Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Though Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale rates pretty highly, I have to say it’s only a good beer. It’s pretty much the epitome of the amber ale style in that it’s pretty hoppy but uses earthy/spicy hops rather than citrus or pine.

3.7

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20

Chad9976 (811) - Albany, New York, USA - FEB 11, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Dark amber/copper hue, transparent but not much visible carbonation. Forms a small, white, frothy head which leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Light caramel malty scent and mild spicy hop fragrance.

Taste: Mellow caramel sweetness up front followed by significant bitterness through the middle. A definite spice character from the nugget hops with just a hint of citrus peel. It’s a bit dry, but not cloying so, in fact it’s well contained and balanced making it a drinker-friendly palate. There’s more malt and hop character than a pale ale, but there’s nothing about this beer that makes it stand out among countless other beers of the style.

Drinkability: With a medium body and a mouthfeel that’s lively, but contained, Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale is no challenge to drink at all. I was a bit surprised to find out it’s 6% ABV, but at least it’s efficient for that weight as it’s not filling or disproportionately heavy.

 Grade: 7/10