www.terrapinbeer.com
The Terrapin beer most loved by all of us here in Georgia and a few surrounding states is the Rye Pale Ale.
Criticized since day one for claiming Athens as the home of Terrapin Beer while contract brewing in other locales, the founders of the Terrapin Beer Company, John Cochran and Brian “Spike” Buckowski, are making true on their promise to give Athens its very own brewery. Once and for all the dynamic duo is silencing the critics—some of whom are their biggest supporters—with the opening of a new 45,000 sq. ft. Terrapin Brewing facility near the heart of Athens, Georgia.
Spike and John launched the company in a cost-effective manner by contract brewing and have since garnered the support of local investors to make the 20,000 barrel brewery a reality. Armed with a gold medal recipe and one of the best-tasting beers in the Southeast, the pair is set to realize their dream of brewing great beer with their own hands—and it will happen soon. The new facility is scheduled to begin churning out its remarkable hand-crafted brew in September 2007.
When you’re a home brewer gone pro, the passion for owning your own brewery lies in the nuances and artistry of the brewing process. Actually getting your hands dirty and your boots wet crafting a beer that others will love to drink is what drives you every day. The Terrapin beer most loved by all of us here in Georgia and a few surrounding states is the Rye Pale Ale. It was a gold medal winner in 2002 at the Great American Beer Festival and was named Best In Show at the 2007 WaZoo Festival in Tampa, Florida.
As a testament to the flavor, take a recent encounter I had with a Kentucky native. I was sporting my favorite Terrapin t-shirt with the loveable banjo pickin’ terrapin when a passer-by mentioned how he had frequented the Terrapin booth at the Music City Brewer’s Festival the day before. He said he just couldn’t get enough of the rye ale and was very enthusiastic about how well balanced the beer is. I, of course, agreed with him, and the more I think of it, I was hard pressed to find a better-balanced beer at the festival myself. As we talked, my fellow beer lover was interested to learn the brewery would be unveiling its very own digs in Athens this month and expressed hope that he may soon be able to purchase the Rye Pale Ale in his Kentucky hometown.
Terrapin’s production numbers back up the sentiment of the Kentuckian’s claim. The brewery sold 7,300 barrels in 2006 and expects sales to reach 10,000 barrels in 2007. Demand for the Rye Pale Ale has reached an all-time high and now that Spike and John are moving their process in-house, there is no limit to what these guys may think of next. The Rye Pale Ale, with its piney hop aroma, very slightly bitter taste and sweet, almost raisiny flavor in the finish may be the flagship beer and a Southeasterner’s favorite, but one thing’s for sure: these guys know how to make great beer. We should expect even more award-winning recipes coming from Athens, GA in near future. Go Dawgs!!!!