Terrapin Hop Karma IPA - Terrapin Beer Company

sarahspat

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown with reddish highlights. Great looking mocha colored head. Very sticky; good retention. Nice globs and webs of lacing show up.

Smells very herbaceous and piney. Candied pineapple and grapefruit make notable appearances later on, after warming.

The most forward flavor is bitter pine sap. Next in line comes ruby red grapefruit. Tart fruit in the middle: fresh raspberries, peaches and apricots. Also, chocolate, maple syrup are forces in the finish.

The first bottle from this pack that I had seemed almost too bitter (and I love bitter beers), but the second was perfect. I guess maybe I drank the other one too cold? Obviously, this beer is hoppier than most brown ales, but the hops still do not out-shout the malt. I love all of the flavors in this one, and it's very complex for the style. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2009 02:49:34 | More by sarahspat

weezarc

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-25-2013 20:02:26 | More by weezarc

jaswilson2

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

05-25-2013 01:57:05 | More by jaswilson2

KeyWestGator

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-24-2013 00:37:49 | More by KeyWestGator

durlta

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-23-2013 23:52:06 | More by durlta

erialbill

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-22-2013 23:13:39 | More by erialbill

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

this is a brilliant style fusion. thanks to claystation for bringing this one over. it pours a soapy milk chocolate brown color, with great tan suds on top, lacing up the glass. the nose is sweet chocolate malt with light toast, and a whole buttload of fresh bitter hops. its a huge contrast between malt and hop in this one, but they get on wonderfully with one another, despite their seemingly rival intensities. the flavor yields to the grains first, with sweeter, full bodied, mouth washing sensation that hints at a Hershey bar with almonds. the hops wait patiently, ramping up slowly as the beer concludes. they are bitter and bright, and they cut the sweetness of the malt expertly. I love how distinct each half of this beer is, and how much is really going on while still making sense. fine carbonation, maybe a little light, and a fuller medium body. pretty drinkable at 6% abv, and a beer I will definitely revisit when I have more than one to enjoy. I have not had much from terrapin, but this gets me excited to seek out more. really excellent meld of the brown ale and ipa.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 16:53:48 | More by StonedTrippin

joshbrink

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-21-2013 15:40:45 | More by joshbrink

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-17-2013 15:26:32 | More by twenty5

JakeDebus

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-17-2013 10:11:01 | More by JakeDebus

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-16-2013 02:53:14 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-15-2013 22:51:19 | More by stephenjmoore

MCDub

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

05-10-2013 14:39:24 | More by MCDub

JRBecks

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-09-2013 21:41:51 | More by JRBecks

Heavenisbeer

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-08-2013 04:24:15 | More by Heavenisbeer

brudz2134

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

05-04-2013 04:30:04 | More by brudz2134

rabiddawg

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-04-2013 02:20:42 | More by rabiddawg

Mattyb79

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-02-2013 22:29:06 | More by Mattyb79

ajtorres311

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-01-2013 15:16:41 | More by ajtorres311

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into FFF nonic pint. Best before the 4th week in July.

A - Pours dark mahogany with a few fingers of off-white head. Leaves behind a splotchy lacing as the head recedes. A marbled layer of foam remains on the surface for the duration.

S - Smells of wet oats, almond, and grass clippings. Some roasted malts and caramel sweetness along with rich, earthy hops. I get more brown ale than IPA from the nose.

T - Toasted malts and caramel from the start. Barley and a distinct nuttiness in the middle. Drying pine through the swallow.

M - Light, crisp feel with a relatively clean finish. Maybe a touch undercarbonated.

O - I am a big fan of Black IPAs, so I figured I'd give this one a shot. While it isn't bad, it definitely came off much more brown ale than IPA to me. The malts are the main player with roasty, nutty, and sweet notes. Mild pine hop bite on the back end. Not too shabby, but not one I will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:51:30 | More by NoLeafClover44

JohnQVD

New York

3.94/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark reddish-brown body with a wispy light tan head that leaves little behind. Smell is baking bread with caramel and roasted ?. Taste is bready with a twinge of the caramel and a semi-dry finish with a touch of medicinal lingering bitterness and a bit of licorice as you get into the glass. Feel is moderately light, with full carbonation.

Overall, this is a solid, interesting hybrid. It's got more bitterness than a standard brown ale and more maltiness than IPA. It's quite drinkable and threads its way between the two styles well.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 21:14:26 | More by JohnQVD

corwindamber

Mississippi

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

04-28-2013 21:21:25 | More by corwindamber

Hoptopher

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

04-24-2013 23:39:49 | More by Hoptopher

AleShark

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

04-24-2013 00:52:46 | More by AleShark

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.29/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A-Pours a deep brown color with a red hue and an off-white, almost toffee colored head. Retention isn't so great but it still looks fantastic

S-Probably the best aspect of the brew. Nutty, sweet, malted barley and a faint note of hops. A bit boozy as well. Smells so damn good

T & MF-Lemony hops at the front, followed by a nice malted caramel sweetness. Almost like sugared almonds. Alcoholic bite at the finish where the hops make a presence again. A touch over carbonated, crisp, but it goes down smooth. Very well balanced and full bodied brew.

O-Exceptional brew. I've never tried a dark IPA, but I really love this combination. If you see this, do not pass it up

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 00:36:53 | More by Jacurdy60