Terrapin Rye Squared - Terrapin Beer Company

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Sam Adam's Perfect Pint.

Vintage 2011.

A - Pours a golden orange color, with a cloudy and hazy appearance. Not completely opaque, but not very translucent. A 1.5-fingered head composed of big soapy bubbles lingers just long enough for it to take shape, but then steadily rises to leave bubbly mountains rest on top of the beer. Lacing is streaky but plentiful, like a hanging shower curtain.

S - For an imperial pale ale, this beer definitely showcases the rye and malt in here. I am not incredibly sure about the age on this beer, but I don't think the hops shine here at all. Not bad from an overall style-neutral perspective, but the spiciness of the rye definitely upstages the hops here. I can get some citrus at the end, but it's so muted it's difficult to pull out.

T - I would venture to say the taste is slightly more focused on the hops than the aroma, but it's not like that would be very hard. It begins with a big cut of rye spice and other syrupy malts, before drifting towards a nice orange middle that even has hints of honey. This hop influence lasts well throughout the finish, where it's met by a warming alcohol heat that isn't off-putting. Now and then the rye resurges just to let you know it's not finished.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately-heavy with medium to low carbonation. It's certainly thick and syrupy and finishes slick and oily. The rye definitely leaves a spicy impression on the palate.

D - Drinkability is moderately high. Honestly I'd be hard-pressed to interpret this bottle as an imperial pale ale; rather, I'd feel pretty comfortable in viewing this is a hoppy rye barleywine. Perhaps the age transformed this one, as apparently it's released every February, putting this bottle at around 6 months of so. Still pretty delicious though, but don't come in expecting the malt side of the bill to be timid!

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 02:44:51 | More by nhindian

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-17-2013 15:25:08 | More by twenty5

hopkrid

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

04-29-2013 00:17:59 | More by hopkrid

duceswild

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

03-17-2013 18:02:54 | More by duceswild

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-15-2013 03:12:48 | More by marlinsfan4

JamesWn

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-28-2013 21:47:50 | More by JamesWn

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

02-28-2013 02:36:55 | More by t0rin0

beernads

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

02-08-2013 10:35:22 | More by beernads

elchingen

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

02-08-2013 04:20:56 | More by elchingen

GeorgianBayPackr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-03-2013 22:55:19 | More by GeorgianBayPackr

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-31-2013 21:40:23 | More by DmanGTR

Dylanjf

New York

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-17-2013 01:48:39 | More by Dylanjf

TheMarkE

California

4.36/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Excellent. Smooth, with a slight citrus presence. “Double the malt, double the hops, and double the flavor of the original Rye Pale Ale recipe. (Hence the name Rye Squared.) With its mammoth hop aroma, bitterness and flavor, this beer is not for the faint at heart. The Rye Squared clocks in at a hefty 8.5% ABV so double your pleasure and double your fun because Terrapin went a little crazy with this one!”

It's a shame they retired this, it was one of my favorites and the best rye I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 21:45:39 | More by TheMarkE

sendbeer

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

12-23-2012 05:33:41 | More by sendbeer

Stinger80OH

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.5%

10-27-2012 13:19:12 | More by Stinger80OH

nikbullet

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

10-08-2012 16:11:27 | More by nikbullet

pmhenry

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +20.6%

09-29-2012 13:30:24 | More by pmhenry

Guybrush

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +20.6%

09-16-2012 00:40:19 | More by Guybrush

Texasfan549

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

09-08-2012 01:03:02 | More by Texasfan549

BeerHunter76

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.5%

09-07-2012 17:59:08 | More by BeerHunter76

kjkinsey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

09-07-2012 13:39:16 | More by kjkinsey

brentblack1

New York

4/5  rDev +1.5%

09-02-2012 14:21:57 | More by brentblack1

DioS

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

08-28-2012 19:34:42 | More by DioS

Gehrig13

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

08-19-2012 03:46:55 | More by Gehrig13

st9647v3

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

08-18-2012 23:22:36 | More by st9647v3