RecreationAle by Terrapin Beer Company is being evaluated as a Mixed-Style Beer (Category 34B) from the 2015 BJCP guidelines as it combines traditional American IPA qualities (Category 21A) with a session strength 4.7% ABV noted in Specialty IPA guidelines (Category 21B).
This beer pours a gold color with very slight haze and a white head that quickly fade, but leaves a thin ring around the glass. The hop aroma takes the forefront in this beer with an evenly intertwined resiny pine and passion fruit/tropical aroma in moderate intensity. There is a very slight underlying note of leeks as well. The malt aroma is very low in intensity and only a brief and fleeting bready and biscuity note is noticeable. There is no yeast character perceived in this beer due to the intensity of the hops. The hop flavor is dominant in this beer and the pine and leek characteristics are more prominent then in the aroma with the passion fruit/tropical flavors following close behind and hop bitterness is moderate and is quite pleasant and firm. The malt flavor is biscuity and low with a malt sweetness which is noticeably present but quickly overtaken by the decidedly bitter character. There is a very subtle, and not overly done, dry hop grassy character to this beer as well. The mouthfeel is comprised of a moderately thin body with appropriate carbonation, which slightly tickles the tongue. Overall, this is an easy-drinking and tasty sessionable IPA which is crisp and refreshing beer can be easily enjoyed as the hot days of summer approach us.