Terrapin Side Project Hop Shortage Ale

Brewed by Terrapin Beer Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Athens, Georgia USA

Thanks to Strykzone for sharing this one with me. Pours hazy orange / amber with a small patchy head. The aroma has caramel, bits of grapefruit, mustiness and it is somewhat oxidized. Medium / full body with a good amount of soft carbonation. The flavor starts oxidized, but the the age it is holding up well. There is some pine, wood and orange in there. The finish is mushy and woody. This is quite good for its age.

Bottle. Pours a amber orange, small off-white head. Aroma is some hops, maybe some malt. Flavor is subdued hops and a decent malt. Finish is just slightly bitter. Not the hop bomb that they describe, in fact, far from it. That doesn’t make it a bad beer by any means, just not what I was expecting. My guess is this one was consumed too late to enjoy the hop goodness.

Bottle thanks to SpringsLicker. Poured golden color with nice head. Aroma of citrus hops. Taste is hops, grapefruits, and malt. light texture and a little watery.

Bottle shared with tjthresh: Deep golden hue with a small frothy head and spotty lace. Spicy and herbal hop nose (pepper, wild flowers, some catty notes), mineral water, caramel and biscuity vapours but also detected a hint of a soapy off note. The taste starts with a twangy orange peel and grapefruit flavor along with a grassy and resiny but mellow profile. Chalky and biscuity midsection before the peppery and clove like finish. The mouth feel lively but a bit underwhelming. Astringent chalky and grainy finish. Not too bad but I do wish I could have this when it fresher.

Thanks OldGrowth. Enjoyed with Vyvvy. Pours as cloudy an IPA as I have ever seen. Color is orange with a bit of luminescence. Light lacing. Aroma is grapefruit and pine hop with caramel. Flavor begins with big grapefruit notes with plenty of balancing caramel. A bit of orange was tasted. As the beer warms pine comes to the forefront. Throughout the glass there was a steady dry hop bitterness. After the glass was empty a red pepper / peppermint bitterness lasted a good while. Unique. This was not as much of a hop bomb as expected and some of the hops had faded. Still, it was a very enjoyable and multifaceted IPA.

22oz Bomber received this in a recent trade with beavers, thanks again Mike! Hop Shortage pours a slightly hazed copper with hints of orange throughout the body with tiny carbonation bubbles rising to the surface. A dense fingers worth of creamy white head formed on the pour and eventually fell to a thick cap that left some lace lines on its way down. Good looking beer. Right off the bat I’m hit with sugar coated grapefruit and a solid dose of caramel maltiness. The caramel and sugary grapefruit, that’s almost candy-like, adds up to be a very appetizing aroma although somewhat simple. Simple is ok in my book if it smells this good. The caramel is big right upfront but the slightly bitter grapefruit comes along mid palate and adds a quick bitterness before the sugary aspect takes over again. Finishes with a bit more of the hoppy bitterness. A really well rounded IPA with enough bitterness to keep things interesting. Mouthfeel is moderate but the carbonation is a little too prickly in my opinion. The body moves through too quickly and doesn’t let me taste this beer long enough. Although the carbonation is a little much this is a very easy drinker. Enjoyable, with a good balance and slight bitterness that keeps me coming back for more. I really enjoy the things Terrapin’s doing and this is no exception. Not on the list of favorite IPAs but this is a solid, well crafted beer that I wouldn’t hesitate to sample again. Thanks again Mike. 6/15/08

Bottle from Santa. Thanks Santa!! Pours cloudy orange with creamy off white head. Has citrus aroma with some caramel sweetness mixed in. Has a medium mouthfeel. Flavor is grapefruit, pine, sweet caramel, and finishes with a pine flavor that lasts. Overall is a nice IPA. Has a little too much residual sweetness and could have a touch more carbonation. This is still a fine brew.

pours cloudy orange with white head. Aroma. For a hop shortage beer, this one packs quite a lot of malts. Add some citrus hops to the nose. Taste, caramel malts with floral - pine hops. Very smooth for an IPA, with a bitter hoppy finish. There is also notes of grapefruit with faint zest of citrus and a very sweet almost white raisin feel that remains in the background.