Ballast Point Limited Release 6Pk

Ballast Point Limited Release 6Pk is a 25th anniversary mixed 6-pack featuring four signature California craft beers with ABVs ranging from 5.2% to 7%. The pack includes the World Beer Cup gold-medal-winning Sculpin IPA alongside three other cornerstone recipes spanning the brewery's quarter-century history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.2%–7%  |  Origin: California, United States  |  Style: Mixed Pack (4 Styles)  |  Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Ballast Point Brewing Company traces its origins to 1996 in San Diego, California, where it began as a small homebrew supply shop before growing into one of the state's most recognized craft breweries. This anniversary pack showcases four beers that mark key chapters in the brewery's timeline: Calico Amber Ale (1996), California Kölsch (1996), Sculpin IPA (2005), and Big Gus IPA (2021). Sculpin IPA is notably hopped at five separate stages during the brewing process, a technique central to its layered hop character and the reason it earned gold medals at both the World Beer Cup (2010, 2014) and European Beer Star (2010, 2011).

Tasting Notes — Beer by Beer

Calico Amber Ale (5.5% ABV): An award-winning amber that took gold in the American-Style Amber/Red Ale category at the 2001 Great American Beer Festival. Expect hints of toasted caramel balanced by citrus and spice.

California Kölsch (5.2% ABV): A German-style pale ale with a smooth, bright body carrying just a hint of fruit and spice. Light and clean, it drinks as an easygoing session beer.

Sculpin IPA (7% ABV): The brewery's flagship. Apricot, peach, mango, and lemon flavors emerge from the five-stage hopping process, delivering a bold yet approachable IPA with aromatic complexity.

Big Gus IPA (6.5% ABV): The newest addition, dating to 2021. Clear and extremely dry, it leads with fruity aromas and finishes with a soft, restrained bitterness.

How to Drink the Ballast Point Limited Release Pack

Each beer suits a different moment. The California Kölsch is ideal served cold on a warm afternoon, while the Calico pairs well with heartier meals. Sculpin IPA stands up beautifully as a standalone sipper or alongside spicy dishes, and Big Gus works as a crisp, dry alternative for hop fans who prefer less residual sweetness. For beer cocktail enthusiasts, Sculpin's tropical hop profile makes a compelling base for a Beermosa, while Calico's caramel backbone adds depth to a Shandy or a michelada variation.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates San Diego brewing history
• Hosting a tasting flight at a backyard gathering or dinner party
• Sampling the Ballast Point range without committing to full six-packs of each style
• Celebrating a milestone with a brewery that's marking its own

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Ballast Point Limited Release 6Pk include? It contains four different beers — Calico Amber Ale, California Kölsch, Sculpin IPA, and Big Gus IPA — packaged together as a mixed 6-pack commemorating the brewery's 25th anniversary.

How does Sculpin IPA compare to other West Coast IPAs? Sculpin IPA distinguishes itself through a five-stage hopping process that produces pronounced tropical fruit notes — apricot, peach, mango, and lemon — rather than the pine-forward bitterness typical of many West Coast IPAs. Its multiple World Beer Cup and European Beer Star gold medals place it among the most decorated IPAs in the category.

Is this pack good for someone new to craft beer? Yes — the four styles range from the light, approachable California Kölsch at 5.2% ABV to the bolder Sculpin at 7%, making it a natural introduction to different beer styles within a single purchase.

Where is Ballast Point beer made? Ballast Point Brewing Company is based in San Diego, California, where it was founded in 1996 and has operated as one of the region's landmark craft breweries.

What foods pair well with this pack? Calico's toasted caramel notes complement grilled burgers and barbecue ribs. California Kölsch pairs with lighter fare like fish tacos or a citrus salad. Sculpin IPA's tropical hop character matches well with spicy Thai or Mexican cuisine. Big Gus, with its dry finish, cuts through rich, fatty dishes like fried chicken.

What sizes does this pack come in? The Ballast Point Limited Release is available as a 6-pack, the standard retail format for this anniversary mixed pack.

Is the Ballast Point Limited Release 6Pk worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft beer mixed pack, but the inclusion of multi-gold-medal Sculpin IPA alongside three other distinct styles delivers strong variety and pedigree relative to comparable sampler packs.

Why the Ballast Point Limited Release 6Pk?

This is not a generic variety pack — it's a curated timeline of one of San Diego's most storied breweries. It pairs the 2001 GABF gold-medal Calico and the multi-award-winning Sculpin IPA with two bookend styles that show where the brewery started and where it's heading. For anyone interested in California craft beer history told through four distinct recipes, this limited release captures 25 years of brewing evolution in a single six-pack.