Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster

Brewed by Terrapin Beer Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Athens, Georgia USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Bottle. Poured a muddy brown, with a khaki head, and a ton of floaters. Smell is very malt-forward. I am picking up whiskey, caramel, marshmallows, brown sugar, raisins, alcohol, and some pine. Taste is much the same, with tocuhes of caramel, raisins, alcohol, and a big bitter finish. I was kind of put-off by the sweetness at first, but as it begins to warm it is becoming a lot more smooth. Mouthfeel is creamy with lively carbonation. Overall, very sweet, but with heavy bitterness. Not bad.

Very Malt Heavy ale combined with a very complex flavor. We’ve got Rum Raisin, Brown Sugar, Maple, Caramel, Floral Hops, Figs and Spices. Very creamy and smooth to drink. Not the big hoppy monster it so proudly claims to be, but it’s easy to overlook because this is easily one of the tastiest beers I have ever had!

Originally reviewed: 11/25/08. I’ve been looking forward to giving this seasonal a try! Pours a deep crimson with a tiny head. What little is there dissipates to an even thinner sheet. Some spotty lacing. Smells of cherries, watermelon, alcohol, and some citrus. Very smooth creamy mouthfeel masks the alcohol content quite well making this very drinkable. Nice and balanced taste. Some sweet malt, but a nice crisp smack of bitterness at the end. This is a great red ale, and a sure thing for the season. Pick some up if you can.

UPDATED: APR 26, 2012 Whoa. Nose on this one is really interesting - smells a lot like a wee heavy with a hint of hops. Lots of malt, caramel sweetness, and dark pitted fruits with a grassy hop finish. Not was I was expecting from an Imperial Red Ale named "hoppy monster" It pours out a murky dark amber/red with an initial blast of off white foam that settles down quickly. Taste follows the nose - sweet, malty and full of dark fruit. Finish is a touch boozy with some crisp bitter hops to help clear the palate. It’s a full bodied beer that is thick and sticky with light carbonation. Overall, not what I expected but a nice meer.

Pours a dark amber copper color with a small white head. Aromas of sweet caramel malt, and floral hops. Taste is initially caramel sweet followed by a great hop bite. Mouthfeel is moderate.

Aroma- malts, caramel, floral hops, bread Appearance- dark, hazy, blood red, with some lacing and an off-white head Taste- hops, malts, caramel, more malts, slight hop finish Palate- decent body, mouthfeel is best part of the beer Overall- Two-toned beer with opposites as main parts. The dichotomy of these two characters make the beer jive too much for my liking.

Brown in color and hazy with a good sized beige head. Aroma is of caramel, nuts, bread, hops and light grass. Taste is of spicey hops and caramel. A very well balanced Imp IPA.

355 mL bottle. Pretty much a by-the-numbers American Strong Ale. Not sure why it’s called an IIPA here; way too malty. Not that malty is a bad thing. Lots of caramel (debittered black patent malt?) and lots of hops - mostly citrus. Bitter finish and good body.

Hazy, dark red/amber. Sweet malty, yet hoppy aroma. Caramel, molasses, bitter fruit flavor. Very nice!!

dark amber color, aroma of toffee, caramel, chocolate, pine/citrus hops, taste is pretty much the same, good lingering bitterness, full boded and highly drinkable, wish it was available yeah round