Big Eye IPA

On the outskirts of San Diego, there is an industrial park. If you drove past it on Route 15, you wouldn’t bat an eye. It looks like just another industrial park. But it isn’t. Tucked behind one of the nondecript offices is Ballast Point Brewing Company, the city’s first craft brewery.

The Big Eye is an excellent example of  the American India Pale Ale, which features a much heftier package of hops than the traditional British version.  This brew defty focuses on a single varietal of hops, the Centennial. It’s floral and citrus aromas have been a cornerstone of American brewing since the 1990′s, when the hop was first harvested commercially on the West Coast.

The beer starts with a dense malt that  is reminiscent of  salt water taffy.  Caramel notes soon wade into an ocean of hops.  Grapefruit and kiwi flavors with a background of pine tar  are the principle flavors, with a touch of  fresh flowers and basil on the finish. The creamy medium bodied structure keeps the hops in line , along with a median level of carbonation.