Terrapin Rye Squared - Terrapin Beer Company

Netdigger2

South Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a clover-honey amber with a white head. No lacing.

Smell is a bunch of rye, bread, slight low alpha hops, lager yeast.

This tastes amazingly like a mid level lager, very dry. It resembles a blend between Heineken and Boston Lager. Incredibly strange for a Pale Ale. I get a pilsner malt flavor with mixes of rye, bread, sourdough, pine hops.

It's highly carbonated like a domestic lager and is thin on the palate.

Just strange, not bad, but strange.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 21:38:19 | More by Netdigger2

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

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Nice 1 finger head that's a little bit off white and has very nice retention. The body is a hazy copper orange hue that looks pretty nice. Decent lacing left around the glass from the pour and swirling.

S- Nice malty backbone that carries from front to back as well as bready yeast and sweeter fruits from the hops. This could possibly be from a tiny cold i have and a stuffed nose, but that's what I'm getting.

T- Malts are sweeter upfront that settle down toward the middle where the hops become more prominent. nice balance on the finish.

M- feels somewhat heavier for a DIPA, and slightly syrupy with medium carbonation coming for the ride.

O- I like this beer but is not really what I expected. Good beer either way

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 20:04:44 | More by Gushue3

Duff27

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

"Vintage: 2011"

A- One inch light tan head atop a nice ruby red hued beer. Quite a few streams of effervescence float upward. Clumptastic lacing and decent head retention.

S- The smell of spicy rye can't be mistaken.

T- Rye is borderline overpowering. Big hop presence as well alongside a strong caramel malt backbone. Slight boozyness is noticeable.

M- Very full, smooth mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

D/O- Very unique with the rye/DIPA combo...is there a higher ABV rye beer? Point me in that direction for comparisons sake. Hope to have again somewhere down the line. Thanks TATURBO.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 01:26:07 | More by Duff27

mactrail

California

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Has that classic DIPA look-- orange-amber and slightly hazed, and nice lacing. Invitingly viscous in the Orval chalice. Yeasty, baking bread aroma. Hops fill in the profile but the bitterness is much less than others of the style. The malt is so sweet I suspect a blind tasting would show this up as a big Tripel, as the rye gives it a grainy, astringent touch that tastes so much like the big Belgians.

I think the Imperial Pale Ale is a great style for amping up the malt to more efectively balance the hops. It's like a barley wine, though it tastes stronger than it is. This is one of my favorites for the huge, rich flavor. There are two forks in the road and I like the path through the sweet malt fields. But I stop to smell the hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 05:06:14 | More by mactrail

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #51 (April 2011):

Part of their “Monster Beer Tour,” a massive Pale Ale with rye. This beer shows its girth from the pour right away; carbon- ation is low but enough to form some sticky lacing. Better off, as higher levels of carbonation in a rye beer tend to make things explode. Hint of caramel but more toasty, biscuity malt to meet up against the hops and alcohol; very aromatic. Creamy thick body, smoothness rides over the top. Flavors clash, but are all happily contrasting complexities. Maltiness tries to go sweet but is stopped by the spicy rye. Hop bitterness strong-arms the beer around but lends some citric juiciness, and the alcohol bites the palate but leaves a trail of ripe fruit. An “in your face” type brew, not for the faint of heart.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 01:27:30 | More by BeerAdvocate

adamette

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Live review. Poured from the 12 oz. brown bottle that my brother in law Steven and his friend Allison brought up from Atlanta into a plastic “ocean fishes” glass (the best thing that I could find while on vacation in the Outer Banks, NC). No observed best by date but mentioned that it is “vintage 2011.”

A Very light brown fluffy head over a very hazy, brown body. Good look. 4.0

S Great malt and hops balance with an emphasis on earthy barley malt and sweetness. I do not pick up much of the bitter hops to the nose. Really intriguing. 4.5

T The smell is a strong suggestion of the taste. What you have here is a very flavorful, full bodied malt and hops with a good, earthy barley malt goodness. I really like the taste of this beer. 4.5

M Thick, syrupy and big. Again, I really like the feel of this beer as well. 4.5

D Fair due to the size of this beer and the ABV. I enjoyed every drop. 3.5

Notes: Thanks to Steven and Allison for bringing it along!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 02:20:28 | More by adamette

Avagadro

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Copper in color, and noticeably hazy, Rye^2 sports a lazy head that quickly falls, and little in the way of lacing.

S: Bouquet is really not doing it for me, exhibiting no power, and not much other than a hint of sweet malt.

T: Off-dry, and bordering sweet, this brew is malt forward, with sweet grain and toffee on the front and bitter resinous hops on the finish. I could use a better harmony between the malt and hops here, as well as a more pronounced "middle," between the initial and lingering flavors.

M: Full body, chewy texture, and little fizz.

O: A decent brew, but definitely doesn't blow one away. There are no major flaws, yet, this brew somehow leaves something to be desired. I just wish more of the spicy rye flavors were pronounced.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 21:25:46 | More by Avagadro

jwinship83

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle traded to me by G311. thanks again Vince! drank from my samuel adams perfect pint glass.

A- this one pours out a hazy orange colored body with some serious copper highlights. the head on top is a solid finger and is beige colored. moderate retention and sticky rings get left on the sides of my glass.

S- very heavy on the malted rye. nice and spicy. honey and biscuit malts. citric (grapefruit, orange, and lemon), floral, and spicy hops at the end.

T- the taste starts out with with biscuit and bread like malts. a little bit of caramel malts come through and add in a little sweetness. the spicy rye malts come through strong. decently malty upfront, but dont be fooled. this is a DIPA at heart. very strong on the hops. grapefruit, orange zest, lemon peel, floral, and spicy notes. way more complex than the original rye pale ale.

M- this is a syrupy full bodied ale. the carbonation is moderate. nicely bitter without being overpowering. the alcohol is well hidden.

O- a very enjoyable and pretty large rye IPA. this is something id drink more of if it were available here. terrapin is a solid brewery that needs more attention.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 05:04:38 | More by jwinship83

robwestcott

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

big thanks to kirkpjr for this one. 2011 vintage.

poured cold from the bottle to a sun king shaped pint a translucent, light copper with a super thin white head leaving a thin rim of sticky lace after each sip.

subtle earthy hops aroma with a bit of sweet dark syrup.

subtle earthy hops, but not as earthy as other terrapin brews, this one is less in your face and a bit more balanced toward the sweet malt. spicy sweet.

medium bodied, near syrup, low carbonation, subtle bitter fading quickly to sweet toward the back of the tongue.

interesting beer. i'd give it another go.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 04:14:13 | More by robwestcott

benpopper

Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours out a dark amber, kind of cloudy. Not much head, that fades very quickly and leaves no lacing.

Smells very sweet with only slight strains of the floral hops I hope for.

The taste was tough, very very sweet and then kind of sharp alcohol. Again lacking the floral crispness of the hops I want.

The low carbonation was another tough spot because it just made the sweetness seem like the beer itself was syrupy. And then the bite of the booze was unwelcome as it really wasn't fresh feeling.

I am usually prepared for a double IPA and really into them, this one not at all...

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 02:09:10 | More by benpopper

richkrull

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy orange/amber color with a decent amount of beige head on it.

Smell is a sweet citrusy hop aroma.

Taste is very good. Nice spicy flavor with plenty of bitterness from the hops.

Mouthfeel is light-medium.

Overall a really good beer. I liked it. Would definitely drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 23:52:12 | More by richkrull

rrski198

Missouri

2.75/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Murky dirty brownish amber yellow color. Little head with no lacing.

S: Sweet and malty. Very mild hop character which is very surprising. Smells thick and syrupy.

T: Big time sweet rush up front. Boozy with a mild hop bite. Not sure what is going on here but the sweetness is not in line with the hops.

M: Thick and syrupy. Big time sweet and below average carbonation. Mild hop bite again on the back end.

O: A huge sweet mess. Not sure if I got a good bottle or not but this was like someone had taken malty simple syrup and mixed in some hops. Not one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 04:10:55 | More by rrski198

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours out as a red color with a nice looking fan head on it. The smell of the beer is pretty hoppy. Not much else happening on the nose here. The taste of the beer is strong with hops and rye. The spiciness of both really collide in this brew. The mouthfeel was pretty nice here. Good amount of carbonation. Overall it's not a bad beer. I'd drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 01:14:27 | More by Knapp85

hoptualBrew

Florida

2.7/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from bottle.

Thicker orange color with descent head. Pretty good looking pint I must say. Had me excited.

Could pick up the piney hops right away & definitely could tell it was the imperial version of the regular Terrapin Rye IPA. I picked up more malt aroma and flavor though as compared to the hops in the original IPA.

Not so bitter as I was expecting, more malty and had rye raping my tongue. First few sips were not so good, but then it grew on me.

Thick mouthfeel, sweet with a more mild touch of bitterness.

Not bad. Keeping style in mind, I personally think the regular Rye IPA is a better drink overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 18:10:41 | More by hoptualBrew

vande

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A ~ calm light orange...like the "good orange" of a sunset

S ~ sweet brown sugar, light hints of hops..

T ~ similar to the smell... sweet sugar, some rye, hops, nice taste!!

M ~ creamy and smooth...very easy to drink

O ~ pretty good rye ale. I could see picking this up regularly if it was around my parts..

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 19:50:44 | More by vande

zeff80

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 Edition

A - Poured out a clear, golden amber color with a one-finger, off-white head of foam. It left sticky patches of lace on the glass.

S - Strong rye malt aroma with pine and citrus hop presence.

T - Burnt toast and rye lead off followed by a very spicy hop presence. Orange peel and pine give it a strong bite.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a really good rye double IPA. I would like to compare it to a fresher bottle sometime.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 12:13:22 | More by zeff80

mater

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received a 12oz bottle in a trade with DoctorB2B. Thanks!

A-Pours a copper/amber color with a 1.5 finger head and OK lacing.

S-Lots of caramel malts. Very sweet smelling. The malt smell was so strong I coudln't really pick up much else.

T-Sort of an orange taste at first followed by the malts. A little bitter in the finish. A tad of alcohol detected.

M-Kind of thick, but goes down smooth.

O-I couldn't really pick up much in the way of hops, but this is still a decent brew. Glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 06:48:01 | More by mater

phideltashaggy

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into my Froggy Bottom pint glass

A-Beautiful amber color with a creamy, barely off-white head. Gorgeous lacing all the way to the bottom.

S-The nose is a little sweet with a hint of citrusy hops.

T- Weird. The malty sweetness is in your face, the bitterness at the back is a little much, and the alcohol taste is killer. I'm a little overwhelmed by this, honestly.

MF- A little thicker than the standard Terrapin Rye.

Overall- I like that Terrapin is willing to try to do stuff like this, but I'm not a huge fan. It's a little overwhelming; I like their Rye Pale Ale a lot because it's so refreshing on a warm afternoon, but this has none of the refreshment and is just a little too intense to boot.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 03:45:11 | More by phideltashaggy

MADhombrewer

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle acquired from Hopsbreath poured into a white wine glass. Thanks Jason.

Appearance- Hazy golden color with a small white head that dissipates into a ring. Good lacing that slides down the glass to join the rest of the beer. 3.5/5

Smell- Rye malt that is not too bold due to the sweetness that the other malts impart. Small amount of hops and some alcohol. 3.5/5

Taste- Sweet, sweet malt with a little rye punch. Alcohol is prominent also. Some hop bitterness in the end but its very faint. 4/5

Mouthfeel- For a malty beer such as this the mouthfeel is very good. Medium body. 4.5/5

Overall- This is a good beer. A lot of rye beers are difficult to find the rye, but not this one. I would suggest that you let this one warm up a little more than usual since all the flavors really come out. 4/5

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 03:29:25 | More by MADhombrewer

zrab11

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a reddish amber color with a 1 finger head with nice lacing

S- Has a strong malty smell with some earthy notes

T- Has a nice strong rye flavor, Has some sweetness in the middle think its carmel. Has some citrus hops in the end.

M- medium bodied with good carbonation

D-Overall this was a great beer. I love DIPA's and this one had alittle different flavor than most and thats what drew me in. WOuld like to have this one again!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 01:07:14 | More by zrab11

FanofHefe

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2011 bottle poured into a pint glass. Light orange body with a touch of yellow. Slightly hazy. Huge head...had to slow down the pour. Creamy head with excellent retention. Solid lacing.

The aroma is solid, but not overpowering with hops. Grapefruit and floral notes are promient. There is a definite note of caramel malt in the balance.

The rye flavor adds an interesting blend to the flavor. Clear flavor of bittering hops but the spicy blend of the rye adds just enough kick to make it interesting. Strong malt blend adds almost too much sweetness.

Medium mouthfeel and very little notice of the alcohol. Solid DIPA with just a touch too much sweetness for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 01:20:19 | More by FanofHefe

bernie879

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Copper colored ale with an avg. head. Decent retention, yet really strong lacing.

Aroma: strong hop aroma consisting of grapefruit and raw resinous pine. Malt presence is definatly present. Also has as pleasing estery characteristic.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Full bodied with a balanced carbonation resulting in a thick but pleasing mouthfeel. The aroma carries through in the palate which is nice and lends to an enjoyable balance between sweet and bitter.

Overall: I found this to be a really balanced and drinkable beer. Glad to finally have the chance to try it. Wish we could have 6pks of this stuff available in Mass.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 01:05:24 | More by bernie879

GallowsThief

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured out of a bottle into a regular old pint glass.

A – Pours a hazy reddish amber color. Nice 1 inch off white head that settles down and leaves a decent little lacing ring.

S – Malty sweet smell with definite sweet aroma. Fairly light though but nice.

T – Nice strong rye flavor, sweet malts, caramel. Has some hints of citrusy bitterness but barely at that. Its not as hoppy as it claims to be but it may be hidden by the rest of the flavors. Nice little twinge of alcohol at the end.

M – Medium to full bodied. Creamy texture. Leaves you wanting more.

O – Good solid Terrapin offering. I was expecting more hops but it was rather balanced. I could have a few of these. Enjoyed the rye flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 00:27:07 | More by GallowsThief

shand

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a nonic.

I'm not sure how this guy survived so long in my fridge! I was digging through looking for a nice IPA to enjoy, and found this all the way in the back. Oh well, time to enjoy! This pours a slightly hazy red-amber color with a finger's worth of head up top. Lacing and retention are good. The aroma is quite complex, with the rye and honey-sweet malts taking center stage. Citrus hops aren't too far behind. The taste on this is initially candied citrus hops pumped up by some rye zestiness, with a solid malt backbone. The rye and malt become more prominent on the beer's finish. Just a hint of booze is present throughout, but it's not detracting. A great tasting DIPA that gets something unique from the rye.

The mouthfeel is pretty good, it's thin for the style (not a bad thing), but a bit less carbonated than I'd like for the thinness it presents. The drinkability is fairly good, it goes down quite easily for a 9.5% brew. Overall, I enjoyed this one from Terrapin. I'm a big fan of rye in my beers and would have liked a bit more rye-prominence, but this is a good one for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 04:43:31 | More by shand