Next month, Athens, Georgia-based Terrapin Beer Co. will mark its eighth anniversary. It has been a swift rise through the craft beer ranks for the founders, Brian “Spike” Buckowski and John Cochran, who left Atlanta Brewing Company in the late ’90s to start the brewery.

In just their first year, Terrapin’s wildly popular Rye Pale Ale took gold at the Great American Beer Festival, and since then honors have continued to pile up. Buckowski, the brewmaster, has added a slew of inventive brews to the Terrapin's roster through the Monster Beer Tour, Side Project and Oak Aged series, and recently the brewery teamed with Dirk Naudts of Belgium’s famed De Proef to create an imperial Flanders red due out later this year (they’ve also collaborated with Longmont, Colorado’s Left Hand Brewery over the past couple of years).

Terrapin’s brews are now available in areas all around the South, as well as in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and it seems as though every day more big news pours out of the brewery. Here are a few recent announcements from the crew at Terrapin:


Terrapin Beer Co. Celebrates Eight Years of Brewing Excellence

Eight years ago two men, Brian “Spike” Buckowski and John Cochran, tapped the first keg of Terrapin Beer Co. Rye Pale Ale at the Classic City Beer Fest in Athens, GA. Back then you could only find the Rye Pale Ale on draft in the Classic City. These days you can find the Rye Pale Ale in nine states and the brewery in Athens produces 14,000 barrels a year. So, of course the guys want to celebrate!

There will be a very special brewery tour on the 17th of April to celebrate John, Spike and the eighth year of Terrapin Beer Co.  The festival- like atmosphere planned seems appropriate for celebrating this homegrown brewery. Two bands, Jango Monkey and Timmi Conley and Kite Two the Moon, will be playing on the outside stage. There will also be two cask ale tents, and special guests from the Athens community. The Atlanta Sausage company will debut their Terrapin Brats and of course there will be kegs of Terrapin release from throughout the last year. The festivities will be from 5-8 and glasses will be $10. The brewery recommends carpooling as parking could be tight.

Monk’s Revenge the Newest Edition to Terrapin’s Monster Beer Tour Series

Terrapin Beer Co. released the newest member of their Monster Beer Tour, Monk’s Revenge. Back by popular demand this Belgian style Double India Pale Ale made its first appearance at Terrapin as the fifth volume of the breweries one off Side Project series. The beer was such a hit it has now been added as a yearly 12oz four pack seasonal release.

The Monk’s Revenge is unique in that it combines the malt bill of a Belgian Tripel with the hop bill of a Double India Pale Ale.  To further set this beer apart Terrapins Brew Master, Brian “Spike” Buckowski, fermented it with a yeast strain used by Trappist breweries in Belgium. The result is a beer with an ABV of 9.6%,  99 IBU’s, all the flavor and aroma of a Double IPA and the malt character of a fine Belgian Tripel.  Like many of “Spike’s” creations this beer is unparalleled in style and flavor.

Malt: 2-Row Pale, Pilsner, Munich Lt., Special Aroma, Pale Crystal, Acidulated
Hops: Magnum, Columbus, Chinook, Amarillo, Cascade, Simco

OG: 19.7          FG: 2.1             ABV: 9.8%       IBU’S: 99

First Beer in Terrapin's “Georgia Theater Sessions” Limited Series to Be Released at Benefit Concert

Athens, GA – There will be a benefit concert on Friday, March 19th at the New Earth Music Hall in Athens GA to raise money for the rebuilding of the historic Georgia Theater, an Athens GA landmark that was destroyed by fire earlier this year. The evening will be the public’s first chance to taste “Iron Tankard” Old Stock Ale the first of four beers in “Terrapin's Georgia Theater Sessions”, a limited series of ales brewed to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Theater.  The beer will be taped at 7:00 and music will begin at 9:00 w/ BORDERHOP TRIO followed by LARRY KEEL AND THE NATURAL BRIDGE. Entry will be $10, proceeds will go to the aid in the Georgia Theater reconstruction project.

The “Terrapin's Georgia Theater Sessions” is a series of four very limited production beer, only about 500 cases of each will be brewed. The beers will be released throughout 2010 and proceeds from the series will go to aid in the rebuilding of the historic Georgia Theater. To sweeten the pot each of the four releases will have a decidedly Wonka bonus. Each 22oz bottle will be in a sealed container and one box of each release will contain a Golden Ticket. The Golden ticket will be a lifetime pass to the rebuilt Georgia Theater.

Each release in the series will highlight a different era in the history of the theater and features a unique style of beer:

Brew 1 – March – “The Iron Tankard” Old Stock Ale – The building started as a YMCA in 1889 and had a huge iron swimming pool in the basement.

Brew 2 – June – “Double Feature” Belgian Dubbel – later the building became a movie theater.

Brew 3 – September – “Sound Czech” Czech Pilsner – Highlighting the wonderful days of the GA Theatre’s music career

Brew 4 – December – “Hoptaneous Combustion” Imperial IPA – The tragic Fire and a look into the future.