Tröegs Hopback Amber Ale - Tröegs Brewing Company

Blueribbon666

Ohio

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

Reviewed from notes;
Pours a very nice copper color into pint glass with a quarter inch worth of head that reduces quickly to a white lace around the glass.
Smells of fresh piney hops and a bit of sweet malt in the mix as well.
Mouthfeel/Taste, Wow with a name like Hopback I was expecting a punch in the mouth but not so, in fact their Pale Ale is more so than this which is a well balanced blend of crisp hops mellowed by a good blend of sweet malt.
Overall, very well balanced and would be great with a meal and throughout the evening afterward. Very solid balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 12:31:31 | More by Blueribbon666

BellsFan

Michigan

3.13/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a deep amber into a pilsner glass (yes I know it's the wrong type of glass but that is all that's available at my friends house). Minimal off white foam, less than one finger. Considerable laseing on the glass.

Not so aromatic especially for a hop back beer. Perhaps my sample is old. There is no bottling date.

Tasting notes: Carmel, toasty, molasses.

Full body complents the molasses, somewhat tart

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 22:22:17 | More by BellsFan

cyclonece09

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a copper amber color with a very small head that dissipates quickly, but leaves lacing on the glass. Smells more of floral hops than grain, but definitely a darker roasted grain present. Tastes of dark roasted grain and definite hop bite, sweet earthy hops, similar to some IPAs. Goes down smooth, good light-medium body, however, a tad overcarbonated. Overall, a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 02:22:12 | More by cyclonece09

eriktoyra

3.58/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark amber colored and slightly hazed liquid into the glass. A small grey colored head quickly dissolves leaving very little lacings.

S: Smells oranges, red grapefruit, asparagus, hints of alcohol and wheat and honey cookies.

T: Tastes oranges, lots of honey, American hops and pale ale malts. The aftertaste is mild grapefruit.

M: Medium carbonation. Very high drinkability. Feels smooth and well balanced. The alcohol is present, but only slightly.

O: A nice IPA which I would buy again if the opportunity comes.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 01:51:25 | More by eriktoyra

KDawg

Illinois

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

poured from bottle into a pint glass. Pours a copper/amber color with a small head.

Very good and complex aromas of citrus, hops, cinnamon, and malts. Excellent depth with real balance on the aromas as well.

Medium bodied with a very nice feel, but lacking a slight bit on the mid. Balanced with flavors of hops, cinnamon and citrus

this was from a late december bottling. This held up very well and was very enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 17:28:23 | More by KDawg

ThePortlander

New York

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Grabbed this at the store, poured into my DFH snifter.

It's a fetching copper color, with a decent head. Nothing to balk at, but nothing crazy either. The nose felt a little week, especially compared to flavor, though the nose opened up a little as it got warmer. Consider the toasty quality of the malt and refreshingly floral nature of the taste, I'm surprised the nose isn't better. I eally like the mouthfeel on this one, the overall impression I got from it is a little bit less enthusiastic. That said, this is my second beer from Tröegs, and I'm still impressed. I would definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 02:32:40 | More by ThePortlander

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on cask in a pint glass

Appearance – Served a medium golden-orange color with a large white head. The head faded moderately fast giving way to a light amount of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is of some caramel and more citrus hop in nature. Mixed with the heavier aromas there are lighter biscuit and piney hop aromas as well.

Taste – The breadiness is the first to meet the tongue. There is a lighter caramel sweetness at first, that intensifies to the middle of the taste. When the caramel really comes into play nice citrus hop flavors meet the tongue. These soon take over the taste and mix with some good pine hop. At the very end there is still a very light caramel sweetness in the bready backbone, but the hops dominate the stage and leave a crisp bitterness on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – Being on cask the carbonation was a bit on the lower side. This gave a very creamy body feeling on the tongue and really allowed, at first the sweet flavors to really be experienced, but later allowed for the smoother hop flavors to sit on the tongue and linger. It was very satisfying.

Overall – This is a very nice cask beer. The mouthfeel from the cask pour really accentuated some of the nice taste qualities of the beer. It was delicious.

Serving type: cask

04-20-2012 00:11:18 | More by Darkmagus82

CowsCanBark

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into Samuel Adams pint glass.

Appearance: Pours an extremely murky orange with a small half-finger light brown head that quickly dissipates. Decent retention on the glass.

Smell: Mild hops and mainly malts.

Taste: Much more malty than hoppy; the malts are pronounced and the hops are more in the background, but there is still a distinguishable hop bitterness throughout.

Mouthfeel: A great mouthfeel, perfect for the flavor profile. Mildly creamy with a moderate body and light carbonation.

Overall: An extremely pleasing ale that is certainly session-drinking worthy.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 19:53:02 | More by CowsCanBark

oline73

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy reddish amber with a finger of off white head that sticks around for a while.

Smell: Citrus peel hops dominate the smell. I am getting some sweet malt, but it is overpowered.

Taste: Malt up front, but it's hardly sweet at all. I am getting a bready note from the grain. The finish is extremely bitter from the hops and reminds me of citrus peel.

Mouthfeel: Medium to thin body with lots of tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Not a bad beer at all, but doesn't quite work for me. I would have liked the body to be a bit thicker and more malt in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 00:54:11 | More by oline73

Dools9

Massachusetts

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

Poured into a Tumbler. Bottled 2/8/12.

A: Slighlty Hazy, light copper amber color. Poured with a finger of of head, moderate lacing and good retention.

S: Sweet caramel malts, piney and slightly citrusy.

T: Citrusy and pine resin dominate, not overly bitter though. Nice sweet caramel malt to balance things out.

M: Smooth and slick mouth, light to medium bodied, very drinkable.

O: Another nice hoppy amber from Troegs, I like to think of it as Nugget Nectar-light. Goes down with ease. Reccommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 17:31:46 | More by Dools9

TheSarge

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this brew into a standard pint glass, and it makes an okay half finger thick foam cranium, with a mildly hazy dark copper colored body.

The aroma is of fig, grapefruit, metallic hops, and sweet caramel.

The taste pretty muck shares the traits of the aroma, except it adds an oak vanilla flavor to it as well.

Feels full in body, lightly carbonated, a little oily slick, and slightly warm in the end.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 16:58:03 | More by TheSarge

troysoy2

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz. bottle, bottled 2/17/12.

Poured into a tulip, and this is a good looking beer. Two fingers tan-cream head which lingers for a good while, and a deep copper body with dark amber edges in the light. Pretty good notched lacing.

Delicious resiny, citrus hops on the nose. A hint of confectionery sweetness over a bit of bready malt.

Easygoing sweet citrus and a strong bready backbone right off the bat. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, and compliments the malt profile well. The bittering effect of the hops comes only at the finish, really, and even then it's very under control. Well balanced, refreshing, and neither dry nor cloying.

Definitely a great go-to offering from Troegs. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 22:11:12 | More by troysoy2

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This brew pours a deep copper color with about 1 finger of head and lacing which stays on the glass throughout.

The smell is of strong floral hops, pine resin, carmel and possibly apples.

The mouthfeel is creamy and slightly chewy.

When drinking, first the malt hits; then the taste of citrus, pine, carmel then the hop oil hits the tongue; a very well balanced taste.

Overall the beer is very well balanced with malt, citrus, carmel and hops. It is also aptly named, "hopback" since the hop do appear on the back end and linger on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 03:34:19 | More by microbrewlover

keithmurray

Louisiana

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

appearance - copper color with fluffy tan head

smell - this is pretty good, citrus aroma, caramel

taste - caramel, hops, hint of cherry

mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium carbonation, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, good balance to this

overall - smooth,easy drinking beer, I would revisit this

price point - $4.99/6pack

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 01:28:53 | More by keithmurray

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

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

Poured from a 12 fl. oz. bottle into a highball glass (I'm out of clean glassware). BOTTLED 012612 17:15 BATCH # 120109.

I bought this after reading that this is more or less the base beer for Troegs Nugget Nectar, possibly my all-time favorite and the beer I think I'd choose if stranded on a desert island.

Appearance: Pours a copper/amber body with a thiiiick off-white toffee-colored head.

Smell: This is where it's at! It definitely has the NN sweet-malty-balanced-by-the-hop-aroma thing going on. I love it.

Taste: The taste is definitely not as balanced as NN. I taste a lot more of the caramel malt and less of the citrusy hops. All in all, a nice flavored beer. I think I described NN as being candy for adults and the HopBack certainly follows suit.

Mouthfeel: Not too heavy, not too thin. Nice. Not very carbonated either.

Overall: A good, but not great, beer. I was looking for a junior NN that I could enjoy year-round and I'm not sure if this fits the bill. I guess nothing beats the original.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 01:16:40 | More by JednoPivoProsim

jegross2

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -30%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewing the Hop Back Amber Ale from Tröegs Brewing Company.
Score: 73

I got this bottle as part of n00b BIF. Bottled 11/26/11, batch #111102. Served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 03/03/12.

Appearance: Pours a dark, translucent amber color with two fingers of frothy cream colored head that settles into a super thin layer atop the glass. Yellow-orange highlights atop the glass. Above average lacing, excellent retention. 4/5

Smell: Caramel malt, sweet barley grain and spice. Light notes of citrus. Not much else. 3/5

Taste: Huge notes of super malty caramel. Barley grain. Tastes like a "light" barleywine. A little stainless steel sweetness. Virtually devoid of hops. A little bitter. Stale caramel malt finish/linger. 2.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium-minus carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Malty finish, slightly bitter. 3/5

Overall: Probably past its prime. Not impressed in the least with this beer. Hopefully Nugget Nectar tastes a thousand times better.

Recommendation: Skip this brew unless you love super malty/grainy beers like the Central Waters Kosmyk Charlie Y2K Catastrophe Ale.

Pairings: Tacos.

Cost: $8.99 for a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:35:31 | More by jegross2

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4.63/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a tulip

A: Pours a hazy, golden caramel hue with about a finger of effervescent head that's just a shade darker than white.

S: Smells lightly sweet with caramel malt and carries bright citrus notes across the nose as well, not common for an amber. There's also something reminiscent of cotton candy, quite exciting.

T/M: Medium to high carbonation tingle the tongue and give way to pine and earthy hoppiness with a touch of that citrus as well. It doesn't taste nearly as sweet as it smells and is more like an IPA than an amber. More hop bitterness carries through the end but leaves just a little room for some malty sweetness and finishes with a floral outro.

For an amber, this is really off, although for a beer, this is incredible.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 01:24:34 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Looneybiz

Ohio

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

Overall very tasty hop ale that is a lot smoother than the name would suggest.

Amber with 1 finger head and moderate lacing.

Floral hops smell.

When I seen it called hopback I was thinking oh no, this is gonna be extemely bitter but it wasn't at all. In fact it was just about right as far as bitterness goes and has a sweeter finish.

Recommended drinking.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 05:01:23 | More by Looneybiz

ohcomeonthatsfunny

3.48/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An OK beer, not their best... not their worst. Typically pick this up in their mix pack case but wanted to give it a try on tap to determine if there was any real different in taste & mouthfeel.

Decent amount of Hops but overall I was underwhelmed both in bottle & tap form.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 15:42:31 | More by ohcomeonthatsfunny

andersony17

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from the Anthology Sampler Case

A - Cool bottle and cap, amber color with small amount of lacing with a moderate lasting foam head

S - Pine tree smell.

T - Nice natural feel with low carbonation, good flavor, not over hoppy.

M - A somewhat thick feel, with small amount of tangy bitterness

O - Worth a try, not exactly my style but good quality and wouldn't turn down.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 05:23:52 | More by andersony17

grannaniwa

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep amber color, as promised. Nice head, not a lot of nose. Maybe malty aromas? A very small touch of hop aromas if I focus.

Very round and full flavor. Slightly high alcohol feels like it comes through on the mouthfeel. Tons of malt character, and a sweet and bitter taste left after swallow. This is a much bigger beer than I remembered from the first time I drank it, when I would have put it closer to the Sam Adams Boston Ale. That first time was also from a bottle, not a glass, so that may have affected the experience.

I think with this balance of flavors, I would actually prefer a more easy-going beer for casual drinking. At this intensity, it isn’t a perfect match for me.

"55 IBUs. Malts: Pilsner, Munich. Hops: Cascade, Williamette, Nugget. HopBack Hops: Whole Leaf Nugget, Mt Hood. Yeast: Ale. Each batch of HopBack Amber Ale flows through a bed of whole flower hops creating a fresh aroma, spicy taste, and rich caramel note that defines our signature beer.”

Overall: B+, would be happy to try again

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:31:59 | More by grannaniwa

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

P: Pours a pristine carmel to burnt reddish brown. A thin, tan head reisdes for a nice duration. Some lasting lacing as well.
S: nice blend of malts and pines notes here, neither over-powering the other.
T: starts off sweet with toffee and carmel notes, but finishes dry with a nice piney and slightly spicy finsh. Pleasant, I gotta say.
M: Creamy, deceptivley thick, but not filling. Great hang.
O: Very pleased with this brew. Great balance, great flavor. At 6%, it packs a bit of a punch, but its so tasty, you could have a few.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 22:29:26 | More by Infamous7100

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass from a 12oz bottle.

Pours a perfect amber color. with a 0.5 inch off-white head that struggles to stay up and has some nice dense bubbles. There are some thicker ones spread around as well. The head slowly recedes to a nice thin mat.

Grainy malty aroma comes up quick with some nice fresh baked bread notes and some slight citrusy hops. There is a hint of grassy hop on the back end that gives the beer some attractiveness.

The taste is another story. Tons of grainy malt and bread notes are quickly overtaken by some delicious and grassy earth tone hops. Citrus notes and dank pine. Slight notes of cannabis are perceived as well. Very delicious. Especially when these fresh grassy and citrusy hop notes are followed once again by some nice grain and bread-like notes. Amazing. Great earthy and dry bitter finish. As the beer warms there is a very nice spice to it. I can tell the hops play a bit into this with the pine notes getting a bit more lively. There is also a nice caramel and slightly sweet malt flavor that livens up. Very good stuff.

One of the top Amber Ales out there. Very close to Hop Head Red but different.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 05:09:22 | More by JoEBoBpr

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another brew from my trade with Hudak, thanks man! Poured to pint glass the beer is a brilliant clear amber color. Nice 2 finger head with good retention and lacing. The aroma is a mix of caramel sweetness and fruity hop character. Apples and pears are in the mix along with a hint of citrus tone. The flavor follows suit and is a very enjoyable blend of caramel malt sweetness and fruity hop flavors, same as found in the nose. Medium bitterness. Finishes crisp and clean with a lingering fruity hop resin on the tongue. Very nice. Medium bodied with good carbonation. Overall, this is a fantastic beer, well representing the style in a hop-forward fashion. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 15:09:20 | More by hopfacebrew

Scrapss

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: deep amber hue. suspended bubbles, suspended solids. Thin collar, 1/16" thick.

S: Taste of fresh hops. Citrusy, resins. Refreshing. Invigorating. Fresh citrus hop meets malt in a very bold way.

T: Has that fresh hop & amber goodness. Malt, lemongrass. Quite bitter. Dry. Don't get me wrong, I like dry beer, but for this style it's just a hair too crisp and dry.

M : starts off malt-big, then thin, disappears all too quickly into an overly dry, lemon grass and grapefruit-skin abyss. I still feel that on a breath after a quaff. Very dry and piney.

I really like this brew as I do all fresh hop tasting varieties, but for the style, I was expecting much more malt and lingering sugars. I was not expecting this much of a fresh-hop style finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 05:27:33 | More by Scrapss