Ballast Point becoming gimmicky?

I think they should make whatever crazy idea they come up with and let demand decide. I thought Grapefruit Sculpin was great.

 

Cheers to Ballast point!

 

I think the true question is "are beer fans gimmicky" and the resounding answer is a big fat YES. Not a bad thing, especially when done well (when it works, we call that creative instead). The market demands variants, more and more brewers are committed to making these variants and likely the easiest way is to tweak their master recipes. I love the BP regulars, don't love their variants, but I've had some great variants from other breweries so I get it.

 

Those beers were all in existence before the buyout. They did small batches of them for special occasions. Pineapple Sculpin was added to BA in June, Ginger Big Eye was added in 2008, Mango Even Keel was added in August, and Watermelon Dorado was added in June. Peppermint V@S has also been a variant for Victory at Sea Day forever. It was added in 2012. The buyout has just given them the funds to produce and distribute the beers in bigger quantities.

Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of fruit IPAs. Most of the desired flavors you get from these fruits can just as easily be gotten from hops. But either way, do some research.

 

Well, vanilla extract is nothing more than vanilla beans that are soaked in alcohol, a tincture, which most brewers recommend to control dosage and prevent infection. Yes you can dump a bunch of juice into the pot or you can extract it, concentrate it and sterilize it before adding so you don't dilute/contaminate the final product, or make a tincture out of alcohol and the zest of said fruit

 

Always open to trying new beers BUT ... just don't charge me/(us)$16.99 / sixer. PASS!!

 

This is how Brewbound explained that aspect of the Constellation-Ballast Point deal:

 

Maybe here's another way of looking at it: I think one of the big enjoyment factors for many people is the fascination with the brewer's craft (which would apply perhaps particularly to people like myself, with limited experience with actual brewing). You drink a beer and think how impressive it is how they work their craft to produce this beverage we all love. How do they do it?

In the same way that you might be listening to music and think how incredible it is that people are able to create and perform what you're listening to, stirring up emotions in you. It's almost magical!

But then finding out about flavor additives being thrown into the product at the end of the brew (whether that's the actual case here with BP isn't the point, rather the doubt that it might be) kind of ruins it all in the same way as finding out that the music is auto-tuned. You think ''that's bullshit, I could do that (again, whether or not you actually can is not the point.)''

Some might say, for both cases, ''if the end result is enjoyable, who cares?'' And that's just a difference of opinion, some people care and some don't. I don't think either side is wrong, though personally I would tend towards being disappointed by those types of practices.

Perhaps not the perfect analogy, but I hope (most of) you see what I'm getting at. Taste is of course a massive factor, but there are many other aspects of beer and brewing that make it enjoyable to different people and that's what turns it into a hobby or even a full on passion for some people. Otherwise it would be like picking out your preferred brand of crackers at the supermarket.

 

IIRC many fruits cannot be added to the pot due to setting the pectin and causing haze. Fruit can be pasteurized at 160-170 degrees to avoid this and added to secondary. Best is to use a puree or extract designed for use in beer, but adding to boil requires much more product, and since it will be in fermenter during primary ferment, will add different flavor.

 

Typically they get a pass from me because they can brew more basic beer and styles that are seen as difficult to brew quite well. For example their regular Sculpin is still fantastic when fresh, and I like it better than the variants. I like Even Keel a lot, and was impressed at the depth of the hop profile for 3.8% abv. And Longfin Lager is one of the better attempts at an American brewed Helles that I've personally had (no gimmicks here, low IBUs/ABV). This is just to name a few...

So, if they want to release the variants, even if they appear a bit gimmicky, that's fine. They've earned it and it could definitely boost sales. BUT...the issue is that these variants have crowded the Ballast Point section at my local liquor store, and now I no longer see regular Even Keel (replaced with Mango), fresh Longfin Lager...etc.

To those of you who say, "If you don't like it, don't buy it". I get it. But if what I do like is being replaced with the variants, this logic doesn't really work for me. Because my Ballast Point section in the liquor store fridge is beginning to look like a Skittles commercial. And I have no desire to "Taste the Rainbow".

 

Hmmm, looking through this thread I can only conclude that for some people the meaning of "gimmick" has changed to "something I've not seen before and am not sure I like."

 

It only makes good business sense to make more fruit variants of their beers, with Grapefruit Sculpin being so popular. No brainer.

 

Simple economics. They've seen what they can get for Grapefruit and Habanero Sculpin; why not make various flavors of every beer you make? Hell, if you can get $16 a sixer, go lowest common denominator all the way to the bank.

 

Based on my perception from this website, I'd agree with you, Grapefruit Sculpin is popular.

But do we know for sure they're seeing a sales boost from these variants?

Because it's the only metric I can go by at the moment, regular Sculpin still has higher ratings than any of the variants. Same with Victory at Sea, and Even Keel (some by a wide margin).

 

I think it's a product of competing with larger breweries, attracting new drinkers with the fruit variants, providing different beers for regular craft beer drinkers and pushing themselves in new directions. When I look at what I just wrote, these new beers hit all of those! So why wouldn't they do it? Just like any brewery, they need to grow and expand. Is there a market/demographic for their staple beers? Absolutely. But there is also increase in demand for new beers.

I won't buy every one. But I'll try a bottle, not a six, when I can. I had the grapefruit sculpin a few times and liked it at first, but it got worse with each bottle. Picked up a pineapple sculpin and thought it was a nice blend and really liked it! Hoping to try more in the spring/summer!

 

That's the equivalent price for a $5.19 bomber. I'm sure you pay that for pretty much any bomber you ever get.

 

BP is one of my favorite breweries and I plan to buy each of the variants. It's your money, buy what you want.

 

I like trying the different flavors, one bottle at a time. As long as BP doesn't add huckleberries, or something, to production Calico, I'm good with their efforts.

 

It's out of the main conversation, but is it just me wishing for an another beer with different ingridients and same style? I'm really big fan of Ballast Point and love pretty much every one of them(except pale ale(kolsch) and wahoo). I know they can brew some great stuffs, but I just wonder why don't they brew another IPA other than Big Eye/Sculpin or another Imperial Stout/Porter other than VaS!!

 

I would love to try Pineapple Sculpin as I really like extra pineapple in the taste, and the grapefruit doesn't do it for me.

But i'll echo some others, as the price just gets me. I am happy BP came to Michigan. I can get the occasional treat VaS. I was AMAZED at how much my local target has, since it is not a full grocery, just a mini section. But at $15 a 6, that is going to sit a LOT around here. Our market is already super saturated and that price just doesn't do it.