Terrapin So Fresh & So Green Green - Terrapin Beer Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a massive quantity of beer which was consumed at barleys tonight, this one started the whole night off. this one was consumed on 11/06/2010.

pour is a nice medium amber color with a very good clarity to it that allows a ton of carbonation to be visible from the very start. the result is a nice inch of white head that sticks to the sides of the glass very nicely,

aroma is nice fresh hops. sticky pine is the most dominant with a good bit of fresh resin filled grass notes bouncing around inside as well. really nicely balanced for a fresh hop ale. nice clean flavor as well, not overdone in any direction. clean fresh hops, sticky resin and a smooth and even biscuit flavor mid palate. nice lightly dry finish leaves a nice taste of pine on the tongue.

overall very drinkable and a very solid ipa.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 01:36:04 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at Galaxy Hut.

Pours an amber copper with a bit of a white head and some rig lacing. Nose is really sling hops and a good dose of Harpoon yeast. Side note: I need to find out what that is. Taste has slight hops with some pale malts. Light body with low carbonation. Drinks well but is not as advertised.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2010 22:25:07 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11 ounce goblet - $6.50 at Taco Mac in Canton, Georgia. 2011 release featuring Challenger hops.

Appearance: Clear, copper-amber body with a ½-inch, near-white head.

Smell: Lightly resinous, earthy, floral hop notes overlaying pale malts, a bit bready to a degree, and hinting at a little citrus.

Taste: Moderately bready maltiness with a honey-toned sugar encrusted sweetness and a very minor toasty quality. Juicy, citrusy hops, not particularly effusive, but has a pleasing refreshing quality to it. Earthy, firmly floral tones beyond the citrus. Moderate bitter. Dry, gently resinous finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-light carbonation.

Overall: A curious choice, Challenger hops, but certainly a departure from the Amarillo hops used the previous year. It has a nice fresh feel to it, but, unlike the similarly named space shuttle, the hops just don't provide a catastrophic explosion of fiery flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2011 16:34:24 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color topped by three fingers of foam that leaves a few dots and dashes here and there; decent retention, however

Smell: Piney aromatics interplay with crusty bread malts

Taste: Bready malts, up front, followed by herbacious piney bitterness; just as some sweeter malt elements creep into the fray, a hint of fusel alcohol disrupts the interplay; after the swallow, the piney, herbacious elements, along with a touch of mint, dominate the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Drinkability: When I saw the bottle I was very excited (a fresh hop beer from Terrapin!), but for a brewer of this repute, this was a rather disappointing IPA

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 02:07:19 | More by brentk56

oberon

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an imperial pint glass a slight hazed copper /bronze with a nice tight formed one finger white head,some faint pine and light toasted caramel malt notes in the nose,a little tame in my opinion.First thing I noticed when drinking is the near watery feel to the beer,it took away from the flavors,mild pine and citrus hop flavors meld with a biscuity malt base with neither really getting the upper hand.Eh this is not one of the better fresh hop ales out there,its not horrific its just a little to simple I think.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 20:41:45 | More by oberon

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a beautiful amber color with a hick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice pale and crystal malt flavor; not sweet, but sporting some light caramel notes. The hop aroma is well received. It's fresh and piney, but not overly aggressive. Fresh hop beers rarely have a powerful aroma. The taste is good as well. It has a smooth malty base along with a nice bitter hop flavor. Again, it's not over the top, rather it's mild, but resinating. The hops taste quite fresh and compliment a solid malt base. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a delicious harvest IPA. The fresh hopped IPA is an acquired taste. Those looking for a hop bomb will be disappointed. It's more geared towards the freshness of the ingredients.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 17:21:06 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip beer is clear and amber to orange with moderate carbonation, a decent head and some lacing. Looks OK.

Doesn't smell like an IPA, the hop character is low and the nose is sweet.

Beer is medium to light in body and tastes better than it smells but it still is more like an APA than an IPA. The hops just aren't here for that. The malt is good and nicely balance with moderate bitterness. Its decent.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 03:23:32 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear light amber in color and poured with a thin white head that faded into lacy patterns of bubbles. There is a light amount of visible carbonation.
S: There are moderate aromas of citrus and pine resin hops in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has flavors of citrusy and piney hops along with a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer isn't that difficult to drink, although I couldn't see myself having more than one of these in a single sitting.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 00:25:37 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A little weak I thought, I was hoping for something more. Honestly I thought this would be much hoppier since it's a wet hop ale. I honestly didn't get much of a hop flavor at all. Perhaps it's the type of hops they used. The color was a really nice gold and I even though the aroma was pretty nice but this brew just turned out to be a little on the boring side when it comes to hops.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 00:26:31 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours amber with 3+ fingers of cream colored head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Bready & grassy

T: Grassy, hoheny malt, leafy hops, a touch of grapefruit & tangerine up front. Grassy, piney with toffee & tangerine as this warms. Finishes grassy with citrus & piney notes, just not enough for greatness

MF: Medium bodied, smooth carbonation, nice balance

Not sure how fresh this is, no dating, so who knows. Would love to get a "real fresh" bottle to see how it compares. No Founder's Harvest, but not bad at all

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 04:43:24 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a clear orange color with a 1" head that falls to a spotty surface foam. Big bubbles stick to the side of the glass.

Smell: floral hops, some earthiness, and orange citrus creates a nice aroma.

Taste: big caramel, orange, ripe pears, floral bitterness, and a hint of earthiness are most notable.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp to start, less crisp and a touch of dryness late.

Drinkability: easy to drink beer. Definitely floral and full of citrus. A decent IPA worth looking into trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2010 23:21:56 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.63/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Had a pint at Liberty St. Tavern and didn't bother finishing the glass. It wasn't very hoppy and there was a strong, vaguely cheesy off flavor. Has this been sitting out too long, maybe with an infection run a muck? There was a little smooth ester character and a touch of grapefruit, but not much. Watch out for this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2011 00:42:15 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep copper ruby hue with a bright white head forming thick and leaves behind fine speckled lacing going down the sides of the glass. Aroma has pine, citrus, mildly minty hops. Not overtly hoppy but a nice green minty/pine/citric finish that doesn't overpower is found between waves of caramel hops within this beer. Sugar coated malts exist here lying between layers of sugary caramel malts and green vinous layers of fresh hops. I get tones of mint/herbs/and citric pine hop accents, this is no big hop character like a west coast IPA but it's a nice consistent vegetable green flavor going down. Full of chlorphyll flavor with a mild caramel malt content booze are hidden well. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied carbonation is even nothing to write home about. Drinkability is solid go for it, drink while it is still fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 03:32:36 | More by WVbeergeek

mdfb79

New York

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tulip.

a - Pours an amber color with one inch of fluffy white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pine and citrus hops.

t - Tastes of pine hops, citrus hops, and fruity malts.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - A good IPA. Would definitely try again,

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 03:45:54 | More by mdfb79

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle into a couple of pint glasses. Thanks go Barscream for hooking me up with this. Thanks Greg!

Pours a clear copper, with a finger of foamy off-white head. This retains with a thin foamy layer that stays rich and leaves back some soapy looking lacing that slowly slides down the sides of the glass. The aroma is grassy and spicy smelling with some notes of damp earth and green citrus. Underlying malt character, including caramel and bread, mix in and deliver an earthy tanginess in the nose.

The hops in the taste are fairly earthy feeling with a certain amount of grittiness to them. Bitter citrus rind gives this some assertiveness while caramel and bread from the malts help soften things up a bit. This finishes VERY dry with a leafy bitterness that sticks around on the palate. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a crisp creaminess that expands out into the mouth that then intertwines with some oily textures from the hops. Alcohol is well hid and has no impact on the body or drinkibility.

This wasn't too bad for a Fresh Hop Ale, even with a few months on it, but it didn't exactly blow me away either. The hops still had a fresh grassy quality to them, and this seemed well balanced and drinkable enough for what it was. This is more of a middle-of-the-road Side Project effort here from Terrapin.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 17:59:52 | More by Kegatron

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.3/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Drafting Room the other day.

The beer pours an orange amber color with good head retention and lacing. I don't get a whole lot on the nose, just some light orange citrus. It's attractive, but I just wish there was more of it. The flavor profile more or less replicates the nose, though once again there just isn't much to it. There is some fairly decent orange citrus and bitterness, but this beer really comes across as kind of simple, one dimensional, and just very underwhelming. The finish comes across as weak and a bit watery. Drinkability is OK I guess, but there are so many better examples out there of a good, solid, wet hop IPA, I just cannot see myself ever ordering this again. Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing in this beer that reflects any wet hopping that might have gone into its making.

Not very impressed...

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 15:08:06 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Poured a clear golden brown with a small, white head that receded to a wispy collar. Floral aroma, fresh and earthy, grass, and lightly toasted bread. More of the same in the taste, lots of fresh hops, dancing between floral and citrus, grassy, and lightly bready and organic. Medium-bodied and crisp, nicely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2011 20:37:27 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a clear light copper color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of pale malts with large amounts of herbal hops and lighter amounts of earthy and light citrus notes.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Moderately dry pale malt flavors kick things off and quickly give way to equal amounts of herbal and earthy hop flavors. Midway through the sip slight amounts of light citrus and leafy notes join in, carrying through to a solidly bitter and somewhat dry ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this wasn't a spectacular beer but I thought it was well-balanced and did a nice job of showcasing earthy and herbal hop aromas and flavors. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2010 19:02:30 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Coppery-cadmium orange with a good clarity can be had in the glass with a bready white head that was well lasting. Vastly separated macro-bubbles race upwards at a quick pace while the lacing was thick on the glass with only small windows of visibility.

S: Hop aroma was strongest upon first uncapping. In the glass it wasn't as dominant. Fresh hop cones, with fresh vines as the label suggests was so green, green. Sweet malt instances with a light flowery citrus hop presence along with slight hints of thinly peeled apple skins.

T: The flavor was smooth, fresh feathery hop cone leafs, along with pale citrus and pine with a good toasted caramel grain base that brings some sweetness as well a powdery malt appeal. The balance is perhaps the selling point here, fresh hops, equally with a good malt base that is not overdone, but with enough show to give you that perfect feel and flavor that goes down without much thought. A nice seamless marriage of hops and malts with a flowery edge coming about of citrus and pine on the swallow.

M: Good carbonation feel, lively, especially on the tip of the tongue. Body is medium base with a flowery finish of hops lining the tongue.

D: Clean yet bitter enough to garnish respect. Finely crafted and balanced flavorwise makes this a good drinker for the masses and should garnish respect from those who like a balance brought to their drinking. I could do six pack here.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 23:37:35 | More by beerthulhu

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Al's of Hampden served in a pint glass. Appears a perfectly clear light copper color with a light touch of amber hues. A thin film is all that appears for the head which is stained a yellowish to tan color. A minor amount of spotty lace clings to the glass.

The aroma of this brew is grainy sweet caramel malt. It is lightly citrus and herbal hops that are not nearly as bold as one would expect from a fresh hop offering.

The taste is slightly astringent alcohol, it is warming and moderately bitter. The taste of green leafy hops is present tasting grassy, lightly herbal, piny and a touch of citrus rind. A fair backing of caramel malt provides a foundation of sweetness. As it warms, some yeastiness develops and clings inside the mouth tasting young.

This is a medium bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. It is drinkable but not wowing with hop character for a fresh hop ale. Quite a bold amount of alcohol flavoring, very forward for less than 7%. Overall impression of this brew is that it is quite forgettable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2010 05:33:31 | More by stakem

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hmm. Really wish there was a fresh hop IPA category, in my mind these are different beers than standard American IPAs. I like the style when done well, with their herbal hops and slightly waxy notes, but when done poorly they can taste of rotting vegetation. This one is clean and nicely herbal, if a tad on the lighter side. Pours amber with a fairly light head that fades to nothing. Smells assertively herbal, but not spicy, and with some notes of paraffin in the background. Almost downright skunky. The taste is similar, but with pleasant additions of cream, some nuttiness, and more waxy notes in addition to the fresh herbalness. Quite smooth, and even a little creamy. Somewhat soft and not a lot of bite. I enjoyed the experiment, but from a lot of standpoints this is probably a better experiment with local hops.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 02:36:37 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into New Belgium Globe Glass

Pours 1 finger of khaki white head. Good retention with some thick lacing. Color is a clear mahogany copper.

Aroma: Fresh floral/herbal hops. Kind of piney. Orange citrus with some grapefruit. It is pretty fresh and earthy.

Taste: A somewhat decent twist from the nose. Bready malts stick out right away. Kind of has a biscuit flavor as well. Some grassy and pine hops with a bit of citrus blend.

Mouthfeel: Bitter and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends kind of sticky.

Overall, it is a bit above average fresh hop. It isn't bad, but nothing sticks out very much. Decent drinkability. Half a bomber was a good amount for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 20:28:48 | More by mothman

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma is SERIOUSLY hoppy - almost like sniffing a pine tree, with a firm undertone of slightly sweet grapefruit. It pours a luscious dark golden amber with a fairly thick, if not too persistent, off-white head. Flavor is not as hoppy as the aroma promised, but is still fairly hoppy with a malty undertone and more than a hint of citrus, mainly grapefruit and orange. Texture is fairly fizzy and leaves a nice tingle.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 02:49:09 | More by Cyberkedi

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.1/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle shared by drabmuh. Thanks Matt!

This beer appears a dark orange color. The head is about a half inch thick and generates a fair amount of lacing. The aroma is a balance of malt and hops, with some sweet scents and a hint of alcohol. So far, it lacks the characteristics typical of the style. The taste is a bit of disappointment as well, and lacks any type of bold hop character. The beer does not taste bad, per se, but I wouldn't even know this was an IPA if it wasn't on the label. There are many better beers out there, IPA or not. I wouldn't recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 23:25:53 | More by Huhzubendah

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an amber color and a clear consistency. There was an inch of foamy, somewhat long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: Smelled of floral hops and some citrus.

T: Tasted of hops, citrus, and a bit of malt in the finish. A solid flavor, but hardly groundbreaking.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a slick, oily finish. Medium-bodied.

D: A decently drinkable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 12:10:55 | More by avalon07