Terrapin - Rye Pale Ale

Brewery: Terrapin Beer Co. http://terrapinbeer.com/

Style: Rye Pale Ale

ABV: 5.5%

Container: Weissbeer Glass

Location Bought: Crestview Publix

Location/Situation Enjoyed Under: Post 4.5 mile run

Appearance: Golden Orangey...ish, with a nearly nonexistent head, pencil thin with quick dissipation.

First Reaction: God I love rye!!!!! The best thing about it? Almost no one else knows or appreciates it- More for me!

This is a fantastic beer. For those of you who don't know about Ryes they are in my personal opinion one of the most underappreciated of all forms that our favorite hops-ickles come in. Rye is as this one says is a American style Pale Ale with the gain Rye added to its brewing process. This small addition makes what I feel is a mediocre style at best, into one of my favorites, and if you know me that's saying a lot about a beer that you can see through! Ryes have an aggressive and powerful flavor while staying smooth and very refreshing throughout the entire drinking experience To me they are an ultimate summer beverage. 

Terrapins Rye starts off with a muted slightly bitter malt note and transitions into the signature tongue bite that makes Rye the brewed wonder that it is. That bite roles off slowly down our though lingering till it gets relived with a minor hoppy end. Overall the drinking experience stays fairly constant through the entire beer with very little variation which works well for this brew as its good overall and needs not to adapt to keep you interested till the last drop. 

This is one of few examples of Rye I have found during my travels. I enjoyed it and will buy it again for sure but side my side to RedHook's Sun Rye, or Lost Falls Rye it is not as strong and aggressive with the Rye flavor I love. I must say though, I am ABSOLUTLY impressed that this beer came out form south of the Mason Dixon, maybe there is some hope......

Breweries Description:

By using an exact amount of rye, a grain seldom found in other micro brewed beers, the Rye Pale Ale acquires its signature taste. Made with five varieties of hops and a generous amount of specialty malts, it offers a complex flavor and aroma that is both aggressive and well balanced – a rare find among beers.

The Terrapin Rye Pale Ale was released in Athens, GA in April of 2002 at the Classic City Brew Fest. Six months later this beer which was sold only in Athens was awarded the American Pale Ale Gold Medal at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival, the most prestigious competition in North America. We hope you will agree with our peers in the brewing industry that this is truly one of the best pale ales in the country.