Imperial Luau
Terrapin Beer Company

Received this in a trade from a guy in Florida. Pours a hazy dark orange color with a thin head. Dankness with deep tropical fruit notes. Lush fruit salad sweetness upfront that transitions to pleasant tartness with piney notes. Lush mouthfeel with lively carbonation. Overall, this reminds me of a tropical fruit version of Fat Head’s “Head Hunter “!

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of citrus, tropical fruits. Taste is oranges, passion fruit, mild bitterness. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.

Appearance: Lightly hazed, light golden-amber body with a near-white head.

Smell: Sweetish, honey-tinged maltiness with the citrusy, tropical hops and incorporated citrusy, tropical flavorin's.

Taste: Sweetish, honeyed with some lightly toasty, bready elements. Citrusy, tropical hops and incorporated citrusy, tropical flavorin's. A little blush of acidity and you think some hop bitterness is incoming, but then it just finishes a bit sugary, a bit boozy and that's that.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: I was there, Gandalf. I was there three thousand ye--I mean, I was there when Terrapin was just getting started with their contract brewed Rye Pale Ale and a Cream Ale. Later, they had an event at BSP showcasing the upcoming seasonal releases. Beers crafted with love and care. You'll find neither in any of the current Terrapin lineup, unfortunately. Soulless, vapid brews. And that's with this being the best of the Imperial IPA Variety Pack.

 

On tap at the brewery's taproom in Athens, Georgia. Revisited about a month later with a 12 oz can from the brewery.

Appearance. Amber colored body with high clarity and a good white head that leaves plentiful lacing on the glass.

Fruity and lightly floral aroma with moderate bitterness in the flavor, but less fruity than expected for a POG IPA.

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours orange yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of citrus hops with tropical fruit. Tastes of citrus and tropical fruit. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.

Interesting beer. Not a hazy and as such feels a lot more crisp than them. However it does taste awfully fruity. I normally hate NEIPAs and while I don't think this is particularly one, it is an anomaly of an IPA that it's I enjoy it and it's not a bitter west coast style.