Beer - #626 - Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA *Redux*

I can't help it that I'm easily led. This time astray by the Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA. Again.

Something that has a sting but tastes great

At 7% ABV a one litre bottle is about 6.8 standard drink units in NZ, and some 210 calories a serve size. Comes in at 70 IBU things. 

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and of course near Sea World in San Diego, California USA.

The Sculpin IPA is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. Founded in 1992, the Mart continues to be a catalyst for the San Diego brewing scene, setting the trend for handcrafted ales.

[caption id="attachment_11402" align="alignleft" width="300"] I know what's coming![/caption]

Inspired by our customers, employees and brewers, the Sculpin IPA is bright with aromas of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Its lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops.

This delicious Ballast Point Ale took a Bronze Medal at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival in the Pro Am category.

The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the most tasty. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.

So what could possibly go wrong with that?  I remember being a bit middling. I also know that this is regarded as being a bit of a winner. 

Aroma is sticky sweet pine, very rich sweet., the aroma is quite subtle and muted really, it's not a bit boast of a thing.

Pour is lovely golden orange with an excitable large fully white head os some substance. The aroma remains quite and reserved, a hint of grass and pine, but an over-riding sweetness. It's very inviting.

It's a burst of bitterness carried on a lovely sweet malt, delivering a lovely citrus fruity mouthfeel and a slightly to the dry finish, but not arid.

You can tell why this remains a firm favourite of IPA drinkers, it has pretty much all the boxes ticked, without any of the IPA madness that you can also get.

It's not shy on the alcohol content either, with it being slightly stronger than some beers, it's not a session beer, despite it's session drinking taste and profile.

Then though, what is is you want from a top shelf IPA? Well I'd have expected, bitterness, warm sweetness in the middle, some pine or citrus thing like grapefruit perhaps and a dry finish. Somehow this manages to dial down the bitterness and the sweet backbone somewhat, making this a very good standard IPA, but not memorable.

Thing is there are lot of really good middle-of-the-road IPA beers available, and I know that sometimes you keep reaching for the next level, this one though seem content to be in the pack and the the middle. Which is fine, because this is a fine beer. A very fine beer. Where I remember to remember that it's about this beer, not the beer I think I'm having or want, but the one I have.

I left it for a bit, and when I came back it had become 'sticker' in the tastes, a lot more resinous and piney, and sticky and lingering, all those things.  Does it make it better?

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its random things from the thing. It's very good, but it's then somehow it's become a middle of the pack beer. At one point this was the bar though, and it needs to be enjoyed and appreciated because it's very good. 

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? Yes, it really is accessible, enjoyable and moorish, it's just good.


• Would I have another? I've had a few, they're always the same, enjoyable etc etc


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? There is no reason that this wouldn't be welcome to any beer drinker, I'm sure the bitterness wouldn't or shouldn't put off any beer drinker, but I've been known to be wrong.

Music for this.  ' Tito & Tarantula '  who are an American chicano rock/stoner rock band formed in Hollywood California in 1992. This is a track  ' After Dark Snake Dance '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnL4dtqIY8

INDIA PALE ALE & IPA

India Pale Ale gets its name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. This style has an intense hop flavor which was used to preserve the beer for the long voyage. India Pale Ale has a golden to copper color with a medium maltiness and body. The aroma is moderate to very strong. IPAs work especially well at cutting the heat of chili, vindaloo or Sichuan cuisine.

Beer - #454 - Ballast Point - Tongue Buckler

I had a couple of very good IPA beers today, New Zealand ones,  and not I digress and continue with this one, a Ballast Point Tongue Buckler Imperial Red Ale

Our Tongue Buckler Imperial Red Ale doesn’t pull any punches. This is a big brew with hops and malt in extreme abundance. The I.B.U.’s (International Bitterness Units) alone test the limits of your palate. Yet while the timid should take warning, Tongue Buckler generously rewards the bold with an exceptional ale experience

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company this of course in the style that would be : American Strong Ale or, Imperial/Double Red Ale, and they are as always based in San Diego, California USA

Gosh, 107 IBU things, in this a bottle that contains a beer of 10% ABV,  300 calories a serve, and in NZ this would be for the 650ml therein a 5.13 standard drink unit's worth of beer.

[caption id="attachment_9390" align="alignright" width="300"] I wave a bottle ![/caption]

Prepare to walk the plank to an Ale of overwhelming proportions. More hops & more malts than any land lubber can handle.

After this experience...your tongue will be buckled. The I.B.U.’s (International Bitterness Units) are off the scale on this ale.

Be forewarned, those with a timid palate, this is not a wee beer! Handcrafted in small batches for those sailing the seas in search of great ales.

Get in!!!

Beer - #426 - Ballast Point - Indra Kunindra

I've had strange beers in the past, notably the Rogue Donut ones, but this Ballast Point- Indra Kunindra might set a new mark.

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style that is described either as a Foreign Stout or you might see it as Spice/Herb/Vegetable and they are in the lovely San Diego, California USA

"Brewed with madras curry, caynne pepper, cumin, toasted coconut, and kaffir lime leaf, Indra Kunindra is a 9% ABV stout brewed in collaboration with homebrewer Alex Tweet. It was brewed for Holiday Wine Cellar’s 46th Anniversary Homebrewers Competition. First batch at 9%, others at 7%."

This is a 650 ml bottle (22 fl oz) of a beer that is 50IBU things, and 7% ABV. Also calories in this beer are 210 a serve size.  oh this is 3.5 standard drink units in NZ.

Our India-style Export Stout is a unique collaboration with award-winning homebrewer Alex Tweet. Released in limited quantities, this explosion of South Asian flavors is reason enough to kneel down and thank the heavens. It’s further proof of San Diego’s status as a brewer’s playground, and a beer lover’s utopia.

It is then with slight trepidation that I open this.

Beer - #386 - Ballast Point - Fathom India Pale Lager

It's a Sunday, I wanted a quiet beer to get me to the end of a nice weekend, so here it is Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager. 

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style that is  Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils and they are in San Diego, California USA

This is a 650ml bottle,  it is @ 7% ABV, which would be 210 a serve  (385 for the bottle) calories and 70 IBU things on the scale if things, which is more bitter than an ESB, Stout or your average IPA. Oh and about 3.6 standard drink units in NZ.

Lager meets IPA in a winning combination.

[caption id="attachment_8366" align="alignleft" width="300"] why no have a Selfster[/caption]

Our Fathom India Pale Lager combines time-honored lagering techniques with the hop profiles of a West Coast IPA recipe. The cold-fermenting lager yeast provides a clean base that allows the citrus and pine aromas from the hops to really shine. The result is a gold medal beer with a refreshing, easy drinking character and just the right amount of depth.

So a weird mash up on the face of it, but it does seem to resonate with people

Beer - #354 - Ballast Point - Dorado Double IPA

Another IPA. Another from Ballast Point.

I quite like the Ballast Point beers - this one their Dorado Double IPA.  Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company and of course in the style of an Imperial/Double IPA and they are in San Diego, California USA

A 650ml bottle of a  10% ABV beer with  288 calories a serve, 90 IBUS, this is 5.13 standard drink units in NZ.

90 IBU is mid point for DIPA beers, normal IPA tops out at about 80.

[caption id="attachment_7886" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

On a quest to make delicious beers, our brewers have continually sought creative new ways to accentuate the delightfully aromatic and flavorful qualities of hops. Hopheads rejoice! Dorado Double IPA takes hops to a new level. Mash Hopping, First Wort Hopping, Kettle Hopping, and Dry Hopping create an award winning beer that embodies San Diego’s reputation for making world class IPAs. Our bottle Robust Series gives all beer lovers an opportunity to try our most rare beers, previously available only on draft at select tap houses. Enjoy! Get the Point! World Beer Cup 2006 Bronze Award Winner

A huge, hoppy brew that will test your sea legs. our Dorado Double IPA immediately hooks you with massive hops that never stop. Mash hopping, kettle hopping and dry hopping makes this beer a serious hop lover’s prize catch. It’s an amazingly drinkable, award-winning beer that’s as beautifully balanced as it is big.

This comes with a bit of a big reputation. This bottle is also close to it's best before date.  once again I should really be paying attention.

Strong sweet bitter hops on opening.

Cloudy golden orange in the glass with a nice firm white head of some depth. Nice grassy hops aroma in the glass. Some sweet sugar like Turkish Delight type of sweet.

Really bitter, some grapefruit or passionfruit bit of resin. And then I got Orange citrus too.

Long finish with a kick of slight bitter lingering in the mouth. It's alright but not spectacular, sort of a one trick pony.

Trick glass does it's trick, thanks Spiegelau, for a beer with ever lasting head

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7.5 a of its things from the thing. I though that this might be overly bitter, if that's possible. Although it's a nicely delivered beer with some nice notes in the mouth, and on the nose. Finish is nice without being dry and cloying. It isn't however a beer you can quaff. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I'm torn on this.


2. Would I have another? I have the rest of the bottle :-)


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I couldn't because this is a big flavour beer that needs some attention or food to occupy you as well.

Talking of foods, Pork Chop, Zuchini fritters made with Besan (Gram) flour, and some spices, and a potato bake. Chops on the BBQ, it's still BBQ season ;-) Recepie on request.

Listening to music from New Orleans - including this;  Dr John- Iko Iko

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=objvCrF7XEU&w=420&h=315]

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

 

Related articles

• Ballast Point - Double Dorado


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Beer - #295 - Ballast Point - Sea Monster

Slightly Different this one, the Ballast Point Sea Monster. Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style of an Imperial Stout and they are of course in San Diego, California USA

At 10% ABV, 300 calories, and  65 IBU, this all adds up to 5.13 standard drink units. I'm not sure my doctor would approve all this, I'm not sure my liver does either.

[caption id="attachment_6381" align="alignright" width="300"] The Selfie, of course![/caption]

Sea Monster Imperial Stout is a new version of an old favorite. This hearty stout is black as the abyss and clocks in at a whopping 10% ABV, a real monster. The flavors of roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate are complamented by a velvety smoothness from the addition of un-malted barley and oats. Colombus and Amarillo hops help to balance out the huge malt character of this flavor bomb. Be careful the alcohol is well hidden and will sneak up on you if you don’t watch out. Like most scary monsters, it can be a little intimidating, but have no fear.

Our Sea Monster Imperial Stout explores the darkest reaches of the traditional oatmeal stout. This bold, rich brew first lures you in with roasted coffee notes, then grabs hold with hints of bittersweet chocolate and currant. Backed with a perfect hop balance, you’ll soon discover this is one monster of mythic proportions.

So another dark heavy, high ABV beer. It's lucky that I'm only driving a mouse and keyboard. Plus I went for a run/walk/mooch so in pdubyah-world I've earned this.

A muted coffee note on opening,  Totally dark pour, with a persistent and thick mocha head. Not a lot of the coffee aroma follows.

Really nicely bitter, that lies under a richer smoother malt taste, and it drinks ok too, with a nice finish.

There isn't a 'full' mouthfeel with this, as you sometimes get with beers, and this is a solid nicely behaved dark stout.

The coffee is present, it's pleasing and not predominant, and doesn't add to the sourness. I also get a lovely sense of the roasted malts, but there is also  the astringent note of the alcohol making itself known. This of course might be that this is a straight up honest stout, and there is nothing to mask or hide or deflect you to the alcohol content. I think drink in this you might be aware that you'd best be getting a lift home or sitting on the couch.

You know what I don't get - bitter chocolate. Unless that is the sourness that I get with this. Of course you don't get any of those raisin and fruit notes, after all this isn't a fruit beer :-)

I'm going to say that the pdubyah-o-meter rates this as an 8 which makes this very good. A beer I would be more than happy to have more of.

Music tonight is a pleasing and pleasant album tom the band  Daughter, Dinner might be some bbq chicken affair with fresh garden herbs, and some garden salad and sweet-corn. After the beer which has put me in mu happy place what could go wrong.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BucfErwPTWs&w=420&h=315]

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

Related articles

• Beer - #293 - Ballast Point - Victory at Sea


• Beer - #294 - Courage - Russian Imperial Stout


• Best of 2013: Beer


• 10-second beer review: let's hear it for Ballast Point Brewing

Beer - #293 - Ballast Point - Victory at Sea

Well indeed - from a tap into a takeaway growler - the Ballast Point Victory at Sea Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style of an Imperial/Strong Porter and they are of course in San Diego, California USA

This is a 1 litre 'jug' of a 10% ABV beer which makes it 7.89 standard drinks, this is 300 calories a serve, it's all on.  65IBU things

[caption id="attachment_6356" align="alignleft" width="300"] Of course the Selfie[/caption]

Two of the world’s oldest beverages join forces to conquer your palate. Victory at Sea embodies the art of masterful brewing by infusing a velvety Imperial Porter with pure vanilla flavor and specially-selected, hand roasted coffee. The addition of cold brewed coffee to the beer lends a subtle roasted flavor to this robust imperial porter, blending perfectly with rich vanilla and caramel undertones. By uniting two San Diego brewing traditions, Caffe Calabria freshly brewed coffee and Ballast Point beer, we have successfully created an artisanal masterpiece.

A big porter crafted to weather any storm.
Our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter is a bold, smooth brew with just the right amount of sweetness. We infused this robust porter with whole vanilla beans and San Diego’s own Caffe Calabria coffee beans. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination for your palate.

So highly recommended and just the thing on a wet and cooler evening at the end of an up and down summer.

I am expecting of course something dark with a fluffy head.

Totally heady coffee aroma on opening, and it pours a fantastic dark balk with a rich coffee head. Did I mention the coffee aroma

And a crack of vanilla that explodes in your mouth. Shucks this is good.  You get the bitterness too, it carries the coffee and vanilla nicely to a nice finish.

But for all the enthusiasm I have I'm a bit unsure about the bitterness that is quire predominant, and that is an odd observation considering I expected it to be bitter. But then there is bitter and there is subtle. This isn't very subtle, it's not very in your face but its a bit loud.

So to recap : A a nose of really nice mellow coffee, a crashing tongue tip of bitterness and then a wave of coffee and a burst of vanilla. How is this not a good thing.

The Pdubyah-O-Meter loves this the longer that it warms in the glass, and to be honest it's running out of beer as I'm supping like a thirsty man.

Go on mark it, I say to myself. I want to be be cruel and say 9.

I want to say 9 because for all it's lovely I don't really enjoy the bitterness up front. I pinch myself as this this is a bracingly good beer, it really is.

It looks fantastic, it gets better as it gets slightly warmer, I want to call MrsPdubyah to smell its aroma, she's laugh and say it's terrible, but I'd share it knowing that, you get what you expect from a beer with 65 IBU, bitterness, what you don't expect is the coffee and then the vanilla thing that is so much fun. But it's all carried on the bitterness that is a bit like the neighbour that mows the grass at 8am on Sunday, a bit necessary but a bit annoying.  I'm really trying hard to be harsh, but it isn't easy.

But it's good.  It really is. I have to say that with the music, especially the lyrics, and this, I've found my happy place a bit early.

I'm just taken how this really has a softness that envelopes you, and that was the point where the 8 standard drink units kicked in :-)  This is time to hide the phone because drunk dialling, and inappropriate photos  happen at this time.

I brought a bottle of this to drink too, this of course being from the tap  version. I should wait for tomorrow lest I end up asleep under the table.

As an aside I'm getting very close to 300 beers, and at that point I may retire, having scaled the heights and plumbed the depths.

Tonight the music is "The National" who MrsPdubyah and me had the opportunity to see live this past week, This is  The National - Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a1UoljLWrY&w=560&h=315]

Dinner a rather passable chicken curry, and a beef and spinach curry with rice, salad and roti breads.

All in all a nice evening in.

IMPERIAL/STRONG PORTER

Imperial or extra-strong porters fall in between the traditional porter, a Baltic porter, and an imperial stout. They range from around 7.5% upwards, with hefty dark malt character, but lack the overt roastiness of an imperial stout.

Related articles

• Ballast Point: Victory at Sea (Imperial Porter with Coffee and Vanilla)


• Ballast Point Victory at Sea


• Best of 2013: Beer


• Ballast Point Victory at Sea 2013 goes on sale on 10/28!

Beer - #271 - Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA

In a bottle this time, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the  style of an  India Pale Ale (IPA), and of course in  San Diego, California USA

This is a 650ml bottle of a 7%ABV beer,  with 210 calories, a serve I guess. 70 IBU things which is right in the mid point for Pale Ales. 3.6 Standard drink units, best take it easy if I'm also cooking tonight.

The Sculpin IPA is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. Founded in 1992, the Mart continues to be a catalyst for the San Diego brewing scene, setting the trend for handcrafted ales. Inspired by our customers, employees and brewers, the Sculpin IPA is bright with aromas of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Its lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops. This delicious Ballast Point Ale took a Bronze Medal at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival in the Pro Am category. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the most tasty. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.

I rated this as Good (7) last time I drank it, I felt then it was a comfortable accomplished beer, I wonder if the bottle version will be different/better.

Having achieved some exercise to an acceptable level I deserve this.

Popped with a little pop, and a burst of soft grassy hops, and sweetness. Golden orange glowing pour wit ha decent and persistent head, on a roll here with this tumbler!

This is another of those bitter beers that isn't pucker-up bitter. There is lovely tang in it, but it carries you along on a bit of a journey, a lovely journey.

The bedrock is a lovely warmth that carries the happiness and gives you a full mouthfeel, a bit of a carry and a nice finish.

I said before that this was a comfortable beer, one that does not take you near the edge, but at 7% ABV could get you into trouble if you thought it was going to be a session beer.

I still think this is a comfortable beer, I'm still not sure that it's as brilliant or outstanding as some people believe. Might be worth a taste off between some of them to set a bar or benchmark on how I view these in future.

I get some of the lemon flavour, I'm not convinced on Peach or Apricot or Mango, but might get passion fruit if you had to twist my arm.

The pdubyah-o-meter like the bottle version at a 9, high praise, making it a great beer. Which is because it's drinkable, gives you a bit back by way of taste and layers, is easily  enjoyed and reminds you that sometimes the day is to short to drink bad beer, or drink bad beer where you have fret and frown about what it is the brewer thinks he was doing.

This is a fine beer for a summer evening, looking at the sea, contemplating the seafood about to go on the barbecue, The only thing missing would be some decent music, but failing that I have Birdy.

I shall remember this beer as a beer for this #summer with great affection I think. Cheers.

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Beer - #238 - Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA

I can't help it that I'm easily led. This time astray by the Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA. In a one litre bottle from the taps take-away style. Comes Highly recommended. Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and of course near Sea World in San Diego, California USA.

At 7% ABV a one litre bottle then is about 6.8 standard drink units in NZ (4.34 in the US, and 7.7 in the UK)



The Sculpin IPA is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. Founded in 1992, the Mart continues to be a catalyst for the San Diego brewing scene, setting the trend for handcrafted ales. Inspired by our customers, employees and brewers, the Sculpin IPA is bright with aromas of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Its lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops. This delicious Ballast Point Ale took a Bronze Medal at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival in the Pro Am category. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the most tasty. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.

Accompanying me tonight is music from New Orleans: The Original sounds of Funk 1960-1975 on the LP Player, and for which I paid far far too much New Zealand money.

Lordy that was poppy when I popped the top. Mellow rich hops aroma.

As you can see, head! lots thereof.

But wait. This isn't anywhere need as puckeringly bitter as the last beer I had, the Panhead Days of Thunder, but it's much more caramel and malty balanced.

So although there is a grassy hop note with some grapefruits\grass it actually drinks a bit mellow and, dare I say, thin. For a beer that rates as highly as this I again wonder if I'm doing this right.

It is very very drinkable and this is one of those non-threatening beers that'll keep you in good company, you're not wandering too far from the middle. Safe.

Not what I expected. It's defiantly a session beer, you could be happy with this all night, and possibly the next night. There is enough to remind you you're drinking a decent beer, but not so much that you're ruining your palate. It is fur sure light drinking.

So what to make of that. This really is highly regarded, and IPA is, only in my opinion, a safe to make beer, the fact that the everyone does it should indicate that it's a something.

Is it a beer I'd rave over? I don't think it is. I like safe beers, beers that offer up a profile and engage you, without worrying you and testing you. This though is a bit like a comfortable cardigan, a bit thin and worn. The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 7 being good.

I wonder if the idea that harsher and harsher beer is a path that you end up taking, more IBU's more more, instead of thinking about a balance and drinkability. Trying to find an extreme, I may have voiced this before. The Ballast Point Sculpin is a good beer, and I'd happily forego many other beers to have this on a night out, you're going to get a buzz on, and you're not going to end up with that horrible full mouth carnage. This is a bit bitter, a bit sweet, had a bit of carry but not much and ends up being all supped and gone before you know it. That is it's strength, it's doing a clever thing very well.

Perhaps this is the benchmark and I've been harsh. I'll have the other pint and decide later.

The New Orleans Funk was ok, although the idea that you can only get 12-13 minutes on a side of vinyl is a bit low-rent and frankly awkward, I'd rather a good old fashioned full side of music, which should be more than 4 tracks, perhaps 8 and 23 minutes? At least they are 33rpm and not 45rpm versions. The clarity and quality faultless, danceability a little low, but I could get my groove in if I didn't have to stop every few minutes to flip the thing, or reset the needle on the groove. Unlike many vinyl records does not come with a MP3 download or CD thrown in, so I can't enjoy this and enjoy it in the car. Would I spend another NZ$50 on the volume 2 or 3 ? I might, I'd blanch at the price but I just might.

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Beer - #98 - Ballast Point - Big Eye IPA

Big Eye IPA is Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA)
and that all happens in San Diego, California USA.

If you have fallen for the IPA style like we have, Big Eye will be a welcome addition to your repertoire. You’ll revel in Big Eye’s bitter, hoppy flavor thanks to the American Columbus and Centennial hops that are used to flavor and dry hop our flagship IPA. We thank our hops every day that the English loved their bitters—or else the IPA style may not have been born to help the beer survive the journey from Cape Hope to India back in the 18th century.

I like the self confidence that they have in this. In the American way this is  a 6.5% ABV beer, in a giant 650ml bottle, which looks very old world in style, but not that i'd generally comment on the container. 650ml though is an awkward sized thing though, a glass and a half.

I'm expecting bitter and grassy from the hops, and I'm also expecting a warm malty finish. Is what I expect from this.

The aroma is instantly familiar bitter beer smell, it's fantastic deep rimu colour, and has a fair head on it. So far so good.

The hops are twangy and there is the undernote of the malts and caramel. It isn't overly grassy (hoppy) and has a decent length.  Yeah that's not half bad. I get also a floral taste, which is nicer than it sounds and is actually a bit pleasant.  I don't think I can rave about this being a leader or breaking new ground for a beer, but it's in the leading breakaway pack. But it is very competent, very very competent. and accomplished, and that's pretty much on the money for an beer, and this would be a beer for a session.

The sad thing is that as a session beer I find that I'm home alone enjoying this, Neville-no-mates, and  that's a pity because I wish there were others here and I could get all up in the face about how much of a party in my mouth this is. I started, as I always do with a new beer, enjoying and savouring each sip (gulp) and with this I just ended up enjoying it as a quaffing beer. It's sneakily a very good beer.

If you like IPA you could do a lot worse than getting your own party in a bottle, the Pdubyah-o-meter doesn't have an issue with making this an easy 8 random things from its  own random measure, resulting in  something I'd go out of my way to drink.

Not all the way to San Diego to drink, but if there is ever an opportunity, and after we've been to Sea World then Ballast Point would be getting a reservation for a big night in.

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