Aloha Sculpin starts with one of the most decorated IPAs in San Diego history and asks a yeast strain to do the tropical work. Ballast Point brewed its award-winning Sculpin IPA with Brux Trois yeast, which throws off mango, pineapple, and guava notes without any fruit actually going into the beer. The idea is clever, and the execution is a beer that tastes like a vacation version of an old favorite.

The basics

• Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)
• Style: American IPA (Aloha Sculpin)
• ABV: 7%
• IBU: 70

What to expect

Aloha Sculpin pours a brilliant golden orange with a slight haze and a thick, fluffy head. The aroma leads with mango and pineapple, backed by a soft tropical sweetness from the yeast. On the palate it keeps the Sculpin backbone: a smooth malt base, tropical fruit up front, and a firm grapefruit rind bitterness that builds into a long, dry finish. The yeast adds a subtle tart edge and a smooth mouthfeel that sets it apart from the original, though the classic citrus and pine hop character still shows through underneath.

It is a full-strength IPA at 7%, so it drinks bigger than its beachy name suggests. Pair it with spicy food, grilled seafood, or anything that can stand up to the bitterness.

Our rating

6/10

Rated by Alex (6). Alex puts this one at a 6, and that feels right for a beer that is good but not quite the sum of its parts. The tropical yeast character is fun and genuinely different, but it softens some of what makes the original Sculpin great, and the malt sweetness can lean a little heavy. Worth trying for the twist, especially if you already love Sculpin, but the classic still wins head to head.