717 Collaboration Ale (2015)
Tröegs Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

I apologize for taking so long to review this one! It really should be retired by now & I will send an update to recommend such action. I had some during the inaugural Harrisburg Beer Week and I was not, shall we say, impressed. Too many moving parts? Too many cooks? Too too? Je ne sais pas, but I do know that as an AIPA, it was wholly lacking initially. I CAN only hope that it has improved with the passage of time.

From the Crown CAN: "Some of the brightest ideas have come to fruition when friends share stories and a few laughs over a beer. Whether Central PA natives or transplants, we've been brought together in the (717) with one common goal - to brew great beer among great company. (717) Collaboration Ale bleands the dry-hopped characteristics of an IPA with the sweetness of local honey, saison yeast and a hint of tartness. The vibrant aroma and bone dry finish come straight from the hearts and minds of Tröegs Brewing Company, Appalachian Brewing Company and Pizza Boy Brewing Company."; "[Undersigned] Terry Hawbaker Brewmaster Pizza Boy Brewing Co.[;] John Trogner Brewmaster/Co-owner Tröegs Brewing Co.[;] Artie Tafoya Brewmaster/Director of Operations Appalachian Brewing Co."

I proudly Crack!ed that CAN open as a life-long resident of the 717, but knowing its age, a gentle Glug was in order. A swirl in the glass raised a finger of foamy, tawny head with decent retention. Color was Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9) with NE-quality clarity. Nose held the same musty, saison-like scent that it did initially. Why did they do this? It really detracts from the beer & especially when they call it an AIPA! Maybe as a Belgian/White IPA, but even then, I have had far better examples. It just smells like old newspaper from the attic. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was tart, kind of grapefruity, but with an odd tang that was also inappropriate for the style. There was also a CANdy-like quality that put me in mind of Sour Patch gummies. Ugh. Finish was dry, tart, tangy, but nothing like an AIPA. I know and respect all of the collaborators, but this was just not making it for me.

 

 

I don't agree with the classification of this being an "American ipa".... tart, sweet, tangy-bitter, musty.... definitely some hops but not an ipa... 'course, it might just be old, too.... but, with that being said, the can does state it is "tart" and uses "all natural ingredients" so i believe they knew what they are doing and this is what they tried to create. and it really does taste pretty good when you know what you're expecting. so how does it classify?

 

 

 

 

This one was just ok for me. The balance seemed a little off and was a little too bitter for me. I got some nice hop character on the nose, but didn't get a lot of the fruitness and juiciness on the drink.

 

Interesting taste, just not sure it's my style. A well made beer.

 

 

 

 

9/5...brewery draft. Bright gold, low foam, active bubbles. Pine and grapefruit notes. Malty base and a hoppy grapefruit surround. Smooth feel. Tangy and bitter finish. Tasty and well balanced.

 

 

Appearance: golden yellow - orange in color with a nice 1" head.

Smell: citrus and some sour funk rises from the glass .

Taste: caramel, lemon zest, some earthy tones, some spiciness and a bit of funk is balanced with some hearty bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp from start to finish with a long lasting aftertaste.

Overall: this is a slower sipping IPA that is definitely unique.

 

 

 

Rich yellow, leaning more toward a clear but still has a little haze. Smell is oranges and other similar citrus. Slight barnyard funk with sweet honey at the end. Taste is again honey, reminds me of the clover flavored honey sticks you can get at most apple orchards. A little stickiness on the feel, a bit too sweet. Good end of summer beer.

 

I wonder if this beer is maturing.... I get a musty aroma. Like a damp cellar full of overripe fruit must. Fruity funky aroma follows through to the taste that is juicy, honeysuckle and ripe stone fruit. I feel like the hops, although there with a peachy , floral bouquet, have taken a back seat to a growing funk in this candied sweet bready malt and spicy yeast cocktail.

I think what may be misleading is the American IPA classification ... this is a funky hoppy saison / vienna lager hybrid (albeit assumedly without any lagering....). I bet this one is brewed with Vienna malt and a unique, mild strain of Brett... perhaps Brett B Trois. in addition to the saison yeast. The honey adds a residual richness to the hops and malt that makes this beer slick, flavorful and complex.

As a Troegs fan I am enjoying the influence of this collaboration. Perhaps my rating is a bit inflated due to my enthusiasm for the direction of where this beer is going, but I gotta say ... I dig it!

 

 

 

On tap at the Tröegs brewery, it pours hazy gold color with a 2 finger foamy off white head that faded slowly and left really nice foamy lacing coating the sides and rings as it went down.

Smells of sweet malt, caramel, biscuit, light brown sugar, floral hops, vegetables, cereal, yeast and a lager like sweetness that's less IPA and more ale or lager. Surprisingly tame nose for a Tröegs IPA, but the honey comes out after a while as well as the yeast. Nice twist on the style.

Tastes like it smells with sweet malt, caramel, biscuit, light brown sugar, yeast, floral hops, honey, cereal, Razzles or Tums, syrup and a lager like sweetness which has the chalky yeast essence. Not your typical IPA with the sweetness bending the style but a nice effort that's pretty tasty.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and almost creamy to watery, with very mild carbonation, a medium body and a slightly tart feel with the honey and yeast coming out at the end with a slight hop bitterness. Nice finish for a nice experimental IPA.

 

An IPA with a saison yeast, what's not to like? A great idea if you ask me but this one didn't work. I had it on draft at Troegs on Aug 6 and saw cans there that had a best by date of Aug 15. Perhaps better when fresh, but was disappointed with this.