Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Somebody needs to tell the Troegs brothers to reevaluate this recipe. About two years ago I had this I liked, nice solid classic tasting amber ale. Last week, because I had not had it in about four months I grabbed a six pack - holy crap WHAT HAPPENED! Way too much hops, way too much. Very sweet, too sugary grapefruity taste, not balanced.

Pours deep copper color with a good head. Spicy hop aroma. It has a great spicy hop taste and a malt finish.

This beer looks great, a clear ruby body with a decent off-white head. Smells of hops, but fruity (not citrus) and a little malt. The flavor is hop-dominated, but not quite bitter enough and its a little watery.

Bottled. An elegant aromatic bouquet. Pours a dark umber hue with creamy opalescent head. Ambrosial profuse flavor; mellifluous malt succeeded by a perfect efflorescent hop presence with hints of vanilla and a slight bitter nuttiness.

Bottle: Deep amber with a brown hue topped by a quickly fading light tan head. Nose has some caramelized British malts and some fruity aromatic qualities of mild American hops and a nutty hint as well. Slightly over carbonated. The flavor has a light fruity hop touch upfront with dried orange peel followed by a nutty character. The finish has a dark toastiness and a prolonged bitterness. Kind of lacking depth.

Troegs HopBack Amber Ale ABV: 6% IBU: Calories: 160 Volume: 12 fl oz Glass: shaker Purchased at: Troegs Sampler at Shop Rite Liquors in Hamilton NJ Consumed on/at: 12:30am on Saturday March 8th, 2008 sensory first impression: Mountainous head - like a hilly landscape. Off white head. Aroma is very nice. Some light carbonated activity, and that same reddish sunset color. This beer isn’t watery like many Troegs. It has a fuller feel, though not like many of may favorites, it is quite acceptably good. Lacing, taste, color, and flavor all come together nicely here. ABV is right on the money. Starting to wish the sampler had been a 12 pack of these. Lacing is increasingly beautiful. Head hangs on at a .25 inch. Aroma/Olfactory: Malt flavor is: Caramel, a bit of chocolate, and flowery. Hop flavor is: flowery, herby. Yeast flavor is: sourdough. Other flavors include: hints of vanilla and spices. Visuals/Appearance: Color is: bright amber red. Nice color. Liquid is: clear, and clean. Head and lace are: bumpy, white, and lacy. Taste/Flavor: Maltiness or Sweetness level is: medium to heavy. Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: light to medium. Sour level is: light Palate/Tactile: Body or Mouthfeel is: medium. Texture is: creamy, sticky Carbonation is: average, active. Finish is: long, enjoyable, and more so as time goes on. Overall experience: The best of the sampler by far, but really the only enjoyable beer, and there are far better hoppy beers out there. I’ll repeat it here. look at Victory, Stone, and Rogue to understand what it’s really all about, then find a way to innovate, and you’ll have something.

Thanks abcfan. The color was amber/brown. The head was thin and off-white. The aroma was hoppy and sweet. The flavor was the same. The palate was thin and lightly carbonated. The finish was hoppy.

Thanks abcfan. Pours a copper orange with a two finger creamy orange head. Nice hoppy aroma, citrusy, sweet floral aroma. The flavor is very sweet and citrusy, nice caramel and a waxy mouthfeel. A nice amber. Had the same problem as Nugget Nectar for me, the mouthfeel was a little dead, kind of thin and no liveliness.