Terrapin Watermelon Gose. Is it a fruit beer, or is it a gose? Discuss amongst yourselves. With so many styles made with so many added ingredients these days, it’s sometimes hard to tell. My rule of thumb is, what’s the predominating trait of the beer? And here I’d have to say that Terrapin Watermelon Gose has more of Gose about it than watermelon (but don’t worry, that’s here too).
Let’s talk about Part I: watermelon beer. Watermelon beers seem to be gaining in popularity these days, but I haven’t really found many I care for of late. Back in New England, I was much enamored with the first few I ever tasted: Coddington Watermelon Ale from the Coddington Brewpub of Middletown, RI and Boston Beer Works Watermelon Ale. They were pretty much the same beer since Coddington’s brewer started out at Boston Beer Works, so no big surprise there.
Let’s talk about Part II: Gose. Gose is all the rage these days and everybody’s brewing one, probably because it’s one of the few styles left that everybody hasn’t already brewed. It’s nothing new to me, of course (you have to keep on these things when you’re a Bruguru, you know) as I first drank Leipziger Gose back in 2003. A Christmas present it was from dear old mom. Thanks mom!
All that said I do appreciate there are more examples of Gose hitting the shelves. The sourness of the style strikes a note with today’s beer geeks, all the more reason we see so many of them. Gose is a German style, and before you can say Reinheitsgebot! You should know the style is exempted from that hallowed beer purity law, is traditionally brewed with coriander and salt, and I’ve had a German version brewed with spruce. So why not watermelon?
Terrapin says:
A traditional German style beer brewed with sea salt and coriander. Tart and refreshing, our Gose is sure to blow any picnic out of the water….melon.
Inspired by salted watermelon, a summer treat, Terrapin Beer Co. set out to brew a Gose perfect for summer sipping. The beer has a watermelon aroma, a distinct lactic tartness and subtle watermelon flavor. Pour this beer into a stange glass, or drink it straight out of the can. Pairs well with light summer dishes like Thai shrimp and watermelon salad.
Ingredients from the website:
MALT: White Wheat, Pilsner
HOPS: Vanguard
Other Ingredients: Watermelon Concentrate
Terrapin Watermelon Gose has an alcohol content of 4.3% by volume with 7 IBUs. I paid $6 for a 20-ounce mug at Taco Mac and it runs $10.99 a six-pack at Total Wine. I think both those prices are high for a 4.3% quaffing beer, but there you go. This is the first Gose I’ve seen from Terrapin, or any Georgia brewer for that matter.
My mug of Terrapin Watermelon Gose arrived bright orange in color with a mid-sized head formation and very sour notes, melon fruit and salt on the nose. It’s sour and tart wheaty up front as I sip, too, with pronounced watermelon, a hint of salt, subtle coriander, and a refreshing dry sour finish.
I was skeptical but this is indeed very good, a 4 star American gose for sure. I really like the way the watermelon pops in the beer, too, though. I’d take a half star off for the high six-pack price but the draft isn’t outrageous, so I’ll leave it alone. Besides, it's been a while since I've been able to find a watermelon beer I've truly enjoyed.
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