Ok, here we go with SP #5. Still looking for something subtle from Terrapin in the SP series, but ho hum…that could be a LONG wait!
Presentation is the same as all of the other SP series with the text edited to reflect the new beer.
Pour is a golden orange with very little head, no head and very little lace. The second pour (that includes some sediment) removes the clarity and adds a better head and more orange rather than golden character.
LOTS of residual sugars in the taste, and it does have a distinct Belgian candy note about it. We get a fairly hefty smack of hops early, but this does not linger. A little orange peel or marmalade note in the finish. Bitterness lingers too.
Mouthfeel is light and the beer feels really clean. Some heat with the alcohol but not a great deal
Interesting beer since it provides a much cleaner edge than one might expect from a Belgian IPA. I’m not really sure if I like it or not! It has some good characteristics but to me it feels quite green. If I had to use one adjective I would describe this a “raw”. It feels young.