Ballast Point Brewing Even Keel
What the brewers say
“Ten different malts and six different hops combine to create this full-flavored, small beer. This session ale is herbaceous with additional citrus aromas of lemon and grapefruit. The orange to copper hue draws you in.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Pineapple, mango, and orange with little to no malt or yeast character on the nose. A rich wave of tropical fruit hops that evoke mango, pineapple, and a bit of coconut. Solid nose promises a real beer. Light pine and resin.”
Flavor: “Pineapples, bananas, and mangoes. Long bitterness that’s slightly harsh atop a weaker than expected malt body. As it is, the fruit flavor falls somewhat at compared to the aroma. The assertive bitterness is a bit out of balance because there’s not much malt to balance it. Bitterness dominates the finish—the earthy hops avor sticks around for a little while, but doesn’t have as much staying power.”
Overall: “A decent attempt at making a sessionable IPA, but the overall impression is thin and one-dimensional. The lovely aroma suggests more than is delivered on the palate.”
