Last year, Terrapin released a mixed 4-pack of coffee beers called Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Stout. Basically, it was the same base beer brewed with four different coffees from around the world, roasted locally by Jittery Joe’s in Athens, Georgia (just like Terrapin). Coffee beans were sourced from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Sumatra, and Hawaii.
For 2017, Terrapin decided to do it all again, but this time with a brown ale as a base. The coffees are different as well, still roasted at Jittery Joe’s but with origins in Kenya, Bali/Indonesia, Ecuador and Costa Rica. The first of these that I popped was Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Brown Ale Kenya.
Terrapin’s description:
Four distinct single origin coffees from around the world, each brewed with the same base ale.
Ingredients from the website:
HOPS: Willamette
MALTS: Two Row Silo, Munich II, Victory, Crystal 65, Special Roast, Crystal 85, Chocolate
Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Brown Ale Kenya has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume with 30 IBUs. I paid $12.99 for the 4-pack, which is high but you are getting 4 different brews.
Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Brown Ale Kenya pours to a light brown color with a soft white head and a sweet brown sugar nose. Taking a sip, the beer is sweet malty up front with caramel-toffee notes and yes, doggone it marzipan as the label suggests, buttered toast, brown sugar and a hint of coffee, but only a hint. There’s a bit of grassy hops in the finish that balances and leaves it bitter. I just want a lot more coffee here than I’m getting in a coffee beer. 3.5 for a coffee beer., 4 for a soft malty brown ale.
I’ll peg it closer to three and a half because I really wanted more coffee than I got, especially on a brown ale base rather than a stout.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft