Terrapin Beer Company Walking Dead Blood Orange IPA
What the brewers say
“Terrapin Beer Company and The Walking Dead have teamed up to brew the official beer of the undead. With killer blood-orange flavor and a horrific amount of hops, this bloodthirsty red IPA will have you prepared for the upcoming zombie apocalypse.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Strong juicy orange, tangerine, and lemon. Plenty of malt, with notes of toast and caramel, bread crust, and a touch of booziness. The hops are hard to find, but there’s a hint of dank earthiness underneath, as well as New Zealand hops that hint at notes of kiwi and grape. Berry notes from yeast esters.”
Flavor: “Bright orange citrus throughout intermingled with a complex malt character not often seen in fruited IPAs. The touch of bread crust and lightly toasted malts reminds me of orange marmalade on toast, with a hint of Grand Marnier. Not a lot of bitterness for an IPA, but some earthiness and floral hops characters. Reads a lot like an amber ale.”
Overall: “Unique in that it offers more malt complexity, but perhaps a touch too much—it’s pronounced and aggressive, and the bitterness is missing. The citrus seems to take the place of the hops bitterness, balancing the malt, and the two play well together. But is it an IPA, or is it an orange Amber ale? Very drinkable and complex.”
