Ballantine IPA rating

That ad I SO COOl. Grew up in the Jersey area and kind of remember driving past that brewery in that industrial area that everyone associates with NJ. Saw the other day and didn't pull the trigger. Will definitely give it a shot now.
Whatever happened to "buy 4 cases get one free"

 

I thought it was excellent.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/447/134337/?ba=utopiajane

 

Aah, OK. I couldn't get a bead on where you were coming from either- all's cool, man. Cheers!

 

I just ordered 3 750s from an online store.

 

I rated it a 4 and I am not too fond of super hoppy beers

 

Looks like Pabst is going to release it in cans:


From a TTB COLA approved earlier this week.

 

Just saw this in our local beer distributor. $36.99 per case. For that price I can get a lot of good beers, still, eager to try this one.

 

Had it for the first time today. Not a fan. Don't know if it was old or what but was so glad when I was just done. Didn't do a formal review because I have better things to do today, but I wouldn't choose it again.

 

Yeah maybe it was just nostalgia talking on his behalf but that's how I was introduced to it. Thanks for all the info. Very interesting information.

 

I quite enjoy the new Ballantine IPA, although I wonder if you could think of the original as being rather BEHIND it's time, as the majority of beer drinkers at the time appeared to be favoring lighter/more "drinkable" lagers.

By keeping the IPA alive in one form or another through the years, Ballantine was quite the hold-out when it came to older styles. Then again, there must have been enough IPA devotees buying the product to make it profitable. It would take another thirty or forty years for the taste for IPA's to come full-circle.

I really like the new version, regardless of how close to the original it is, and I only hope it is not another short-lived attempt at entry to the craft market that does not gain a foothold.

 

This beer would have been rated much higher ten years ago. It has an "old school" (if you want to call ten years ago old school) hop profile more bitter rather than fruity. Akin to Hopdevil, Finest Kind, 60 minute...etc.

Silly hop heads, Trix are for kids....

 

After reading the comments above I'm going to go out and try this. I may have passed seeing PBR.

 

I am one of those who recently reviewed Ballantine IPA. As soon as I tried it, I felt like someone hit me in the face (but in a good way). Yes, it's bitter, and no, it's not fruity at all. I thought it was great. Yes, maybe I was yearning for something more "old school." There are a lot of great IPAs out there, and I think Ballantine provides a good contribution to the mix. I like that it doesn't taste like all the others. A friend of mine who loves IPAs drove up from Norfolk, VA for Thanksgiving. He had never tried Ballantine. I gave him a bottle, and as soon as he tasted it, he exclaimed, "Holy sh*t, that is GOOD!" He went out and bought a case before heading back home. I strongly encourage everyone to give it a try. Even if it's not up your alley, I think you'll appreciate the fact that it's around. Personally I hope it remains a permanent fixture, and that its availability increases as time goes by. And I want it on tap!

 

I gave it a 4.00. After reading this thread, I would like to say that it is good these current owners of the name chose not to just "phone it in" and cash in quickly. I hope we see more of this type of work.

 

I'm sipping on the last ounces of one of my 750s. I gave it..hold on to your hats...a 4.91. Old school IPA at its very best!

Edit: I bought the bottles from a store in Jesskidden's hood. I wonder what he thinks aboot it when he tries it.

 

I live in Boston. I'm 68 and remember Bally IPA fondly when it was made in Cranston. The Current version is a disaster and bears little to no resemblance to the original. The grain is wrong, there is no residual sweetness to balance the ibu's , no hop flavor or aroma. A disaster for a beer that inspired Fritz Maytag and so many others that got into the craft beer movemt.

BTW I still have a few bottles of the version brewed in Cranston

 

Maybe "The beer that kept the craft revolution alive". Good stuff though.

 

I didn't care for it, but it wasn't a bad beer. It's very much what you'd expect from an older recipe IPA. It's very bitter, very dry, and the hops tend toward resinous and piney. Reminds me a little of some Green Flash stuff. Nothing remotely tropical or "juicy".

 

It's old style, but I found it rather outstanding at 4.25.

 

I like these assessments and agree. Ballantine IPA certainly can be polarizing, because it is so different. I think Ballantine IPA has some staying power specifically because it is a very different than most of today's fruity tropical IPAs. Whether they like it or not, it's unlikely anyone will forget about it, which I can't say for so many other same-ish IPAs on shelves. That it has roots firmly planted in brewing history certainly helps too. If nothing else, it's a beer to try at least once to get some appreciation of American brewing history. If I was Pabst I would rather make/sell a beer that stands out from the crowd even if it's polarizing. You don't need to please everyone to be successful.

It's still a reasonable case price for most craft IPAs. However, I have seen Ballantine IPA on tap a few times, which would likely be the freshest and cheapest way to try this beer.