Terrapin Oak Aged Rye Squared

On tap, Brick Store, Decatur, GA, USA.
Happened to share the first pint of this with pghlee when it was tapped at the Brick Store for the first time. I *think* that this is similar (if not the same) to a version that was tasted at the Atlanta Cask tasting in Jan ’08; I didn’t care for it much then, nor do I care for it now.
The pour is an orange brown, with a lot of chill haze and murkiness. Head is not relevant and the lace is scant.
In a nutshell there is just WAY too much going on here. To be frank I think it is a bit clumsy. When you are starting with a beer like Rye Squared, you are already at the VERY edge of sensible limits of complexity and taste, and adding an oak/age/barrel character just takes this beer out of the zone for me. It gets overly complicated and its drinkability drops off dramatically.
There are too many competing elements here. I get mouthfuls of smoke, wood, hops, malt and alcohol, and combination is not one that is complex in a good way, rather it becomes a cluttered mess – not organized or controlled.
IMO, a poor choice of beer to complicate further, and “kow-towing” to the latest trend in oak is simply a BAD idea with this beer. Also VERY exensive kegs for what it is. Poor value.

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05/29/2008
Format:
on-tap
ABV: 9.0 %
Appearance: 3
Taste: 2
Mouthfeel: 3.5
Smell: 3
Overall: 2.5
Total: 2.5
Series Name:
Year:

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