Terrapin Beer Co. was born when two brewers met while working together at a microbrewery in Atlanta. Spike and John felt they could make a contribution to the burgeoning Southeastern craft beer scene. Realizing that anyone could make another basic pale ale, brown ale, or stout, Spike and John set their sights on creating beers unlike any that were currently available in the Southeast. Unique beers needed a unique location and what better place than Athens, GA? Home to the University of Georgia, Athens has a rich culture of music, food, classic Southern charm, and more than a little eclectic attitude. Spike and John knew from the start that the Classic City would be Terrapin’s home. The guys introduced Terrapin’s first beer, Terrapin Rye, in April of 2002. While still available only on draft and only in downtown Athens, this sole offering won the American Pale Ale Gold Medal at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival. At only six months old, Terrapin had arrived in style! History rolls forward and so too has Terrapin. These days John and Spike are enjoying Terrapin’s 40,000 square foot brewing facility, 100 BBL brewing system, and are taking full advantage of the space to continue bringing innovative and exciting brews to craft beer lovers. The brewery now has a portfolio of 5 year-round beers, 4 Seasonal Sessions beers, the Monster Beer Tour collection of high-gravity selections, and the Side Project series of one-time brewing improvisations, as well as several Special Releases and collaborations annually. Terrapin has developed a reputation for high-quality beers that push the boundaries of creative brewing and has garnered several awards both in the U.S.A and internationally.
22oz bottle thanks to Toby pours out amber copper color topped with a small head. Nose is nice big sweet pit fruit malts toffee and some bourbon barrel notes. Taste is more of the nice sweet malts pit fruit dates some spice and a light bourbon barrel vanilla note.
Draught at Maddys taproom Washington. Deep gold with a medium head. Aroma of orange hop. Flavour is medium bitter orange, biscuit, sharp bitter background, dry bitter fruit finish.
12oz can. Boring, bland Session IPAs are among my least favorite beers. This isn't the worst example, but doesn't quite nail it either. Massive, foamy white head on top of a filtered yellow-orange body. Medium bodied. Hops are more resinous and piney than juicy or tropical. Decent enough balance. Not that impressive overall.
Sample at TJ's Thanks Toasty earthy light chocolate and molasses on the nose, Huge raspberry flavor that wasn't on the nose. Coffee lightly peppery. Tasty but not world class.
2017 reserve shared by someone on 10.13.18. Dark mahogany, unclear, with a tan head that fades to a ring. Raspberry truffles and vanilla liqueur are aromatic but not all that deep or complex. Light ash and black patent malt. No booze at least but no real malt complexity or depth. Ashen malts and grape-raspberry jelly. Sweet, sticky, fudgey and just...ashy. Low, somewhat loose carbonation. Not boozey though and the raspberry tastes good, albeit heavily jammy. Peppery, seedy raspberry and ash lingers.
500 ml bottle paid $19.99 at Beer Store Philadelphia, PA. 2017 vintage. Dark brown beer, ruby highlights. Aroma shows raspberry purée, cocoa, weak coffee. Flavor has strong raspberries, mild chocolate, the coffee has falling off a bit. Mostly berries. Mouthfeel is good.
Poured from 500ml bottle thanks AFH cocoa brown with a tan head. Aroma is raspberry oats cocoa and pancakes. Taste is raspberry oats and a lingering raspberry extract finish. Coffee has dissipated.