Hop Shortage Ale
Terrapin Beer Company

Hop Shortage AleHop Shortage Ale
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From:
Terrapin Beer Company
 
Georgia, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 8.76%
Reviews:
108
Ratings:
112
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 31, 2014
Added:
Mar 13, 2008
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  1
Side Project #1
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by KevinGordon from North Carolina

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by whitekiboko from South Carolina

Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by TasteTester from Ohio

Dec 17, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark and cloudy amber/orange color with a 1.5 finger frothy white head that slowly settles into a thin ring. Streaks of lacing left behind.

Smells more like a barleywine with some boozy sweetness and strong malt profile balancing out the citrus and piney hop notes.

Medium bodied with a good balance of sweet and bitter hops followed by a decent malt backbone and dry boozy finish. Hints of orange peel and dry pine needle countered by bicuit and caramel. Malt backbone provides balances without interfering with bitterness. Well balanced and quaffable but nothing out of the ordinary.
Nov 22, 2011
 
Rated: 2.5 by jophish17 from Georgia

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: The beer is light copper in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin off white head that quickly faded away and left lacy patterns of bubbles.
S: There are moderate aromas of grapefruit hops in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and also has flavors of biscuit malts. A medium amount of bitterness is present.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is relatively easy to drink.
Feb 02, 2011
Photo of billab914
Reviewed by billab914 from Virginia

3.54/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to the generous trader that sent me this one, I think I've finally caught up with all the past Side Projects now. When reading the name I assumed that this was a malt forward low on the hops beer. After reading the label apparently I was wrong. Probably was a lot hoppier fresh but this is the only way I'll ever get to try it at this point.

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Stone Imperial pint glass. Poured a hazy amber/orange color with a frothy white head filling a half inch of the glass. It had both very nice head retention as well as very nice lacing on the sides of the glass.

The aroma has a herbal, earthy and slightly spicy hop presence to it. It has a little bit of citrus to it but not a lot. The malt comes through with a bit of caramel and bready tones.

The taste has the same herbal and slightly spicy hop presence the nose did, with a touch of citrus. The bready malts come through a bit more in the taste. A little caramel is present as well. Definitely not the "hop bomb" described on the label anymore, but that's no real surprise. Still a pretty good tasting beer though.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good. It was actually a fairly balanced and drinkable beer even though the hops have probably faded.
May 16, 2010
Photo of Anthony1
Reviewed by Anthony1 from Colorado

3.62/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
bronze-amber body and a thin white, fine-bubbled head that reduces to a ring that leaves a little lacing.

Smell is all hops... there must be malt somewhere..but damned if I can smell it. Pine, citrus, pineapple, fruity evergreen, cedar wood, bitter orange... excellent.

Tastes like it smells, only better... large, complex presence of many hop flavors without any being overpowering. A beer balanced by hops alone...dry,fruity,bitter,sweet,fresh,funky,minty, medicinal... all hops.
Dec 03, 2009
Photo of Jayli
Reviewed by Jayli from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Acquired this from TheManiacalOne so a big THANK YOU goes out to him!
This beer pours a clear amber/orange color with a one finger of off white head to it. Head recedes somewhat quickly and leaves nice thick lacing on the glass the whole way down. Nose is of floral and piney hops predominantly with a touch of caramel malt in the background. Taste is of the floral and piney hops up front, nice huge burst of bitterness, lending to a touch of grainy/biscuity flavoring to mellow it out with some caramel malts, finish is of a citrus hops that leaves you with a nice bitter finish. Medium body, medium carbonation, crisp clean feel with a dry finish. This is a nice lil IPA to sit with for a bit.
Oct 08, 2009
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 22 ounce bomber bottle poured into my nonic Imperial pint glass. The ale appears a hazed bright copper color with about two fingers of dense light tan colored foam. The head settles to a thin layer and leaves a sticky lace on the inside of my glass. Nose and flavor are full of resinous pine, grassy hops, slightly oily, very nice caramel malt sweetness to bring the balance. maybe a notch better than medium bodied and certainly amply carbonated for the style.
Sep 02, 2009
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I have had this beer a number of times over the last year or so, but never did seem to get around to reviewing it. Managed to sneak another one the other night so here we go. Served cold and poured into a pint glass.

Appearance - Pours our a very nice orange amber in color. Clear with a lot of carbonation streaming up toward the surface throughout the session. Big foamy white head on top settles down nicely and leaves tons of sticky side glass lacing.

Aroma - Nice hoppy nose. Piney with hints of herbal grass notes and a touch of light grain as it warms. Light pinch of orange peel as it opens up as well.

Taste - Clean, crisp and light. Not as hoppy as one might think given the name, but quite nice. Qucik hitting dose of piney hops in front melt into a light malt base. Buttery at times with nice grainy quality. It fades back with a nice light and very bright dry bitter finish.

Feel - Agin nice and light, refreshing with a nice carbonation. Nothing too thick at all and everything checks in just about right.

Drinkability - Very easy to drink this one, in fact I could easily polish off the bottle and head down for another without batting an eye.

Overall very solid. Not a huge beast of an IPA, but rather a nice hoppy pale ale that seems to be very well balanced. A nice one timer for sure.
Aug 09, 2009
Photo of stonequarrywest
Reviewed by stonequarrywest from Ohio

3.92/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This one thanks to WesPatrick...
Orange pour with a Thin white head...
Great grassy, piney big hop Smell with the same taste..I like it.
I get a malty undertone that really balances this one out. Some peppery/ warmness in there also...the alcohol maybe?

Good mouthfeel and carbonation.
May 06, 2009
Photo of mikereaser
Reviewed by mikereaser from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours an almost clear orange golden color with 1/4 inch of foam that left just a layer of fine bubbles

S - a nice mix of earthy piney hops along with citrus notes

T - Nice and smooth from start to finish, flavorful pine and cirtus hops throughout and hints of caramel malts to round it out

M/D - Very nice blend of flavors with nothing too overpowering. The hops are very flavorful but not so overpowering. Very easy to drink and would definitely seek out another.
Mar 24, 2009
Photo of ATPete
Reviewed by ATPete from New Jersey

3.82/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle, no date but im assuming this bottle is close to 10 months old...

Pours a cloudy orange brown color with a medium size peachy head that leaves some stickage. Sweet malt with a good subtle mix of leafy, herbal and resinous hop in the nose. Juicy with good citrus (grapefruit) and plant/earthy hops (cannabis, pine), semi-sweet aftertaste and definitely mouthwatering. Damn the more i drink it the more i wish it were fresh. Either way this sucker still gets good marks.
Dec 22, 2008
Photo of maximum12
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to rnorgart for sending this one my way.

This one surprised me. Perhaps I left in the fridge a bit too long, but there was little if any noticeable hoppiness about this one. To read the screed on the bottle, they pressed copious amounts of hops into this brew, but it neither smells nor tastes like it. Very little nose, & the taste is barely enough to qualify as an IPA. More soapy, malty, full-bodied, with only a faint afterwash of hops. I'd have bought this story in the opposite direction - "There was a hop shortage in 2008 so we brewed this bad boy with a minimum of hops to try to save those that survived the great purge of '08".

Anyways, pretty decent beer. Nothing earthshaking, & not as impressive as some of Terrapin's offerings, but good enough. And encouraging that they plan to keep churning out the experimental one-offs.
Nov 21, 2008
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Two and a half fingers of rocky light tan head is easily achieved and has nice retention. A scattered crown of lace is left. Body is a murky honey wheat amber in color. Nose has nice creamy sweet hops that are a bit sappy and balanced by a dose of malt. Hops are very diverse as you take first sip. The hop feel is not big but include minerals, sappy pine, citrus rind and alchol based chemicals. Crisp overall on the tongue. Malts are dry and balance the brew decently. Mouthfeel is a consistant mix of rich and bitter that is almost rocky. Bitter does intensify as you continue to drink. Solid drinkability.
Oct 22, 2008
Photo of pwoods
Reviewed by pwoods from Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Mikesgroove for the brew.

22oz. brown bomber poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a tangerine copper with a bit of hazing. Decent heads forms and falls within a minute or so. Some decent bits of lacing.

S: Some citrus and pine but not overly powerful. Definitely some floral notes that might be from some English hopping. Malts are nearly balancing with sweetness and some toasted nuts.

T/M: The bitterness is a bit on the weak side. No dating on the bottle but I don't think it was too old. Theirs still citrus and light pine notes as well as some grassy hops. Light on the oils and resins. The malts pretty much balance all the way out with the sweet caramel-y and nutty flavors. Body is a bit above medium with controlled carbonation.

D: Decent tasting and relatively easy drinking. Not as 'in your face' as I'd have liked it to be.
Sep 29, 2008
Photo of Yamar18
Reviewed by Yamar18 from Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A huge thanks to mikesgroove for hooking me up with this through an LIF.

22oz bottle poured into a snifter

A strong hop smell before tasting and I realized why after my first sip...very hoppy flavors, some malt flavor but mostly hops. Very nice taste and very drinkable. Good carbonation with a nice finish with some bitterness but not too much. Very enjoyable and I would definitely drink this again (if it were available near me).

Thanks again to mikesgroove for this one, I probably would not have been able to try this one if not for his kindness.
Sep 29, 2008
Photo of mentor
Reviewed by mentor from Colorado

3.17/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks to GCBrewingCo for the opportunity. Pours a four finger yellowed head over a hazed light copper liquid. Head starts fizzy, but does begin to cling. Smells piney and soapy. Earthy grassiness. With searching, some orange, grapefruit, and lemon.

Tastes decent malt with noticable hop flavor and mild hop bitter. More of an american strong pale than IPA. Malt flavor is non-descript sweet, perhaps some wheat. Hop flavor is orange zest, lemon, woody english, and tamarind powder. Some piney with a soured character to it, almost soured caramel. Hop bitter is mildly grassy, but some of that character may be the alcohol playing some sting. Finish dries to almost a teeth-sticky-ness. Actually the ry finish is a great counter to the sweet start. Would have been sticky unpleasant without the drying.
Sep 29, 2008
Photo of beachbum1975
Reviewed by beachbum1975 from Ohio

3.06/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Pwoods was nice enough to bring this over and share it with me. He said he received this one as a recent bonus beer in a trade.

Poured a hazy/golden cooper with a little white head. Small amounts of lacing as I sipped.

I smelled light, floral/grapefuit hops and toasted malts on the nose. Rather simple nose overall.

I think we missed the prime on this one. There was a mix of caramelized malts with the essence of hops, but nothing that overwhelmed the senses. Slight alcohol on the finish that warmed the back of my throat. Sorta reminded me of Stoudt's Double IPA.

Because of the lack of bittering hops bite and reduction of floral notes I was expecting combined with low levels of carbonation on the mouthfeel, I think we had this one too late. I think this would have been much more interesting fresh.
Sep 27, 2008
Hop Shortage Ale from Terrapin Beer Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 112 ratings