Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin

Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin is an American IPA brewed with Natural Pineapple Flavors, 7% ABV.

Pours with a crystal clear, lightly golden color and a big fluffy white head. Sweet and fruity on the nose with a lot of sweet candy pineapple. Given the aroma I was really expecting more fruit in the taste, but I’m just not getting it. A bit of caramel malt starts the taste along with a rush of solid straight bitterness. Some notes of orange and a little pineapple comes out in the taste towards the finish.

I felt like Grapefruit Sculpin really accentuates the taste of Sculpin, so much so that I prefer it to the base beer. As much as I love pineapple flavor and aroma in an IPA, this smells and tastes a bit forced. Not a bad beer, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me.