Switchback Ale - Switchback Brewing Company

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- Amber colored body with a sticky white head. Tons of lacing all over the glass. Light comes through the body, but there is some cloudiness.

S- Caramel malts, pilsner malts, grainy bread aromas, fresh grass, a hint of citrus.

T- Lots of malts come through. I can taste caramel malts and pilsner malts, but I also get a burnt toast flavor. Not a bad flavor, just very different. Some grassy hops, a slight herbal note.

M- Medium bodied, medium carbonation, drinkability is good.

O- Not a bad beer, but nothing I would seek out. Very interesting malt combination, with little in the way of hops coming through.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 21:53:06 | More by stephenjmoore

mre0683

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

06-19-2013 21:49:32 | More by mre0683

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

06-17-2013 21:34:45 | More by tommyguz

Stonehill64

4/5  rDev +9.3%

06-14-2013 17:07:39 | More by Stonehill64

alemiester

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

06-14-2013 00:08:08 | More by alemiester

tehmogue

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

06-13-2013 09:00:20 | More by tehmogue

nosavingsaccount

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

06-12-2013 03:25:15 | More by nosavingsaccount

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

06-10-2013 01:58:13 | More by jarrgal

TripelMark

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

06-08-2013 16:12:16 | More by TripelMark

Matt_Rodgers

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

06-07-2013 04:00:42 | More by Matt_Rodgers

EricClayton

West Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%

06-06-2013 04:44:11 | More by EricClayton

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

06-04-2013 07:14:05 | More by Kelp

stella77artois

New York

2.85/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Vermont hipster beer. Was hesitant to try it for a while, but decided to this weekend. Had it on tap at a local bar.

A - Dark amber to medium brown, with some haziness to it. A light head that stayed awhile. Good looking beer.

S - Not much, really. Pretty bland. Some hops and cheap smelling artifical sweetener.

T - Tough to describe. A strong, not cheap, yep poor taste. Bitter, tasted more like a lager than an ale. Sort of like an AAL with more flavor. Aftertaste very similar to dirt. Lot's of things going on, but none were very pleasant.

O - Not a horrible beer, but not a beer I'll buy again. Lot's of flavor, but none of it really liked me. Better than an AAL, but that's about it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2013 13:39:21 | More by stella77artois

BobaFret

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%

06-03-2013 02:47:39 | More by BobaFret

chefduff2

New York

2.75/5  rDev -24.9%

06-01-2013 02:58:35 | More by chefduff2

blmar311

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-28-2013 18:48:34 | More by blmar311

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-27-2013 16:07:12 | More by InspectorBob

timfelix

New York

3.91/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

had this on 2 occasions. First time I did not like it. 2nd time, both my wife and I liked it (unusual). The 1st time it was served at a bar that really goes for ice-cold; so I think the flavor did not come out. The 2nd time, at a different bar, it was served at a cold-but not icy temperature.
It tasted quite good. I never would have tried it again except that the bartender said it was their favorite and offered us a taste.
It has some caramel flavors, some bite from hops and a nice wholesome flavor- perhaps being unfiltered leaves a faint touch of yeast flavor. None of the flavors overpowered.
Overall, good stuff for routine drinking. Could be considered a "session" beer, since it is not too high in alcohol content, and has a balanced but not overpowering, but complex flavor.
If you try it, I'd suggest against drinking it ice cold.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2013 22:18:30 | More by timfelix

morrowd3

Vermont

4/5  rDev +9.3%

05-22-2013 01:26:31 | More by morrowd3

stanowsf

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -18%

05-21-2013 23:27:35 | More by stanowsf

jbeervt

Vermont

4/5  rDev +9.3%

05-19-2013 21:01:48 | More by jbeervt

kjfinnerty

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-19-2013 00:44:36 | More by kjfinnerty

tnbeatty

Vermont

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%

05-17-2013 00:52:24 | More by tnbeatty

hphilip456

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-15-2013 00:43:46 | More by hphilip456

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.74/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Consumed 3/13/13

Appearance: Lightly hazy, copper with some gold and amber highlights - pours from the bottle with some enthusiastic carbonation that forms a big, fluffy white head - fades to a small, fluffy white head, leaves some nice lacing

Smell: Mild, pale malts and some spiciness - clean pale grains, with a some caramel malts as well - some earthy/spicy notes, that seem like they are either coming from the yeast or the hops, hard to discern because this is decidedly not hoppy - some grassy notes, some light sweetness

Taste: Mild, balanced, and very pleasant - clean, grainy, pale malts, with a touch of caramel malts - lightly earthy, spicy - some grassy malts - mildly bitter - lightly bready, like a soft white bread - some fruity esters become more apparent as this warms up, imparting some banana and clove

Mouthfeel: Light, nicely carbonated, extremely smooth, stupidly quaffable

Overall: Solid, best with food

This was one of the first beers that I had on tap after turning 21, and I had it a bunch of times when I was in Burlington. This bottled iteration is very similar to what I remember. Mild, lightly spicy, and good - but not fantastic. It's extremely drinkable and would be better suited to being canned in tallboys. Because it's not like any other breweries do that in that area of Vermont...

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 05:13:43 | More by angrybabboon