Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Restaurants Talking Head: Terrapin gets busy
Posted by Jeff Holland on Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 5:17 PM
While you have been lounging by the pool this summer, Terrapin Beer Company's Spike Buckowski has been slaving over a hot brew kettle to bring you a slew of new brews. Side Project No. 7 is out now, an easy-drinking saison dubbed Maggie Farmhouse Ale. This 6.0% ABV Belgian-style pale ale has a soft palate and fairly light body from a wheat addition, with some white pepper spiciness to give it an edge. It's a nice balance of dry, bready malts, a bit of green apple tartness, tangy yeast, and a clean hop bitterness in the finish. It would make a perfect complement to a light summer meal.
Terrapin is replacing the summer seasonal in its Monster Beer Tour, the All-American Imperial Pilsner, with Gamma Ray Wheatwine, a potent and tasty Side Project from last year that will join the regular rotation. The release was delayed somewhat, but word is that bottling will take place next week, and the beer will hit shelves near the end of the month or in early September. Wheatwines are a rare style, and we are lucky to have a damned good one brewed right here in Georgia on a regular basis.
Enjoy those wheat-infused summery beers while you can because Terrapin has three big beers coming in September to get you in the mood for cooler weather. The fall seasonal in the Monster Beer Tour will follow the summer closely this year, as Big Hoppy Monster, the surprisingly balanced imperial red ale rolls out next month. Side Project No. 8, a pumpkin ale, is already in the works for a September release as well.
Finally, in mid-September look for Depth Charge Espresso Milk Stout, brewed as part of the Midnight Project, an on-going collaboration with Left Hand Brewing Company in Colorado. Last year, the Terrapin folks flew out to Longmont to create Terra-Rye'ZD, a black rye lager. This year, the Left Hand crew came east. Left Hand is known for its milk stout, brewed with lactose sugar for a creamy texture, and Terrapin has experience with coffee through its "Wake n Bake" Imperial Stout, so this is a natural meeting of the minds. As usual, the coffee was provided by local Athens roasters Jittery Joe's.
Latest in Omnivore
-
What gives with Fig Jam? 5
Baroni's replacement not-so-hot
-
Zucca closing, Cynthia winning, my brother recovering 8
Some notes from here and there
-
Weekend Food Events, Feb. 10-12: Anti-Valentine's Day, a whisky tasting, and more
Weekend food events, Feb. 10-12.
- More »
Comments (0)