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: 855 | Reviews: 157
2.25/5 rDev -36.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
3.69/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.17/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.73/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2.99/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.65/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +5.6%
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
3.84/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.42/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a becher pint glass, the appearance was a semi-rugged dark amber color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off at a moderate pace. Messy sliding lace, somewhat in rings.
The aroma had a thick smooth malty rich caramel/toffee blend to some butterscotch and bready/biscuit notes. Light honey then touched by a light earthy to grassy hoppiness.
The flavor moderately blended the maltiness to the hops. And honestly for every time I've ever had this beer, it has always been malty but with a superior cleanliness about it. Aftertaste was superb with the malts.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied with a good sessionability about it. Carbonation felt good. ABV felt appropriate. Malty smoothness does cling to my tongue stealthily but not overbearing nor cloying.
Overall, it's always treat to have in the great state of Vermont and always wonderful to have with some spicy foods too. Probably why Two Loco Guys keeps this on tap in Barre at all times for their stellar burritos.
1,006 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a becher pint glass, the appearance was a semi-rugged dark amber color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off at a moderate pace. Messy sliding lace, somewhat in rings.
The aroma had a thick smooth malty rich caramel/toffee blend to some butterscotch and bready/biscuit notes. Light honey then touched by a light earthy to grassy hoppiness.
The flavor moderately blended the maltiness to the hops. And honestly for every time I've ever had this beer, it has always been malty but with a superior cleanliness about it. Aftertaste was superb with the malts.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied with a good sessionability about it. Carbonation felt good. ABV felt appropriate. Malty smoothness does cling to my tongue stealthily but not overbearing nor cloying.
Overall, it's always treat to have in the great state of Vermont and always wonderful to have with some spicy foods too. Probably why Two Loco Guys keeps this on tap in Barre at all times for their stellar burritos.
1,006 characters
3.52/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.43/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.91/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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.
24 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Draught. Always awesome.
24 characters
Switchback Ale from Switchback Brewing Company
3.55
out of 5
based on 855 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25