Terrapin Richland Reserve

Terrapin Richland Reserve is an American Double/Imperial IPA. 2014 vintage Hopzilla aged in freshly emptied Richland Distilling Company rum barrels for 12 months, 12% ABV. 22oz. bottles are packed in ornate boxes and has been limited to distribution in their home state of Georgia.

Well, this is one ugly looking beer. It pours with a grayish purple color, kind of like dirty prune juice, with a minimal head that fades very quickly. The aroma brings a good amount of mild dark fruit, and some mild rum barrel as well. Much like an American Barleywine on the nose. Not much in the way of double IPA left here in the taste. Tasting the dark fruits and a lot of sweet caramel like the sauce you would pour over ice cream. A mild bit of hop bitterness is clinging on for dear life, but nothing like the big pine notes of un-aged Hopzilla. Oddly I’m not getting much in the way of rum or barrel in the taste even though it’s in the aroma.

This DIPA has become a fine, big boozy & sweet sipper during it’s time in the barrels, grab a bottle if you see it around. Big thanks to Richland Distilling Company for sending us the bottle to review!