11/25/11 Troegs HopBack Amber Ale

So after a long day of work and very little sleep my taste buds were crying out for something different. So last night I took out one of the beers from one of the Troegs variety packs that are available at Brewer's Outlet in Pottsville. I am usually like a cold beer and tonight was no different so I had put my beer of choice into the freezer for about 45 minutes to put a nice chill on it and it came out at an almost perfect 33 degrees. The head was small at around 1" with an off white to light brown fizzy foamy appearance. The head lacing was good and the head dissipated somewhat slowly. The carbonation was lively with normal body clarity and an amber color. The aroma was a perfume, floral with a hint of honey. It had a light flavor with a slight bitterness and an average finish length. The mouth feel was watery and it had a tongue hit towards the front. The body lacing was good and I truly enjoyed my first Troegs.  Overall this beer was something slightly different it had a lot to offer and some different qualities to it that I can't place my finger on. Because I can;t place my finger on it is why I gave it an A- but it definitively is a solid beer. So don't forget your opener or dollar bill because you'll need it to open this one (refer to latest issue of Maxim). Thanks for reading and as always drink responsibly.

 All information about Troegs from there website

Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 6%

Hop Bitterness (IBU's): 55

Color (SRM): Amber

Availability: Year Round

Malts: Pilsner, Munich

Hops: Cascade, Williamette, Nugget

HopBack Hops: Whole Leaf Nugget, Mt Hood

Yeast: Ale

Tröegs Brewery’s Flagship beer, HopBack Amber Ale derives its name from a vessel in the brewhouse called a hopback. As the ‘wort’ is being transferred from the brewhouse to fermentation it passes through the hopback vessel. Packed full of fresh whole flower hops, the wort slowly circulates through this vessel extracting the essence of the aromatic hops. This vessel adds more time and more hop character that creates a fresh, spicy taste and rich caramel note that defines this signature ale.

TASTING NOTES

Deep amber in color under a huge creamy head. The aroma very apparent, bold and spicy with a slight floral character. Balanced with caramel malt, this well-rounded amber ale has an up-front floral spice that builds with a flush of sweetness.

FOOD COMPLIMENTS

Big, robust flavors like red meats and strong cheeses. The assertive flavors of our HopBack will hold up against strong cheeses like Stilton and Smoked Cheddar.

Serving Suggestions:
Temp: 50-55° F   Glassware:  Bavarian Tumbler or Pint Glass