I’ve got a pal who looks out for me, and he knows that if something interesting & “rare” comes on the market, especially if that something interesting is liquid and comes in a 22-oz. bottle, then he’d better snap one up for me. I might even pay him back. So this fella found me a 22-oz. bomber of BALLAST POINT BREWING’s “award-winning” BIG EYE IPA at Ledger’s in Berkeley, CA. It’s a beer that’s only available near their San Diego home, unless someone drives a few boxes up the I-5, which I imagine to have been the case here. It was really nice to get back into a clean, crisp, citrus-infused IPA again after so many dark and malty holiday beers. I thought the Big Eye IPA was truly special, a real classic example of a bold, intensely flavorful IPA. It poured a very deep amber gold, and it was sorta like this delicious orange- and lemon-crazed IPA, but toned down by an intense burst of hops. If you’re thinking that is sounds like a righteous, classic West Coast IPA – well, you’re right. Outstanding beer! 8.5/10.
Friday, January 12, 2007
BALLAST POINT BIG EYE IPA – TIME TO DRINK GREAT IPAs AGAIN
I’ve got a pal who looks out for me, and he knows that if something interesting & “rare” comes on the market, especially if that something interesting is liquid and comes in a 22-oz. bottle, then he’d better snap one up for me. I might even pay him back. So this fella found me a 22-oz. bomber of BALLAST POINT BREWING’s “award-winning” BIG EYE IPA at Ledger’s in Berkeley, CA. It’s a beer that’s only available near their San Diego home, unless someone drives a few boxes up the I-5, which I imagine to have been the case here. It was really nice to get back into a clean, crisp, citrus-infused IPA again after so many dark and malty holiday beers. I thought the Big Eye IPA was truly special, a real classic example of a bold, intensely flavorful IPA. It poured a very deep amber gold, and it was sorta like this delicious orange- and lemon-crazed IPA, but toned down by an intense burst of hops. If you’re thinking that is sounds like a righteous, classic West Coast IPA – well, you’re right. Outstanding beer! 8.5/10.
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3 comments:
Wholeheartedly agree. I liked that Big Eye IPA so much that I bought a bottle of their Yellow Tail Pale Ale, but have not yet tried it (and actually read some pretty disappointing reviews on it).
That availability thing may change soon. Apparently Ballast Point's distribution is going to be handled by Miller, which I'd think would increase their "area of effect".
Oh, and if you get a chance try the Dorado DIPA. Like candy.
In the past few weeks (late January 2007) I've seen a solid selection of Ballast Point beers at most BevMos in the SF Bay Area.
22oz bombers, 5-6 varieties.
I've picked up several, but have yet to actually drink one...
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