How fitting that “Ring of Fire” would start playing at The Glendale Tap after my pint of Habanero Sculpin hit the table. The well-balanced, citrus-forward, hop-backed IPA from Ballast Point received an added jolt from habanero peppers. These often orange chiles frequently factor into Yucatán cuisine. The chiles jabbed me in the back of the throat. The spice seemed to amplify the effects of the hops, or vice versa. Yet, I couldn’t stop drinking the amber hued craft beer. Spicy beers are far from sessionable, but when they’re expertly crafted, as Habanero Sculpin is in San Diego, they can also prove irresistible.








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