Terrapin Hop Selection IPA will join the brewery’s Monster Beer Tour in March. The imperial IPA will change with each release, highlighting a new, experimental hop.

The 2015 inaugural release of Terrapin Hop Selection IPA features Ella hops, from Australia. The hop the little sister of Galaxy hops, giving the beer a tropical flavor. Brewery co-founder “Spike” Buchowski travels to Yakima Valley, Washington each fall to hand select hops for the brewery. Needless to say, Ella hops made an impression.

Terrapin will be using Ella hops from the 2014 harvest. Ella (previously called Stella), the descendent of a Spalt-derived male and half-sister to Galaxy, is considered an aroma hop though with her higher alpha acid content of 14 – 16% she can also lend a hand in bittering. Ella has an interesting aroma of spicy hoppiness backed with softer floral notes and a touch of anise, which is a contrast to the big citrus/tropical fruit and pine notes of many modern hops used in American craft beers.

Terrapin Hop Selection IPA is replacing Terrapin’s other imperial IPA, Hopzilla. Available in 12oz bottles.

Style: Imperial IPA

Hops: Ella

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Vienna, CaraPilsner, Honey Malt

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal Release, different each year.

Release: March, 2015

8.4% ABV

Read more: Terrapin Beer News