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
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 834 | Reviews: 156
4.24/5 rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.5/5 rDev +26.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Draught. Always awesome.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Draught. Always awesome.
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3.57/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Unusual bottle conditioned ale with a reddish brown hue. Unfiltered with a fruity, flowery aroma. Taste is unique for this style: light malt and fruit with a mild hop finish. Overall very drinkable and pleasant. As is usual for US craft beers, is is somewhat over hopped, IMO, with an IBU of 28.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Unusual bottle conditioned ale with a reddish brown hue. Unfiltered with a fruity, flowery aroma. Taste is unique for this style: light malt and fruit with a mild hop finish. Overall very drinkable and pleasant. As is usual for US craft beers, is is somewhat over hopped, IMO, with an IBU of 28.
296 characters
3.59/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.38/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured with the yeast mixed in as recommended on the bottle. Dark honey, golden brown in color, very hazy with lots of flecks of yeast (as expected given the mixing). Not much of a head, but leaves some light lacing on the sides. The aromas are rather mild, some yeastiness, biscuits and crackers with a touch of sharpness. The taste is also pretty mild, but not in a bad way. It follows the nose with a light touch of caramel and faint earthiness. Light, but adequate carbonation, medium-bodied. Nothing jumps out about this beer, but everything fits together and it is very easy and satisfying to drink.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured with the yeast mixed in as recommended on the bottle. Dark honey, golden brown in color, very hazy with lots of flecks of yeast (as expected given the mixing). Not much of a head, but leaves some light lacing on the sides. The aromas are rather mild, some yeastiness, biscuits and crackers with a touch of sharpness. The taste is also pretty mild, but not in a bad way. It follows the nose with a light touch of caramel and faint earthiness. Light, but adequate carbonation, medium-bodied. Nothing jumps out about this beer, but everything fits together and it is very easy and satisfying to drink.
611 characters
4.54/5 rDev +27.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.82/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.81/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on draft at The New American Grill in Londonderry VT.
This is a classic. I remember first having it when I had just turned 21 visiting VT with my family. This was before the huge VT IPA craze, and something this balanced and malty hit the spot after a long day out in the snow. I can safely say it still lives up to that description. Excellent beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on draft at The New American Grill in Londonderry VT.
This is a classic. I remember first having it when I had just turned 21 visiting VT with my family. This was before the huge VT IPA craze, and something this balanced and malty hit the spot after a long day out in the snow. I can safely say it still lives up to that description. Excellent beer.
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3.78/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a turbid pale orange with a fizzy white head that dissipates quickly and leaves minimal lacing. Although the head is disappointing, the haziness of this brew gives it a rather refined appearance, much like the brews made by Tree House and Trillium breweries. Mostly mild malts and a little hoppiness on the nose. Not much to report on that front... Taste is an enjoyable combination between barley malts, oats, citric hops, and a faint herbal bitterness. Solid mouthfeel, but the finish is a tad too bitter. While not my favorite beer, this is a classic go-to when I'm in Vermont since it's just so damn cheap ($3.50/bomber) while also being very drinkable and local.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a turbid pale orange with a fizzy white head that dissipates quickly and leaves minimal lacing. Although the head is disappointing, the haziness of this brew gives it a rather refined appearance, much like the brews made by Tree House and Trillium breweries. Mostly mild malts and a little hoppiness on the nose. Not much to report on that front... Taste is an enjoyable combination between barley malts, oats, citric hops, and a faint herbal bitterness. Solid mouthfeel, but the finish is a tad too bitter. While not my favorite beer, this is a classic go-to when I'm in Vermont since it's just so damn cheap ($3.50/bomber) while also being very drinkable and local.
673 characters
3.88/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Enjoyed dozens of times on draft and in bottles.
A nice medium amber color with low head that drops off.
Aromas are a lot of maltiness, caramel with low level hops in background.
Flavors are in line here too. Balanced.
Mouthfeel is soft and nice.
Overall, Switchback is a great Amber Ale.
288 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Enjoyed dozens of times on draft and in bottles.
A nice medium amber color with low head that drops off.
Aromas are a lot of maltiness, caramel with low level hops in background.
Flavors are in line here too. Balanced.
Mouthfeel is soft and nice.
Overall, Switchback is a great Amber Ale.
288 characters
4.07/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a dark hazy gold with a 1/2" head that quickly dissipated. Noticed a small amount of yeast residue at the bottom of the bottle. Clean crisp smell with a faint hoppy odor. Very refreshing taste with a slight bitterness. Went down smooth with a pleasant aftertaste. Good every day drinking beer. Enjoyed it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a dark hazy gold with a 1/2" head that quickly dissipated. Noticed a small amount of yeast residue at the bottom of the bottle. Clean crisp smell with a faint hoppy odor. Very refreshing taste with a slight bitterness. Went down smooth with a pleasant aftertaste. Good every day drinking beer. Enjoyed it.
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3.72/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes. Consumed 7/27/16. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a Cigar City goblet.
A: Pours a hazy golden amber, with a thin off-white ring of foam. Has fairly low visible carbonation, and some chunky floaters as well. This isn't a particularly pretty beer.
S: Lightly toasted malts, toffee and light caramel sweetness. Grassy and noble hops. Decent, but not a huge aroma.
T: Toasted malts, grassy and light citrus hops. Biscuity malt sweetness and toffee. There's maybe just a bit of oxidation (cardboard) as well - not terrible, but I don't see any freshness information on the bottle. Some more citrus, herbal, and grassy hops sweet up, and ultimately finishes fairly balanced.
M: Body is a bit on the light side. Fairly low alcohol presence. It seems a bit over-carbonated for style, which accentuates the light body.
O: Not my favorite beer ultimately. It seems to be a decently made, balanced amber ale, and I’m not sure I'd find a lot of overt faults here other than the oxidation (and I can't find any freshness information on the bottle). But it’s a little bland, and does nothing to inspire. It's certainly nothing to seek out, but if there was a keg at a party I’d drink it.
1,206 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes. Consumed 7/27/16. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a Cigar City goblet.
A: Pours a hazy golden amber, with a thin off-white ring of foam. Has fairly low visible carbonation, and some chunky floaters as well. This isn't a particularly pretty beer.
S: Lightly toasted malts, toffee and light caramel sweetness. Grassy and noble hops. Decent, but not a huge aroma.
T: Toasted malts, grassy and light citrus hops. Biscuity malt sweetness and toffee. There's maybe just a bit of oxidation (cardboard) as well - not terrible, but I don't see any freshness information on the bottle. Some more citrus, herbal, and grassy hops sweet up, and ultimately finishes fairly balanced.
M: Body is a bit on the light side. Fairly low alcohol presence. It seems a bit over-carbonated for style, which accentuates the light body.
O: Not my favorite beer ultimately. It seems to be a decently made, balanced amber ale, and I’m not sure I'd find a lot of overt faults here other than the oxidation (and I can't find any freshness information on the bottle). But it’s a little bland, and does nothing to inspire. It's certainly nothing to seek out, but if there was a keg at a party I’d drink it.
1,206 characters
3.4/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Tough review because Switchback Ale is really a good "go-to" brew but comparing to other ales, it's certainly middle-of-the-road. Pours an orange-amber color with lots of leftover yeast (which doesnt bother me but may bother others). Retains a thin head well after the pour. Smell is biscuit & crackers and not a whole lot else. Taste follows the nose but with a faint hint of hops and apricots. Mouthfeel is wonderful and is very drinkable. A go-to ale if you're in that sort of mood.
485 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Tough review because Switchback Ale is really a good "go-to" brew but comparing to other ales, it's certainly middle-of-the-road. Pours an orange-amber color with lots of leftover yeast (which doesnt bother me but may bother others). Retains a thin head well after the pour. Smell is biscuit & crackers and not a whole lot else. Taste follows the nose but with a faint hint of hops and apricots. Mouthfeel is wonderful and is very drinkable. A go-to ale if you're in that sort of mood.
485 characters
3.5/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Switchback Ale from Switchback Brewing Company
3.55
out of 5
based on 834 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75