Ballast Point Brewing Company- Sculpin India Pale Ale: Mount Worthy

Christina rules!!  Christina is the lovely and wonderful girlfriend of fellow TGBOAT founder/contributor Wes.  Before Christmas, Wes told me that Christina was heading to southern California to visit her family for the holidays.  What’s more important is that I found out that Christina was flying to SoCal and was going to be driving back.  Driving back equals me asking Christina, “If I give you a list of beers to pick up for me while in Cali would you get them for me?”  Being the amazingly awesome chick she is, she said, “yes.”  So I put together a list and sent it over to her.  One of the beers on the list was Ballast Point Brewing Company’s Sculpin IPA.  I have read through multiple websites on the internet that continually rate Sculpin IPA as one of the top IPAs in the country.  Reading this over and over made it such that I had to have one to try for myself.  So upon my visit to see Wes and Christina after the holidays, low and behold, stacked in my bounty of craft beers was a bomber of Ballast Point Brewing Company’s Sculpin IPA.  Can you say, “kid in a candy store?”  I am excited to find out what all the hype is about and if this brew truly is the catch of the day.  Sculpin IPA is poured and ready.

Ballast Point Brewing Company classifies this brew as an India Pale Ale (IPA) and their website describes Sculpin IPA as, “The Sculpin is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. It showcases bright flavors and aromas of apricot, peach, mango & lemon. The lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops."

This delicious Ballast Point Ale won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup 2010 in the International Pale Ale category. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on it’s fins that can give a strong sting.

Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the tastiest. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.”

Sculpin IPA pours a hazy/unfiltered golden orange with a 1 ½” off white head.  The aroma is blasts of citrus and fruit with hints of hops and can only be described as heavenly.

Pardon my French but “Holy Fuck!”  This is beyond anything I have ever tasted when it comes to IPAs.  I am completely blown away and damn near speechless.  Sculpin has a unique flavor that is all IPA but at the same time levels above almost any other IPA I’ve ever had.  Sculpin IPA starts out citrusy and fruity all while being hoppy and transitions to a malt/fruit sweetness that is near perfection and then finishes perfectly with a hop flavor to die for.  I am soooo pissed that I only have one bottle and my dumbass decided to share it with Steve as opposed to hording it all to myself.  But then again, beer is a social beverage and I wouldn’t be doing my civic duty if I didn’t share it.  Everything I read about Sculpin IPA was dead on.  This is an amazing Craft Beer that should be experienced by anyone that can get their hands on a bottle.  I just wish I could get it here in the Chicagoland area.  As for Sculpin IPA, like any good catch, this one’s getting mounted on the wall to remind me of this epic experience.

ABV: 7.0%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy a Keg