60. Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

From Terrapin Brewing in Athens, GA comes this Rye Pale Ale. We’ve got no clever stories for this one besides the fact that this is a rye beer and a damn good one.

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale has a hoppy nose with fruit and citrus aromas; its rich amber color is offset by the white head that, while minimal, does hang around. There is a slight malty front before moving into the hop bitterness and rye spiciness of the middle. Terrapin Rye closes with the reassertion of hop bitterness, ending pretty crisp. Medium-bodied, Terrapin Rye has a smooth, rich, and clean mouthfeel with medium levels of carbonation. Overall, a refreshing and enjoyable rye beer; the rye spiciness is a welcome addition to the pale ale form. While there still is a bit of difficulty separating the hops and the rye in terms of describing flavors within the beer, this one seem easier to sort out than some of the rye IPAs we’ve had—the rye shines through a bit more in the middle of this one.

From Terrapin’s website: “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.”

ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 35
OG: 13.3° P
Malt: 2-Row Pale, Munich, Malted Rye, Victory Malt, Honey Malt
Hops: Magnum, Fuggle, East Kent Golding, Amarillo (Dry Hop)

(8/29/2009)