Tröegs Flying Mouflan

Tröegs Scratch #33: Saison

The Scratch Beer series by Tröegs is an experimental beer series that is produced in extremely small batches and can only be bought at the brewery. Currently, the brewery has produced 35 beers in the series.

Tröegs Scratch #33: Saison poured a hazy, dark orangey, amber color with a two fingered width, white head. The nose is really nice, thick malt with strong yeast aromas. he body is thinker up front with bready malt and a little earthiness. The middle is very highly carbonated and he back end leads to a nice dryness on the finish.

Overall, a really nice beer that gives a little different take on the saison style. The typical saison features are present but there is a little bit more bready malt then usual. I think the malt and high carbonation would allow the beer to lay down for a few months to become a little more polished, but this is a really nice small batch beer that needs to be purchased if ou can find it.

Tröegs JavaHead (Cask)

JavaHead poured a dark brown, blackish color with a pen width, tan head. The aroma is dominated by strong, dark malt, and noticeable coffee notes. The body is smooth, with dark malts, chocolate and coffee. There is a nice helping of hops on the back end, leading to a nice dry, bitter finish.

Overall, I loved this beer. The bottled version is massive and a little much for me, but I thought the casked version is either a little bit more restrained or a little rounded out. The coffee dies down a little, the chocolate come out a bit more, and the dry hopping really brings the hops forward. This is a really enjoyable nightcap and an amazing beer on cask.

Tröegs DreamWeaver Wheat Ale

DreamWeaver poured a hazy, golden orange color with a two fingered width, white head. The aroma is dominated by citrus fruit with a touch of yeast. The body is more of the same, packed with orange and other fruit. The mouthfeel is smooth, with low carbonation. The finish leaves a faint dryness,

There was some nice hanging lace left on the glass. Overall, a nice wheat beer. I love the fruit but it could use a little hop bitterness to balance out the ineveitable sweetness.

Tröegs Pale Ale

Tröegs Pale Ale poured a clear, golden yellow color with a finger width, white head. The aroma is very aromatic, very clean, with heaps of fresh, floral hops. The body is thinner up front, before a blast of floral hops. The crystal malt base allowing the hop characteristics to show through. The finish is crisp and dry, with a sharp hop bitterness.

Overall, this is a really wonderful pale ale, one of my new favorites for both the style and the brewery which really says something on both fronts. Like many beers from Tröegs, it is simple and well made, letting the natural flavors show through. The hop flavors are brewpub fresh and the loghter malt body really allows them to show through. It has a uniqueness to it which helps it stand out from other pale ales. Simply put, I really like this beer.

Tröegs Scratch #32: Keystone Common

The Scratch Beer series by Tröegs is an experimental beer series that is produced in extremely small batches and can only be bought at the brewery. Currently, the brewery has produced 33 beers in the series.

Scratch #32: Keystone Common poured a clear, golden yellow color with a finger width white head. The aroma is inviting, not overdone, clean with some yeast and a little malts and hops hiding in there. The body is smooth, malt base with lot to medium depth and is extremely clean. The finish is pleasant, crisp with a nice hop dryness.

Overall, this is a wonderful beer. It is clean, easy drinking and super refreshing. Tröegs is calling it a common, but there are lots of Kolsch like qualities. Another great beer from Tröegs and a classic example that great beer doesn't need to be an imperial or barrel aged to be enjoyed.

Tröegs Hop Back

Troegs Hop Back poured a clear, amber color with a thumb width small bubbled, off white head. The aroma is clean, with a touch of malt and super clean hops, almost brewpub like. The body is smooth, juicy, with some malt up front, a touch of sweetness, and a nice dose of piney hops in the middle and staying until the end. The finish is short, with a crisp bitterness.

Overall, this is a very good beer from Tröegs. The hop character is the star here, but this is a balanced, well made beer with plenty of body and flavor. One of my favorite beers from this brewer and one of the best in it's style.

Tröegs Rugged Trail Ale

Rugged Trail poured a dark brown color, with a thumb width, tan head. The aroma is malty, roasted malts specifically, with lots of chocolate notes. The body is smooth, dry, and malty, with coffee notes at the end. The finish is a little faint, with a light dryness.

Overall, this is an average to decent brown ale. Rugged Trail has some nice characteristics. It was smooth and easy drinking and would make for a very nice session beer at 4.4% ABV. Troegs bills this as a nut brown ale and I didn't quite get the nutty character that is apparent in other beers of this style. It seemed a little unbalanced with the sweet malt taking over and nothing really jumped out. This is a nice beer but I have come to expect better from the brewers who make Nugget Nectar, Mad Elf, and Hopback.

Tröegs Nugget Nectar

Tröegs Mad Elf

Mad Elf poured a clear, dark amber color with a finger width head. The aroma consists of light malt a light fruity sweetness. The body is smooth and malty, with a light sweetness up front, and hop undertones that run throughout the body. The finish has some spices, with a light dryness and a slight alcohol twinge. There is a sweet, fruity aspect to the beer that is pleasant but I just cannot figure it out for the life of me.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable holiday beer. The body is deep and complex, yet somewhat delicate. After some brief research, the light fruity aspect that I could not put my finger on comes from cherries added during the brewing process. The cherries are a nice touch as they do a nice job of hiding the high ABV, without taking over the beer. This is an interesting take on holiday beers from Troegs, but I think they found a winner.