The South was the last place in the states to embrace craft beer. But under the leadership of trailblazing breweries like Georgia’s Terrapin Beer Co. the South is releasing some of the most exciting beers on the market.

Founder John Cochran moved to the Pacific Northwest after college and were blown away by West Coast flavors in craft beer. After moving back to Georgia, he partnered with Brian “Spike” Buckowski to Terrapin in 2002, and brought an extreme-hop sensibility to the South.

A year-round favorite, Hopsecutioner is Terrapin’s bi-coastal take on the IPA.

Hopsecutioner is a menacing combination of 6 West Coast favored hops: Simcoe, Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Warrior, and Chinook. With just enough sweetness to stand up to its storm of bitterness, Hopsecutioner’s East Coast malt sensibility plays against the resinous fruit tones of juicy hop flavors. Centennial, Cascade, Amarillo, and Simcoe hops infuse citrus notes of grapefruit and orange. Warrior and Chinook finish off the palate with a clean pine finish. Hopsecutioner is guaranteed to kill your thirst with its quenchability.

Terrapin quickly established their hop-prowess with many of their earliest brews, and the Georgia craft beer contingent eagerly awaited Hopsecutioner as the brewery’s first IPA. An East Coast community favorite, Hopsecutioner is finally debuting on the coast that inspired it.

Best By: 3-22-16

Rated 95 on RateBeer, 93 for Style