Blue Ridge (SC) Ball n Chain IPA

Brewed by Blue Ridge Brewing Co. (SC)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Greenville, South Carolina USA

Date: 09/22/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: hazy amber, thin fine beige head, lots of lace,
Aroma: light sweet carmel malt aroma with light citrus hops,
Body: very creamy body,
Flavor: lots of nice hop flavor blending into a long mellow bitter finish, just enough carmel sweetness to add some balance and complexity, very nice, the bitterness grows a bit to the point of distraction in the full pint
-------- /> Date: 03/30/2007
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub
Score: 3.3 to 3.4

same as before except instead of the bitterness growing the sweet fruity citrus character grows,
-------- /> Date: 04/13/2008
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub

Aroma: touch of fresh sourdough bread in the aroma,
Flavor: crystal malt flavor has a touch of the fruity sweetness but is well balanced by the citrus and earthy hops, hop flavor and bitterness stay in balance throughout the pint allowing the fruityness to grow, nice lasting bitter finish,
-------- /> Date: 05/17/2008
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub

more of the citrus and fruity character coming out, lighter on the bitterness to allow the malt and hops to come forward,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **+/4

Sampled from Growler courtesy of Zrrbrrt. Poured a medium and cloudy amber color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of skunky pot, floral, earthy, caramel, trace of citrus, and a wet pile of leaves. As soon as we opened the Growler, the skunky pot aroma hit me. I should soak some wrapping paper in this and smoke it to see what happens! Tastes of earth, citrus, and a trace of caramel. Earthy all the way around. Lightly bitter on the Hopdog bitterness scale.

on tap @HopfestNC-pours a retaining light tan head that laces and cloudy gold color. Aroma is citrus hops-cascade and others. Taste is citrus hops-cascade and others, secondary medium malt-caramel. OK carbonation.

Thanks to Josh for sharing this growler. Pours a translucent golden amber with a bubbly off white head that left some lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, earthy and piney hops, toffee, Flavor of pine, grapefruit, some carmal and earthiness. On the thin side for sure.

Pours a clear gold color with a thick white head. Smells of spicy hops, some grapefruit citrus, and mild malts. The flavor has some of that grapefruit citrus from the hops, which made for a slightly bitter finish and lingering aftertaste. Pretty crisp on the palate, with a clean finish. Not a bad little IPA. Very drinkable and refreshing.

Pint at the brewpub. Pours super cloudy with thick lacing and a tall white head. It’s a really nice looking IPA and raises my expectations a bit. Unfortunately, the hop aroma is fairly weak. Some grapefruit and woody bitterness arises along with hints at apples. The flavor is humbly bitter, solid, but not in my face. Everything does meld together cleanly and nicely, but I’d like to see more hop individuality. This seems like a British/American hybrid. It’s drinkable for sure.

Not a bad IPA. Pours out a golden color with a nice head. Aroma is grassy with notes of citrus and hops. Flavor very much the same, but the finish was very thin. I liked this one though. it was a nice IPA

This was not nearly as good as the Ball N Chain DIPA.Poured a reddish orange with very little head or lacing. While there was a hint of citrusy hops in the nose, this was mostly drowned out by the graininess that dominated. Mouthfeel was thin and tingly, and the initial flavor was sour fruit, which was fine, but then it too was quickly overtaken by the taste of grains. Dry, uneventful finish. I’sd save the money and just drink a BMC before hitting this one again.