Tröegs Hopback Amber Ale - Tröegs Brewing Company

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

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

barczar

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber with a frothy one inch light khaki head that dissipates slowly, leaving modest lacing.

Aroma is initially woody and earthy, with caramel malt sweetness, pine, and hints of citrus adding complexity.

Flavor reveals stronger citrus character underlying a fairly sweet, caramelly, bready, toasted malt backbone. The finish is slightly bitter, peppery, and fairly dry. Tangerine, pineapple, mango, and lime emerge. There's a bit of earthiness present.

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation. There's a touch of astringency at the finish.

Good balance of flavoring hop and malt character for the style. Avoids being cloyingly sweet and overly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 22:31:35 | More by barczar

BrewMaven

New York

4.09/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I haven't had too many red ales but with a name like HopBack, this had to be tried!

Deep, clear amber with a soapy head that dropped to a cover, then a ring leaving splotchy lace.

Hops on the nose...yup...hops. Anyone know a way to amp up ones smelling ability?

Taste was nice and hoppy from the get go, a bit like an APA here. Some malt through the middle with more hops bringing up the rear and lingering for a while.

Mouthfeel is somewhere north of thin with soft carbonation. Nice.

Really enjoyed this and, at 6%, one can have a few and not be debilitated the next morning. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 23:04:46 | More by BrewMaven

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.01/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 012113

A: Pours a copper/amber color with 2 fingers of slightly off-white head that retains for a while and leaves decent lacing

S: A very nice balance between malts and hops. Get some lighter caramel malts and an earthy/spicy and floral hoppiness

T: Again, very nicely balanced between malts and hops. Earthy and floral hops lead to sweet caramel malts. Finishes lightly sweet

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and lightly rich

O: A nice amber with great balance. Plenty of flavor as well as ease of drinkability. One of the better year-round ambers out there

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 01:58:28 | More by BEERMILER12

nimrod979

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

One of the first craft beers I tried way back yonder. First time I've had it in quite some time, Looks like it says bottled 12/1/12. Anyways, poured into a Tröegs pint glass.

Appearance: Deep clear amber. One finger of beige head. Pretty good retention and some nice lacing here and there.

Aroma: Spicy, floral hop notes, hints of orange peel. Toasted and caramel malt.

Taste: Nice little floral hop spiciness leads off. Toasted, bready caramel malt creaminess bats clean up. End of the lineup brings some of that dry, spicy hoppiness back in mixed with a little citrus zest. Fine, well-crafted and balanced beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a tight carbonation. That hop bite tingles the tongue a little but is kept in check with smooth malt balance. Somewhat of a dry finish. Could knock back a few of these...

Still a solid reliable beer. A good starting point. if you wanna get someone into craft. Worked for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:47:32 | More by nimrod979

david_alien

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into "pint" tumbler, decent 1 inch white head that hangs around for awhile before leaving behind a bit of nice sticky lace. Color is a rich copper, a lovely looking beer.

Smell was slight and more malt forward than I expected, sharpened by the obvious hop presence. Taste is where this beer shines, nice hop bite and floral notes, very fresh tasting and finishing dry. Mouthfeel was medium with a nice carbonation that seem appropriate for this beer. A great tasting beer, will be having more by Tröegs.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 20:09:06 | More by david_alien

Brenden

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

This brew is a deep amber in color getting fairly close to orange. It develops a good off-white head, which rises to a little over one finger in height. Retention is good and it leaves equally good lacing in patches on the glass.
There's a nice balance of mostly piney and floral hops and caramel malts, giving it a good mingling of a fresh sort of bitterness and just a touch of sweetness to balance.
This is a strong, flavorful beer for an often underdone style. Say what you will about Troeg's (I've never had one I didn't like), but they know how to do an amber (or red, if you prefer). Malts bring a fantastic balance to the big hops presence, perhaps a touch more than in the aroma. There's a bit of zest as well in each sip.
This is a very nicely carbonated, smooth-flowing beer with a good, crisp bite to it. The body is medium but there's a brightness and a sort of cleanness to it as well, and a sort of stickier (think hop resin) feel to it that really works in this case.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 17:46:02 | More by Brenden

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pure amber in color. A smaller white head sits on top and leaves lacing.
Aroma is hoppy and malty. I think more hoppy then your average amber and with a light citrus bouquet. Malts have your standard caramel smell.
Taste is not as hoppy as the nose. more restraint. Taste is more malty and lightly doughy. A well balanced brew here. But also has a husky and course feel.
This beer is easy drinking and quite flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 13:27:37 | More by micromaniac129

dougfur

New York

4.4/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the best straight-up amber ales out there, hands down. The color is perfect, the malt profile is perfect, the hops could be just a touch stronger in my mind, but that might just be my DIPA-ish tendencies. It won't blow your mind, but if you appreciate ambers, you will love this!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 19:43:42 | More by dougfur

smiga

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a .5l tall beer glass cylinder.

A: pours a coppery amber with a less then a finger of slightly off but lasting white head. Decent retention along with great lacing.

S: the nose is great on this one... Citrus hops with a pine accents along with sweet bread and toasty malt. Slightly sweeter, breadier than Dales Pale Ale. Reminds me of original Red Tail Ale - my first taste of micro.

T: malt sweetness, caramel, with citrus, hop flavor, grapefruit rind, lemon/orange peel, a bit of pine tang... Bready slightly toasty. Nice balance. the hops and grains/malts work together well. But - just slightly sweeter tasting than Dales Pale Ale which still is my preference in this style.

M: medium bodied with a little too much sweetness, moderate carbonation, drinkable mouthfeel, grainy, bitter finish. Not quite as refreshing as Dales Pale Ale.

O: very hoppy amber ale, balanced with sweetness and breadiness. Very drinkable, and sessionable. Recommended.

Brewery says it's their signature beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 01:50:41 | More by smiga

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2 month old bottle.

Pours out a clear amber with a thick slightly off-white head. Retains and laces nicely.

Honey sweetness and orange hops pop out. More malty aromas keep coming with caramel and toffee.

Hops are definitely in there providing some citrus orange and grapefruit and piney flavors with a medium bitterness that takes hold for a couple seconds. Malty sweetness. Some spice.

Easily the best amber ale I've had yet. Lots of hops set this off right.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 19:23:34 | More by MattSweatshirt

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brown to amber color with a good finger or two of head initially. Head scales back to a nice thin layer on top of this brew. Good lacing. Smells of piney hops. Flavor is more of the same piney hops but then is well balanced with a dark per malt sweetness. Bitter to start but sweet to finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 01:02:41 | More by Oakenator

brureview

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a beautiful honey color into a pint glass. 1/2 finger head.

Good aroma of citrus and pine from the head.

The mouth feel was smooth, with a slight tang, tasted on the back
of my tongue.

The taste was very piney, with citrus. The bitterness in this
beer works well in the general taste balance. Good hop presence.

Overall, an excellent solid beer. Oddly, even though it
is an American Amber- it tastes somewhat like an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 18:37:58 | More by brureview

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip

A: pours a very clean ruby amber with a little less then a finger of slightly off white head... Decent retention along with some spots of lacing.

S: the nose is mild on this one... Citrusy hops with a light piney accent along with some bready and lightly toasty malts... Doesn't smell a whole lot different then the pale ale to me, aside from a touch more sweetness to the malts

T: some nice light malt sweetness up front, caramel, blended with some nice citrusy hop flavor, mainly grapefruit and lemon/orange peel, there is a very faint kiss of pine in there as well... Bready slightly toasty malts. Nice balance. Really like the way the hops and the grains/malts work together here

M: on the light side of medium bodied with a touch of sweetness, moderate creamy carbonation give this brew a nice drinkable mouthfeel, grainy and a touch of bitterness on the finish.

O: this is a solid hoppy amber ale, nicley balanced with a hint of sweetness and breadiness. Nothing over the top, just a tasty drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:30:06 | More by PeterIngemi

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

this beer reminds me of when an old girlfriend dragged me to the movies to see black swan. like, a night at the movies, fine. a beer, okay. but then everything took me by surprise. like wow, mila kunis is really hot, the story line isnt that bad, the dancing is incredible, and the ending is a shocker. i left that theater very impressed, and much more stoked than i ever thought id be. this beer is the exact same thing. okay, another amber ale, here goes nothing. nope, behind its red malty opaque body and creamy two inch tan head lies a great many surprised. starting with the aroma, which is superior to almost everything ive ever had labeled amber. there is that familar malt profile sure, but there is a powerful hop presence not usually seen in this style. it plays off the sweeter malts perfectly and creates a very enticing scent. the flavor is also surprisingly robust on the hop front. very bitter in the finish, with caramel and pine notes going back and forth. the finish is also super clean, which makes this an easy drinker with very little residual sugars. to me, this is how all american ambers should taste, it sets a very high bar. excellent carbonation and a fine medium body. now if i could just get mila kunis to serve it to me...

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 18:46:01 | More by StonedTrippin

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. Pours an amber chestnut hue, head is pretty compact but has really good lacing and film. Pretty good-looking.

Smell has a really fragrant roasty hop character, nice and crisp. Plenty of malt character, really firm. Bready biscuity malt. Hop character is dry, moderately bitter, nicely put together.

Taste is lively, fresh bready malt, with plenty of hop bitterness. Malt is roasty, large and flavours has some peppery floral subtleties, a rich caramel note, and has a depth of complexity that is quite refreshing. Finish is dry, bittersweet, with a nice peppery toastiness.

Mouthfeel is moderate in body, alcohol level works well, carbonation is moderate with good rolling crispness, it is refreshing, a bit on the bitter side to be really sessionable but it drinks very nicely. Good mouthcoating feel to it, highly refreshing

Hope to have this again, it was a real pleasure. One of the better ambers I've tried. More hops than usual, and a bit more IPA hoppy pine-ness pervades this beer, but with the plentiful roast malt the balance is quite good, seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 23:33:51 | More by mick303

jmerloni

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Golden orange/amber coloration. Good head that laces nicely on the glass.

S - Caramel, brown sugar malts; pine; citrus.

T - Pine, citrus, caramel/brown sugar malts. Hoppy tang on the afterbite. Overall, each sip has a very comfortable, wintry, roasted overtone which is nice.

M - Medium bodied but resinous. Almost a little sappy. I like that about Troeg's.

D - A good beer. Never had this before and I would get it again. A well crafted East Coast IPA. I think I prefer it to Smuttynose and Dogfish Head's IPAs, in fact.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 04:10:27 | More by jmerloni

MadScientist

New York

3.83/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A light copper with good clarity and a persistant light tan head. The head is thin and leaves a bit of lacing the glass.

S: A moderately-strong hops aroma of oranges, lemon zest and a bit of pine. A moderately-light caramel malt sweetness. Light fruity esters.

T: A moderately-strong hops bitterness and moderate citrus hops flavor. The malt is mostly caramel, but not that sweet, with some dry graininess. The balance is firmly bitter. the finish is dry with a lingering hop bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with a moderately-strong carbonation.

O: An aggressively hopped American Amber with citrus hops aromas and flavors. A great beer.
Bottled on 092612

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 02:21:35 | More by MadScientist

tastybeerinmybelly

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice amber color with a 2 finger head. Not much smell on this one, but plenty of tastiness... It has a nice hop presence that is balanced with a good malt backbone. Just the right amount of carbonation helps this one go down nice and easy. I think I'll have another!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:31:07 | More by tastybeerinmybelly

PhantasIPA

Delaware

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Troegs Hopback has a subtle amber color and has no cloudiness at all. It poured with a 1/2 inch head and leaves a below average lacing on the glass.

The beer smells like malt primarily and has a very slight hop or citrus scent. It is a very weak and one-sided scent, mainly caramel or toffee.

The flavor is very good. The caramel-flavored malt is balanced with a nice combination of lemon citrus and piney hops. Not too many spices are present but the combination and balance of the other flavors are very nice.

The mouthfeel is nice; not too carbonated but enough carbonation to keep you thirsty and to let the flavor settle on the tongue. Very easy to drink, although I would not describe the beer as crisp.

Overall the beer is good. The scent of the brew is really the only average characteristic of the beer. Worth a try as an easy to drink, low ABV (6%) IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:03:36 | More by PhantasIPA

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This seemed like a good choice for a Sunday afternoon. This looks like a malt/hoppy beer.

The smell offers a generous amount of maltiness and good hop presence.

The flavor is consistent with the smell. I get a good amount of malt. The hops come out more prominently. You get some bitterness at this point.

All around this is a good beer. I like the way it comes forward. Good job by Troegs.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 18:48:58 | More by ummswimmin

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got to spend some time with my parents in PA. I'm glad I'm finally getting around to reviewing one off my hads list:

In a pint glass:

A: hazy red colored body. A fair amount of sediment floats around. A two finger white foamy head appears and lasts for twenty seconds before it dies. Minimal amount of lacing forms and slides into the body as the beer goes down. Some light carbonation is seen rising.

S: pine and citrus hops combined nicely with a toffee/caramel/bready maltiness.

T: same flavors from the smell but with a dryer sort of character to it.

M: medium with a good balance between wet and dry on the tongue yet still has a slightly dry finish. I would say this is a fairly drinkable beer.

O: well, this was definitely better than what I posted in my "hads" list. I would definitely have this again and am wishing Troeg's would send to New England. Until then, I just need to visit my parents more until I can get this in Maine.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 16:40:27 | More by kangarooAdam59

billsmorrison

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

overall one of my favorites, from the front of the pallet to the back This one is exceptional on every level. if your just getting into beer this I'd a good one to try if you're not sure about hops yet in your pallets specific journey, this amber encapsulates in my opinion one of the best balances between residual sugars and hop complexion. never had an amber now is the tome for this one!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 16:05:34 | More by billsmorrison

nickfl

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured with one finger of white foam on top of a clear, amber body. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves light lace.

S - A moderate,mhoppy aroma of pine and citrus with some toffee and bready malt.

T - Light, toasty bread up front with some pine. A touch of sweaty hops in the middle and a finish of dry malt and lingering toasty character.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Not bad, the hop aroma is nice but doesn't quite come out as well in the flavor profile. The malt is a little too dry for my taste but not overly harsh.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 01:02:42 | More by nickfl