Terrapin Oaked Big Hoppy Monster - Terrapin Beer Company

jtd1969

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Murky brown with a slight reddish tint. good lacing

S - Oak and citrus hops

T - Deep alcohol malt flavor with a deep scottish ale flavor. Earthy hops with herbal accent. Malt over power the hops, but balanced nicely

M - Full bodied, smooth, between medium n light carbonation

O - What a great beer. A tasty alternative to the main one!! I recommend it!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 02:15:09 | More by jtd1969

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 4 pack picked up at Green's on Buford Hwy. I did not realize the season Hoppy Monster this year comes with a new twist...Oak Aged! Woo hoo!

A - Dark amber, little clarity. Lots of head and sticky lace.

S - Hoppiness, oakiness, Alcohol, sweet, toffee, brown sugar

T - Smooth at first sip, and then a huge hoppy/malty backbone hits you on second swallow and it just sucks you in. Huge flavor! All the same tastes as the qualities I mentioned in the Smell

M - Full bodied, very highly carbonated.

O - I love the standard Hoppy Monster. Even have the T-shirt. Absolutely love the Oak Aged version!

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 02:49:28 | More by BeerDawgs

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from Sherlock's (Marietta, GA). 12.98/ 4 pack. 2012 vintage (I believe bottled 09/2012). Served in a Terrapin snifter.

Pours cloudy ruddy red-brown with one and a half fingers of dense pale head that leaves nice sheets of lacing as it recedes.

Smells smooth and hoppy. Floral, piney, citrus and sweet bread.

Taste is a nice blend of hops and smooth malts and oak. Pine, grapefruit, fresh cut grass, biscuits, wood and vanilla. The alcohol is there but much more subtle than I expected at over 9% abv.

Medium feel with mild but present carbonation. Creamy slick and coating, the floral aftertaste lingers quite a while.

I liked the original Big Hoppy Monster but the oaked version brings it to a new level of richness and complexity. I'll be buying more and probably laying a few down to enjoy in 6-12 months. Definately worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 01:00:34 | More by ThickNStout

Gavage

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: reddish in color with a short 1/2" head. Some moderate lace appears.

Smell: malt sweetness and some caramel is all that can be detected.

Taste: caramel, earthy tones, oak, some vanilla, a bit of fruitiness, and a hearty biting bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Smooth from start to finish. Long lasting aftertaste.

Overall: definite slow sipping beer. Bold flavors too.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 11:09:06 | More by Gavage

kylehay2004

Florida

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger tan head on a on a maroon mahagony body. Nice lacing.

S: some nice cirtrus and candy flavored on a background oak with nice malt backbone.

T: Tart and tangy related tHe citrus and candy flavors with oak malt and bourbon in the finish.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: I honestly don't recall the regular hoppy monster to compare but this is a typical oak barrel aged beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2012 00:09:18 | More by kylehay2004

HamFon

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at our local tap bar.

A: clear mahogany with medium beige head that fades but leaves some lacing

S: Caramel and some roast, with tangerine, perfumy, big floral, and woody hop character

T: roasty, caramel, molasses, woody

M: moderately full body, some residual sweetness, some alcohol warmth

O: Big combination of several different types of hops works well - great hop presence and complexity that is greater than the sum of the parts

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2012 16:14:39 | More by HamFon

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Terrapin Oak Aged Big Hoppy Monster
Terrapin Beer Company

Pours a murky brown with a nice creamy head and excellent lacing, pretty much a wall of lace. Aromas of sweet vanilla, malt, and some earthy floral hops. In the taste, very sweet upfront with mild dark fruit notes. Vanilla comes through with a lot of barrel influence. Bourbon/rum flavors come through big with alittle pine and dry oak. Roasted malts and barrel char play nicely with the smooth richness of the feel. In the finish, oaky and boozy, very creamy full bodied feel. Overall, they should call this the Big Vanilla Monster, because the hops have died down for the most part and the barrel is doing the talking.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2012 21:46:31 | More by Stinkypuss

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

32oz Growler from Beverage World. Served at around 45F.

Pours red/copper with a one finger beige head that recedes to a light foamy cap and leaves some sheets of lacing behind.

Aroma is pine, earthy and grassy hops, some citrus, toffee & caramel malt and dark fruit, some oak and vanilla notes come through as well. Very good strength.

Flavor is citrus, pine and resinous hops, vanilla, dark fruit, toffee, caramel, a bit of oak, fairly sweet but with enough bitterness to help balance it out. Minimal alcohol.

Mouthfeel is nearly full-bodied, creamy, a bit sticky, good carbonation.

Equally as good, if not a touch better than the regular stuff. The oak aging is a little subdued and just offers another little layer of complexity to this fine brew.

Serving type: growler

11-30-2011 02:01:37 | More by elgiacomo

garuda

Pennsylvania

2.63/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Murky deep amber with a one finger head that retains well with some lacing.

S/T - With a name like Big Hoppy Monster, there's minimal hop content in aroma and taste. Mostly dominated by dark fruits of plum and raisin, and a lot of sweetness. Oak comes in through the finish, with only a touch of earthy hops adding a small amount of bitterness.

M - Medium body, thick and creamy with a low carbonation. The oakiness helps dry it up a bit, but residual sugars are still left coating the mouth.

O - Totally not what I was expecting from the name. Almost no hop character, very sweet and malty, with the oak not really incorporated well into the beer. Kind of turns me off from trying the regular version.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 00:59:45 | More by garuda

Anthony1

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at trapeze recently

pours a really deep amber, nice head for oak aged, looked yummy. smelled hoppy and a bit fuity. some subtle oak notes, mostly similar to the regular hoppy tho. great taste, a bit more fruity/vanilla with a subtle oak after thought. plenty of hops along with a solid malt profile

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2009 18:44:08 | More by Anthony1

projectflam86

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a deep amber color with a white foam head that left some scattered lacing.

S- Lots of citrus and pine scents. Big grapefruit character with oak and a touch of vanilla and spice.

T- Nice initial hoppy bitterness with a clean citrus bite. A bit of sweetness relief with oak and vanilla flavors prevalent throughout. A hoppy grapefruit finish with a lingering bitter aftertaste.

M- Medium/full bodied with just enough carbonation.

D- Very drinkable given the style and ABV. Balanced enough to not overwhelm with bitterness but enough hops to keep us 'hopheads' happy.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2009 04:35:34 | More by projectflam86

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an appetizing, translucent mahogany with a fine-bubbled, slightly reddish tan head. Aroma is richly hoppy and has undertones of spice and wood. Flavor is strongly hoppy but not bitter with a definite oaky undertone and hints of cinnamon candy. Smooth, lively texture leaves a woody, slightly smoky aftertaste. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2009 23:22:51 | More by Cyberkedi

brentk56

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a dark amber color and a perky head that webs as it declines

Smell: Caramel and oak, with a hoppy undertone

Taste: Opens with a bit of caramel and brown sugar but quickly moves in a woody, bitter direction; after the swallow, the oaky flavors are a bit over the top, with a fruity bitterness underneath; just a hint of residual sweetness

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; the woody flavors dry out the mouth; some warmth

Drinkability: Pretty nice and very different but the wood is a bit too dominating for my palate

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2009 23:05:25 | More by brentk56

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Brick Store Pub. Pours a dark chestnut with a nice cap that leaves some lacing. Nice citrusy hop aromas come through on the nose as well as lightly sweet malt and just a hint of oak. Nicely balanced and not overdone. The taste reflectss the same components and is equally balanced, which is nice beacause ocassionally this brewery overoaks some of their beers. Not this one, a very deft hand with the oak here. Just right, a nice beer, nicely enhanced.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2009 14:51:52 | More by Georgiabeer

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Murky-looking, brown body with some orangey-amber hints at the edges and topped by a thin, whitish head.

Smell: Rich caramel malts scented with vanilla and citrusy grapefruit rinds and, oh yes, there's plenty of pungent oak character to go around.

Taste: Earthy, toasty malts with a full caramel sweetness. Touch of vanilla. It's right about this time the oak starts rolling in, drying out the flavor and practically soaking up any remaining sweetness like a doggone sponge. This leaves the tongue wide open for the assault of citrusy hops and their full bitterness. Finishes bitter and exceptionally dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Some oak jobs I love and some, well... I found this top by a bit over-the-top. Personally, I would be much happier to have just the plain ole', regular BHM.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2009 19:05:58 | More by ChainGangGuy

Patrick999

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Room, South Beach. Thanks to The Room for stepping up to the plate on this one. I hear this was one of very few kegs to make it out of Georgia.

A - Held up to the Room's candles, it shows a deep ruby red. Poured into a nonic pint, it exhibits very good head and retention.

S - Mostly grapefruit, like a fresh, Cascades-infused Double IPA.

T - Very nice. The citrus hops hit you first, but there's also a blueberry fruit overtone and a definite caramel malt presence.

F - This really makes me thirsty. It's oily, sticky, and coats the mouth. I love the taste, but I find the feel a little tough to deal with.

D - 2 is my limit, before I need a couple pints of water. It's really nice, but you can't have that much of it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2008 05:02:58 | More by Patrick999

ncvbc

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep ruby with brown highlights. Smaller off white head without much lacing. Smell is remarkable. The oak is in no way overpowering and adds another level of complexity to this already great beer. Brings out more of a pineapple scent on top of the base smell. Still caramel and that lovely brown sugar. Also pine and light citrus hops. Seems like there are even hints of coconut. Very light oak and wood presence. Just lovely. Taste is much of the same. This is one beer that I almost wish there was more oak presence, which is seldom the case as many are overdone. Still, very nice and gives the regular flavors a chance to shine while adding complexity. Great mouthfeel with a good level of carbonation. Moderate bitterness balanced with the malt sweetness. Not too thick and just about perfect. I could have had a couple more pints of this one. It is easily approachable and the oak flavor is in no way dominating. Very, very great beer. Who would have thought Big Hoppy could get much better? It does.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2008 16:38:51 | More by ncvbc

tpd975

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had been waiting for this one to hit and while I was out doing xmas shopping I stopped my the Mellow Mushroom to see if it was on tap.

Lucky for me it was, the rest is history.

A: Pours a unique shade of brown, deep and rusty would be how I describe it. Nice tight head which showed great retention. Thick, thick lace my friend.

S: Nice sweet malty aromas. Hints of sweet pine and a touch of grass. Nothing overthetop.

T: Ahh this is where this one wins. What a great brew. Nice candy caramel sweetness. I had a See's sucker earlier in the day and this one is just as sweet and good. The hops are there, but they are all about the pine. Sweet resinous pine dominates the middle. Hints of vanilla poke through, with just a touch of the wood. This one sweety malty hoppy concoction. The finish is sugary sweet with notes of vanilla laden pine showing thru. I am not a fan of the regular big hoppy monster, a bit of time in the wood transformed this one.

M: Rather full bodied for the style. The carbonation is understated which makes it feel even thicker. The head says it is well carbonated but this one carries it well.

D: Had two pints before hitting the door. Will revisit this one again before they blow out the keg. My only wish is this one showed a bit more of the wood. That being said, it is my favorite Terrapin brew to date.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 05:15:17 | More by tpd975

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Barleys tonight. I had waited a long time to be able to try this one, so while we ate downstairs, I made sure to go up for me beer on this evening. Served straight from the tap into my pint glass, this one was consumed on 11/28/2008.

The pour was very nice, A rich looking dark brown with a nearly completely opaque look to it. Nice head of maybe an inch formed on the top and hung around for the entire session, only dropping down slightly as I finished the last half. Nice side glass presence as well.

The aroma was loaded with hops. Deep, rich, resin filled pine hops were the dominant note here for a good long while. Nice sweet malts buried underneath here started to show through with a candy like sweetness after a little while. Nice hints of vanilla as it hit room temperture. The flavor though, I could not have asked for better here. Rich and very hopped big red ale right out of the gate, this one really needed to warm up though, so I sat it aside for about twenty minutes. By the time I came out, WOW. This one blew the doors off of what I was expecting. Rich hoppy notes, swirled inside of candied sugar and a huge vanilla and oak flavor. Just enormous depth to the profile here. Unrelenting hops just kept pushing the envelope as the vanilal and oak chips just tore through your plate. Rich medium bodied feel was everything i thought it would be and more. A bit strong, but never the less, very much a nice sipper,

When all was said and done, this was easily one of my favorite beers of late. I would love to and , and plan on having this one again very soon. Solid from top to bottom.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 02:40:05 | More by mikesgroove

CrellMoset

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Charlie Mopps, Atlanta, GA. Served in a traditional American pint glass.

Appearance: Deep clear brown with hints of red, a foamy one-finger head with amazing retention, and thick, sticky, huge, three-dimensional lacing. Great start!

Aroma: Malty ... check ... hoppy ... check ... oaky ... check. Very thick and sweet, with a nice citrus/herbal one-two punch (Centennial, perhaps?), brown sugar, lots of other caramelized sugar notes, and a good dose woodiness without the obligatory vanilla presence.

Taste: Very nice, mellower than fresh Big Hoppy normally is, with many of the citrusy/leafy notes having faded. There's still layers upon layers of brown sugar and molasses, some toasted astringencies, and a nice helping of vanilla and faint but earthy wood notes. It's very "green" tasting, probably due to a combination of the faded hop notes and the earthy wood notes. Very yum.

Mouthfeel: Despite the faded hop notes, it still leaves a nice "hop burn." Other than that, it's largely very smooth, with soft carbonation that leaves a nice even-feeling body.

Drinkability: About as drinkable as the regular Big Hoppy, with a nice added tasty bonus. Abv% is still up there, but it's also well-hidden, and it's about as tasty and aromatic as the original too - the barrel aging adds precisely what you'd imagine it would. So it's nice, but not amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2008 05:10:43 | More by CrellMoset

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Bocktown tonight and was really looking forward to it. It has been on their "Coming very soon" list for a few weeks now.

A- Very dark, transparent reddish brown hue that pours with a 1 finger or so rust colored head. Head fades quickly to a thin colar but traces of lacing are left all the way down the glass. It seems to be a shade or two darker than the regular big hoppy monster for some reason.

S- Wonderful, bright hoppy aromas of fresh citrus and hints of pine come through upfront with a hint of woodiness in the background.

T- Rich hoppy flavors of citrus and pine upfront with a rich oaky, toasted malt background. The hop bitterness and a little bit of toasted flavors really come through for the finish and a medium hop bitterness lingers.

M-Medium carbonation and somewhat oily, and smooth malty body.

D- It was a great experience to try the oak aged version of this beer and its a very good beer, but I think I prefer the fresh hoppy flavors of this one in comparison to old hops with a nice oak aged flavor component. Still great to try this rare beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2008 00:42:46 | More by PittBeerGirl

adamette

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served on tap at the Brick Store Pub in Decatur, GA.

A Dark amber body under a one cm head lasted about 10 minutes.

S Like smelling hop oil or a hop plant itself. Very Very hoppy indeed.

T Hop to the extreme. Some malt stuggles to come through in there.

M Full with hops.

D Not really good due to strong hops and alcohol.

Notes: One hell of a beer and an instant classic for hop heads. I was glad to have tried it even if I am not among the hop heads.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2008 05:36:02 | More by adamette

gabeerfan

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this on-tap at Brick Store Pub.

Arrived a dark copper/brown with dark red highlights. About a finger and a half of a nice tan head that fell to a thin cap with islands of foam.
Floral hops dominate the aroma, but aren't overwhelming at all. Caramel and dried fruit help round out the aroma with hints of oak and vanilla.
Flavors mirror the aroma pretty closely, floral/piney hops, caramel and bits of dark fruit, but the oak and vanilla flavors are more pronounced than in the aroma.
Somewhat oily, resiny mouthfeel from the hops. Good carbonation.
Pretty drinkable. A little hot to drink all night, but the flavors make this very enjoyable.
This is a very good beer. I don't know if they are bottling this, but if they are, pick some up. Or just grab a pint next time you are at BSP.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2008 15:17:51 | More by gabeerfan

glid02

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried this at the Brick Store in Atlanta.

Pours a cloudy dark copper color with a one-finger tan head. The head sticks around for a while before dissipating into a patchy layer of bubbles on top and a thick ring around the glass. Lacing is pretty sticky.

Smells mostly of floral hops. I was surprised how big the aroma was, I was expecting it to be toned down more from the barrel. There are also piney hop aromas to go along with earthy malt undertones that grow more pungent as the beer warms.

Tastes very good. After the smell I was prepared for the amount of hoppiness found in the un-aged version, but I was surprised that it was much more toned down. Earthy malt flavors dominate, with almost equal amounts of piney hop flavors. Bitterness at the end is pretty solid.

Mouthfeel is good. It's a bit thicker than the normal version with more subdued carbonation. Very smooth.

Drinkability is great. I would've had a few more of these had I not had a few others on my must-try list. Definitely give this one a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2008 01:28:17 | More by glid02

gford217

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a dark cola brown with hints of red around the edges. The head small, tan and short-lived leaving generous lacing along the sides.

The aroma is dominated by floral hops, even more so than the regular BHM, which is interesting to me. I get hints of the oak and the caramel malts, but the pine scents are just massive in the this one.

The caramel malts are more prevalent in the taste, though the floral pine hops are still the star of the show. The oak comes through as well and the flavors really meld together well.

The mouthfeel is predictably smooth given the oak but with good carbonation and some sticky pine resin bitterness in the finish.

I'm probably biased as BHM is my favorite Terrapin brew, but I really, really like this beer and I was floored at how much the floral hops showed throw even with the oak aging. A fantastic beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2008 18:51:56 | More by gford217