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Switchback Ale
Switchback Brewing Company
- From:
- Switchback Brewing Company
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #238 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #25,144 - Avg:
- 3.61 | pDev: 12.74%
- Reviews:
- 204
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 22, 2024
- Added:
- Aug 06, 2003
- Wants:
- 29
- Gots:
- 300
Switchback Ale (First sold October 22nd, 2002)
Using only traditional ingredients, Switchback Ale is a reddish-amber ale which is particularly well-balanced, allowing for complexity of flavor coupled with an unusually smooth and refreshing character. Five different malts, select hop varieties, and our own specially cultivated yeast create an ale which leads with hop flavors and a subtle impression of fruit (our yeast's contribution), followed by a palate pleasing malty finish. Our own special process uses the yeast to naturally carbonate the beer, and we leave it unfiltered. The result is a satisfying brew full of flavor with a remarkably clean and smooth finish.
Using only traditional ingredients, Switchback Ale is a reddish-amber ale which is particularly well-balanced, allowing for complexity of flavor coupled with an unusually smooth and refreshing character. Five different malts, select hop varieties, and our own specially cultivated yeast create an ale which leads with hop flavors and a subtle impression of fruit (our yeast's contribution), followed by a palate pleasing malty finish. Our own special process uses the yeast to naturally carbonate the beer, and we leave it unfiltered. The result is a satisfying brew full of flavor with a remarkably clean and smooth finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by FreePal88
3/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Typical crackery amber. Not enough malt/body for me, too fruity, but decent. I won't buy anymore it though due to the brewery's obnoxious politics. Will drink for free, but realistically, that means I don't drink it.
Nov 09, 2023Reviewed by seakayak from Massachusetts
3.5/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
-Look: Opaque, deep amber with a frothy tan head that falls fast.
-Aroma: Unique malty aroma, dry hay, spices, dark fruit.
-Taste: Balanced, mild complex malts, grassy hops - tasty!
-Feel: Smooth and clean, thin and fast, low carbonation.
-Overall: Tasty and balanced, unusual, but a good beer!
Oct 14, 2023-Aroma: Unique malty aroma, dry hay, spices, dark fruit.
-Taste: Balanced, mild complex malts, grassy hops - tasty!
-Feel: Smooth and clean, thin and fast, low carbonation.
-Overall: Tasty and balanced, unusual, but a good beer!
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana
4.91/5 rDev +36%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.91/5 rDev +36%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Switchback Ale has a thick, spongy, ivory head and a hazy, red-amber appearance, with lots of lacing. The aroma is of bread crust and sour tannins. The flavor is of that, with robust bitterness. Switchback Ale has a medium body and a mostly-dry finish.
RJT
Aug 29, 2023RJT
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington
3.99/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2023-08-06
12oz can served in a snulip. Dated 04/17/23. @jonphisher sent it to me because he's an angel.
Pours surprisingly murky amber. Smallish, dense head. Smell is caramel, toffee, burnt nuts, moderate graininess.
Taste is similar, but with more breadiness, and more of a roasted grain flavor. Burnt nut bitterness.
Mouthfeel is dry, light, clean. Overall, not a huge amber ale guy, but this is a good amber.
Aug 07, 202312oz can served in a snulip. Dated 04/17/23. @jonphisher sent it to me because he's an angel.
Pours surprisingly murky amber. Smallish, dense head. Smell is caramel, toffee, burnt nuts, moderate graininess.
Taste is similar, but with more breadiness, and more of a roasted grain flavor. Burnt nut bitterness.
Mouthfeel is dry, light, clean. Overall, not a huge amber ale guy, but this is a good amber.
Rated by Ggallin from New Hampshire
4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Its a good copper which I often have in fridge. I like the grenade style bottle. Get some.
Mar 14, 2023Reviewed by ReverendSoup from Massachusetts
2.82/5 rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.82/5 rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from bottle into pint glass. Cloudy and amber in color with a short-lived 2-finger head and nice lacing. Smells only faintly like malt, and doesn't really call anything to mind. Malt-forward, yeasty, and uncomplex. Advertises itself as being full of flavor and I'm not sure it keeps that promise. Grainy, reminds me of why my friends who don't like beer call beer "bread juice" or the like. Medium bodied, not too carbonated. It's alright. I'll finish it but won't buy it again.
Nov 01, 2022Rated by CervezaNY from New York
4.49/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Excellent beer, reminds me of an ESB from cask - malty with a nice mix of hops. It's unfiltered so it has that lovely cloudy, murky look to it.
Sep 29, 2022
Switchback Ale from Switchback Brewing Company
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
1032 ratings
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