SBS Imports Announces Arrival of De Proef-Terrapin Collaboration "Monstre Rouge"


SBS Imports of Seattle, Washington and Terrapin Beer Company of Athens, GA are pleased to announce the arrival of Monstre Rouge, the recent De Proef-Terrapin Collaboration.  Terrapin’s Brian “Spike” Buckowski and De Proef Owner-Brewmaster Dirk Naudts brewed Monstre Rouge together this past March at De Proef in Lochristi, Belgium.

Monstre Rouge (Red Monster) is loosely based on Terrapin’s Big Hoppy Monster with a Belgian twist.  It is an Imperial Flanders Red Ale of 8.5%, fermented with brettanomyces and aged with toasted American oak. The malt profile includes a range of Crystal malts, Munich and Terrapin’s signature Rye. It is hopped to 55 ibu’s with a blend of American hops. It is a deep amber-red color capped by rocky off-white foam.  It has a complex flavor profile –
tart, sweet, sour, hoppy and woody. This limited production beer is available in cases of 6/750ml cork-finished bottles and 30L kegs.  Suggested retail price is $15.99 per bottle.


“I am very pleased to welcome Terrapin to the collaboration series,” noted SBS Founder and President Alan Shapiro.  “I believe Spike & Dirk have created something truly unique that will be enjoyed by discerning Belgian beer consumers.”

“We consider it a great honor to be invited to partner on this beer,” added Terrapin Co-Founder and Brewmaster Spike Buckowski.  “It is a truly impressive list of brewers who have come before us and it has been a great experience to work with De Proef and SBS.”

Each year SBS invites a noted brewer from different regions to co-design a beer and travel to Belgium to brew at De Proef.  Monstre Rouge is the fourth beer in the De Proef Collaboration Series.  Previous partners included Tomme
Arthur of Port Brewing/Lost Abbey (2007); Jason Perkins of Allagash (2008); and John Mallet of Bell’s (2009).  The 2011 partner (from the Northwest) will be officially announced in September.


The beer will be launched and made available exclusively for two weeks prior to general distribution through The Rare Beer of the Month Club, the country’s most exclusive and prestigious beer club.  “We’ve featured several past products from Alan’s collaboration series, and each has been an enormous hit with our very discerning customer base.  Monstre Rouge embodies exactly what we’re going after in The Rare Beer Club, limited release, creative, outstanding craft beers.” www.beermonthclub.com.

Highly regarded Belgian brewing engineer and professor, Dirk Naudts, founded the De Proefbrouwerij in 1996.  He crafts each batch in an 11HL (9 U.S.barrel) brewhouse that blends state-of-the-art technology with traditional methods.  Prior to creating DeProef, Naudts was the Brewmaster at Roman Brewery in Oudenaarde, Belgium and Brewmaster at the prestigious St. Lieven brewing program in Gent, Belgium.

Terrapin Beer company of Athens, GA was created by brewers Spike Buckowski and John Cochran in 2002.  They are regarded as perhaps the most creative and adventurous brewer in their region.  Terrapin beers are now available in 9 states.  For more information visit: www.terrapinbeer.com.

SBS Imports is based in Seattle, Washington and was founded by specialy beer industry veteran Alan Shapiro in 2002.  In addition to De Proef, SBS also imports Aspall Cyders from Suffolk, England, Batemans Ales from Lincolnshire, England, and Bellegem’s Bruin from the Bockor Brewery in West Flanders, Belgium.  More information is available at www.sbs-imports.com.

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