Ballantine IPA

American IPA | Year-Round | United States

By Pete Garofalo

Judges Rating: 88
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 7
Overall Impression: 16

Resinous, piney hop aromas are fresh and appealing, fading as caramel malt emerges. Fruity esters add an accent of strawberries and citrus fruit: tangerine and mandarin orange. A more restrained bready, grainy malt character is secondary. The initial flavor is quite caramelly sweet, with hints of toffee and toasty grain. A notable surge of hop character (flavor and bitterness) washes through mid-taste, bringing the overall impression back into balance. The finish is clean as the bitterness and carbonation-driven acidity dry the mouthfeel. This is a very flavorful beer, with a blend of fruity esters, caramel malt, and fi rm bitterness that are not quite integrated.