Terrapin Oak Aged Big Hoppy Monster

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

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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Bottle. This thing is so good, it makes me want to try the regular version again. Nose is loaded boldly with grassy hops equally balanced with woody bourbon. The flavor starts out sweet with dark maple syrup flavors quickly giving way to warm toffee and booze notes. Walks a fine line between a barrel aged ale and a hoppy IIPA/barleywine, and does it well.

On draft, poured a nice dark amber color with aromas of oak, muttled citrus, hops, and caramel. Huge oak flavor throughout that masks the hops, with a slight caramel flavor that pokes through. Great beer overall.

32oz Growler from Beverage World. Served at around 45F.

Pours red/copper with a one finger beige head that recedes to a light foamy cap and leaves some sheets of lacing behind.

Aroma is pine, earthy and grassy hops, some citrus, toffee & caramel malt and dark fruit, some oak and vanilla notes come through as well. Very good strength.

Flavor is citrus, pine and resinous hops, vanilla, dark fruit, toffee, caramel, a bit of oak, fairly sweet but with enough bitterness to help balance it out. Minimal alcohol.

Mouthfeel is nearly full-bodied, creamy, a bit sticky, good carbonation.

Equally as good, if not a touch better than the regular stuff. The oak aging is a little subdued and just offers another little layer of complexity to this fine brew.

On draft at Churchkey. Beautiful garnet pour with minimal head. Nose holds fantastic maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, candied apple, orange zest, and leafy balance. Awesome barrel presence, and reminds me a bit of an American barleywine. The flavor is marked by more bourbon-soaked cherry, wood, and sweetness mixing with citric and earthy hop. Smooth but medium effervescence on the palate. Superb.

Draught at TJ’s: Aroma of malt, oak, barrel, light vanilla, light caramel, and some hops. Poured copper/orange/brown in color with a medium-sized, creamy, dense, rocky, tan head that diminished but lasted throughout. Clear. Slightly sparkling. Flavor is medium sweet and slightly bitter. Tastes of malt, roasting, oak, caramel, toffee, vanilla, maple, pancake, and hops. Medium body. Coating, then dry texture. Soft to average carbonation. Medium sweet, vanilla, malt, oak, finish is dry. 8.3%ABV completely hidden throughout.

Slightly opaque brownish ruby color. Tan/off white head, good lacing. very malty aroma, little bit of pine from the hops. Nice oak aroma and flavor. The oak really makes this beer subtle...which is scary.

Had this on-tap at Bocktown tonight and was really looking forward to it. It has been on their "Coming very soon" list for a few weeks now. A- Very dark, transparent reddish brown hue that pours with a 1 finger or so rust colored head. Head fades quickly to a thin colar but traces of lacing are left all the way down the glass. It seems to be a shade or two darker than the regular big hoppy monster for some reason. S- Wonderful, bright hoppy aromas of fresh citrus and hints of pine come through upfront with a hint of woodiness in the background. T- Rich hoppy flavors of citrus and pine upfront with a rich oaky, toasted malt background. The hop bitterness and a little bit of toasted flavors really come through for the finish and a medium hop bitterness lingers. P-Medium carbonation and somewhat oily, and smooth malty body. O- It was a great experience to try the oak aged version of this beer and its a very good beer, but I think I prefer the fresh hoppy flavors of this one in comparison to old hops with a nice oak aged flavor component. Still great to try this rare beer. Serving type: on-tap Reviewed on: 11-19-2008 00:42:46

This could pass for a weak barley wins. The oak adds a ton of vanilla and pushes the balance from hops to malt, IMO. Still a great beer, but I think I like the regular version more.

Pours a deep ruby color with a light brown head. Aroma is malty, caramel, toast, citrus, oak, and a hint of vanilla. Flavor is oak, caramel, crystal malts, sugary, and a sweet citrus finish.

Source:On tap a few months back at the Thirsty Monk.
Glass:10 oz.
Appearance:Dark amber pour with a thin beige head.
Aroma:Hints of oak and vanilla, but still dominated by hops.
Flavor:Oak and vanilla mute the hop contribution slightly, but hops are still present.
Palate:Medium/full body with mild carbonation.
Overall:Just the right amount of oak to contribute rather than detract.