Southern Fried Brown Ale
Terrapin Beer Company

On cask at the Brick Store Pub during their 11th anniversary celebrations. Cheers to Terrapin for making this available and for the Brick Store for 11 great years! This is their brown ale aged in oak on cask with muscadine grapes- a very southern fruit. Poured a dark, dark, ruby brown that is approaching black with a very nice head and lacing. Smells of muscadines up front followed by cocoa and vanilla, some graininess, and big woody oak aromas. The taste has too much oak flavor- it pretty much overwhelms everything else. Spicy oak wood flavors, vanilla, and some grape on the finish, Becomes slightly more integrated and mellow as it opens up over time. The mouthfeel is thick and tannic, but once again, it opens up somewhat over time. Interesting, and a great idea, but lighten up on the oak. Just a bit too overwhelmingly one-dimensional to be that enjoyable.

On tap during the Brick Store Anniversary festivities.

Pours dark, dark brown with a dense off-white head that lingers throughout and leaves decent lacing. Aroma was definitely a little a sweeter than the normal IBA with more dark fruits and vanilla sweetness and a little less hop aroma. Taste was really good and very distinctive vs. the normal version. Dark fruits make their presence felt with grapes and raisins on top of a malt base. The hops are present in the finish but the bitterness is really toned down in this one. The oak also plays a big role in the taste from the outset. Mouthfeel is super creamy with strong carbonation. I was extremely impressed with this one and would rate it as one of Terrapin's best. Big thanks to Dave and the Brick Store boys for scoring this one.

This was a one-off firkin for the Brick Store Pub's 11th anniversary. Really enjoyed it.

A - dark brown body with a khaki head

S - hints of cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, toasty malt, vanilla notes, and maybe a faint hint of grape?

T - dark chocolate, roasted malt, slightly tart, somewhat biscuity, but definitely surprising and really good

M - medium bodied with a tiny bit of carbonation

D - I really liked this beer, and I felt the grapes definitely added something very interesting and good to it. Would love to try it again. I recall having 3 that day at BSP. Good work Terrapin!