Terrapin Bourbon Oak-Aged Rye Pale Ale

Brewed by Terrapin Beer Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Athens, Georgia USA

Cask at Trappeze - fest of rye. I’m not 100% sure how this one was put together. Carbonation was high (about like a regular Rye pale) and the bourbon was low. I won’t speculate but, 2 out of the last 3 casks I’ve had from Terrapin have been weak. The aroma only had weak wood and weaker bourbon. I would have probably preferred a regular Rye pale.

They were serving this at the brewery. Now, I cannot be 100% that it was bourbon barrel, but they told me this was "Rye Pale Ale Cask". It was served room temperature. I will delete this rating if this one is in error. Haze orange without any head. Nice woody aroma, with some citrus. Didn’t expect the sweet citrus flavor. The wood and citrus was the dominating factor. A bit sweet, but not overly so. I didn’t like the fact that it was room temperature. Wasn’t relatively carbonated, but this didn’t bother me. Not a bad beer, but I am would prefer a regular rye pale ale over this any day.

Name: Rye Pale Ale with Bourbon and Oak
Date: December 12, 2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Midway Pub, Atlanta
Appearance: hazy orange, fine off white head
Aroma: sweet crystal malt aroma with citrus hops, touch of vanilla sweetness
Flavor: sweet crystal and vanilla flavor, touch of bourbon, lots of woody oak character, good balancing hops, more vanilla and oak than bourbon
Overall: bourbon on an American pale ale is interesting but not entirely successful, the oak is the best part
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4