Terrapin 2007 Monster Beer Tour - Big Hoppy Monster

I love hops, I can't get enough of them. From a clean and crisp bitter German Pils to a blistering Double IPA that trashes my tastebuds for the night, I love it all. Well, except for Amarillo hops, but that is a different story all together. Big Hoppy Monster uses Ahtanum, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Warrior which is quite the blend of new and classic hops. I personally think Cascade goes great with other hops and not alone, the same thing goes for Simcoe. Balance is another quality I seek, Imperial Reds seem to have that for the most part and with more beers fitting into this style we'll eventually have to create the Imperial Red here on BA.

Lots of tiny tan bubbles, I poured this one hard. There has to be some body to this brew as the bubbles are rising a bit slower than expected. Amazing head retention, deep chestnut color with a good clarity. Big aromatics from this ale, malt drops a semi-burnt caramel tone with toasted grain and the hops bring herbal and citric tones. A hint of fruit in the nose of figs and plums. Big creamy full body hold a bit of smoothness from the moderate amount of carbonation. Lush malt up front with deep caramel, toasted bread and dried hay flavors. Hops jump in quick with a very balancing bitterness, mellow citric is strewn everywhere with a hints of wild flowers and blond tobacco. Alcohol is warming but not hot at all, fruity with fig and dried plum flavors. Finishes bittersweet but a bit more sweet than bitter.

Yeah, its contract brewed but not for long as they are waiting for their license. Terrapin has proved over the years, as well as other beer marketing companies, that good beer can be produced through contract brewing. Big Hoppy Monster is a perfect example of that, very well balanced but enough hops to go around for me. I was a bit surprised of the size of the malt backbone, in a good way as well. This is one tour I want to follow as Terrapin seems to be a brewer to watch.

(Sample from the brewery)

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