Most people that enjoy beer will recognize these two brewers. Ballast Point Brewing out of San Diego, CA is known from coast to coast, and the Sculpin IPA is a flagship beer in their lineup. As their website notes, it’s “a trophy beer that’s a testament to their homebrew roots.” I’ve always found this to be the case, so I’m glad to finally have the chance to duel it.
Avery Brewing, out of Boulder, CO is another powerhouse that’s known nationally as a brewer that pushes boundaries with it’s experimental offering. Among that lineup is a beer I haven’t tried before in The Real Peel, an IPA flavored with tangerine peel. Let’s see how it went.
HopDuel Survey
| Better label | Avery Brewing The Real Peel IPA |
| Better aroma | Avery Brewing The Real Peel IPA |
| Better taste | Avery Brewing The Real Peel IPA |
| Better finish | Ballast Point Brewing Sculpin IPA |
| Winner | Ballast Point Brewing Sculpin IPA |
Tell us about it
I’m not sure I would have been able to tell these beers apart in a blind taste test. Both had very similar flavors, a refreshing citrus of tangerine from the Avery Real Peel, and a mixture of apricot, peach, mango and lemon from the Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. Although they are clearly different, my palate found them strikingly similar.
What put the Ballast Point Brewing Sculpin IPA over the top was a subtle kick in the aftertaste that left me with a strange tingling sensation. It was a welcome surprise that deviated just enough to set it apart from the competition.
HopDuel 