Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA

Beer Name: Grapefruit Sculpin IPA
Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
ABV: 7.0%
How sold: Six-packs (12 oz. bottles or 12 oz. cans) or on draft
Where bought: Johns Marketplace (Portland, OR)
Price: $2.59 for 12 oz. single

Ballast Point Date Stamp: SC 753G 15069 (753rd batch of Grapefruit Sculpin, made on the 69th day of 2015)
Date Purchased: May 9, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: May 10, 2015
IBUs: 70
When brewed? Limited-time beer.

Where distributed: Ballast Point distributes to several states. They also ship online within California.

Food Pairings: Ballast Point suggests pairing this beer with Coconut Basmati Rice, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, or Tropical Bread Pudding.

What's on the Website: "Our award-winning IPA, with a citrus twist. Our Grapefruit Sculpin is the latest take on our signature IPA. Some may say there are few ways to improve Sculpin's unique flavor, but the tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements our IPA's citrusy-hop character. Grapefruit's a winter fruit, but this easy-drinking ale tastes like summer."

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured mostly clear golden into a pint glass. Some carbonation; virtually no head after a minute or so. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Immediate grapefruit aroma, no mistaking it. Inviting and refreshing. As a grapefruit lover, there is really nothing better. 5/5

Taste (40%): Amazing grapefruit flavor with a controlled citrus-bitterness aftertaste. I get a wonderful lemony experience as well. The grapefruit and lemon stop short of getting too in-your-face. I feel like I'm drinking carbonated, diluted grapefruit juice at times. This would taste even better had I gotten an even fresher batch. Still, it's probably one of the best IPAs I've had. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Extremely refreshing; very smooth. Light-medium body with some carbonation. Just a bit dry on the tongue at the last second. 4.75/5

Overall (20%): A world-class IPA. A perfect beer for spring and summer. If you're getting this, find a store that sells the freshest batch in your area. Mine wasn't the freshest but was still outstanding. If you're a grapefruit lover, this is a must-try. It's to the point where I'd get a 6-pack just for myself. For me, it's the best Ballast Point beer around. It shouldn't be too long before Grapefruit Sculpin starts picking up numerous awards. 5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.85/5