An IPA with a fish on the label, where have we seen that before… Oh yeah, the Bell’s Two Hearted that Shane reviewed a while back. Must be something with good IPAs and fish, I’m not sure what it is. Ballast Point, based in San Diego, CA has been brewing beers since 1992 and the Big Eye IPA is their standard IPA. They claim that the Big Eye’s “full hop flavor is guaranteed to please the palate of the true hop head.” Let’s see if this holds true.

Poured from a 12oz bottle this 7% ABV IPA pours a classic orange/deep amber color with a one and a half finger white head that is sure to enhance the floral notes of the beer. There is some sticky lacing as the head diminishes down to a slight covering on the beer. The Big Eye has a decent hop aroma that is pleasantly floral and grassy. It also has some nice citrus elements on the nose that I can only hope are reflected in the taste.

The Big Eye is balanced and crisp with a small amount of carbonation. The beer is decently bitter, but not overly so; about what you would want from a standard IPA. The flavors consist of a bit of caramel, citrus, grapefruit, and some decent malt character. Most of the bitterness is up front allowing some of the fruit elements to come out and play more towards the end, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.

The Ballast Point Big Eye IPA is a great go to IPA, as it’s easy drinking and provides all the necessary IPA characteristics. It is not an “extreme IPA” but it is certainly one that any hop-head can appreciate. I would certainly love to try this on tap as I’m sure it only improves.

Overall: 8.5/10