This week Terrapin of Athens Georgia has released their newest side project 12 – Hopzilla. Many of us have tried beers from Terp, but this is a MUST try. Like all of the other side projects, Hopzilla comes packaged in a deuce-deuce bomber and should be poured into some glassware, or just keep it gangster and rock it in a paper bag. Either way, I suggest a wine glass or brandy snifter for the following reasons:
- As soon as the beer hits the glass, its color, aroma and taste is altered. You can see what is going on, and your anticipation is tweaked. Hidden nuances, become more pronounced, colors shimmer, and the enjoyment of the beer simply becomes a better, more complete, experience. To me, it’s like top chef: when the plates look so nice on TV you KNOW that food is going to taste amazing.
- Head is good! The shape of the glassware (snifter or wine glass) has a curvature and allows the foam to collect perfectly at the top of the glass and acts as a net for parts of the brew that tend to escape during the pour… aromas, such as hop oils , fruity esters, spices or other additions. The brewers have designed these “high end” beers to retain this flavor so enjoy it. You are cheating yourself if you don’t.
Ok, so I’m not going to lecture anymore, I swear! I picked this bottle up at my local craft brew bottle shop: Olde Crabapple Bottle Shop for 6 bucks. Yes, the price is sporty but this brew is 10.80% alcohol by volume; our hometown favorite, PBR, is 4.74% ABV. You would need to drink nearly 5 PBRs to match the alcohol in a 22oz Hopzilla. Fasten your seatbelts folks these suds are not for the faint of heart.
This beer pours a light golden color with slight copper hues that highlight around the edges. One finger white head leaves nice thick ring around the glass to hold in flavor.
Smells like a hop bomb-- let's see how close they came: A light malt sweetness leads the way, but as it crosses my tongue the hops jump out and attack. The suds give way to a huge spike of lemon, pineapple and citrus notes to stomp the palette into submission. Flavor is as hoppy as a bullfrog on angel dust, and is what I expect from a double IPA. Nice bitterness. It mingles with the other flavors and shows a little warmth after the finish.
The lemony buttery bitterness lingers on the finish. This is a solid DIPA- it hits all the right notes. Terrapin has developed a very respectable beer here.
Smells like a hop bomb-- let's see how close they came: A light malt sweetness leads the way, but as it crosses my tongue the hops jump out and attack. The suds give way to a huge spike of lemon, pineapple and citrus notes to stomp the palette into submission. Flavor is as hoppy as a bullfrog on angel dust, and is what I expect from a double IPA. Nice bitterness. It mingles with the other flavors and shows a little warmth after the finish.
The lemony buttery bitterness lingers on the finish. This is a solid DIPA- it hits all the right notes. Terrapin has developed a very respectable beer here.
Cheers!
Ryan
Ear to the street: Terrapin’s next side project (13) will be called, “So Fresh and So Green, Green,” to pay homage to our boys Outkast. The release party will be around October-November for this brew. It’s a pipe dream but we may even see a pre-release cask at the third annual Atlanta Hotoberfest. http://www.hotoberfest.net/
Great review, will have to try it! What would you say about the body and the mouthfeel?
ReplyDeleteThe body is light to medium. I am spoiled to get a constant stash of Cigar City Jai Alai with a full creamy mouthfeel. I almost require that now with my ipa-dipa but where this beer is lacking it makes up in west coast bitterness and hop spike. It's not very heavy at all; almost thin for my liking but very drinkable.
ReplyDeleteRyan
Can't wait to try the new Terrapin!!!
ReplyDelete-NAT