Hi-5 IPA
Terrapin Beer Company

 

 

 

 

Having CANpleted CANother brewery horizontal, now it is on to the next victim, er, brewery. Terrapin may have been sold to a corporation, but they have always been rather good to me. For insCANce, I received an erroneous E-mail from them & when I received an apology, I requested an embroidered cloth patch to salve the wound. They sent it forthwith! Onward.

From the CAN: "Camp [-] Surf [-] Boogie [-] Slap Hands [-] Paddle"; "Hi-5 IPA California Style India Pale Ale"; "Like a memorable adventure along U.S. Route 101, 'HI-5 California Style IPA leads you down a road of pure adrenaline and beauty. Capturing the majestic flavor of citrusy hops that roll off your tongue like a white cap on an ocean wave, this scenic wonder will keep you in awe, sip after sip."; "
"Hopped Up HI"; "HI-5 Verb A gesture in which two people simultaneously slap hands together in celebration of receiving a Terrapin Hi-5 California Style IPA".

HI beCAN by Crack!ing open the vent to start a slow, gentle C-Line Glug into the awaiting glass. I was rewarded by/with the formation of two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head with excellent retention. Color was an oh-so-slightly-hazy Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9). Nose had a strong citrusiness, more towards orange/tangerine with grapefruit tones and a caramel-malt base underlying the citrus. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was very citrusy with an orange marmalade bite, like rind, rather than fruit, still with a grapefruit acCANpaniment & a caramel backbone. This reminded me of an early ADIPA/AIIPA, just with a slightly lower ABV. Mmm. Finish was dry, bitter & citrusy, just the way I like 'em! YMMV.

 

 

 

 

Summertime in a can.

 

Too sweet and not balanced well for me. This is a beer you could kick back at a beach with sipping a few of these. But for an IPA it fails. I think they tried to copy Jai Alai but failed with not enough hops.