Terrapin Hopzilla - Terrapin Beer Company

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.19/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

poured from tap into unibroue tulip at Kickbacks in Jacksonville, FL. Big foamy pour over a deep burnt orange color. Nice hoppy sweet malt piney aroma.
Taste is malty sweetness..[piney but is balanced by the sweetness. Tastes of sweet malt, slight dried fruit and toffee, and hops. I would actually call this a strong ale; not a DIPA. Its way too sweet and way to strong...but its damn tasty! whatever you call it, its great

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2013 01:53:17 | More by DrinkSlurm

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This is an interesting dipa in that it's not trying to blow my mind by blowing away my palate. Thick flavor profile with a slightly noticeable boozy tone, but not as much as I would expect for a 10.7% beer. A nice drinker. I could certainly deal with slightly less of a boozy tone, less prevalent malts, and a higher hop influence. It's a nice enough drinker though.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 21:02:32 | More by RblWthACoz

macrosmatic

Florida

4.11/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into an Upland pint glass.

A: Pours a hazy deep gold, forms a one-finger white head over medium visible carbonation.

S: Hops! Tropical fruit, dank, citrus, and a bit of pine. Background of light biscuit or cracker malts.

T: Follows the aroma in notes, but this is closer to balanced than expected from the nose. Hop flavors of citrus, tropical, grapefruit/pineapple and dank grassy come through without big bitterness - I assume this had lots of late hop additions. A mild spicy/onion hop character shows up near the end, with only mild bitterness in the hang.

M: Medium body, low alcohol presence, decent carbonation sensation.

O: Quite enjoyable, but nothing to make it stand out. Certainly paled in comparison to the Stone Enjoy By I drank following this bottle. But I wouldn't turn down another.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 16:29:42 | More by macrosmatic

Cobrito

Georgia

1.73/5  rDev -57.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

A--A nice cloudy, golden appearance, but with weak head and lacing.

S--Smells kind of one-dimensional and overly malty. Not at all appetizing or aesthetically pleasing like the best, complex DIPAs.

Taste--Ditto; one dimensional, boringly sweet. Very little hop taste and very little sense of composition.

M--Meh.

Perhaps the least satisfying $13 per 4 pack I have ever spent. This beer is a FAIL.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:30:21 | More by Cobrito

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a tulip glass. Served upwards of 55º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a medium thick off white head of a creamy froth consistency. Retention is average. Body color is a pale golden amber with a high clarity and ample carbonation. Lacing is thin and spotty. A pretty good appearance, on the lighter end of the DIPA spectrum and slightly underwhelming head quality. 3.5

(Smell) Mildly roasted caramel malt base with a moderate sweetness, followed through with an herbal, earthy and spicy hop aroma blend with citrus undertones. The hop character is front-and center and the malt profile is well balanced to pair. Potency is a touch shallow even at warmer temperatures but it's a minor complaint to this beer. 4

(Taste) Here's an unexpected twist. Earthy hops and booze jump forward to the front. It's a very bizarre hop character with lots of yeast character in tow- expect bananas, bubblegum, peppery spices and herbal tones to gel with the more predictable hop suspects of citrus and pine. Malt character provides a subtle undertone with a moist sweetness and a relatively clean finish, aside from a growing ethanol and clove finish that favorably gains with the drink. As I've been having my drinks at warmer and warmer temperatures recently, these have been showing their true depths of character. It's not the most accessible DIPA out there- it's got it's rough edges, but I don't often find IPAs that have this much yeast expression as they do in the hops, and it makes for an adventurous flavor combination to say in the least. Mildly moist finish contributes even more to a burdened palate, probably the biggest subjective groan I can offer this beer. 4

(Mouthfeel) Smooth, mildly heavy with a touch of residual caramel syrup thickness, a moderate hop bitterness and a mildly peppery, generally well-balanced finish, neither too dry nor moist. Carbonation is just enough to give it some air. Body is medium/heavy for a DIPA, and just shy of heavy overall. It's a pretty loaded and filling compilation of flavors, with nearly all parts of a beer doing their full job. Any more complicated and it could wind up a hot mess. Speaking of heat, there's a notable booze factor here due to a relatively clean, strictly-focused-on-sweets malt profile. The mouthfeel hits the mark for carbonation, but I always question the validity of heavy body profiles, and combined with a wide open alcohol profile, it's certainly a one-and-done type of beer whether you love it or not. It's one heavy sucker. 3.5

(Overall) I'm going to give DIPAs a run for their character in warmer temperatures from now on, this one has graciously intensified in the upper 50ºs. It's one heavy-hitting beer in all factors, with a heavy, complex hop profile and a matching bold yeast background to boot, consider your palate nearly wrecked after gracefully sipping this one down. It may not be simple enough for those who like an accessible, quaffable double IPA a-la Hopslam, but this beer hardly shames the DIPA name, and certainly fits its own merits via it's overwhelming flavor ferocity. Recommended upwards of 55º warmth for the ballsier DIPA drinkers only. 3.75

Terrapin Beer Company's
Hopzilla Double India Pale Ale
3.88/5.00

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 02:43:01 | More by Jadjunk

sommersb

Tennessee

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Tasted On: 04-24-2013
Freshness: 2013 Vintage
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Terrapin Snifter
Purchased: Single from The Bottle Shop, Franklin

A: Hazy orange colored beer with a small off-white head. Retention is low, but OK for this big of a beer; lacing is very attractive.

S: The citrus and piney hops play well with the caramel malts for a dreamy aroma.

T: As in the smells, there is a great balance in the taste, with pine and citrus hop bitterness kept in check by a big maltiness from the Maris Otter. Also has a pleasing warming of alcohol.

M: The mouthfeel is thick and chewy with a medium-high amount of carbonation on the tongue. The finish has both strong malt notes and big hoppy bitterness.

O: A fantastic DIPA here -- I need to go get some more. Happy that this is available locally!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:58:09 | More by sommersb

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle, 2013 vintage, from excellent BA trader QuentinCall.

Honey-gold elixir poured into Avery pint glass. 2-finger, thick, white head, plenty of lacing.

Wow, nice hops! Mangoes and oranges all over the place.

Honey, citrus hops, malt backbone. Alcohol comes through at the end.

Medium to full body, smooth, nice.

Well done DIPA. Could really sniff this one all day. The hops are sweet and give this one a bump.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 23:06:30 | More by CaptCleveland

tut2528

Illinois

4.31/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: very nice dark orange in color, created about 1/2 fingers worth of head retention. moderate carbonation and nice lacing

S: as expected, huge hops blast the nose, with some tropical fruits such as mango and subtle peach. there is a nice sweet malt backbone holding this one together and i'm not getting any alcohol. nice

T: big hops up complimented by a big sugary malt sweetness that masks all alcohol. orange peel, mango, and a slight touch of mango also come through here creating a decent amount of complexity as well as balance.

M: lighter than what I was expecting to be honest. but it leaves a nice sugary sweetness on the palate along with some hops which is pretty nice

O: definitely worthy of a try. i really enjoyed how the sugary cuts out the alcohol, because I could easily kick back 2-3 of these. it has a nice flavor profile, just wish a bit more fruits would come forward in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 01:46:20 | More by tut2528

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.74/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a pure amber, clear body, head just under an inch.

Smells pretty dank, lots of peach, some mandarin orange, some sweet malt.

Taste is dank, has a little peach again, some orange, some grapefruit maybe, lots of fruit but not too bitter, fairly sweet with a big malt backbone, pretty spicy hop character too.

Good carbonation, fairly thick body, not as dry as I like my IPAs but pretty drinkable.

Good beer! Big fruit character, fairly hoppy, pretty malty too which isn't my thing but this is really good. Glad to finally get to try this!

7.7/10

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 03:53:40 | More by AlexFields

inlimbo77

Delaware

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

64oz, filled 4/4/13, drank 4/12/13
Bruery tulip

A: Clear orange amber like color. Full finger of off white head initially. Faded to a layer. Leaves some sticky lacing.

S: Juicy fruit character. Over ripe peach and mango. Some herbal notes. Sweet malts there as well.

T: Big hops up front. Tons of that same fruit that you smelled. But there is a good layer of sweet malts to match it. Maybe an herbal like flavor. Finish has lingering fruity hops.

M: Big medium. Has some body.

Serving type: growler

04-15-2013 16:10:33 | More by inlimbo77

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.96/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle from Capone's. Smooth DIPA, full of citrus hop flavour and flavour up front. You do not notice the palate erasing as you are bribed by the flavour. Nice malt supportVery good drinkability and style representative. Cloudy orange appearance.Top level label.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 02:53:06 | More by northyorksammy

bcm75

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into tulip. 2013 vintage acquired via trade.

I feel like someone beat me on the head with one of those bags of citrus fruit they sell tourists driving on I-75 entering Florida. Not that that's a bad thing. I tend to like more of a hop punch, but the flavor is there in moderation. Poured a nice copper color, moderate carbonation. The alcohol content is well-disguised - could easily knock back a bunch of these without thinking much about it.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 23:11:18 | More by bcm75

Mojo

Alabama

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle -> Dogfish Head Glass

This one doesn't seem to be that balanced between malt and hops but that is okay. It is a citrus bomb following by a massive bitterness. The alcohol is very well hid for a beer with that much alcohol. Nose is very floral and citrus. Mouthfeel is pretty nice. Try this one if you like the grapefruit.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 03:03:30 | More by Mojo

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.06/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours golden orange.

Lots of orange and pine in the nose.

Taste is orange rind, pine, lemon and other fruit. Pleasant malt backbone with good bitterness that lingers well.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated.

Overall this was really great. Will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 11:50:32 | More by TrappistJohnMD

pauldave1976

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

I really enjoy this beer. I highly recommend it. I love big, high gravity beers and this is one hundred percent one of them. Regardless how you feel about other Terrapin brews, this is one of better ones they make. I wish it was available year round. I always buy an extra four pack and shelve it for a rainy day.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 18:30:45 | More by pauldave1976

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass. 2013 vintage.

A- a clear orange/gold, with a fingers worth of soapy head, with small, but dense bubbles. Nice lacing. Head dissipates fairly quickly

S- Big hit of mandarin orange and mango.

T- A very quick flash of pine which is quickly crushed by flavors of mandarin orange, mango, and very light hints of other tropical fruits. Some light white pepper on the finish. A bit warming, but I've had others that are much more boozy than this. Not very bitter at all, just a hint on the end. My wife hates IPA's, and she didn't hate this one due to this fact.

M- Slick, creamy, and a touch dry on the end.

O- The tropical flavors the hops bring to the table are great, but there's no hop "punch". An interesting brew that I think if they jacked up the bitterness, and hops just a touch, could be terrific.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 01:26:58 | More by JWU

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, orange amber colored with a fluffy white head that dissipates leaving some lacing, very clear

S: oily pine hops, thick and resinous, intimidating esters present, like fermented flowers and fruit

T: sticky sweet flavor reminiscent of barley wines, oddly dark fruits, much less bitterness than expected, pine hops

M: greasy, heavy alcohol presence, lower carbonation

O: this is slightly better than average due to flavors and a feel that are less than ideal in this style, fruit should be more tropical and less stone, sugary greasy quality puts me off

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:15:40 | More by M_C_Hampton

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Revised 3.20.13

A - Pours a clear honey color and very mild carbonation. Initially pours with a white, foamy one fingered head the subsides to a thin white ring.

A - Tropical fruit smells - mango, pineapple, some oranges, and sweet grapefruit.

T - Alcohol and booze!! The ABV totally slams the tropical fruit/malt combo. Light bready caramel malt; candied mangos, oranges, and red grapefruit with light pepper in the finish.

M - Heavy side of medium body, mild tongue carbonation, and a lingering mixture of spicy pepper, almost sugary tropical fruit, and booziness.

O - Very alcohol forward and boozy which dominates too much, would not be opposed to dialing back the alcohol level on this beer and let the the ingredients shine as opposed to the alcohol; the alcohol presence is borderline obnoxious for a DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 22:39:27 | More by jzeilinger

sammygt

Georgia

4.39/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Terrapin Hopzilla Glass - its what they gave away at the brewery the previous week, although they didn't have Hopzilla on tap. good orange hues in the color, and some decent head (~1in). Great hoppy nose, and whoa what a taste. Great mango and grapefruit in this sucker, love those great fruity hops. this is a great beer i will be drinking a lot of.

Side-note - 12.99 for a 4 pack is the only negative i have for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 23:14:36 | More by sammygt

TheJollyHop

California

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy amber/gold hue, low carbonation, ample lacing.

Tangerine zest, ruby red grapefruit, orange blossom honey, water cracker/hay, and underipened mangoes, on the nose; quite vibrant.

Bitterness builds early, elevating orange zest, pineapple juice, and juicy pink grapefruit, finishing honey with a long but pleasant bitter finish. I can't stress this finish enough. Not only is there a kiss of bitterness but grapefruit/pineapple flavor is still present minutes after the swallow. The balance here is spot on. The palate is intrigued without being destroyed, and the bitterness level lets you know this is a big beer. The alcohol heat makes itself known, but in an integrated way with the rest of the flavor profile which is a nice accomplishment.

Soft, medium bodied with light carbonation. A little heavy, but other than that spot on for an East Coast DIPA. Seek this out if you like sweet tropical fruit and citrus flavor with balance in your Imperial IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 21:16:52 | More by TheJollyHop

KajII

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]

The pour was a murky medium golden orange with an average (1-2 finger) white frothy head that steadily receded down to a few small puddles of residue and a medium collar with good sheets of lacing.

The aroma was somewhat subdued, with a mild grain malt, floral and citrus hops and an earthy yeast with notes of caramel and citrus (orange).

The taste started lightly sweet with a hint of caramel, but quickly became moderately hoppy with a bitter citrus peel presence and a decent alcohol tinge towards the end. The flavor lasted an average duration proceeding the swallow with a bitter citrus alcohol taste left to linger on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was just past half way between light and medium in body with a dry and slightly syrupy texture and a medium carbonation.

Overall I found this Double IPA to be rather tasty without having any overpowering aspects. The light malty sweetness along with a moderate bitterness did a superb job of concealing the high ABV, and left this brew with an exceptional drinkability...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 18:22:42 | More by KajII

TBoneJones

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Heard good about this brewery so I picked a few off the shelf while vacationing in Florida last month.
Thinner than I expected head on the pour into a pint glass.
Nice orange copper coloring.
Bubbles rise steadily from glass bottom.
Pine skunky smell with alcohol.
Upon taste I like how the malt blends in with the alcohol, but then there is the alcohol !! Warming for sure, and then a bit astringent.
Nice carbonation overall. Hops big and nice but gives way to the alcohol in short order. A different type of big DIPA, some say sweet in a good way, but I'm not sure how to pinpoint what's happening enough here to say it's a favorite. Although i cant help but compare brews in this range to Maharaja, I'm glad to try something new in this style.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 03:33:51 | More by TBoneJones

Kromes

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: A hazy orange color with a thick white head that laces the glass. The head dies down to a thin soapy film.

S: Very strong hop and alcohol aroma. Mostly citrus hop coupled with a very sweet alcohol aroma. Maybe even some tropical fruit in there...mango, pineapple.

T: Very strong citrus and mango hop flavor at first that sort of burns with the alcohol. The sweet malt keeps this one in check, but also add a somewhat cloying dimension to the beer. It's necessary as there are alot of hops in this one. Finishes somewhat dry with a lingering hop mouthful.

M: Heavy and syrupy with a bit of oil.

O: After the initial shock, it grows on you. The palate sort of numbs and some of the flavors come through. Definitely for the hop lovers out there. That being said, it does take a bit of skill to balance a beer this strong and that doesn't go unrecognized.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 23:41:40 | More by Kromes

Aiptasia

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Found these in four packs at our local whole foods store. Enjoying as I type this served up in the classic red solo cup. chilled into the 50 degree mark in the fridge.

A: Pours nicely even into plastic. The monster level alcohol negates a lot of the frothy cream head. Head retention is practically nil as it settles into a white dust of bubbles around the periphery of the cup. The beer body is bright orange/brown hued and crystal clear.

S: Smells of over-ripe melon mixed with soy sauce and orange rind. Aroma does battle with the boozey alcohol with balance, not dominance.

T: I'm biased as i'm a fan of big gravity beers. Hopzilla has noticeable citrus hops up front and is only slightly bitter. For fellow IPA lovers, you won't notice the bitter in this one and it's perhaps a good beer for bridging your non-IPA friends over to something a little stronger. Lots of liquid malt and slight sting of astringent from the alcohol leaves for a clean earthy aftertaste.

M: Drinks well although you will feel the burn of the alcohol level. Modestly carbonated to go down easier. Probably would've preferred this one a little colder temperature-wise.

O: Great effort by Terrapin to bring a big IPA to the local Atlanta market. Not for everyone, the alcohol content could be off-putting to lightweights.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 21:48:16 | More by Aiptasia

cpolking

Iowa

3.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to tone77 for this one. The beer pours a hazy dark golden and orange in color. There is a short head of white to off-white foam.

The aroma is hoppy, spicy, lots of orange and overripe tropical fruit. The malt is also very present in the aroma, and the alcohol is detectable.

The taste is massive, tons of orange and citrus, cantaloupe, overripe tropical fruits, lots of malt, caramel, with a nicely bitter finish, and not nearly as bitter as might be expected from such a massive DIPA.

It drinks smooth and relatively easy for its massive flavors and high alcohol. There is a bit of Juicy Fruit gum flavor in the aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:31:12 | More by cpolking