Ballast Point Big Eye IPA

This 7.0% ABV India Pale Ale is from the Ballast Point Brewing Company of San Diego, California. The beer pours a dark copper and deep amber in color. There is a short head of off-white foam. The aroma is big orange over caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas. The finish is quite bitter, adding grapefruit. It drink both smooth and sharply carbonated (without being bubbly). This comes across as a nice, strong flavored English-style IPA. Mine is just past its "enjoy by" date, so perhaps it is different fresh?

April 2014:  Well, a year later I give it another try. The label has changed, the freshness date is smudged, so I don't know if it is fresher than last time. The beer pours a clear and gleaming copper in color. There is a medium head of off-white foam. The aroma is orange, passion fruit, a touch spicy and earthy, over fairly strong caramel malt. The taste follows the aromas, but with as much malt, spice and earthiness as hops. It is medium bodied, smooth, with good carbonation, and a finish that is quite bitter. So, I guess this is their slightly more "reserved" IPA and Sculpin is their more West-coasty?