365 different beers from 365 different breweries in 365 days with random musings on beer, food, music, sports, dogs and anything else interesting along the way
Day #689 HopBack Amber / Troegs Brewing Company, Hershey, PA
Previously from this brewery: many beers
If there are an glaring typos today, it's because the 'y' key on my keyboard isn't working. I mean, it's somewhat working, but I need to pound on it a bit to register a letter. This laptop may not be long for this world, I fear. Sigh.
The beer for today is a bottle of HopBack Amber from Troegs, which pours with a clear, bright amber color. One thing about beers from Troegs - they're all attractive in the glass. Hard to explain, but they are. Your nose finds aromas of caramel and some citrus, and when you drink it down there are flavors of caramel malt, lemon, bread, and some very mellow pine bitterness. A well balanced beer, and at 6% ABV, very easy drinking. Definitely a favorite of mine, particularly on days where I want some hop flavor, but don't want to be overwhelmed by bitterness.
Pretty, no?
Thing to Think About Today:
With HopBack in mind, I'm dropping some Baby Got Back in this space. However, because I adore acoustic covers of rap songs, I present singer-songwriter Jonathon Coulton's version. It's obviously awesome. I seriously can not believe that I've never used this song in the space before; it's truly an all time great. Hope you're all doing well and feeling good.
I'm sad to write these words, but this is the final installment in my Troegs Beer Week. But on the upside, I guess it also means another trek out to Hershey to see what's new in their tasting room!
This is Troegs's barleywine--the Flying Mouflan. It pours a hazy brown colored ale with a pale tan head. I swear it smells slightly of Parmesan. The flavor is sharp and quite good. It's very much wine-like and there is a lot of fig in the flavor. There's hints of chocolate. It's spicy and not just peppery spice. As it warmed up a bit, I thought I tasted golden raisins. In my notes, I underlined golden raisins quite emphatically. So be warned, it doesn't just taste like any old raisins. It's the golden raisins.
The fine folks at Troegs suggest cellaring the Flying Mouflan in a cool dark place at 50 degrees for a minimum of four months. That will mellow out the hops and wash away the heat--noting that if one can resist the temptation to drink it all immediately, one would be rewarded with two memorable beers in a single bottle.
Sadly I didn't think to buy a bottle when they were around. Maybe next year I'll succeed.
And in case you're also wondering what a "Flying Mouflan" is, I have no idea. I know I like saying it aloud. Try it. Flying Mouflan! Fun, right? Since I had this one on draft at Troegs' tasting room, I don't have a photo of the bottle. The label depicts a winged, furry bottle cap with a devil's tail. OK. Sure. I suppose after drinking more than one of these--noting they weigh in at 9.3% ABV--that will make sense. I stopped at one. Maybe next year I'll try a second and see if it gives me any clarity.
Previously reviewed from TroegsPreviously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95(kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectarand Scratch 57(weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils. Also check out posts from this week on a number of Troegs beers. Why? Because it's Troegs Beer Week on Blog Named Brew!
...one sample of Troegs Perpetual IPA. It poured a crystal clear golden ale with a very white head. It had a super hoppy, pungent aroma. The flavor was bright and bold. Lots of hop flavor. Citrus pith, grapefruit, a little lemon in the finish. If you like hoppy beers, this is one for you.
Upon a bit of research, I learned this beer has ALL THE HOPS! It's brewed with Bravo, Chinook, Mt. Hood, and Nugget. Then it's dry-hopped with Citra and Cascade. So there's a little flavor for you!
Beer stats
Style: Imperial pale ale
ABV: 7.5%
IBUs: 85
Rating: Good
Previously reviewed from TroegsPreviously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95(kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectarand Scratch 57(weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils. Also check out posts from this week on a number of Troegs beers. Why? Because it's Troegs Beer Week on Blog Named Brew!
While I was at Troegs, I'm pretty sure I heard this beer sing, "I know you want it" to me.
It's the Troegs Javahead stout. And hot damn! It is an excellent beer. It pours black as night with a tan head. It has a strong coffee aroma. The flavor is mildly bitter. Lots of coffee. Lots of hop. There's some undertones of cola flavor. It drinks with a thin mouthfeel.
Previously reviewed from TroegsPreviously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95(kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectarand Scratch 57(weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils. Also check out posts from this week on a number of Troegs beers. Why? Because it's Troegs Beer Week on Blog Named Brew!
Day 4 of TroegsBeer Week brings us the Troegenator!
It's a doublebock or alternately a doppelbock. What's that, you ask? Bocks are relatively strong German lagers. Doppel- or doublebocks are even stronger. Double the bock. Get it? Generally they have a full body and are darker than a regular bock and have a higher ABV. Color ranges from dark amber to nearly black.
So why is there always a goat on the label? Based on a little Internet research...the bock style was a dark, malty, lightly hopped ale first brewed in the 14th century by German brewers in the town of Einbeck. The style was later adopted by Munich brewers in the 17th century and adapted to the new lager style of brewing. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced "Einbeck" as "ein Bock" ("a billy goat"), and thus the beer became known as "bock". To this day, as a visual pun, a goat often appears on bock labels. Now you know. So how was the Troegenator? It poured a beautiful mahogany color with a tan head. It smells boozy and resinous. It has a thick mouthfeel. The flavor is very malty...lots of caramel. I didn't think it tasted overly alcoholic but it definitely gave me that warm, fuzzy feel inside.
Beer stats
Style: Doppelbock
ABV: 8.2%
IBUs: 25
Rating: Great
Previously reviewed from TroegsPreviously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95(kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectarand Scratch 57(weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils. Also check out posts from this week on a number of Troegs beers. Why? Because it's Troegs Beer Week on Blog Named Brew!
Taking this look back at all the great beer I had from Troegs makes me want to road trip to Hershey all over again!
This one is the Hopback amber ale--a flagship beer from Troegs. It's advertised as being packed full of whole hop flowers. Let me tell you that those whole hop flowers certainly do wonders for this beer. It has a fresh hoppy aroma. There's a great spiciness to the flavor and rich caramel notes throughout. It's everything it's advertised to be! I also noted a bit of black tea in it as well.
Beer stats
Style: Amber ale
ABV: 6%
IBUs: 55
Rating: Great
Previously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95(kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectarand Scratch 57(weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils. Also check out posts from this week on a number of Troegs beers. Why? Because it's Troegs Beer Week on Blog Named Brew!
Is it weird that my first instinct when seeing a beautiful flight of beers like this is to paint a room a new color? OK, I lie. My first instinct is nomz, nomz, nomz! Then I think about how pretty they are.
Honestly. Look at the one in the middle. Gorgeous!
Troegs Beer Week continues with a Pale Ale review. It poured a very crisp golden color with a minimal white head. It has a peppery hop aroma. The flavor is spicy and smooth. There's a full mouthfeel. After it sat for a bit, I picked up some grapefruit in the nose and noted it had a nice buttery feel.
A note on Troegs facility in Hershey (Pennsylvania). It is a fantastic place to hang out and imbibe. If you've ever been to Green Flashin San Diego, it's a lot like that. Just a chill vibe and a ton of great beer. Don't let Troegs claim to just have a "snack bar" deter you either. There's a great variety of food and it's quite good. The beer flights include six 4.5oz pours so you get a really solid sense of their beer.
Beer stats
Style: American pale ale
ABV: 5.4%
IBUs: 45
Rating: Good
Previously reviewed from TroegsPreviously reviewed from Troegs
His review of Scratch 95 * (kolsch), pale ale, Nugget Nectarand Scratch 57(weizenbock)
My review of Sunshine Pils. Also check out posts from this week on a number of Troegs beers. Why? Because it's Troegs Beer Week on Blog Named Brew!
I'm not sure what part is the best. The angry nerd domino effect? The chomping fish? Golf balls playing percussion? The entire thing is totally amazing. Seriously.
You know what else is amazing? Troegsbeer. It's so amazing that I'm declaring it Troegs Beer Week on a Blog Named Brew!
Let's start with DreamWeaver Wheat.
So pretty.
DreamWeaver Wheat pours a hazy wet straw color with a thin white head. It didn't have a powerful aroma, which was a bit surprising. The flavor is creamy banana, peppery with a mild hop finish. It's brewed with wheat, Munich and Pilsner malts, German Northern Brewer hops and uses an open top fermentation. There's also a yeast strain that imparts a peppery, clove taste with a slight hint of banana. Dear Troegs, you got this one right!
I noted that it didn't have much of a head. Per Troegs' website, they recommend "rousing the yeast" at the bottom of the bottle and pouring it into the glass for a big frothy head. I guess that doesn't work when it's on draught.
* The Scratch Series is Troegs experimental line of beers. My advice to you is to try them out whenever you see them. I've had some amazing beers that were part of the Scratch Series. Unfortunately for you, I was drinking for fun and not stressing about reviews when I had them. I'll try to do better for you in the future!
Home from work this afternoon, getting ready to head down to the Phillies game tonight with some friends. We're trying to leave a bit early so that we're not stuck in two hours of beach/baseball/weekend traffic, but yeah - we're going to be stuck in two hours of traffic. You suck, roads of Pennsylvania. However, worth it to unwind and enjoy a night out with friends.
Today's review is Scratch 95, a Kolsch from Troegs. This beer has a hazy gold color, and is served in the most phallic beer glass I've ever seen. The aroma has notes of grain and fruit, and when you take a sip, you get a classic kolsch: refreshing mix of grain, a dry, light hop bitterness, some lemony citrus. I detected some light white grape notes hiding out in there, which lent the beer a certain sweetness that I really enjoyed. If you're planning a trip to Hershey in the very near future, stop in and try one of these. You won't be disappointed!!
This reminds you of.... a penis, right?
I mean... just look at it!
The Scratch beer series is Troegs' experimental beer work. Always good, always changing. Wish this one would make it into their permanent rotation.....
Thing to Think About Today:
If I'm going to be stuck in a traffic jam, then I think we should mellow out and relax to the smooth 90s stylings of Domino and his smash(?) hit Getto Jam. Enjoy your Friday, dear friends.
Day #534 Troegs Pale Ale / Troegs Brewing Company, Hershey, PA
Previously from this brewery: the delightful Nugget Nectar, Sunshine Pils, and Scratch 57 (starring Darryl Dawkins!)
Happy Memorial Day to you all! Hopefully you have fun plans for the day, or at least get to spend it with loved ones. And I do hope you'll pause in some way to honor those who died while defending our country (friendly reminder: Memorial Day honors the deceased, while Veteran's Day celebrates the service of all veterans).
I'll be spending a portion of this holiday in the yard, trying to tame the jungle that seems to have sprung up recently. Long time readers of this blog may recall that I would sooner cut off a limb than work in the yard, so you know this is a task I'm dreading. My allergies started to flare up this weekend, and when you combine that with the approximately 100 bug bites I'll receive while I'm out there, you get a recipe for me being really miserable today. Sorry to go all Debbie Downer on you there. Just saying. And I still didn't receive that invite for a BBQ, by the way..... must have gotten lost in the mail.
Part of Sunday afternoon was spent meandering through Central Pennsylvania, which included a stop at Troegs to get a beer fix. Found a seat at the bar in their large tasting room, and ordered up a Troegs Pale Ale, which arrived sporting a bright copper color and persistent white head. This might sound strange to non-craft beer believers, but then again maybe not: this is a very attractive beer, with a bright, clear quality (pic below doesn't do it justice, sadly). You find a mild aroma of citrus and malt on the nose, and flavors of pine, lemon and orange, and caramel malts. There's a dryness to this beer, and a very manageable 5.4% ABV. Not the most complex or unusual beer Troegs produces, but definitely an enjoyable pour to sip on a sunny afternoon.
Trust me, prettier in real life.
Troegs' new brewery location is located right on Hersheypark Drive, around the corner from Hershey's famous amusement park. I envision tons of dads dropping their kids off at the park to ride the rides, then jetting over to Troegs to relax and enjoy some beers. Regardless, a trip to Hershey definitely shouldn't be considered complete without a stop at Troegs and their great tasting room. Thing to Think About Today:
Troegs is located in a town affectionately known as "The Sweetest Place on Earth" thanks to the world famous headquarters of Hershey. So let's get real relevant and let the Carolina Chocolate Drops (chocolate!) close out the weekend with Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine (sweet!). See what I did there? Anyway, I hope this fun song helps you kick off a sunny Memorial Day. See you all soon...
Day #427 Nugget Nectar / Troegs Brewing Company, Hershey, PA
Previously from this brewery: Marci's thoughts on Sunshine Pils, and my look at Scratch 57
So, the blizzard that dominated news coverage for the past two days turned into.... about two inches of snow. Not exactly the SNOPOCALYPSE! that was being predicted. Instead of shoveling snow for hours, I was able to be productive today. I took some electronics out to be recycled, swung by Target, took the dogs to get their nails trimmed, and now I'm now relaxing drinking a Nugget Nectar, an amber ale from Troegs. Saturdays are the greatest.
In the glass, this beer has a bright, clear copper color with a lingering thin white head. The aroma is a huge blast of grapefruit and pine. When you take a sip, there are hops, hops, an more hops, with ample citrus and bitterness. There's more to this beer than just hops, however, as there's a nice malt backbone behind the hops to create balance. This beer is a manageable 7.5% ABV, but watch yourself, as this is so delicious, you'll likely end up having more than one. Many more than one, in fact.
Some sunshine in the window to brighten up this picture
This beer is a seasonal Troegs offering, which is unfortunate, as something this good should be available throughout the whole year.
Thing to Think About Today:
I'm still not sure what my thoughts are about this song and this artist, but it's been playing in my head a fair bit lately. So, let it play in yours: Thrift Shop, by Macklemore. Hopefully your Saturdays are fantastic so far, and your Sundays are even better.
I have a photo of my beer. It's just trapped in my dead Blackberry for now.
Instead you get a photo of Sal. He likes to sit with me when I blog. I swear I'm not his ghostwriter.
Today we hit the Main Line Food and Jazz Festival. It's a cute little festival that affords one the chance to sit in the street and drink beer (or margaritas or wine if that's your thing). Since it's basically held in front of one of our favorite beer bars, of course, we got a table at Teresa's Next Door and ordered some beer and lunch.
The Troegs Sunshine Pils poured a golden color with a white head. It smelled like fresh outdoors...grass, hops and some citrus. The flavor was kind of hoppy and nutty. It was light and refreshing but very flavorful. Very good.
And with this review, my adventures at Philadelphia Beer Week are officially underway! Cheers!
Beer #72 Scratch 57 / Troegs Brewing Company, Hershey, PA
Spent the day off.... at work. Oddly enough, and I admit this is odd, I sort of like going to the office on days off (in small doses). I actually get work done because the phone doesn't ring, I have no meetings, and no one wants to talk to me. I derive a measure of satisfaction from being productive, and 5 hours in the office today let me get there. The afternoon was spent with the dogs, some chores, a workout, and.... wait for it.... beer!
Today's beer comes courtesy of a gift from a friend, who was kind enough to bestow on us a six-pack of Troegs Scratch 57, a weizenbock. The Scratch Series is a Troegs experiment in small batch brewing, allowing them to make some really unique offerings in addition to the regular lineup. To me, this is the essence of craft brewing - taking a risk, trying something unusual and different, being creative.
The 57 is a dark amber color in the glass, and has a sweet malt aroma on the nose. The taste has rich cocoa notes, with hints of fruit sweetness. It's dry with a bit of bitterness on the finish. A bit too much of a roasted, chocolate taste for me to put in the regular rotation, but the emergence of bock beers on the shelf and on draft is definitely a positive sign that spring is coming soon. Which is odd, as winter hasn't yet arrived here in the Philly 'burbs. If you can find it, definitely try one.
Thing to Think About Today:
If we're drinking a chocolate beer brewed with cocoa, made by a brewery in Hershey, the chocolate capital of the world, then we might as well continue with the theme and think about the man they called "Chocolate Thunder," Mr. Darryl Dawkins.
If this man asks for a beer, I'd give him one.
Dawkins was a powerful, athletic player who jumped to the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA right out of high school and had, shall we say, a bit of a unique personality. He was fond of giving his dunks absurd names, and claimed to hail from Planet Lovetron, where he practiced "interplanetary funkmanship." He never quite lived up the billing of a high draft pick, but he's still a fan favorite for those who recall the glory days of the Sixers franchise (like me).
If anyone needs me, I'll be spending the remainder of my evening drinking beers on Planet Lovetron and adding Interplanetary Funkmanship to the degrees earned section of my resume.
