Beer Review: Sculpin IPA

Re-reviewing the Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company out of California now that I got ahold of a fresh bottle. How do I know this bottle is fresh? It came straight from the brewery! After two negative experiences with out-of-date bottles, I got in touch with Earl Kight )the director sales and marketing at Ballast Point) and he was nice enough to not only send me fresh replacement bottles of Sculpin and Big Eye IPA, but also an unexpected bottle of their Victory At Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter -- a beer I have been dying to try for quite some time! Thanks Earl. This review is for you.
Score: 93

Bottle code "SC1210612." This bottle was shipped directly from the brewery and it arrived at my door 02/14/12. Served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed 02/14/12.

Appearance: Pours a "bright" orange-yellow color that is slightly closer to translucent than transparent with a finger and a half of soapy white head that settles into a thin film atop the glass and ring around the glass. Above average amounts of lacing cling to the sides of the glass. 4.5/5

Smell: Strong doses of fresh piney hops and "bright" citrus aromas. Lemons, grapefruit and pineapple. Sweet orange juice/pineapple juice backbone. Subtle amounts of dank resin mixed with a like amount of "fresh grass clippings" aroma. Quite the pleasant contrast to the hopless orange malt aroma of the stale Sculpin I had. 4/5

Taste: Strongly bitter and piney hops upfront, mellowed out by smooth, slightly sweet citrus on the back end. Midpalate is loaded with citrus flavors -- tangerine, lemon, grapefruit and come to mind here. A sweet and juicy citrus malt backbone really balances out the bitterness. Detecting a subtle hint of hefeweizen-like yeastiness on the midpalate too. Finishes with a smooth bitterness. Surprisingly bold flavors and a good amount of hoppiness for a single IPA. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Slightly oily mouthfeel. Incredibly drinkable and refreshing. Smooth, slightly bitter finish with a mild drying effect. 4/5

Overall: Now that I have had this one fresh, I can see what all the hype is about. The flavors are pretty bold for a single IPA. Quite refreshing and drinkable. This would certainly be a go to beer for me if it was readily available in Wisconsin or Illinois. Thank you again Earl for giving me the opportunity to have this one as fresh as possible.

Recommendation: For a single IPA this one is a bit hoppy, so hop haters and casual beer drinkers should consider themselves forewarned. Everyone else needs to seek out a fresh bottle of this stuff.

Pairings: Hamburgers.

Cost: $8.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.