Switchback Ale | Switchback Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Switchback Brewing Company
Vermont, United States
switchbackvt.com
Style: American Amber / Red Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Switchback Ale (First sold October 22nd, 2002)
Using only traditional ingredients, Switchback Ale is a reddish-amber ale which is particularly well-balanced, allowing for complexity of flavor coupled with an unusually smooth and refreshing character. Five different malts, select hop varieties, and our own specially cultivated yeast create an ale which leads with hop flavors and a subtle impression of fruit (our yeast's contribution), followed by a palate pleasing malty finish. Our own special process uses the yeast to naturally carbonate the beer, and we leave it unfiltered. The result is a satisfying brew full of flavor with a remarkably clean and smooth finish.
Added by kaszeta on 08-06-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 907 | Reviews: 168
3.34/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L - Somewhat hazy apple cider look to it. Tiny white head with no lacing. Some floaties hanging around.
S - Not much to be distinguished here.
T - Not much going on here, either.
F - Fairly smooth with a light body,
O - An okay beer. Didn’t love it or hate it. Props for a cool looking bottle, though.
309 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L - Somewhat hazy apple cider look to it. Tiny white head with no lacing. Some floaties hanging around.
S - Not much to be distinguished here.
T - Not much going on here, either.
F - Fairly smooth with a light body,
O - An okay beer. Didn’t love it or hate it. Props for a cool looking bottle, though.
309 characters
2.99/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
I was kind of disappointed with this ale. Not entirely mind you but slightly. I was expecting given the price and from vermont the home of small breweries would be a tad more complex. But to my and my tastes it as run of the mill ale as ive had elswhere. Its not bad by any means. Just was not what i was expecting. The aroma was standard, taste standard, and feel standard. About as standard as an ale of this style can get. But if that is what your taste buds craves than this is not a bad brew in the least.
510 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
I was kind of disappointed with this ale. Not entirely mind you but slightly. I was expecting given the price and from vermont the home of small breweries would be a tad more complex. But to my and my tastes it as run of the mill ale as ive had elswhere. Its not bad by any means. Just was not what i was expecting. The aroma was standard, taste standard, and feel standard. About as standard as an ale of this style can get. But if that is what your taste buds craves than this is not a bad brew in the least.
510 characters
3.48/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.13/5 rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 Oz bottle poured into glass
Look - copper colored with a generous foam head slow to dissipate. Great lacing on glass
Smell - A Belgian yeast quality to it. There are the general aromas of hops and malt. Smells fresh like a Sierra Nevada and that is a high compliment.
Taste - Interesting, can't really state exactly what it is, there are hints of caramel, honey, grass, some fruity but not citrus hops, and the malt finish. I like it. Not too bitter but that's not the purpose of this. Smooth...
Overall, this is a very good brew. It has lots of flavor, its filling but still drinkable. It's sweet but definitely not too sweet.
I will buy it again, give this beer an A-
673 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 Oz bottle poured into glass
Look - copper colored with a generous foam head slow to dissipate. Great lacing on glass
Smell - A Belgian yeast quality to it. There are the general aromas of hops and malt. Smells fresh like a Sierra Nevada and that is a high compliment.
Taste - Interesting, can't really state exactly what it is, there are hints of caramel, honey, grass, some fruity but not citrus hops, and the malt finish. I like it. Not too bitter but that's not the purpose of this. Smooth...
Overall, this is a very good brew. It has lots of flavor, its filling but still drinkable. It's sweet but definitely not too sweet.
I will buy it again, give this beer an A-
673 characters
3.67/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy look that almost mimics an apple cider. Not too much to gather from the nose. It has a smooth mouthfeel with a slight caramel taste. Pretty straight forward. I would drink it again when my palate is not feeling too adventurous.
232 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy look that almost mimics an apple cider. Not too much to gather from the nose. It has a smooth mouthfeel with a slight caramel taste. Pretty straight forward. I would drink it again when my palate is not feeling too adventurous.
232 characters
3.81/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I guess I was a little disappointing with this ale. It was ok, nothing wrong with it, but nothing that I would make me want it again. Sorry
141 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I guess I was a little disappointing with this ale. It was ok, nothing wrong with it, but nothing that I would make me want it again. Sorry
141 characters
4.34/5 rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Its an ale with taste crystals. Literally that yeast floating around is terrific extra flavor. You have to get over how cloudy and rustic it looks. Tastes great especially fresh off the tap. Definitely loses a little in the bottle. Interested in going and trying it fresh.
272 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Its an ale with taste crystals. Literally that yeast floating around is terrific extra flavor. You have to get over how cloudy and rustic it looks. Tastes great especially fresh off the tap. Definitely loses a little in the bottle. Interested in going and trying it fresh.
272 characters
4.02/5 rDev +12%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.74/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I tried this at Mews Tavern in Rhode Island. It poured a clear orangish with white head that left a spotty lace. The scent had hop hints that included some citrus flare. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with some fruit notes present. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a solid beer.
335 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I tried this at Mews Tavern in Rhode Island. It poured a clear orangish with white head that left a spotty lace. The scent had hop hints that included some citrus flare. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with some fruit notes present. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a solid beer.
335 characters
3.58/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This red ale pours a murky medium brown color with a slight red tint and some sediment. There is a small white head that dissipates quickly. The smell is of grain and caramel primarily. The taste is the same with kind of a weird mild citrus and very slight piney bitterness in the finish. The body is medium. This is a pretty standard malt forward red ale with a very slightly off flavor. Not much else to say.
410 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This red ale pours a murky medium brown color with a slight red tint and some sediment. There is a small white head that dissipates quickly. The smell is of grain and caramel primarily. The taste is the same with kind of a weird mild citrus and very slight piney bitterness in the finish. The body is medium. This is a pretty standard malt forward red ale with a very slightly off flavor. Not much else to say.
410 characters
3/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Labeled as difficult to fit into a single style, it's most similar to an amber ale. That tells you all you need to know unfortunately.
134 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Labeled as difficult to fit into a single style, it's most similar to an amber ale. That tells you all you need to know unfortunately.
134 characters
3.24/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.32/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A bit unbalanced but it gets better as it warms up.
51 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A bit unbalanced but it gets better as it warms up.
51 characters
3.58/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Served on tap into a 16 oz (473 ml) Libbey can shaped beer glass at Red Heat Tavern in Bedford, Massachusetts.
A: Pours a murky, amber to light copper color with a minimal short lived head, but rings of solid lacing.
S: Aromas grassy and grainy, almost like a Pilsner, with a strong peppery note.
T: The caramel malt backbone is the most identifiable element. Hard to characterize other flavors, although present. Perhaps a bit grainy. The bitterness serves to cancel any sweetness subtly.
M: Light-bodied with good carbonation. Clean finished
O: Enjoyable without being a stand out Amber Ale. Likely good with any food pairing. Had it with batter fried haddock which it complemented nicely.
699 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Served on tap into a 16 oz (473 ml) Libbey can shaped beer glass at Red Heat Tavern in Bedford, Massachusetts.
A: Pours a murky, amber to light copper color with a minimal short lived head, but rings of solid lacing.
S: Aromas grassy and grainy, almost like a Pilsner, with a strong peppery note.
T: The caramel malt backbone is the most identifiable element. Hard to characterize other flavors, although present. Perhaps a bit grainy. The bitterness serves to cancel any sweetness subtly.
M: Light-bodied with good carbonation. Clean finished
O: Enjoyable without being a stand out Amber Ale. Likely good with any food pairing. Had it with batter fried haddock which it complemented nicely.
699 characters
3.44/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.77/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Switchback Ale from Switchback Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.59 out of
5 with
907 ratings
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