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Terrapin Rye Pale Ale
Athens, Georgia
BJCP Category: 23 Specialty Beer
Terrapin Brewing Co. <visit site>
38
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[expand]Total Score: 41/50
This is a beer that one can drink by the pint with pub grub and pizzas but with enough alcohol to justify the designated driver since you will not stop at one. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: Complex hop aroma with floral, woody and citrus character. A touch of caramel and toasted malts provide a good backbone for the hops. Rye is perceptible but subtle, adding to the complexity. Clean ale fermentation with some apricot esters. No DMS. No diacetyl. Very inviting aroma. (9/12)
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Appearance: Light orange/amber color. Clear but not bright; a bit of chill haze that’s OK for an ale. Adequate head and retention. Would expect more head and longer retention given the ingredients. (3/3)
Flavor: Malt sweetness up front with a hint of toasty graininess. Rye is subtle, providing a level of depth and complexity to the malt. High hop bitterness finishes with some hop astringency in aftertaste, but well balanced with the malt. Hop flavor is also complex, focusing on citrus but with earthy and floral notes also. No DMS or diacetyl. Moderate fermentation esters and alcohol, all balanced to result in a quintessential American Pale Ale. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body; a bit fuller than most American pale ales, likely due to the rye. Smooth mouthfeel initially yielding to significant lingering bitterness and some hop astringency. (4/5)
Overall Impression: An excellent American pale ale. The percentage of rye used seems to be much less than that in a Roggenbier yet it contributes to the overall malt complexity that blends well with the considerable hop complexity and bitterness. This is a beer that one can drink by the pint with pub grub and pizzas but with enough alcohol to justify the designated driver since you will not stop at one. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Something about this beer makes me want to share it with friends. It lends a homey feeling. It’s comfortable. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Orange citrus and piney hop aroma dominates. Rich malt aromas: toasty, grainy and a little spicy give support. Mostly clean fermentation, with light fruity notes in the background. Pine hop aroma becomes more pronounced as the beer warms a bit. (9/12)
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Appearance: Golden and clear with rocky persistent off-white foam; a few larger bubbles, but streams of tiny bubbles continually rise from the bottom of the glass. Head creates a lovely Belgian lace. (3/3)
Flavor: Sweet grainy malt character up front with some subdued but definite rye flavor. Supports an assertive orange fruity, piney, spicy, complex hop flavor and pleasant bitterness. Balance is toward the hop character, yet grainy rye flavor and sweetness come through, especially in the finish. Grainy presentation and spicy hop flavor become more pronounced as the beer warms a bit. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation. Not quite creamy, but smooth. No alcoholic warmth. No astringency or sticky cloyingness, despite the perceptive sweetness. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Something about this beer makes me want to share it with friends. It lends a homey feeling. It’s comfortable. Intriguing in its complexity, and interesting in the way sweet, spicy and grainy malt flavor and piney hop aromas intensify with just a slight rise in temperature. Even with the assertive hop flavor and bitterness, this beer still has a sweet note in the finish that showcases the pleasant malt character. As complex as it is, it is still approachable. Quite balanced, very enjoyable. Something I’d like to have a cooler full of at a picnic by the river. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 36/50
Very nice beer with an interesting blend of rye malt and hop character. The creamy mouthfeel, hop bitterness and peppery spiciness from the rye work well. more >
[close]Total Score: 36/50
Aroma: Spice notes, predominantly black pepper, with citrus and floral notes from American hops. Hops are not as pronounced as in most classic pale ale examples, but that allows some rye character to emerge. There is a slightly grainy, toasted malt in the background. Neutral fermentation character with low esters. (8/12)
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Appearance: Light amber color with excellent clarity and head retention. Everything is right on the money. (3/3)
Flavor: Indistinct malt character, similar to an American wheat in that it primarily provides a backbone. Fairly assertive spiciness, again with black pepper notes. More American hops would be welcome. The hop bitterness is substantial—bordering on the IPA level—but not aggressive. The finish is somewhat dry but within bounds for the style. A slight graininess and a touch of acidity linger on the palate. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Good body and creaminess, likely enhanced by the rye malt proteins. A slight astringency and soapiness coat the tongue after the beer is swallowed, but they offer only a minor distraction. (3/5)
Overall Impression: Very nice beer with an interesting blend of rye malt and hop character. The creamy mouthfeel, hop bitterness and peppery spiciness from the rye work well together and provide a complex flavor profile. The hop nose did not seem that fresh, and more flavor hops would also be welcome. The finish had a slight soapy character, but the beer was still enjoyable. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
A complex pale ale—lots of interesting flavors. The rye is noticeable and plays with the hops nicely. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Medium-high spicy, grainy, grassy nose; hop-forward. The grain/rye character blends well with the hops. Pungent. Light esters—lemony. Otherwise clean. Rough character lingers. (8/12)
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Appearance: Pretty golden-amber color. Fairly clear. Medium-size cream-colored head, small frothy bubbles persisted until beer was finished (probably due to the rye). (3/3)
Flavor: Medium-high grassy, earthy, spicy hop flavor with medium-high bitterness. Clean malt backbone provides balance to the bitterness, making the apparent bitterness seem more medium in balance. Rye flavor apparent, giving a grainy, rustic, slightly harsh finish. Hops are more apparent in the finish, which is moderately long but not as crisp as most American pale ales. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium-high carbonation. Mildly creamy with some hop- and grain-derived astringency apparent in the finish. (4/5)
Overall Impression: A complex pale ale—lots of interesting flavors. The rye is noticeable and plays with the hops nicely. There is a grassy, spicy, earthy quality that could come from both rye and hops. Definitely an American pale ale—the hops are nicely showcased. The beer has a moderately full presence, heavier than most pale ales but it does feature the rye character very well. (8/10)
