Name

People in the craft beer community rant and rave about collaborations between breweries.  I review one recently that was a gigantic hype machine around the collaboration.  Now this particular collaboration is slightly different in that it happens more often than just once.

Every year Left Hand and Terrapin get together for what they call the Midnight Project series.  Last year their espresso milk stout called Depth Charge was a smash hit with many.  This year they decided to do something a little different.

They brewed and IPA but used a lager yeast instead of an ale yeast.  So we have hear a bottom fermented IPL I guess you could say.  So how was it you might ask.  Let us see.

It pours into my pint glass a very clear orangish/amber color.  There is a decent slightly off white head that does leave some lacing on the glass as it dissipates.

Woah the nose is very floral.  Kind of like being in nursery surrounded by tons and tons of pollen.  I was thinking my allergies were going to start acting up.  I get some hints of caramel sweetness in there as well.

So the first sip.  Is it good?  In a word.  No.  The floral taste in this was so strong I might as well blend up dandelions and throw them in water with some hops and call it a day.  The bitterness in this is so intense I think I had a layer of plaque and enamel removed from my teeth.  And it wasn’t necessarily hop bitterness but that floral and an earthy taste just irked me.

I’ll admit I had this on draft at Left Hand’s tasting room last month and thought it was good.  But to be fair I was sampling a lot of beers in that sitting.  Also since this was a bottle compared to a fresh keg there may have been something there.

A few people mentioned on Twitter last night how they did not like this beer at all.  And they eagerly awaited my weighing in on the subject.  Well folks, I hope you have more room on your boat for me.

Sorry Left Hand and Terrapin.  I love you guys and you make some good stuff but this one was just not my cup of tea.  Interesting idea but I look forward to what you do next year.

Grade - D

Appearance – Pours a slightly hazy orangish yellow color with a foamy white head.

Smell – Lemon and other spices hit the nose immediately.

Taste – There is a big spice presence that seems to stick around through out the taste.  Some citrus hints, especially lemon, mix in there with a slight hoppiness to give it some bitter qualities.

This one was quite the different beer to me.  I have never had lager with these white ale qualities in it.  I enjoyed the refreshing qualities of it out in the oven like heat of Arizona last week.  Another good one from the guys at Shmaltz.

Overall Grade – B