For the past six years on the Sunday before Christmas, Ballast Point has “made a date with darkness” in reverence to its flagship Imperial Porter, Victory at Sea. The popular one-day celebration of dark beers always features rare riffs on the brewery-favorite Victory at Sea with guests strongly encouraged to play it up in pirate patch cosplay in all Ballast Point taprooms. This year, in following guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in relation to COVID-19, Ballast Point has decided to postpone its 7th annual Victory at Sea Day until February 2021.
Rather than abandon ship, Ballast Point will sweeten the end of this bitter year with an exclusive can release of Salted Caramel Victory at Sea in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans to be released on the traditional Victory at Sea Day. Salted Caramel Victory at Sea is the perfect marriage of sweet and savory, bursting with caramel flavor and a touch of sea salt. This dessert-like spin on the original Imperial Porter will be available for retail purchase beginning December 20th at all Ballast Point taprooms in Southern California. The original can art features the craft of Ballast Point resident artist Paul Elder; a clutter of mutinous pirate skeletons celebrating a sweet victory at sea. The limited release 4-pack is exclusive to Ballast Point locations and is packaged via the new mobile canning line acquired from Ballast Point’s San Diego-headquartered owner, Kings & Convicts Brewing Co. Salted Caramel Victory at Sea is a limited release and will be available along with original Victory at Sea and High West® Barrel-aged Victory at Sea.
VICTORY AT SEA – A big porter crafted to weather any storm, the well-loved original Victory at Sea Imperial Porter with coffee and vanilla is a bold, smooth brew with just the right amount of sweetness. Ballast Point infused this robust porter with whole vanilla beans and San Diego’s own Caffe Calabria coffee beans. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold-brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination. Although the winters in San Diego aren’t very wintery, the brewers at Ballast Point wanted a warmer, winter ale that brings comfort on those days when you can see your breath. This Imperial Porter clocks in at 10% ABV and gets most of its roasted flavor from coffee beans.
The seasonal original is currently available on draft to go in all Ballast Point taprooms in Southern California and in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, as well as on shelves throughout Ballast Point’s distribution network.
SALTED CARAMEL VICTORY AT SEA – Release date: December 20, 2020
Available for retail purchase* at all Southern California taprooms: Miramar, Little Italy, Home Brew Mart, Anaheim, and Long Beach.
$12.99 4-pack of 16 oz. cans
ABV: 10%
*Due to the limited quantity of this release, purchases are limited to one (1) 4-pack per person and while supplies last.
HIGH WEST® BARREL-AGED VICTORY AT SEA – Ballast Point partnered with High West® Distillery to create a barrel-aged version of Victory at Sea. From a blend of Victory at Sea aged in High West’s own bourbon and rye whiskey oak casks, new layers of complexity emerge with notes of soft caramel and smoky oak over a dark chocolate and roasted almond body. High West crafts delicious and distinctive whiskeys to honor the American West, making it the perfect pairing with the signature San Diego-born porter.
The 2019 version is available for retail purchase in all Ballast Point taprooms in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on shelves throughout Ballast Point’s distribution network.
Due to shifting restrictions and limited quantities, be sure to contact your nearest Ballast Point taproom for availability. Further details on Victory at Sea Day in February 2021, including how to purchase tickets, are forthcoming.
Terry Bunch
Raymond
