Tröegs Hopback Amber Ale - Tröegs Brewing Company

DevilsCups

New York

4.22/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first ever cask conditioned ale, served at BeachTree in Poughkeepsie, NY.

A - Unreal. Perfectly orange/amber, halfway hazy and a large puffy head. This is what I want my beer to look like. Imagine a Guinness head but perfectly white and everlasting. The 1" head lasted all the way to the last sip and was the only thing left in the glass when finished. Amazing.

S - Aroma of hops, small amount of caramel style malts and tropical fruit. Could use a little pumping up, and not sure if this is normal for a cask conditioned ale due to the lack of carbonation. Still, plenty to enjoy in the scent, just a little more subdued.

T - WOW. This is a home-run for me personally. This was towards the end of the cask supply, and what a beautiful mixture of grapefruity hops and mango/pineapple notes. As the beer warmed up the fruit notes came out more and more. Fruity, hoppy, only slightly bitter, but one of the best tasting brews I've had yet.

M - Since I'm new to cask ales, it's hard for me to judge this one properly. Of course there was a big lack of carbonation, but I'm not going to nail it for that because that is the intent with these ales. I found it to be extremely creamy and smooth. I don't miss the carbonation one bit.

O - Excellent beer, and really went beyond my expectations. HopBack in a bottle is usually solid, but the cask conditioning totally put it over the top. Very unique and refreshing.

Serving type: cask

08-08-2011 23:30:57 | More by DevilsCups

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-16-2013 23:59:16 | More by smooth_aleing

StevenH

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-16-2013 06:46:26 | More by StevenH

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-16-2013 01:27:21 | More by calcnerd

micl8n

Maryland

4/5  rDev -1%

05-15-2013 18:15:46 | More by micl8n

shagens

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-14-2013 18:49:46 | More by shagens

buzzy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-14-2013 01:56:48 | More by buzzy

ejane

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-12-2013 19:17:39 | More by ejane

lsummers

California

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-12-2013 05:11:59 | More by lsummers

philaduffia

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-11-2013 04:06:42 | More by philaduffia

BadJustin

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

05-11-2013 01:08:23 | More by BadJustin

comradekyle

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-11-2013 01:07:32 | More by comradekyle

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

05-10-2013 23:57:25 | More by tommyguz

bconsidine

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-10-2013 18:19:46 | More by bconsidine

JakeDebus

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-10-2013 15:59:15 | More by JakeDebus

MrBuckHigh

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1%

05-09-2013 03:56:58 | More by MrBuckHigh

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hopback Amber Ale pours a clear bronze color with a moderate sized creamy head on top. As the foam dissolves it leaves behind a netted pattern of lace on the glass.

The aroma is fruity with some tropical fruit notes, caramel, and hoppy orange citrus mixed in.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is soft, creamy with moderate carbonation. The flavor is well balanced, but leans toward the malt. Caramel, bread, tropical fruit are followed by some spice. It finishes mildly bitter with a flavor of pine and citrus. Once gone the caramel malt and bread lingers on the palate.

This is an easy drinking beer that would go great with a meal or to drink on a snowy winters night.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 23:35:22 | More by WanderingFool

discharmingly

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1%

05-08-2013 13:57:25 | More by discharmingly

williamv0123

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-08-2013 03:42:17 | More by williamv0123

lupercmda

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-08-2013 02:46:23 | More by lupercmda

SportsandJorts

Michigan

4.04/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: a burnt orange color. a bit hazy. small tannish head that slowly fades

Smell: a wide variety depending on temp and the likes. notes of earthiness, or citrus, caramel malts, and bread. the hops aren't quite as noticeable in the scent though

Taste: pretty complex blend. caramel malts, some toasty bread, citrus hops, some earthiness, and a stronger spiciness.

Mouthfeel: a little heavier than i'd prefer for this type. and a bit sticky. i would prefer a bit more sessionable and crisp

Overall: a solid offering and a good start to checking out a different brewery. tasty and well crafted. hope to get my hands on some more Troegs while on the east coast. Wish Nugget nectar was available too.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:34:19 | More by SportsandJorts

BobZTraveler

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

05-08-2013 01:03:50 | More by BobZTraveler

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

05-07-2013 17:47:50 | More by pcsnyder

ESeab

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-07-2013 15:07:20 | More by ESeab

sweenbeen

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

05-06-2013 22:06:50 | More by sweenbeen