Scratch Beer 43 - 2011 (IPA Hopped With Bravo, Chinook And Cascade)
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 43 - 2011 (IPA Hopped With Bravo, Chinook And Cascade)Scratch Beer 43 - 2011 (IPA Hopped With Bravo, Chinook And Cascade)
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 6.92%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
45
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 12, 2019
Added:
Mar 24, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
We are still playing with IPAs because hops make us very happy. An American-style IPA, coming in at 85 IBUs and generously hopped with Bravo, Chinook, and Cascade varieties.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by stakem:
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.66/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle care of wishuwerebeer, thanks Bryan.

Poured into a pint glass, this brew appears a very hazed golden yellow color with a finger of fluffy white head that is composed of rather large bubbles. This scratch IPA obviously does not follow the theme that the past 4 scratch ipas were on. Whereas the others appeared to have a polished clarity, this one is very hazed from a careful pour that even left a bunch of sediment still in the bottle. The particulate is rather large and gets stuck hanging in suspension while bubbles slowly rise to the surface in support of the creamy head. The head has some pretty good retention, as it recedes, it leaves a webbing of lace work on the glass.

The aroma of this brew is fruity and fresh with hops displaying a distinct scent of citrus meets more fruits which are quite pear-like in character. It is lightly grassy and herbal as well with each additional whiff. There is a light bready grain character to the back of the smell that brings this all together with a little bit of a sweetness to the smell. As it warms and the glass is swirled, it brings out a bit of a sulfur scent that initially was quite hidden by the hops. The warmer the brew gets, the more unavoidable the smell of sulfur becomes.

The taste of this brew is very grassy and herbal. The hop bite is lightly spicy and pierces the taste buds with a lasting sharp bitterness that gets a bit rindy. There is a very minimal biscuit like grain flavor that hardly produces any contrasting sweetness and lingers with a light bready taste inside the mouth. As I enter the second half of my glass the alcohol is finally starting to come through and make itself known accenting that pear-like fruit flavor hidden beneath the citrus and herbal aspect of the hops.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. At times this brew seems a little watery and thin. As the experience continues, the 7% abv starts to make itself known with warmth down the back of the throat. The finish of this brew is crisp and overall, easy drinking. I could see myself easily throwing down a few of these as the weather gets warmer. This ipa as well as the lineup of previous 4 in a row all have this common bond of pear-like notes in the aroma and flavor that is slightly off to me. In previous reviews I kept referring to it as the yeast, im not 100% certain that is it or not but if that was the same factor in all 5 scratch ipas id love to see them mix it up with a new strain in a future batch.
Mar 25, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.35 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Sep 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by prdstmnky from Vermont

Jun 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 23, 2013
Photo of Vonerichs
Reviewed by Vonerichs from Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is an older ipa, so take this review for what it's worth...

Clear straw color, nearing gold. Average sized white head that leaves spotty lacing.

Floral perfume notes in the scent with a bready malt backbone.

The dominant hops are floral with a dash of orange. It's pleasantly bitter with dry finish.

The mouthfeel is a little chalky and dry with decent carbonation.

A decent IPA that I wish I would have had fresh.
May 23, 2012
Photo of FeDUBBELFIST
Reviewed by FeDUBBELFIST from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Draft pour into a pint glass. Sampled 7/22/11. [Yikes. Didn't realize Scratch 43 was first released 4 MONTHS ago. Why the fuck did a local bar sit on this for so long?]

A: One finger of foamy snow white head with good staying power - and plenty of rushing bubbles to keep it afloat. Relentless. The body is clear and golden yellow in color. A healthy amount of lacing is left behind.

S: Nice hop intensity for being so old. Some citrus probably faded as the piney and floral notes stand out a little more. As the beer warms, however, grapefruit and citrus aromas begin to pull through.

T: Nothing stands out flavor-wise but pretty solid on the palate. The ABV wasn't listed on the menu but my guess was 6.5% (BA says 6.7 and early reviews quote as high as 7% ABV).

M: Standout characteristic of the beer. Aggressive bubbles keep the mouthfeel lively and add to the dry, timely finish.

O: Decent - even at 4 months.
Jan 11, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Exiled from Texas

Nov 25, 2011
Photo of Mora2000
Reviewed by Mora2000 from Texas

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Exiled for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a yellow color with a white head. The aroma is full of tropical fruit with some grass from the hops mixed in. I get a lot of papaya and pineapple notes, as well as some biscuit malt.

The flavor is more of the same. The orange, pineapple and mango notes really stand out, as does a little bit of grass. The biscuit malt is also present and keeps the bitterness fairly low, even though there is a lot of hop flavor.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
Nov 17, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Lawnboy33 from Massachusetts

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of AgentZero
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A - Slightly cloudy amber colored beer with a finger of head that left some moderate lacing on my glass.

S - Not a ton of hops on this, actually get some sweet pale malts and banana. Not bad, just unexpected.

T - Some citrus, a little sourness, pale malts, little bittering hops presence. This is fairly easy to drink, although it seems to have some sort of metallic ting to it.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O - Another fairly forgettable Scratch series beer. Wasn't bad, wasn't good, just kind of there.
Oct 21, 2011
Photo of JoeyBeerBelly
Reviewed by JoeyBeerBelly from New York

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I got this beer from StormKing47. Thanks Josh!

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - hazed golden yellow color with a fluffy white head that had staying power and left a few globs behind.

S - the aroma is earthy, dirty citrus rind.

T - some earthy flavors upfront with a bunch of tart bitterness finishing things off.

F - medium bodied with mild carbonation.

O - not for everyone but a slow sipping beer that sort of grows on you.
Sep 03, 2011
Photo of grover37
Reviewed by grover37 from District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On draft at Churchkey. May 2011. From notes.

Appearance (4): Light gold with straw edges. Off white, one-inch head which reduces to a patch. Heavy lacing at the top but not much elsewhere.

Smell (3.5): Spicy and pine or spruce. Light lemon with a touch of passion fruit. A bit toasty but no crystal.

Taste (4): Slightly bitter. Lemon, pine, and grapefruit. Bitter through the middle with spruce and citrus. Really bitter finish with a lingering citrus flavor.

Mouthfeel (4.5): Coating and dry. Light to medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Fruity and tongue drying.

Overall (4): Pretty good IPA that stands out for its uniqueness. Almost belgian-esque as it is nice and dry.
Sep 01, 2011
Photo of bigfnjoe
Reviewed by bigfnjoe from Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the Drafting Room

A- pours a cloudy shade of gold with a two finger one head. Looks real good

S- the aroma is of citrus, though it's very weak

T- getting a lot of citrus and pine out of this one. It starts off pretty sweet, and the finish is bitter

M- nothing special, par for the course

O- very drinkable, but might be a little too sweet
Jul 25, 2011
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cheers to OWSELY069 for this one
Troegs Scratch Beer #43 - India Pale Ale

Appearance: Bright straw with a chill haze, huge pillowy froth with excellent retention. Sporadic lacing.

Smell: Very mild nose, a whiff of delicate hops, slightly herbal. Bready malts are about all else that stick out.

Taste: Quite nice, hops come out of nowhere in comparison to the nose. Solidly bitter, which lasts the duration of the experience. Hops come off herbal, earthy, and medicinal with a touch of aspirin being noted. Mild grapefruit rind. Alittle tea like in the finish. The IBUs on this sucker have to be in the 90+ range.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied. Strongly carbonated, finishes clean.

Overall: Body so light, and hop profile somewhat noble, leaving a hopped up pilsner like impression. If you asked me, I think the bittering hops used are distinctly American, with alittle German influence, Im picking up Hallertau as well. A good option if Troegs is looking at unveiling an IPA into their regular lineup.
Jun 20, 2011
Photo of vande
Reviewed by vande from Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
1st beer post Warrior Dash [not counting the free Coors light..]

A ~ a bright, golden yellow...somewhat murky looking with very little lacing the glass

S ~ light hints of floralness, pineapple, resiney...some piney hops...

T ~ grapefruit, a quick bitter bite on the back...kinda tart-like... refreshing ipa

M ~ smooth and creamy....goes down easy...my body needed this one :)

0 ~ pretty good. I've enjoyed several different brews from Troegs and this one's quality is right up there with the rest!
Jun 18, 2011
Photo of afksports
Reviewed by afksports from New York

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured out this glass while sitting down to read Game of Thrones, which - if you haven't heard - is the best book and show ever. Can't wait for tonight's episode!

That said, this beer looks great. Troegs Scratch 43 IPA has a sexy fluffy head, clings all over the glass, and it's only drawback is that it's almost a straw color. It's a very light IPA, and not clear either, so it's somewhat confusing. Looks like a pilsener.

The smell of it is a bit indistinct, malted barley and... sand? I'm getting some seawater, some light bready notes, and floral notes from the hops. Not too much citrus to speak of as I would have expected. The taste follows suit, with everything being very lightly pronounced. Floral hops give way into pale malt, and a crisp finish dries a bit, but remains drinkable. Now I get the light appearance. This is a light beer. It reminds me of Sweetwater IPA.

The only drawback of it being so light is that it's 6.7%, so maybe it shouldn't be that light. Maybe it should say "hey guy, take it easy there. Don't drink 6 of me."

Which is about what I would do with this IPA if I were going to King's Landing. Or Harrisburg.
Jun 13, 2011
Photo of rfgetz
Reviewed by rfgetz from New Jersey

3.82/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a lightly hazed orang amber color, firm cap of white head, little retention. Very floral nose with touches of grapefruit, very light malts. First sip is quite pungent and bitter, grapefruit dominant, softens into floral notes, malt is very light on this one. Medium bodied, dry and lightly oily. A decent IPA, not overly memorable, but good none the less.
Jun 06, 2011
Photo of ne0m00re
Reviewed by ne0m00re from Ohio

3.17/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Live review of a 12 oz bottle courtesy a generous trader.
A: Slightly cloudy amber with constant bubbles and a solid one-finger white head with lacing.
S: Citrus peels and wheat with yeast, honey and bananas; not very powerful, but pleasant. This smells more like a pale ale than an IPA.
T: Again, a relatively mild flavor with a metallic and citric bitterness like orange peels. It is nearly dry in the finish, with almost an astringency and a kind of aged cheese character. All right.
M: Moderate body with a frothy carbonation and a metallic crispness on the finish.
O: OK. I was expecting much more from a one-off IPA. It is mostly bitter with little hops flavor and aroma.
Jun 03, 2011
Scratch Beer 43 - 2011 (IPA Hopped With Bravo, Chinook And Cascade) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 45 ratings