Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin IPA
Vital Statistics
From the brewer
Our Sculpin IPA with Habanero Pepper began as a crazy experiment that’s taken on a life of its own. While its bright fruit notes and hoppy bite has made the original one of our favorites, this version takes that balance of flavors to the next level with the citrusy, floral heat of habaneros. Sculpin are known to sting, but this one’s got a kick.
Average Scores
Overall: 
(logged 7 times)
(logged 7 times)Draft: 
(logged 3 times)
(logged 3 times)Bottle: (logged 4 times)
(logged 4 times)Who's been drinking this
Still quite spicy. Still very good. Don't drink this at the beginning of a flight.
Still surprisingly good - fresh, citrus hop fragrance, opening effervescence and good cereal malt body, and then BOOM. I think the habanero was stronger out of the bottle than on draft, almost too strong. That dings it a bit. It did make me want to explore the regular Sculpin sooner, rather than later, though.
Smells like a normal IPA, but behind the inviting smell lies a pretty fiery beverage. The IPA flavors are still present but pretty much eclipsed by the pepper flavors and spiciness. Appart from its spiciness the habanero flavor is very noticeable and seems to evoke cheese flavors often paired with peppers. Overall very well made, but it's spicy enough that I wouldn't to drink more then a taster without some kind of greasy food.
Great example of how to add capsaicin to a beer without ruining it (*cough* Stone Crime *cough*). Smells of citrus and fruit, but on the palate those weren't that prevalent, instead a decent amount of malt balanced it out. Not much in terms of resin. Finish is bitter and quite spicy.
Remarkably well-balanced for something that is decidedly spicy. I haven't had the regular Sculpin, but the fruit, fragrance and resin are dialed way down in this beer, leaving a good malt body and a dry, bitter finish that complements the spice very well. I've had a run of good luck with chili beers lately, and this is one more.