Has Ballast Point's quality changed post-sellout?

When I first tried a Sculpin, which was around the time it was becoming well known, and, distribution spread to here in Ohio, it was impressive. I got a very fresh six pack and it was one of those IPAs where a dank blast of hop aroma wafts to your nose the moment you pop the cap - in fact, the only beer I have had previously or since, that was more impressive in that regard, was an extremely fresh Nelson Imperial IPA.

Sadly, it seems that (here in the midwest?) getting an IPA with a strong fresh aroma ranging from the smells of a pine forest, to dank marijuana smells, to tropical fruits is quite rare and exceptional, like trying to spot a magic elf amongst a the crowded hubub of a busy Manhattan sidewalk? Yes, it's all to easy to find "bitter bombs" which assault the taste buds and mouth without wowing our noses. I sometimes wonder, has something happened to deeply dull my sense of smell? Does drinking many IPAs simply destroy one's ability to smell hops very clearly?!?

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA seems to be one to have withstood the demands of scalling up to meet large audiences, but, I've never known it to have the most dank/piney/floral hop aroma, just to be well balanced by delicious malts and other beer flavors so as to stay far away from the "1 note watery bitter bomb" that some DIPAs are (I'm looking at you, Fathead).

 

Just now seeing this reply for some reason.

Progress report: still going strong. Haha.

 

I have had Sculpin, Unfiltered Sculpin, and Manta Ray within the last few weeks on draft and I thought all of them were excellent.

 

I've had fresh Sculpin recently and there's no way that I would score it a 4.92 again.

 

Funny how Ballast Point's website mentions nothing whatsoever yet about Corona's buyout.

 

Just like when Lagunitas started making Sucks year round I think Ballast Point has gone through the same shift. Sculpin flew off the shelves around here at first. Then it didnt. Then it was 8 - 12 months old and was a much different beer than it is 2 weeks old. Not saying its bad when its older, just not my cup of tea. I like my IPAs wet behind the ears.

 

In addition, interestingly enough their mainstay imperial porter Victory at Sea is a coffee imperial porter, which like any other coffee beer also loses its oomph as it gets older. And again, I like to be smacked in the face with coffee when I drink a coffee beer. I wish some of these breweries would stop distributing so far, its ruining the fun!

 

I never enjoyed Ballast Point to begin with. For me, Sculpin was way over rated and the Sculpin based variants were very unremarkable at best.

 

It's hard for me to keep track of their quality because they are always coming out with something new. If I feel like grabbing a Sculpin or Big Eye they have something new on the shelf that I end up giving a try. The end result is that the beer I would have purchased now sits on the shelf and gets old. That means that when I do end up buying most of the more classic Ballast Point beers they are past their prime. This in turn makes it even more unlikely that I will buy that beer again.

 

Victory at Sea was once my all-time favorite beer. However, I firmly believe it is not as good as it used to be. I was unaware that they had been sold at the time (only found out relatively recently as I've not paid super close attention to the craft beer scene until recently). It has become cloyingly sweet.

It could be that my palate has changed, I realize. But, at the same time, I have to say that I don't like it at all now. The Commodore is still great, though.

 

Still love ballast point. And will pick up gf Sculpin, Sculpin, manta ray granion whatever, when I can find it fresh. Which sometimes they are shelf turds yes, but new shipments come around a lot more every few months than they used to since the buyout. So I see it as a positive. Nothing tastes "the same" always to me. Even enjoy by, the same six pack one night will taste highly of alcohol, the next night it'll be super juicy like I grew accustom to. Same with Pliny or any other beer. It always changes depending what you've had to eat or whatever. Ballast point still rules to me. And if I see it fresh I will still pick it up without thinking twice.

 

Their quality started going down hill 2-3 years ago, imo.

 

I just bought a very fresh Sculpin Variety 12pk last weekend,,,(Sculpin GF Sculpin, PA Sculpin), I don't drink Ballast Point all the time so not a great reference point for decreasing quality here.....what I can say is all 3 were delicious and I'd buy again - no hesitation.

 

Brewbound - New Packaging, Lower Pricing on Tap at Ballast Point

 

I like the new can design and a price drop. I think they will be able to compete now.

 

If you mean change in quality as in a change of recipe then yes. Not the same anymore.

 

Never drank much Ballast Point good beer but overpriced.

 

I was in the habit of giving the new beers a try. Seems they were headed down the flavor variation path already (before the sale). I don't have hard data, but it seems the beers linger a bit on the shelves. I don't know if it's some people boycotting, transitions from one flavor to the next or what. It's still the same distributor. I tend toward the fresher of what's available but the beer is pretty good. Not wow, but other than a coupke (like Victory at Sea, GF Sculpin and a couple others) I didn't think they wow in the first place.

 

If I find victory at sea in cans at 10.99 a sixer I will buy the fuck out of it.

 

That Red Velvet beer was garbage when it first came out. I hate Nitro beers so much. They kill the flavor and body completely.