Reunion Beer 2011
Terrapin Beer Company

Reunion Beer 2011Reunion Beer 2011
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From:
Terrapin Beer Company
 
Georgia, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
ABV:
7.6%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 13.99%
Reviews:
67
Ratings:
155
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 17, 2017
Added:
Aug 15, 2011
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  17
A collaboration beer to benefit cancer research brewed by Terrapin and Schmaltz Brewing. Two versions of this beer brewed- this one by Terrapin, with gold foil over a Terrapin cap, and a Schmaltz Brewing version with silver foil.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Metalmonk:
Photo of Metalmonk
Reviewed by Metalmonk from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reunion Ale '11 joins Terrapin with Shmaltz, and it's the "brown" and "Shmaltz" parts of the equation I'm most excited about, as they do unique browns very well all by themselves. (This is the gold foil Terrapin bottling.)

Pours as advertised: brown brown brown, with a dirty white head that sits on top like puffed brown rice, thin but long lasting and leaving tiny strings of lace on the glass.

Aroma isn't exactly neutral, just a little less busy/complex than expected, considering this was brewed with cocoa nibs, vanilla and chili peppers. It's the peppers I smell most of those three, mingling with lightly mineral and largely nutty, sweet malty aromas.

Wow. There are two things happening here that I have never tasted mingled together so nicely, whether in a beer, a dessert, or elsewhere. Big fluffy vanilla flavors merge seamlessly with the chili peppers, and while I get the cocoa flavor way back, along with the nutty malt base you expect in a brown ale of any size, it's really the vanilla/pepper mixture that rocks my world. Overall there's a very s'mores-ish type thing happening here. The smooth, creamy, rounded texture helps. The chili pepper lingers longest into the finish, and while it might be too much for some people, it's just right for me, and it's thankfully not the only thing going on here. The bed of chocolate/cocoa/nut/vanilla adds some depth.

This beer was based on a dessert, according to the label, and I wonder if that dessert was as aggressive with the heat as this one is. I'm sure it was just as delicious, if not more so. As long as you like chili pepper in your beer, and if only used tastefully, as it is here, how can you not like this?
Nov 23, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Jul 17, 2017
 
Rated: 2.39 by gjoker321 from Florida

Aug 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Nov 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by afsdan from Colorado

Sep 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by psdonnelly from Alabama

Jul 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by SharkNado from Pennsylvania

Jun 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by SkinniePost from Wisconsin

Apr 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Butch_DeadLift from New York

Apr 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by BGsWo22 from Texas

Jan 26, 2014
Photo of AgentMunky
Reviewed by AgentMunky from New York

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a tulip glass. From notes. Reviewed 14 September 2011.

A: Huge head with good retention. Black-dark, but lightly translucent.

S: Malty-sweet and well...beery. Some chocolate? Maybe?

T: Delicious! A brilliant medley of chocolates, milk and dark; coffee beans; and just a touch of hot spice to moderate the sweetness.

M: Well-balanced. Creamy, but not too thick. Excellent carbonation. Yum.

O: Good beer, but not as exceptional as I'd hoped. Still, recommended. I'd have another.
Dec 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BrkfstOfChmpns from Georgia

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by sonofliberty2 from South Carolina

Jul 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by GABrew from Georgia

Jul 08, 2013
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.77/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: When held up to the light, this beer is clear but very dark reddish brown in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high tan colored head that died down but has good retention properties, consistently leaving a thick coating of bubbles on the surface and down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of cocoa nibs are present in the nose along with some hints of chili peppers.
T: Like the smell, the taste starts off with flavors of cocoa nibs and notes of vanilla beans and is quickly followed by notes of spicy chili peppers that persist through the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I picked this beer up because I saw it had cocoa nibs and vanilla beans but didn't notice that it also had chili peppers. Although this combination seemed a little awkward on paper, the spiciness of the chili peppers really seemed to work with this beer as they weren't overpowering and masked any apparent sweetness from the cocoa nibs.
Jul 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Jun 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by mikeincharleston from North Carolina

May 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Kelp from New Hampshire

May 09, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by brudz2134 from Michigan

May 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Keith_R from Georgia

Apr 15, 2013
Reunion Beer 2011 from Terrapin Beer Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 155 ratings