Terrapin Side Project 90 Shelling Scotch Ale

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

Pours a nice clear dark brown, warm and somewhere between copper and mahogany, with a nice thick and fairly persistent head - quite appetizing. Aroma is malty, yeasty and slightly fruity. Flavor is surprisingly mouth-filling, malty and spicy with a firm hoppy undertone and just a sliver of bitterness. There are hints of molasses, caramel, toffee and apple. Texture is tingly, lively, just a little bit rough so it scampers down the pipes rather than just sliding down like milk or pop. Delicious!

Appearance: Arrived at my high top bar table a clear, but rather dark brown body with some golden-brown hints at the edges and capped by a layer of ivory-hued foam. Smell: Sweetish, largely malty aroma of meticulously toasted crusty bread, caramelized sugars, earthy hints, and even a delicate fruitiness. Taste: Initial upfront maltiness tasting of toasted loaf bread with some sweet additions of dark caramel, toffee, and a thin drizzle of treacle. A distinct fruitiness kicks in tastes of golden raisins and a meager dash of apricot schnapps. The hop bitterness present is altogether mild and respectfully discreet. The various flavors begin to be jacketed in a pervasive earthiness. The taste of caramelized sugar and earthy hints deepen and further develop with some slight warming. Smooth, semi-sweet finish with a lingering alcohol warmth and touch of fruitiness. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Slight stickiness to the mouthfeel. Drinkability: A satisfying 90/- Scottish-style brew from Terrapin. It’s enjoyable to slowly, quietly sip but also good to simply quaff down greedily.

Courtesy of TampaBrew. Pours clear deep amber with thin tan head. The aroma is a mix of thick musty earthiness and dark grape candy followed by a thin layer of boysenberry. The taste is similar with a thick tasty sweet malts and earthiness combination to go along with sweet dark fruity notes of grapes and prunes. It thins out into the finish with notes of sweet malts re-surging to the surface. Good stuff. Might be the most enjoyable Side Project for me to date.

Name: SP 06 90 Shelling
Date: April 11, 2009
Mode: Firkin
Source: Brewery
Appearance: muddy dark brown, frothy beige head
Aroma: sweet dark caramel aroma, touch of chocolate, light earthy peat
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of dark caramel, touch of chocolate, light earthy smokey character for balance

Name: SP 06 90 Shelling
Date: May 29, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: Hop City Atlanta
Aroma: sweet and smokey aroma, dark caramel sweetness, touch of fruit, light smokey peat
Flavor: rich caramel flavor, dark caramel sweetness brings out a bit of chocolate, light smokeyness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+/4

Cask at the 7th ann party. Big and malty. A really nice beer. Well crafted. Smooth and creamy.

Source:Bomber.
Glass:Tripel Karmeliet.
Appearance:Dark brown with red highlights and a thin tan head.
Aroma:Heavy caramel, chocolate, toffee and some brown sugar.
Flavor:Caramel with brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup and a hint of chocolate to finish.
Palate:Full body with mild carbonation.
Overall:Not much different from most good Scotch ales, but still a very good beer.

Bomber pours a clear and dark mahogany body with a small beige head that laces the glass well. Subtle aroma has toffee, roastiness, earthy hops, and a hint of coffee. Creamy carbonation and a smooth medium body. Taste has a dominant toffee and caramel maltiness. Lots going on in the taste, with a vague pome fruitiness, some plum, chocolate, dark bread, earthy hops, and more roastiness. Alcohol is well concealed but adds some warmth at the finish. Very drinkable, especially for style. Nicely constructed.

bomber. pours a deep brown with no head... some distant sweet malt aromas with a bit of dark fruit... massive body up front, tapering off towards the back... big candi sugar sweet notes up front with big malts, dark fruits and some caramel... towards the back there is some lingering cherry and raisin notes that come forward offering a very pleasant strong finish. turns into a nice sipper after it warms up a bit... nice scotch ale.... one of the best Side Projects so far...