Watermelon Dorado takes Ballast Point’s famously hoppy Dorado Double IPA and gives it a summer twist: a blast of real watermelon flavor layered over the base beer’s massive hop profile. It is a beer built for hot weather, beach barbecues and anyone who likes their double IPA with a fruity streak. It is also, at 10%, a beer that deserves respect.

The basics

• Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)
• Style: Double IPA (Watermelon)
• ABV: 10%
• IBU: 90

What to expect

Watermelon Dorado pours hazy gold to light amber with a white head. The watermelon shows up immediately, fresh and unmistakable, backed by the Dorado base: big citrus, pine and tropical hop character with a firm, resinous bitterness. The fruit keeps the beer feeling bright and summery, even as the hop bitterness and alcohol warmth build underneath.

That tension is the whole experience. The watermelon makes it dangerously drinkable for a 10% double IPA, while the 90 IBUs and the alcohol remind you, sip by sip, that this is a serious beer. It is best enjoyed cold, in a smaller pour, and ideally outdoors. Think of it as a summer seasonal with a double IPA’s backbone.

Our rating

6.0/10

Rated by Alex (6). Alex gives Watermelon Dorado a middle of the road score, and we see both sides of it. The watermelon flavor is genuine and fun, and the hop profile is unmistakably Dorado, but the combination can feel a bit much: sweet fruit and heavy bitterness pulling in different directions, with the alcohol making itself known by the end of the glass. A fun summer experiment that we enjoy in small doses.