Brewery: Terrapin
Location: Athens, GA
Brew: RecreationAle
Merchant: Publix
Service: 12 pk cans
Style: Session IPA
Color: Golden (7 SRM)
IBU: 40
ABV: 4.7%
Temp: Very Cold (in a cooler with ice for over an hour)
Smell: A very light aroma with some citrusy hops and a hint of toast or biscuit.
Taste: RecreationAle pours a great golden color. It’s a little hazy and there is some yeast debris floating around reminiscent of older German styles.
At first taste there is a nice dry hop kick and a lot of citrus flavor. Being so low gravity one might not expect much sweet malty goodness. One would be wrong. It’s a slight sweetness but makes this brew very well balanced. This style is one with which you need to spend some time. Session IPA’s are typically “light” beers but the brews of this ilk popping up this year are packed with flavor. This RecreationAle is no exception. It also laces the glassware very well, which I really like in a beer.
As mentioned, this ale comes in a can. I’ve had several of these this spring as this beer has quickly become my go-to “filler” beer and first choice for traveling. Cans are fantastic for traveling, visiting parks, the beach or the pool. If you want to consume malt beverages in the sun, low gravity is a huge bonus. Time to break out my vast collection of rare, ironic and comical coozies!
Summer session IPA’s are trending and that is a very good thing.
Pair with: Chips and salsa verde or veggies and ranch dip.
2 caps
Wayne Pelletier
September 1991. I drew from a tall, golden, hazy glass of a fresh and local hefeweizen in Bamberg Germany. Since then I've tasted more than a thousand brews. Here in the Greater Atlanta area we're pretty fortunate. Our local heavies: SweetWater, Atlanta Brewing and Terrapin all do world-class work. But the scene goes much, much deeper. That's where I like to find fresh pints. The goal is to draw attention to those finds on a 3-cap scale. Three seems simple but that isn't to say everything is great, average or terrible. Quite the contrary is the reality. I have come across very few craft/micro beers that are just no good. I assume these are all good beverages brew by good people with good intentions and you should as well. If I cross paths with a local brew that is truly terrible I won’t waste your time, or mine, writing a review. 3 CAPS: Hurry. This is a rare brew worth going out of your way to find. I swear it. 2 CAPS: A very good beer. Stands out as great in the style. 1 CAP: A decent brew that is average for the style. Prost!