Ballast Point Brewing Grapefruit Sculpin
Ballast Point Brewing Grapefruit Sculpin is a 7% ABV (70 IBU) India Pale Ale with grapefruit in a six-pack of 12oz cans, brewed in San Diego, California. Per Ballast Point's official page, it takes the original Sculpin IPA and adds grapefruit — a fresh squeeze of tangy tartness complementing the base beer's citrusy hop character. Ballast Point calls grapefruit a winter fruit in a beer that tastes like summer, and brews it year-round. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 7%
- IBU: 70 (producer; one retailer's packaging copy reads 68 — see flag)
- Size: 6-pack, 12oz cans
- Style: IPA with grapefruit
- Base: The original Sculpin IPA, with added grapefruit (producer)
- Origin: Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, California
Sculpin, with a Squeeze
Some fruit IPAs rebuild the beer around the fruit; Grapefruit Sculpin keeps the original Sculpin — the brewery's flagship, a World Beer Cup gold medalist in its own right — and adds one thing: grapefruit, whose tart freshness sharpens the IPA's citrus-hop profile. The result drinks brighter and juicier than the original without losing its 70-IBU spine. Find it in our craft beer range beside the original Sculpin above, browse the wider beer shelf, or visit the Ballast Point Brewing vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Grapefruit first — fresh, tangy citrus over the base IPA's hop character, per the producer. Palate: Tart grapefruit freshness through the citrusy hops, easy-drinking for its strength. Finish: Crisp bitterness with the grapefruit's pithy edge.
How to Enjoy
Serve well chilled — it is the summer serve of the Sculpin family. It pairs naturally with grilled shrimp, ceviche, and citrus-dressed salads, and makes a bright base for a beer shandy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Grapefruit Sculpin different from Sculpin? Same base IPA and same 7% ABV — the grapefruit version adds grapefruit for a tart, juicy twist on the original's citrus-hop profile, per Ballast Point.
Did Grapefruit Sculpin win the World Beer Cup? The 2010 World Beer Cup gold belongs to the original Sculpin; Grapefruit Sculpin is Ballast Point's citrus-twist version of that award-winning IPA, and holds no separately verified medal.
Is it seasonal? No — Ballast Point brews it year-round, even though the brand calls grapefruit a winter fruit in a beer that tastes like summer.
Summer in the Sculpin family — order Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
