Tröegs Hopback Amber Ale - Tröegs Brewing Company

RichT73

New Jersey

4.68/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After trying the Troegs Nugget Nectar, which I can't get enough of, I was very excited to try another offering from this brewery. The first thing I noticed was the pour...what a beautiful amber sunset color. I then took a big whiff and could smell the hops, which made my mouth water. After the first sip I thought this beer was very good, but the hops didn't grab my tongue like I thought they might given the name. While I consider myself somewhat of a hophead, I didn't mind the mild taste and after a few minutes found myself at the bottom of the glass. I could easily drink these all night and can't wait for my next purchase from Troegs.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2009 00:05:35 | More by RichT73

ZAP

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

No ordinary Amber here...what a great beer!!....tastes like an ESB to me...clean looking amber color with a white lace that rims the glass nicely..excellent nose...fresh, leafy, floral hops basking in the sun on top of a bed of caramel...the body is surprisingly balanced as the hops do not overwhelm your buds....they are definitely there though and very nice...but the caramel mixes in and creates a tremendously drinkable beer..mouthfeel is medium and perfect..One of the better ESB's I've had....as a Red it rates #1 for me over Bell's Amber Ale but I consider this more of an ESB and an excellent one at that....

(Two Troegs beers now for me and two outstanding beers....As I work my way through some East Coast Breweries this one is starting to shine brighter than some of the others although I still have some work....ummmm...tasting to do with many more brands and beers...)

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2003 21:20:44 | More by ZAP

cerevisiaephilus

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very nice find this weekend in State College at the Phyrst. This beer must have been mighty fresh. Had a nice hop nose, but the juicy, round, phat, fruity hop flavors in this beer make it really very nice. Very fresh fruity, juicy hop flavor. Very drinkable as well.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2004 01:55:54 | More by cerevisiaephilus

sarahspat

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Capital Ale House in Fredericksburg.

This brew has a nice appearance: clear dark amber with an offwhite head. Safari animal shaped lacings appeared as I drank (giraffes, elephants, zebras, etc.)

Smells great too: rich grapefruit and flowers.

Tastes AMAZING. Very complex. Powerful grapefruit up front gives way to luxurious berry flavors and sweet caramel. Fresh raspberries and blackberries make notable contributions. OMG the raspberry flavor is amazing. I actually had to check Troegs' website to verify that they did not in fact add raspberries to this brew. YUM! There is also a pleasant floral presence and a nice dry finish.

Nice mouthfeel and good carbonation.

Yes, this is more hoppy than most ambers, but I think they keep it reasonable and don't go far enough to take it out of range of the style.

My first Troegs beer has become an instant favorite. I could easy drink a few of these in one sitting. What a great brew! I can't wait to try more Troegs now that I live in an area where they distribute. Really impressive beer!

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2009 19:02:34 | More by sarahspat

IPhantom

Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a leathery amber, with a one-finger-plus pillowy head. Lacing is persistent through the glass, making level clouds above the landscape of the head. The smell is almost straight citrusy hops, a little metallic, with some non-descript malt backbone. Taste is well-balanced to the side of bitter. Citrus hops, caramelly malts, and a pleasantly bitter finish. Mouthfeel is on the lower side of the carbonation spectrum.

Although there's nothing outstanding about this beer, it's solid, very approachable, and a good one for all seasons. Even better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 20:27:14 | More by IPhantom

Edwin

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance - Pours a true amber color, no other word to describe it. Head appears and fades fast with some lacing in there. Troegs beers typically have this effect forsome reason. Good looking beer to be sure.

Smell - A small grain scent with some sweet/fruitiness in there. Maybe a touch of honey flavor mixed within. Hoppy aroma definitely comes through.

Taste - Wow! What an interesting flavor the Two Brothers have gotten out of this beer. A sweet, fruity, caramel Amber Ale flavor with the greatest flavor of hops coming through. Not too ovrbearing one way or another. Two words: a triumph.

Mouthfeel - Feels pretty good. Only thing I may have liked would be just the slightest hint of more carbonation, but I am just being a little picky. Otherwise, very very good.

Drinkability - Excellent. If you like Amber Ale and hops, you really canno go wrong here. Great flavor and an easy beer to make friends with over the course of an evening. Your girlfriend will get jealous.

Comments: Excellent beer offering from Chris and John. This brewery is evolving into something very special. Pick up this or any one of their samplings soon!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2003 22:23:29 | More by Edwin

Tbn2

New York

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

Served from a bottle to a pint glass

A-Very copper in appearance. Two finger head settled pretty quick and no lacing left behind.

S-Very good. You get a blast of grapefruits and citrus in your nose. In the background is some sweet grains but the grapefruit hops takes the spot light in a good way.

T/M-Very good. Just like the smell. A very citrus/grapefruit hop flavor last throughout the entire taste. At the end, some pale malt comes out balancing everything just perfectly.

Overall this beer is damn good. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed.

Drink em if ya got em....

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 14:46:41 | More by Tbn2

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

Muse

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is the first time I've been inspired to write a review. I'm new at this, so take that into account.

I've always been a fan of hoppy ales, and after reading a review of Tröegs' ESB I picked this up. Honestly, I thought I was getting the ESB, but turns out it was this amber ale instead. No problems though, I set out to do my tasting...

First thing I noticed upon pour was actually the smell. I was watching for appearance (a fine 1/4 inch on top of clear reddish amber), but was quickly seduced by the floral scent -- fruity with distinctly apricot overtones. Very attractive.

The taste answered expectations, with a nice balance of fruit and bitter. I think I my bottle may have been a bit overchilled, which felt refreshing -- and happily, the bold and balanced flavor had no problem punching through. Very clean.

Red Hook ESB has been my flagship favorite for some time now. No more -- when I can find Tröegs Hopback Amber, it's first on my list. I'm hoping to find the Tröegs ESB and give that a try next.

Thanks to this site and your reviews! Like I said, I'm new at this, but I think I've already taken a big step up. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2005 17:47:13 | More by Muse

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Very clean looking transparent amber. Large white head with great retention and sea foam lacing. Constant tiny bubbles.

Smells just like liquid amber malt extract and orangey citrus hops and honey.

Light and creamy amber with a smooth hop juice aplenty. Not too carbonated despite all the bubbles. Pleasant.

trade via aibkstaff

Had this on cask recently - it was Chuck Norris worthy.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2009 00:17:59 | More by donkeyrunner

Jayli

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a pretty medium amber/red. Thin film of an off white head with very little lacing despite vigorous pour. Smell was extremely hoppy, much more so than I expected with a red ale - smell was like an IPA, with scents of sweets malts evening it out. Taste is flavorful of big hops, and sweet malts. The tastes are bold yet well balanced. Mouthfeel is moist, crisp and is extremely smooth with decent carbonation. This is a great beer, completely hit the spot - with Troegs now in the area, this will definitely be a session beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2009 02:50:01 | More by Jayli

MrOH

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Brilliant amber with a 1/2 finger of khaki head. While small, it displays excellent retention and lacing.

Citrus and herbal hops, a slight yeast fruitiness, and a backbone of continental malt.

Caramel and bready malt with citrus up front and herbal hops in the back. Very well balanced. Sweet but clean.

A touch heavier than medium, lower than normal carbonation, which I enjoy.

A great example of a balanced and easy drinking american ale that is still flavorful and complex. I wish more breweries could pull this off.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 03:32:34 | More by MrOH

Bobancheff

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Apperance- pours a smooth 1/4 inch head. Very light lacing

Taste- This beer is very smooth and drinkable. We call it a creeper beer because is is 6 percent but slides like a typical yellow beer.

overall- This is a very drinkable amber ale that I would not hesitate to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 06:13:55 | More by Bobancheff

ramrod666

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

saw this an cask at the sharp edge emporium in pittsburgh and told the bar-keep to pull me pint. little did i know, this would take some time. about ten minutes to be exact. i waited patiently as he readied the pint. he told me that it had not been pouring well but, the taste was fine. i said ok. the appearence was a creamy amber with a mountainous head that you could cut with a knife. the smell was much more raw than that of the bottle or an tap samples. a very hoppy nose with a sweet malty, earthy back. taste was creamy, hoppy floral but, more subdued than i had expected. the malts in this ale seemed to come through more on cask. mothfeel was almost free of carbonation and heavier than other serving types i've tried. the lack of carbonation kind of threw me at first. it seemed to take away the bite from the hops but, delicicous nonetheless. i don't know if i would have more than one or two on cask at any given time (price-$6 a draft) and the lack of carbonation lowered my drinkability slightly. very much enjoyed.

Serving type: cask

07-23-2004 02:57:51 | More by ramrod666

bozebus17

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks goes to Beer Truth for this bottle.

Poured a nice clear copper with a large white head. This subsides to a good layer of white foam that leaves ample lacing.

The aroma has all kinds of things going on. I get notes of pine, some earthiness, and lemon zest. It has a very "clean" aroma that I can't quite find the words for.

The taste is very nicely balanced. There are small touches of toasted malt, but hops dominate here. The lemon character is definitely here, but what I really notice is tropical fruit. It is very soft on the palate and finishes clean. This beer is extremely refreshing and easy to drink.

This was an awesome brew. Crisp, clean, refreshing, and delicious. I sure wish I had more than one bottle!

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2007 17:22:20 | More by bozebus17

wobblynoggin

New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a perfect amber into a pint glass with a slight lacing. Soda like bubbles.
S - Perfect balance of malt and hop notes, mixed nuts, caramel sugary
T - Again, just a perfect balance of malt and hops. If you like hoppy beer but do not want to give up the malt, this is the beer for you. From sip, to swallow the balance is just perfect. Caramel from the malt, and a slight citrus from the hops, like a muted grapefruit, not too sweet
M - Carbonation a wee bit much for my liking, but it does not ruin the mouthfeel. As the beer warms, the malt takes over a bit more, but that is to be expected.
D - Due to the carbonation, I think this is a 3-4 beer choice, which overall is not bad, but I like to clear my palate after this beer since it is a bit complex.

Overall, a great concoction of an amber ale with a hoppy kick. You'll impress a few people if you bring this along to a gathering.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 03:23:02 | More by wobblynoggin

mempath

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

pours lovely...settles fast...not the clinglessness i expected....but that's small potatoes since the smell is intruding already before i've even activated my cyberNose...!

smell is hops. hops. perfect. hops. not ballistics. more like a louisville slugger.

it's simply nugget nectar as david banner, not the hulk! the flagship troegs FINALLY....and after the nugget, i still find this overwhelmingly lovely. scared of hops? confront your fear, step back and at least gulp one of these....if anything, the subtle aspects of HOPBACK trump the napalm blast of nugget nectar. i prefer to be waylayed...but this is a subtle form of dissent in a macro world of dumbass complacency. far left brewing for sure.

creamy, ecstatic. carbonation is sparkling and is the backbone of this heavy hitter.

too drinkable. at 6% ABV, it tastes more like a stealthy 8% punch. wowee

troegs may just be the best brewery in the state. east coast...exponentiallyETC...

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2009 02:13:20 | More by mempath

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hand pumped into pint glass.

A: Very large, billowing white linen colored head that lasted quite some time. The lacing was spare. The body was a medium orange-brown and murky from the cask conditioning. I understand.

S: The focus here is not on the malts, which were light at best. The hops shine unobstructed, way above average but not huge. Whether or not it was from the cask or from a very recent brewing, the freshness of the hops was evident. The Hopback has a beautiful bouquet of flowers and wild grass.

T & M: The hop aromas are also the hop flavors. Even though they outweigh the malt, balance is achieved through other flavor sensations, in this case, equal parts sweet and bitter. The medium body is smooth & creamy which also neutralizes the hop attack.

D: Even the loud, drunk & obnoxious girl beside me couldn't keep me from enjoying this one. Really smooth, very well balanced and truly sublime. The Hopback Amber Ale is made for the cask.

Serving type: cask

01-03-2010 01:16:01 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

kernalklink

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tried this brew on tap in York PA. What a surprise; it poured an extremely bright red amber with little head but good lacing. The aroma was sweet malts with a hint of hops, great earthy smell. The taste was even better with a perfect balance of citrusy sweetness and a great hop selection- so satisfyingly good and it could be even better bottled. Mouthfeel was smooth with moderate carbonation. I'm a big American IPA fan and this brew can stand up to the best of them- good choice.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2006 23:19:19 | More by kernalklink

schoolboy

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The Hop Back Amber was the star of the Troegs sampler 12 pack. All of the Triegs had similar things going on, while being true to their style. The common thread in all of them was the smoothness. Absolutely no harshness in any of these beers. This made them all above average.

This particular one is the hoppiest of them (hence the name). I think this beer would especially appeal to someone who didn't want a hoppy beer that hit them in the face, but still wanted a lot more hops than normal.

I think the real craft in all their brews is this creaminess. Cudos. I will buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2008 23:07:50 | More by schoolboy

VTaler

Vermont

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Dark Amber with nice ivory white head that leaves nice lacing and stays around for a bit
S - Smells like an IPA. Very hoppy smell. Somewhat of a sweet nutty smell
T - Kind of sweet but it balances out perfectly with the hops. The hops are there but not too overpowering. Nice caramel/nutty malt flavor
M - one of the best mouthfeels I've ever had in a beer. Low carbonation and cream.
D - very drinkable

Overall i loved this beer. I was very impressed. I will make this a go to beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2009 21:01:31 | More by VTaler

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a pretty clear amber/orange color with a creamy one finger head, solid retention and lacing. It smells like citrusy hops and maybe a little bit like raspberry. The taste is superbly balanced- medium bodied with overtones of hops and a clean dry finish. The mouthfeel is perfect for this style- well carbonated and very refreshing. Especially for the price, this is a fantastic beer. I plan on drinking it more frequently.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 23:46:23 | More by Hopdaemon39

keeganfrank

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Golden brown ale with a foamy head. Aromas of light citrus, caramel and bread. Creamy, fruit-mostly apple-flavor up front and mild citrus bitterness in the aftertaste. It's perfectly balanced between creamy and thin. This is a great beer! It's very unique and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 19:34:44 | More by keeganfrank

WesWes

New York

4.53/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a reddish amber color with a thin white lace head. The aroma is great! It has a nice light crystal malt scent, but the main feature here is the awesome floral hop aroma that is very pleasant. The taste is great as well. This beer has got some good hop flavor that goes down easy and finishes creamy. It also has a solid malt core which helps balance the flavor. The mouthfeel is perfect. This is a med/full bodied amber ale with adequate carbonation. This is the best damn amber ale I've ever had. It has great hop flavor and a complex mouthfeel. I love it!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2004 00:57:57 | More by WesWes

Citadel82

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I found my spring quencher for 2005.

Pours a clear copper color with a creamy two finger white head that leaves sheets of lace as it fades to thin white later atop the beer.

Smell is citrus pith and sweet malts in the finish.

Tasty caramel malt up front, zesty refreshing hops in the back.

Long dry finish, medium body, sticks to the tongue and roof of the mouth for short dry finish.

Very refreshing an exceedingly drinkable. I love this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2005 01:55:13 | More by Citadel82