPA style. This would be a regular “fridge IPA” for me if had access to it fresh.

Saturday at 12:07 AM

imnodoctorbut from Texas

3.92/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

tallboy 4 pack dated 4/15/21; today is 6/4; "hell yeah"

pours a slightly hazy yellow golden body with a billowing frothy white foam head that has moderate retention and leaves occasional splatterings of sudsy lacing as it settles to a thin murky cap with thin but defined halo

aroma is tangerine and orange, very floral, with a lemon'd malty backbone

taste follows that nose, with more floral tea-like hop leanings than the usual three-C pine-adjacent characteristics, and plenty of orange and tangerine citrus that hits super juicy, with an earthy grapefruit bitterness towards the end

mouthfeel is mid-level body and carbonation, running somewhat oily in the beginning and fading to something much more grainy towards the end before finishing crisp and semi-dry with a woody, earthy and grapefruit aftertaste

overall:
interesting brew, really. wish I had it fresher, but as it is, it runs about like a floral-tea scented orange juice bomb that finishes grapefruit bitter and woody. if pine notes ever existed in these cans, they've since checked out, which was interesting considering the big three C hops and all. overall, it's pretty dang good, definitely worth the novelty, but not really a mainstay or future go-to for me.

Jun 04, 2021

AfricanPete14 from South Africa

4.14/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This beer had a very cool looking can and poured a medium golden color with a decent one and a half finger head. Smelt like tangerines with a floral scent accompanying it. Tastes smooth with a floral flavor with a slight orange taste at the end. Had a lasting bitterness in the aftertaste which felt refreshing.

May 31, 2021

zeff80 from Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

16oz can. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a good-sized, off-white head of foam. It left sudsy rings of lace on the glass. It smelled of orange, grapefruit, pine and toasted caramel. Nice citrus taste with a piney bitterness and toasty finish.

Mar 27, 2021

FBarber from Illinois

3.96/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear bright golden color. Remarkably effervescent. A nice three finger head settles in on the beer before dissipating. Lots of stick lacing coats the glass and a thin layer of foam remains on the beer.

Aroma has sweet and fruity notes with some orange, peach, nectarine and melon. There is also a grassy, dried hop character to this one on the nose. Overall though the aroma is somewhat flat or muted across the nose.

Taste follows the nose with those lighter fruity notes up front - peach, nectarine, citrus and melon - before giving way to a dried grassy, hay like hop finish that is decently bitter. Almost a bit woody on the finish. Light malt backbone peeps through, but takes a much more supportive role.

Feel is on the lighter side, crisp, and easy drinking. A bit of oily slickness is noted.

Overall its a really nice IPA and one that I'd happily pick up again and drink anytime.

Mar 17, 2021

frankdatank1337 from California

3.33/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Its a solid WC style IPA. Its kinda dry and really bitter. I gave it a lower score because it had a soapy taste. Although, not sure if it was just the cans I got.

Mar 08, 2021

ANIMOUL from Vermont

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a can dated 10/20/20. Pours a straw yellow color with lasting white head. Nice hops up front with a very slight malt backbone. Really liked this one. Definitely worth checking out.

Jan 17, 2021

GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.74/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This was a "why the heck not" quick purchase. Opened and reviewed on: 1/13/21

A clear... Yes! I said clear golden color. Lively look with a very thin white foam cap spread out thin with a bit of lace.

Nose has sweet and tangy hops, mostly pine sap and grainy citrus. Subtle fruitiness beyond citrus with sweet tinged golden malt.

A rather light and crisp body for today's IPA. This is a nice golden color with gentle grainy malt but the hops are mostly old school west coast style with good 'ol Citra, Cascade and Chinook. The big C's.

A crispy golden grain and earthy orange peel and pine tree sap style flavor that is really built with balance in mind. Totally crushable at 6.7%>>>
There is a bit of leftover malty runoff toward the end but nothing dramatic.
A total sleeper for 2021, I was not expecting this to be nearly as enjoyable. It's important to keep an open mind.

Jan 13, 2021

Thankin_Hank from Texas

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Slightly hazy pour and nice thick head. Smells fantastic. The best part of this beer. Taste is rather bland for a skull breaking IPA but a fair IPA. Mouthfeel is nice if you chew it and distribute those hops. Overall just average but drinkable. Fresher may be key. 16 ouncer canned 08/17/20 HELL YEAH! Gifted @Christmas enjoyed New Years Eve.

Jan 01, 2021

mycousinvinny from New York

4.6/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours nice hazy pale yellow with a nice frothy 1 inch head
smell is of piney hops with hints of orange and grapefruit and lemon, malt
taste is a nice citrus and slight bitter hops but smooth
excellent beer !

Dec 28, 2020

ScaryEd from New Hampshire

3.52/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16 oz can.

Lightly hazy yellow color. Lacing for days.

Lots of citrus and pine on the aroma.

Flavor is grassy and piney with plenty of citrus and peach. Lots of sweet malt on the back.

Feel is light bodied with moderate carbonation. Crisp and dry.

Overall, a pretty solid all-around IPA. This can is nearly 5 months old so I almost didn't bother reviewing it, but decided to give it a quick review instead. Would like to try this one fresh but after 5 months this holds up well.

Dec 15, 2020

rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.77/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Picked up a 6 pack (or was it 4?) at Tow Dull Whine, where the retail salespeople will tell you that Brewdog beers are made by the Bruery despite the label clearly telling them its across the pond. Good times.

Anyways, this pours a yellow golden color familiar to millions. 1/2" white head and a body that shows a respectable degree of clarity to it. The aroma truly seems to have Citra, Cascade and Chinook in that 33.3% proportion, you get equal parts of aroma and bittering hops in the nose. Old meets new and I like it. Its like a Stone Cold Stunner out of nowhere. Kevin Owens is pretty good with it too.

Taste is that west coast ipa standard, you get a light pale toasted honey malt kind of vibe alongside old school pine and grapefruit rind hop bitter notes, but enough orange and tangerine from the Citra hop to give it a lot more range. Carbonation right where you want it for this style. This isn't just one of those cheap marketing cross overs, this is legit better than your average ipa out there.

Nov 25, 2020

beerthulhu from New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pale lemon pour has a towering two inch cushy and bubbly bright white head. Feverish pitch of carbonation is composed of macro bubbles are evident even in a deep haziness. Solid long standing head gives this character, and reassurance its in a clean glass, has it seems to never budge. Spongy dabs of foam adore the vessel in a final farewell.

S: Wet grassiness from the cascade, peachy-citrus is bright and wet from the citra, and some flowery hop kick comes from the Chinook. Overall nicely blended among the hops, all of equal and good strength and a length retention factor.

T: Peachy-citrus hops arrive on the flavor, quickly followed by a piney-citrus bitterness from the dry hops. Earthy and bitter flowery hops, semi-dried fruitiness of passion fruit and apricot give some bright flashes along with some underlying notes of wet grassiness. Towards the finish a re-appearance of peachy-mangoes, spicy chinook, slightly dry, mixing with a some dried tropical pineapple. Bready cracker malts with some sticky citrus resins.

M: Mouthful was very crisp and sharp in definition. Smooth, but firm grainy backing.

O: A greatly blended flavor, spicy and tropical hops, particularly the care and balance of citra and chinook, that really made this stand out a push into the outstanding category. Very easy to drink and like. Labeled as the working mans or women's, drink, this is aptly suited for an after work gathering. Spicy, tropical, with a crisp carbonation and sharpness on the tongue really brings out the bright character of the hops and is a rewarding experience after a hard days work.

Nov 25, 2020

woodchipper from Connecticut

3.54/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16oz can dated 8/25/20 to a Nonic glass at fridge temp.
Mildly hazy golden body with a medium white head that laces nicely, but fades quickly. Effervescence continues nicely through the session.
Aroma is mild. Hops, grass, some must.
Taste is kind of a cross between East and West coast styles. A little sweetness followed by old school bitterness.
Mouthfeel is light, but it makes it kind of a quick drinker. I went through the 16oz fairly fast for a review beer.
Final judgement- okay.

Nov 07, 2020

hman43 from North Carolina

3.82/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Look: It pours yellow with a bit of hazing.

Smell: Strong grapefruit and citrus. There is also some pine and orange background notes with a bit of biscuit in support.

Taste: The flavors feature citrus, pine, and floral. There is some grapefruit and orange. It also has a bit of biscuit in support.

Feel: It has a medium body with a bit of a bite at the end. The finish is long lasting.

Overall, a nice favorable easily pound-able beer.

Nov 07, 2020

arizcards from North Carolina

4.17/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a 16 oz single from the Craft Beer Hop Stop cooler 7-31-20 for $3.49. Canned on 6-22-20; consumed 10-19-20.

Beer poured a clear golden with a very nice white head that is leaving lacing behind.

Nose is nice, citrus forward.

Taste is very well done with a lighter pale malt base allowing for the grapefruit and orange to shine thru. Finishes with a nice rind bitterness; 8/10 on my scale.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and refreshing.

Overall a really nice WCIPA. Loving what i have had so far from El Segundo!

Oct 19, 2020

WoodBrew from Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got a can of this beer off the single shelf from my local beer store just around the corner. The beer poured a slightly hazy yellow with white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had dank citrus peel notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with bright citrus peel presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

Sep 23, 2020

avalon07 from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a snifter glass. Had a golden yellow color and a slightly hazy consistency. There was a quarter inch of foamy, somewhat long-lasting head. Not a whole lot of lacing.

S: A pretty good aroma of hops, citrus fruit, malt, pine, and bread.

T: Tasted of a fair bit of malt (mostly in the finish; a very subtle presence), a good shot of hops (not overdone, but just enough), a little pine (enough to make things interesting), a slightly bready quality, and a decent shot of citrus fruit (lemon, in particular). A solid, straightforward, and focused flavor. Decently tasty stuff.

F: A well-carbonated beer with a sharp finish. Medium-bodied.

O: An old school, yet likable, IPA. Worth a try.

Sep 16, 2020

cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.37/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Can dated 7/30:
Pours a pale golden with a slight amount of chill haze that clears up almost completely as the beer warms. Head is lively, and sticks in spongy globs and streams against the glass.

Nose has a grainy aspect to it, along with a familiar citrus (lemony) and grass notes. The lemon increases with warmth and the grass becomes fresher and even morphs into a grape leave-like note with a hint of pepperiness.

The opening notes mix the light-color grain with a near lemony wine-like flavor. Citrus rind and grass come next, leading the IPA towards the bitter. A grape leave peppery green bitterness comes as an increase in bitterness. As the beer warms, the malt plays a little deeper into the taste which allows the citrus to last a little longer and pushed the peppery hearty green note little further back in the taste. Perhaps this is due to my palate adjusting to the bitterness.

Medium light, fairly clean feel with a good amount of carbonation - the feel is pretty nice. The only thing is, on a cold beer there is an ever so slight chalky note in back. This fades and the beer softens a bit in back as it does. In the end, this is a nice, "regular old IPA" that I am happy to have tried.

Sep 13, 2020

Tilley4 from Tennessee

4.04/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I will admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this beer.

I was expecting a gimmick style beer and instead I got a very solid IPA. An old school one at that.

Nice bitterness and plenty of hop flavor... I enjoyed the 4 pack over the course of an evening and will return to it if I see it...

Just an incredibly solid drinking IPA...

Sep 05, 2020

mikeinportc from New York

3.62/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25

Steve (& @Todd) says "Drink this.", so I am. ;)

From a can dated 6/22/20 09:38. (In the morning, but not first thing, so that bodes well. :) ) I mistakenly thought it was 8/22/20 (The beer store is somewhat dimly lit. ;) ), but this is all that's out there, so might as well give it a go.

Almost-clear light gold, with one finger of coarse white head, that leaves a relatively thick ring of bubbles, and a thin sheet in the center. No lacing.

Smell is mostly lemon/lime soda , and a touch of pine - from the open can, less so from the glass, plus honey, light bready malt, and a little sweet pear+plum.

Taste is a light helles-like sweet grainy flavor, followed by that lemon/lime element found in the aroma, a slight herbal taste (tarragon?) , finishing with light pine and lime zest. Moderate drying bitterness. A slight green onion flavor as it warms.

Feel is medium , with fine, soft carbonation.

Overall.....uh...no - to the whole 4pk that I bought. (I'll drink it , eventually, somehow. ;) ) Liked it through the first 4-5oz, then it became a struggle. Might be better with spicy food, on a hot day.(w/ meatball pizza on a cool night, right now.) I'd like to try this fresher, as it seems to have potential. Just not realized right now.

[Edit] Additional note : Tonight(9/3/20), just out of curiosity, I let one sit out for ~ 30 minutes, before opening. Much better. I'd add +.50 to Taste & Overall. I'm going to let the original #s stand, as letting it warm to 55F +/-, is not what I'd do most of the time, nor are most potential drinkers of this beer going to do that. Though if you're reading this prior to trying it, I'd recommend doing that, for best experience. ;)

Sep 01, 2020

JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

3.49/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

It's a hazy light straw colored pour of a pint can into a clear pint glass. A bit of white head, even less glass lacing and a mild hop forward aroma. Pleasant, but thin hop flavored brew with enough hoppiness to confirm it's an IPA. Much more drinkable than skull-splitting. A little less than a "Hell, Yeah!"

Aug 28, 2020

thedifferencemaker from Ohio

3.46/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I’m not a big ipa guy, but I do love me some wrasslin’. I gave this a try, and I would say it’s a decent representation of the style. Perhaps not special but a decent summer hoppy brew.

Aug 24, 2020

daliandragon from Maryland

4.04/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I was more a child of 80's wrestling so Steve Austin was never as iconic for me as say, Hulk, or Andre, or JYD, but those guys don't have their own IPAs (to my knowledge). This has a well crafted feel, with a tight bodied head and notes of melon, cracker, lemongrass, and pine. Flavor is similar, with a delicate mouthfeel. Very solid West coast example of the style, this doesn't taste like a celebrity themed gimmick.

Aug 23, 2020

Peach63 from New York

4.21/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours pale yellow with a 2 inch frothy white head, which lasts. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is strong pine, citrus, bread, grass, floral, earthy.

Tastes of pine, grapefruit zest, papaya, grass. Resinous.

Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Crisp, semi-dry finish.

Another outstanding IPA.

Aug 19, 2020