Ballast Point Victory at Sea

4.4/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20

22 ounce bottle into oversized wine glass. Pours very dark brown color with a dense 2 finger tan head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a fairly thick lacing cap. Some decent lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of huge espresso notes, with caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, and a slight bit of alcohol. Nice aromas here with good strength and balance. Taste of big espresso, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and roasted malts. Lingering notes of bitter coffee, dark chocolate, and roasted flavor on the finish with a bit of vanilla. Alcohol is well hidden, only a slight bit of warming after the finish noticed. Nice medium-full body with medium carbonation. Good creamy and slick mouthfeel that drinks surprisingly easy for 10%, but is definitely for sipping on. Overall, definitely an outstanding imperial porter. Insane mouthfeel, flavor, and balance.

More awesomeness from Ballast Point. I didn't get any more of their offerings out in NY, but rumor is they are going to distribute to Ohio soon!

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

4.6/5

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20

22 ounce bottle. Pours cloudy golden amber color with a dense 2 finger off white head with fantastic retention that reduces to a thick lacing cap that lasts. Aromas of huge pine, grapefruit, mango, orange, and some spice. Awesome aromas with good strength as well, I could smell it while I was pouring it into the glass. Taste of huge grapefruit, pine, mango, orange, and caramel. Big sweetness in the front with some bitterness. Nice amount of bitterness on the finish that lingers with pine, grapefruit, and orange flavors. Medium carbonation and body, with a good bit of resin feel as well. No alcohol noticed in the taste or finish. Extremely drinkable stuff, amazingly smooth. Overall, this is just an incredible IPA, as it warmed up it opened up a lot more flavor, amazing.

This was incredible stuff. When it was colder when I first poured it it was great, but warming up it opened up with tons of complex flavors and insane smooth drinking.