Hopdraeck - Brouwerij De Troch

cocojoe

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Fairly clear golden copper color. Finger of very white head.

S: Belgian yeast aroma is strong with this one, but those citra hops CLEARLY come through in the aroma. The belgian yeast and dry hopped aroma really pair well together. Crisp, sweet, lemon, zesty,

T: Highly bright, crisp, carbonated front. Very clean, light, light sweetness.

M: Light, clean body.

O: Light, Zesty, bright, belgian yeast aroma pairs deliciously well with the citra dry hopped aroma. Well enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 10:50:46 | More by cocojoe

fmccormi

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Straight pour from 11.2oz “steinie” pry-off bottle to a 25cl Duvel Single glass. No bottling date visible, but seeing as this was dry-hopped with Citra, I’m hoping this was a relatively recent creation.

Appearance (4.0): Three to four fingers of very tight, cream-colored head rises quickly here, slowly bubbling down to leave just a few streaks and suds here and there. The body is a very rich, warm, bronze-golden color, with just the slightest haze (didn’t pour in all of the sediment). Fits the style well, wish there was some more lacing but other than that it’s a solid-looking beer.

Smell (3.5): Pretty decent Belgian Pale characteristics: fruity, biscuity, some lemon / lime citrusy zing underneath, and there’s some apple juice mixed in. I suspect the Citra’s largely died off here, but those citrusy notes give some evidence of it.

Taste (4.0): Mildly spicy with a very nice, tart citrus character upfront, the beer leads off with with a touch of white pepper and some coriander and clove, and some slightly medicinal phenols contribute to the yeasty middle of the beer. But not in a bad way at all, they kind of bridge the space between yeast and hop character. And then there’s that moderately strong, very tart citrusy component again, like they threw some lime peel in the fermenter; it leaves the beer to finish bitter in a way that’s not just generically “bitter,” but zingy and tart. The malt component is bready, biscuity, and savory—not particularly sweet at all, but rich enough to complement the yeast and hops well. No alcohol present. This is pretty damn tasty, really.

Mouthfeel (5.0): This feels fantastic, in my opinion. The carbonation is light and filling, tingling all over and foaming very, very well as it goes down. Just about exactly medium-bodied. It finishes very dry but not so much that it comes off chalky or starchy, and that citrusy zing is such a nice finish.

Overall (4.0): This beer is really pretty good, not excellent but really damn good to me. This is one of those easy-drinking Belgians that’s not aggressively spicy or rich or overly complex, but has plenty going on in its own right. I could easily, and happily, drink several of these. I’d really love to try it when it’s fresh as hell though, to get the most of that Citra dry-hopping. Very happy to have tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:38:19 | More by fmccormi

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hopdraeck! This is now my favorite Belgian IPA, and what do you know? It's from Belgium! Wait, wait, what's a Belgian IPA? This isn't, I, never mind.

Beauty of a pour. Swirling little cyclone of carbonation heading up from bottom for at least 30 seconds.

Smells more like a moderate American IPA in a quick whiff, but definitely has a champagne-like, Belgian-yeasty, concord-grape, musty character in the nose. Lightly funky fruity esters are telling me they will be heard in the taste.

And they are. What a lovely, lively, not-too-bitter/not-too-cloying, Belgian IPA. More like some kind of Belgian-American Pale. I love this beer. No tell of the abv. The malt is great bready-toasty. Very subtle concord grape/champagne flavors, vine fruit esters, musty, effervescent, clean. Light mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 00:14:01 | More by CheezyBlaster

GRG1313

California

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear medium amber orange with a short lived bubbly white head.

Nose is very assertive cooked bananas and cooked stone fruit - my name for those very assertive "canuba wax smell" esters.

Mouthfeel is rich, full, mouthfilling and quite nice with very "buzzy - bee sting" carbonation.

Flavor profile is a front palate of light malt and peachy/apricot fruit, that goes to a grapfruit skin/to pine bitter but all with a brightness to it. There is a bit of green grass/vegetal quality but not offensive.

Finish is pine bitter and long lasting.

Biggest issue for me is the assertive "stinging" carbonation; I've not see this before and I don't like it. Otherwise, decent effort.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 06:19:07 | More by GRG1313

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Contract brewed at De Proef for De Troch."World famous Draeckenierale,dry hopped with Citra" per label.I have never seen or heard of this beer until yesterday.Poured into a tulip glass a hazed deep orange infused golden with a large rocky white head that settled slowly leaving a few broken rings of lace as it settled.Floral and overipe tropical fruit stands out in the nose,crushed pilsner malt is a nice addition with the phenols somewhat subdued.Herbal and tropical fruit flavors with light yeasty phenols underneath to go with a lightly bready pilsner malt flavor.This beer has real depth and character,it's not in your face hops but it's go more than enough to go around,great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 21:05:31 | More by oberon