3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20 radagast83 (5959) - Fairfax, Virginia, USA - AUG 18, 2015
Draft at the Ballast Point Tasting Room. Poured a light, clear amber color with a small white head. Aroma was intense hop notes, lots of distinct red ale notes. Resin, some sweet notes that were pleasant. A touch boozy.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 badhack (434) - San Francisco, California, USA - AUG 13, 2015
Light malt, medium body, hot, crisp, fruity finish. Golden, light color. Alcohol is masked.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20 dwyerpg (4918) - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - JAN 20, 2015
This was a decent hoppy amber. It definitely has the sweetness that I find sometimes mixed with the malts in ambers that Im not huge on, but the amount of hops made it pretty good.
3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20 GarrettB (1256) - San Diego, California, USA - DEC 30, 2014
June 2nd, 2013 - Im not completely informed about how the Home Brew Mart series fits in with the pantheon of Ballast Point brews, except that there is a small batch "pilot system" putting out these brews. That implies some risk taking, which I like. Ferkins can be either fantastic or flops, and I hope the same goes here, because for every batch of flops I have, that one phenomenon beer is a palatable landmark. The pioneering Batch #1 is a Hoppy Red Ale, a style I definitely trust Ballast Points seers to guide with capable hands. It pours with a nice deep, mahogany brown and a solid centimeter of gripping, cedar brown foam. Theres a clear hoppy edge in the aroma, that rusty, wet-metal-in-the-rain sort of scent that always makes me think of the Pacific Northwest. There are touches of flowers and cherries too, to sweeten up the bouquet. The flavor is a bit flatter, with that same humid hoppiness and an active mouthfeel, and an aftertaste that echoes with a surprisingly rich chocolate flavor, and a low, flickering shadow of that earlier, cutting hops. Its a great start, and while its not complex, the flavors are clear and clean.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 jonnyguns (1102) - AUSTRALIA - OCT 11, 2014
Draft at Ballast Point. Pours a deep copper. Nose has pine, citrus and heavy toffee/caramel malts. Taste is citrus pine needle with a massive wack of caramel and toffee. Well balanced. Lasting dry bitterness.
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 slowrunner77 (7582) - Reno, Nevada, USA - SEP 11, 2014
"Oddly spicily hopped and malted...lots going on, some working together, some solo, some flavors seemingly pitted againts each other, but what you end with works. Not a lot to compare this too, even in the style. The only real flaw is the abv shows a bit, but it was definitely enjoyed."
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 12/20 chinchill (3239) - South Carolina, USA - JUL 23, 2014
On tap at the Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen.
Clear dark red-brown with a vey nice beige head. A little spotty lacing
Feel: medium to medium-full body; smooth for style; Medium carbonation.
Smell: hmm. not as expected and a bit dank, but a clear hop presence.
Taste: lightly spicy, moderate-high hoppy; faint malt backbone.
O: interesting but not relatively strong among BPs offerings.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 bhensonb (12795) - Woodland, California, USA - JUN 25, 2014
Bomber from CraftShack. Pours dark orange copper with a beige head. Aroma of mixed malts, maybe even chocolate, with a lot of hop. Citrus mostly? Med + body. Flavor is malty, hint of chocolate, and enough earthy fruity hop to bring dank to mind. Not really bitter bitter in the finish, but bitter enough to hold down all the malt. Lots of flavor in this ale.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20 SDalkoholic (2261) - Linda Vista, California, USA - OCT 24, 2013
Bottle from South Bay Liquor: Fragrant aroma that delivers a heaping serving of fresh green hops that suggest pine and citrus while chances of rye like malts lurk in the distance. Appearance was a deep amber red with a orange tinted transparency along the edges. Head developed thick and fluffy at first but eventually crawled downwards and left a standard layer of foam. The drink is a combination of flavors that bring about bitter almost salty like tastes across my tongue yet levels of semi sweet malts round the body out. This beer is well crafted and holds a sturdy structure with just the right dosage of flavorings of malt and hop mixture. Good fair price which means this should sell through fast.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 daleharshman (982) - San Diego, California, USA - OCT 3, 2013
Bomber purchased at the brewery in Scripps Ranch ($4.25). Pours a lovely red-garnet color with two fingers of light tan head. AROMA of very bright and fragrant citrus, spicy and herbal hop notes, wet pine needles, and some caramel maltiness. Flavor of bitter and herbal hops with hoppy notes of grapefruit / lime / pine and brewed black tea (with lemon) followed by a smooth caramel and toasted malt presence. Finishes with some lingering bitterness. Even though it took me a few months to open this bottle, the hops stayed strong and fresh. A very hoppy and juicy "amber." (30, 815)
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