Terrapin Beer Company
Tenth & Blake acquires a majority stake in Terrapin Beer Company
Terrapin Beer Company (Athens, GA) is increasing their partnership with 10th & Blake, the craft division of MillerCoors. The company is acquiring a majority interest.
Around 2010, Terrapin was hitting their production ceiling with a strong need to expand. At that time, John Cochran, Terrapin co-founder, told Beer Street Journal his biggest problem was that he could only make just shy of 19,000 barrels a year. His orders were pushing 32,000.
At odds with their investors and in the middle of a shaky banking climate, Terrapin entered into a minority partnership with 10th and Blake. The 25% stake allowed for fermentor additions, plus a new 100-barrel Rolec brewhouse.
Today, the 10th and Blake partnership increases. Beer Street Journal has already spoken with the brewery to give you a clearer picture of what has happened.
The ONLY structural change is in upper management. Terrapin co-founder John Cochran will be departing after 14 years. Despite the urging of both companies for him to remain, Cochran is ready for a change. He’s been very operationally focused over the past few years, and has been very vocal about the constraints of antiquated Georgia laws. (It’s an embarrassment.)
Terrapin’s VP of Marketing Dustin Watts and co-founder “Spike” Buckowski tell us the partnership thus far has been very mutually beneficial. Plus, they want to enforce that it is the, “Same beer, made by the same people.”
Going forward, Terrapin will be widely increasing their barrel-aging program and plans on adding a sour program in the near future. Watts and Spike will be pushing the creative envelope further in the coming year. The brewery is already planning new market expansions.
The deal is expected to close in August.
Terrapin Beer Company was founded in 2002, producing 162 barrels of beer annually. This year, the brewery hopes to produce more than 64,000 barrels.
Heavy Seas Partner Ships Rye Wit, a collaboration with Terrapin
Heavy Seas Partner Ships Rye Wit, a collaboration with Athens, Georgia based Terrapin Beer Co. is coming this August.
First off, let me tell you Terrapin’s co-founder and brewmaster “Spike” Bucowski loves brewing with rye. Examples – Terrapin Rye Pale, Terrapin Rye Cubed, even the Terrapin/Left Hand Terra-ryezd from 2009. Don’t be surprised that this new collaboration has rye in it.
Heavy Seas Partner Ships Rye Wit is actually a barrel-aged rye wit, aged in white wine barrels for sixteen weeks. The added wine nuance to this beer is fairly unique for the style.
With aromas of light fruit, spice, and citrus, balanced by a spicy malt backbone, the third installment in the Partner Ships series is sure to delight the senses.
Look for Heavy Seas Partner Ships Rye Wit to hit shelves in August in 22 ounce bottles and draft for a limited time.
Style: Rye Beer/Witbier (Wine Barrel Aged)
Hops: Cascade, Amarillo
Malts: 2-Row, Wheat, Rye, Biscuit
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
Debut: August, 2016
6% ABV, 20 IBUs
Terrapin All American Oat Pale Ale debuts in July
Terrapin All American Oat Pale Ale debuts in July, replacing All American Pilsner.
In the past, the Athens, Georgia based brewery released the aforementioned pilsner on election years. Terrapin’s Dustin Watts tells Beer Street Journal that Sound Czech’s return to cans has been very successful, and bringing another pilsner into the fold didn’t make sense.
Terrapin All American Oat Pale Ale will fill that void starting July 2nd. This very hoppy pale ale that is a collaboration with three of the brewery’s favorite malt and hop producers, including Briess, Epiphany Craft Malt, and Roy Farms.
This election year, Terrapin introduces our “All American Oat Pale Ale, a farm collaboration with three of our beloved malt and hop suppliers.
Terrapin All American Oat Pale Ale will be available in 22 ounce bottles and draft. Distribution to all markets starting the first week of July. Drink as fresh as possible. You’ll thank me.
Style: Pale Ale
Hops: Columbus, Chinook, Azacca, Centennial
Malts: Flaked Oats, Crystal, 2-Row
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: 7/2/16
First Look: Terrapin HI 10 Mango Habanero Imperial IPA
Terrapin HI-10 will mark the 27th entry in the brewery’s Side Project Series in late July. For the first time in Side Project history, the beer will be in canned (instead of 22 ounce bottles.)
One of Terrapin’s first cans was Hi-5, a west coast style India pale ale. This rif on that beer will be an imperial IPA brewed with mango and habanero peppers. Above are the first can proofs of the new
Surf’s up with our “HI-10” Mango Habanero Double IPA. With citra waves for days, and just enough heat to make you sweat, our big and juicy DIPA has plenty of kick to keep you barreled from start to finish.
Terrapin HI-10 will be a 12 ounce can offering.
Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Mango, Habanero Peppers.)
Availabilty: 12oz cans, Draft.
Release: Late-July, 2016
9.3% ABV
Terrapin Maggie’s Peach Farmhouse Ale cans back for Spring
Terrapin Maggie’s Peach Farmhouse Ale are making a spring, 2016 return.
Terrapin Maggie’s Farmhouse Ale made its debut as Side Project #7 in 2009. The beer’s light peach flavor, mixed with a little farmhouse funk made it an easy drinking beer, perfect for warmer weather. Terrapin brought it back again in 12oz bottles.
Late last year, Terrapin Maggie’s Peach Farmhouse Ale transitioned to 12 ounce cans.
Maggie’s Peach Farmhouse Ale delivers a wholesome host of peach flavor and a refreshing spiciness that will get your juices flowing. Brewed with peaches and a lot of love, this old world style of beer will take you back to a simpler time.
Terrapin’s can lineup includes RecreationAle, Hi-5 IPA, Moo-Hoo and Hopsecutioner. (Just to name a few.)
Style: Farmhouse Ale (w/ Peaches)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal.
Latest Return: April, 2016
5.3% ABV
Terrapin Sound Czech Pils ships
Terrapin Sound Czech Pils was last seen in 2010 as a part of the brewery’s Georgia Theatre Series. The Athens, Georgia music landmark was gutted by a fire in 2009.
Terrapin Beer Co., the music loving bunch of folks they are, released four beers in the series, celebrating the theatre, while helping raise money to restore the venue. The third release was Terrapin Sound Czech Pils, named for obvious reasons.
Like music to your cars, the Terrapin Sound Czech Pils is a concert of flavor. Brewed with 100% Pilsner malt, for exceptional crispness, and accompanied by Czech and German hops for noble superiority, this traditional lager will amen you stand up for an encore performance.
This edition of Terrapin Sound Czech Pils is a little different than the first release years ago. This recipe boasts German Magnum hops, Czech Saaz, and Sapphire hops. The malt base is 100% pilsner.
Now available in 12 ounce cans year-round, starting in March, 2016.
Style: Pilsner
Hops: Saaz, Magnum, Sapphire
Malts: Pilsner
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft
Debut: March, 2016
5.2% ABV
Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Stout Ethiopian, a new series
Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Stout Ethiopian is one of four coffee infused stouts coming later this month.
Jittery Joe’s roasts their coffee beans just a short walk up the street from the Athens, Georgia based brewery. Those beans have been a part of beers like Wake n’ Bake, and Moohoochiato.
Using the same base stout, Terrapin is using a special Jittery Joe’s coffee bean. For this instance the bean is Ethiopian Hambela, a bean with strawberry jam, melon and vanilla flavors. Below you will see Jittery Joe’s full notes on the bean.
Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Stout Ethiopian will be available in 12 ounce bottles, one of each of the stout versions in each four pack.
Style: Stout (w/ Coffee)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft
Release: Late-January, 2016
5.7% ABV
