Terrapin Beer Company Rye Pale Ale

**Aroma:** “Floral hops aroma meets medium sweet malt with biscuit notes verging on caramel. Light esters of pear or peach and very subdued citrus notes. Mild floral hops, with a fair amount of peach. Musty yeast aromatics, low orange peel hops, lovely honey-bread crust malt, low but noticeable.” **Flavor:** “Full bodied with a sweeter malt finish and hops bitterness to match the body. Hops are mostly piney and resinous with a touch of lemon. Moderate hops flavor—peach, pear, and some cherry, with a proper bitter finish. Initial flavor is much more simple than aromatics suggest—a good surprise. Lovely.” **Overall:** “Well crafted, balanced pale ale. Hops flavor lingers into aftertaste with juicy citrus notes and fresh pine boughs. Right down the center of the style, an archetypal example. Carb makes the hops pop, and then the bitterness lingers. Great West Coast hops character. Nicely balanced beer. Stylewise it may be a bit bitter overall, but the malt complexity backs it up well.”

**Aroma:** “Resiny, juicy hops notes with pine and lemon/grapefruit/orange citrus at the forefront and mild biscuit toasty notes from the malt.” **Flavor:** “Citrus and pine hops flavors dominate with nearly no malt or yeast character. It leans more towards bitter, both in flavor and finish, than some of the others we’ve tasted. The hops grapefruit sweetness is evened out with a touch of grapefruit bitterness and lemon notes that add depth. The finish is refreshing and dry.” **Overall:** “A classic version of an APA with entertaining hops complexity. Leans toward the bitter side, but still drinkable—very tasty and worth seeking out. This beer was very refreshing, juicy, and sweet. Nice showcase of the hops and a great example of the style. A solid beer.

**Aroma:** “Strong hops aroma of citrus (intense orange rind and over-ripened orange flesh) and pine. Malt biscuit notes are just enough to hold up the hops profile (but not much more). Some tangerine and catty notes, and bright, juicy lemon notes up front with a bit of pine and grapefruit.” **Flavor:** “Hops jump in at the front and are sweet and juicy to the finish. The malt character only stands behind to showcase these hops and does not provide much more for the beer. Wonderful intense sweet orange and lemon hops notes contrast with a perfectly balanced bitterness set against slight malty sweetness. Complex hops flavors are accentuated by the dry finish of the beer, without being too bitter.” **Overall:** “This is a refreshing and delicious pale ale put together very well—an assertive hops aroma and flavor knocks you out with orange and tangerine. Great APA that uses a cleverly crafted base beer to showcase bright and exciting hops flavors. Low bitterness keeps the beer drinkable so you can enjoy plenty.”