Scratch Beer 7 - 2008 (Weizenbock)
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 7 - 2008 (Weizenbock)Scratch Beer 7 - 2008 (Weizenbock)
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Weizenbock
ABV:
7.9%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 9.37%
Reviews:
60
Ratings:
68
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 08, 2013
Added:
Jan 19, 2008
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  0
Red and white wheat combined with darker malts add body to this hazy, unfiltered ale. Fermented with the same yeast as DreamWeaver Wheat replicating the pepper, clove and all-spice flavors found in our year-round beer.

19.1 Plato, 7.9% ABV, 18 IBU. Made with pils and crystal malt, red and white wheat, and magnum and German Northern Brewers hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Gonzoillini:
Photo of Gonzoillini
Rated by Gonzoillini from Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.3%

Dec 15, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Jun 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by comfortablynirm from Pennsylvania

Oct 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by oline73 from Maryland

Mar 07, 2012
Photo of thain709
Reviewed by thain709 from Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Knocking off some old Scratch Beers/cleaning out Deuane's basement.

A - This one pours clearer than I expected...the body was tinted copper and looked flat...a thin head was produced but only came back with a swirl of the glass...no lacing

S - A sweet nose...sticky caramel is dominating with traces of dark fruits in the background...some alcohol notes can be detected

T - Again that flavors are sweet as well...dark toffee and sticky caramel run from start to finish...there is a dominance of Belgian-esque flavors in the middle...some fruity flavors, a touch of alcohol, and a yeast strain flavor...it's surprising these flavors held up so well...a sweet finish with a touch of alcohol burn

M - Medium bodied...sweet and syrupy

O - I bet this one had potential...it's fun trying beers that I couldn't even have when they came out because I wasn't old enough...this one became really sweet and the Belgian flavors held up nicely
Jan 22, 2012
Photo of Beertracker
Reviewed by Beertracker from Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Tröegs Scratch Beer #7 - 2008 pours up with a neat creamish-tan head that tops a rather bright reddish copper-russet brown body. The definite toasty nose has a lightly spicy/phenolic (allspice, cloves, nutmeg) character with a moderate fruitiness (apple, banana, pear). No bubblegum, some notable chocolate roastiness underlying the complex melanoidins. The flavor starts off with a defined caramel sweetness that is supported by a complex toasted/wheat nuttiness that's marked by just a touch of bitterness to balance the richness. The underlying spiciness helps to carry this one along to a slightly cloying, fruity & warming finish. This medium-full bodied weizenbock has good complexity & creaminess, but is marred by a touch of oxidation. However, given how well it's age that's a minor infraction! Here's to that Gemütlichkeit Scratch fever that's obviously alive & well in PA.

PROST! Beertracker
Jan 04, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by jophish17 from Georgia

Dec 24, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Khazadum from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Lunch. Thanks Paul!

The beer is mostly clear, with a slight haze, and copper in color. The head is insubstantial and leaves very little lacing. Not unexpected, given the age of the beer. The aroma brings a heavy dose of malt with banana, clove, and alcohol. It definitely smells true to style. The flavor is nice, though it retained a surprising amount of heat for an aged beer under 8%. The beer has a present sweetness, with a buttery, creamy feel. Alcohol presence is there, but certainly not overpowering. A rare treat that was unexpected and totally off my radar. Good stuff.
Jun 22, 2011
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.97/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by lunch, thanks! Oldest scratch beer I've had. Beer is copper and clear with low carbonation a tiny head and no lacing.

Aroma is mildly banana, some clove, figs and slight oxidation.

Beer is medium in body, pretty still on the palate, sweet up front, dark fruits, stone fruits, prunes, mild banana throughout. Tastes good, has held up well over time IMO.
Jun 17, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle courtesy of Lunch. Served in a SAVOR snifter.

Pours a clear copper color with no real head, lacing, or anything else of that sort to speak of. Given the age and style, certainly forgiveable. The nose carries some nice notes of brown sugar, dark fruits, grapes, and sherry. No real yeast character left in the nose or flavor, but there's a nice sherry-like oxidation element and plenty of dark fruits. Light body with moderate carbonation and a slightly-dry finish. Nice beer. Quite enjoyable.
Jun 13, 2011
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.77/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Greg for sending me this!

A: The beer pours an opaque copper color with a thin and short lived khaki colored head.

S: Sweet caramel malts and toffee with a bit of dark fruits. Not much yeast, but a little bit of banana and a strong cherry and plum aroma. Some brown sugar and a definite oxidation, but that's not surprising.

T: Lots and lots of caramel, toffee, and brown sugar. A definite toastiness and a hint of alcohol. Toasted bread flavor is pleasing and there is some nice fruitiness, including some overripe banana.

M: Medium in body with a low to moderate carbonation.

O: Would have been nice to try this a couple years ago, but this seems to have held up pretty well.
May 17, 2011
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.31/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle thanks to Troy G.

Pours a murky dark amber-burgundy color, like darker apple cider almost, with a small cream-colored head that fades to a ring.

Big rich aroma of wheat malt, caramel, sherry, honey, perfume, spice, and dark fruits. Smells great.

The flavor has slight oxidation but is still very tasty. The wheat malt has aged well and melded with the caramel and toffee flavors seamlessly, and there's a really nice fig and prune flavor to it. Pretty rich for this style.

Medium-full bodied with carbonation a little on the lower side.

A great weizenbock. One of the more enjoyable beers in this series.
Jan 21, 2011
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

4.27/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled August 2010
A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a two-finger thick, nicely amber tinged, light tan colored head. The beer is a dark plum color that shows a brilliantly clear, sherry color when held up to the light. The aroma smells of rich, melanoidins, complexly oxidized malts, heaps of savory umami-like character, ample caramelized nut aromatics, some raisin like fruitiness, a touch of damp clay mustiness, rich though not sweet caramel, perhaps a touch of brandy, lots of caramelized biscuit-type malt character and even a piquant at times, note of teriyaki in the finish. The nose on this beer is incredibly complex, rich and inviting and has aged to perfection at this point.

A still bright carbonation adds just enough fizz to a velvety, not overly heavy, but textured body. The beer has a certain sweetness to it, but what is really noticed is the complex, aged malt character. The beer finishes with nutty notes that remind me of sherry as well as some umami notes and a touch of mustiness that makes me think of damp granite in a cellar towards the finish. The nuttiness plays up a rich, caramelized malt character that has lots of toasted whole grain goodness in it. A touch of alcohol seems to accentuate a light fruitiness (raisins, figs and prune notes mainly) as well as evoking thoughts of brandy, but without the alcoholic heat. Really this does remind me of a nice sherry and even a drier port at times.

This has aged very nicely, but only if you like aged character in beer. There is not much left of the traditional HefeWeizen yeast character left in this beer; I find that in general a lot of the character drops out of HefeWeizens with a little bit of age, which is why it is so critical to drink the lighter versions of the style so fresh. Anyway, this one has aged really nicely, and I am really digging the complex way that the oxidation has married with the malt character. Somehow this was exactly what I was in the mood for.
Oct 07, 2010
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Massive Mega Scratch Beer Tasting @ the Meat Meet, 8.21.2010. Thanks Unclejedi!

Scores reflect how the beer is drinking NOW, and not when released.

Looks caramel-ly and autumnal. No lace, tiny head. Smells wheaty and dark-fruity and slightly sour... hmm. Lemons? Tastes much the same, big German sweet-bread malt but there is a weird balsamic sourness here that doesn't jive... dry finish and I'm pretty sure something has taken hold here a lil bit. Unusual, and an unusual style for a US brewer to make -- cool! Good carbonation and apart from the sour / oddly dry mouthfeel, drinks okay. Weird. Drink 'em if you got 'em.
Aug 22, 2010
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.79/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to HopDerek for this extra. Served in a weizen glass.

A - Pours with a finger of slow-dissolving lightly tanned head, that eventually settles to a dime-thick cap. Murky raisin brown body, even without the sediment - pretty ugly. Maybe a spot or two of lace.

S - Caramel and brown sugar, slight oxidation, a touch of clove and black peppery spice, a hint of fruity esters, and some multi-grain bread.

T - Taste is mostly brown sugar and grain, light spiced, with a hint of sherry-like oxidation. There is a touch of lemon in the finish, but the banana cited by everyone else seems to have dropped off the map.

M - Viscous, medium body, that has a light tannic/smokey finish and a good amount of residual stickiness. Moderate carbonation tingle that feels appropriate. A touch of warmth after half a glass.

D - This brew seems to be on the decline at this point, although it's still fairly enjoyable. I wouldn't sit on these any longer. One bottle is sufficient for a serving.
Nov 27, 2009
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A-Hazy, brownish hued copper with a small off white head that reduced to a thin cap and left spotty lace.

S-Strong wafting of clove, pepper, bubblegum, raisin and brown sugar. All of this lying a top a nice base of wheat bread malt.

T-Spicy cloves, bubblegum, cocoa powder and raisin up front with a mildly sweet bready base.

M-Medium-light body and while a bit chewy it seems to be missing something. Maybe it's too effervescent. Plenty of lingering flavours save it from a lower score.

D-Regardless of the lack in the mouthfeel this one certainly has it going on! I really liked this a lot!
Jul 16, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

2.53/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Bottle thanks to JB175. Pours a super murky brown, sort of swamp-like, with a small light tan head. Aroma is strongly vegetal with sweet, raisiny malt. Flavor is much of the same--vegetal and oxidized. Yeah, maybe this is a pointless rating but at least people will see that this beer is not holding up.
Jul 11, 2009
Scratch Beer 7 - 2008 (Weizenbock) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 68 ratings