Ballast Point Tongue Buckler
TONGUE BUCKLER!!!!! Never has the name of a beer been so true to it’s taste. Your tongue is in for a ride. Folks this is one of the biggest beers I’ve ever had and the good news is, yes it’s big, and yes it’s friggin delicious. I got this after seeing it in the weekly newsletter from South Bay Drugs. Joey noted this stuff was going fast so I jumped on the opportunity to give this a try. When Joey says things are going to fast, it’s like when Tom Cruise said you had me at hello in Jerry McGuire. I always give in and buy beer from him. Joey is a good salesmen =)
Buckler pours a clear amber color with a huge fluffy head. Head sticks around forever. Great lacing. As soon as you take your first smell you know you’re in for a real threat. Especially if your a hop head and you love huge beers. The smell of citrus, pine, and caramel malt rip through your nostrils. Huge folks just huge. I really can’t remember the last time a smell was this big. The taste is pretty much the same but on a grander scale. I wasn’t quite ready for it. I tried to get my girlfriend to take a sip but she saw my face when I first had a sip and she was like no way. The hops in this beer just shine through big time. Piney and citrus hops. Big citrus taste. You’ll also get a bit of a grapefruit taste peaking through. The caramel malt is there sitting in the background and it’s pretty big too. As you let the beer warm up the malt takes over just a tad bit and the hops calm down so it’s good let the beer just sit for a few minutes then dive in. Accompanying the huge taste is the huge burn of alcohol. It just sits in your mouth, sits in your throat, sits in your chest. It’s a bad ass feeling. The mouthfeel is also amazing. It sits a little bit on the heavy side but is smooth as silk and goes down way to easy for being as big as it is. This beer is here to take names and kick your ass. Move over Nugget Nectar, there’s a new favorite Imperial Red in town and it’s here to rip your tongue out. One of the most extreme and tasty beers I’ve ever had. Do not miss this beer. If it becomes available again, I’m ordering at least 6 next time.
Found: South Bay Drugs, Imperial Beach, CA
Price: 8 bucks a bottle
Website: http://www.ballastpoint.com/
What the company says: Nothing on the site about this brew
ABV%: 10.00%
Other beers to try from this brewery: Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, Ballast Point Sea Monster Stout
Other beers to try within the same style: Troegs Nugget Nectar, Ithaca Beer Company Cascazilla
Rating: A+
Great review! Man, now I really want to try this.
BTW, how do I subscribe to Joey’s newsletter?
Wow! I’m putting this one on the list!
Hope you guys like it as much as I did. I love these kind of beers though.
The newsletter (Straight from his site)
-Never Miss Out on a Special Release Again!
-Sign Up For SBD’s Newsletter!-
SouthBayDrugs@Gmail.com
For me, hops are most enjoyable in a huge beer with a big malt backbone…this sounds up my alley. I would love to try it if it makes it the beer shops around here. I really need to go west…
Dave,
I was in Ballast Point this evening picking up a few growlers (waiting to taste samples from your shipment until Sunday’s Lakers game when my buddy is coming over) and saw this review on the Ballast Point wall for people to read. I told them that the Drunken Polack is an excellent blog. They were impressed with your review. I have two Tongue Bucklers left in my beer fridge. (I am afraid that when my buddy comes over he not only will help me taste my “East Coast” goodies but dip into whatever else is in the fridge.)
Nat
Wow I was on their wall. Thats awesome. I’m glad you got your beer man. I meant to get back to you but things around here have been crazy. My grandmother passed away I haven’t really though much about beer since she’s been sick. I hope you enjoy your stuff and I’ll get anything you need from the East Coast. Just ask!