Scratch Beer 20 - 2009 (Apollo Imperial Ale)
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 20 - 2009 (Apollo Imperial Ale)Scratch Beer 20 - 2009 (Apollo Imperial Ale)
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 11.27%
Reviews:
57
Ratings:
64
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 12, 2015
Added:
Jun 18, 2009
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  0
Scratch #20 has been dubbed Apollo Imperial Ale because of our experimentation with a new hop variety. Apollo hops are high alpha acid with an intense aroma. Married with other high alpha hops, with almost two pounds of hops added per barrel produced, AIA has an intense staying power in the back of the throat. After a long discussion between Chris, John and the brewers, they dubbed this hop flavor stinky grapefruit with a hint of perfume. The dark color might lead you to believe the some malt may shine through; but no, the hops are the true player in this ale. Scratch #20 serves a dual purpose since it will also appear as The Drafting Room’s Anniversary Ale for 2009. We brewed a bit more to serve the brewery and The Drafting Room, but get it while you can.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by John_M:
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.71/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On cask at TDR today. Some IPA's are better on gas then cask, some are better out of the cask. This is not one of those beers.

The beer pours a striking amber color with very good head retention and lacing. The beer looks really, really good, but after that things seem to fall apart. I don't get a lot on the nose, just some pepper, cardboard and light malt. Flavors on the palate replicate the nose unfortunately, with the beer showing none of the bright, fruity hoppiness it shows on the gas. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and drinkability is OK. The beer is fairly smooth on the palate from the cask conditioning, but it really loses some of the lovely hopppy, bitterness one gets on the gas. Still a nice beer, but this beer is so much better on CO2. Oh well...
Aug 15, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.69 by dental from Massachusetts

Nov 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 04, 2013
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

3.06/5  rDev -25%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
First and foremost, this rating is based on how this one is drinking right now, not in the past.

Another old Scratch Beer ticked off the list. Yet again, big thanks to Deuane for giving me one of these to try.

A - Pours murky burnt orange with a decent one finger tall white head, dissipating down to a thin film, leaving very light lace down the glass.

S - Smells of intense caramel, toffee and brown sugar sweetness throughout. Some hints of faded citric hops and fruit creep in at times but this one is all sweetness now. A surprising amount of alcohol is still present.

T - Starts off with a ton of sweetness - flavors are similar to the nose - slowly giving way to hints of toasted bread, some minerals and the faintest hints of hop bitterness. Finish retains quite a bit of sweetness and the booze creeps in at the end of each sip, lingering on the pallet long after the finish. Those hops are long gone in this one.

M - Medium body with lots of sweet flavors and moderate carbonation. The booze is still surprisingly strong for being almost three years old.

O - This one is obviously past its prime but it isn't undrinkable. Glad I got to try it but if you have one of these sitting around it isn't getting any better, drink it sooner rather than later.
May 02, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by augie from Pennsylvania

Mar 22, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Khazadum from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by sideshowe from Pennsylvania

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.38/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Greg for this one.

A: The beer pours an amber in color with a finger of off-white head.

S: Not too much intensity left to the hop character. A bit of sweet pineapple aroma and some brown sugar and caramel malts. Light citrus notes in the background, as well as a light pine.

T: The flavor leans toward the sweet side with plenty of bread and caramel. Bitter pine and light grass qualities. Not much of the tropical fruit/pineapple that I picked up on the nose. Also not quite as enjoyable as the nose.

M: Medium in body with a medium level of carbonation.

O: Hasn't held up very well, unfortunately.
Jun 16, 2011
Photo of Buebie
Reviewed by Buebie from Minnesota

4.32/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Forgot about this one in the back of the fridge behind some moldy unidentifiable tupper wear item.

Semi rigorous pour, being careful not to allow the bottle chunks to creep into the glass...although not completely successful.
Color is a hazey pale amber. an inch of tan head. Slow to recede, leaving assorted bubble islands and thin, yet sticky lace coverage.
Buttery sweet aroma, juicy malt and hops still going strong. I smells like beer candy.

Large dose of malt in flavor, following the buttery sweet aroma lines. Hops provide a strong presence with pine and hempy bitters. I cant imagine what this would have been like fresh. Mild warming. Sweetness in kept in check midway through as hops begin to dominate. Yet it finishes fairly clean with a pairing of malt and hops lingering, a little dry.
Crisp clean mouthfeel.
Amazing brew for sure.
Oct 27, 2010
Photo of mikey711
Reviewed by mikey711 from New Jersey

3.31/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: A cloudy dark caramel, near brown with a qauter inch of foamy white head. Good lacing left behind

S: A slight soapy hop aroma, no bitterness or citrus notes. A decent amount of caramel malt sweetness in the background

T: Mostly caramel malt sweetness with only a touch of hops in the background. It is not totally offensive but not really what i am looking for in a DIPA

M: A very nice creaminess and body. No heat or harsh tones

D: I would have liked to try this one a bit fresher as the hops are non existant.
Feb 04, 2010
Photo of Gyle41386
Reviewed by Gyle41386 from South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bottle into a tulip. Thanks, ffejherb!

Orange-amber pour with a finger of off-white foam. Retention is good and sticks nicely.

Sweet caramel malt and citric hop aroma. The citric component smells mostly like orange.

Sweet malty flavor up front transitions into a very pleasant bittering hop kick.

Medium body. Soft carbonation makes for a very smooth drinker. Not overly bitter, so it's a very easy drinker. Nice East Coast DIPA.
Jan 30, 2010
Photo of Wasatch
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks goes out to Hophead101 for this brew.

Pours a nice cloudy golden amberish color, nice carbonation, very nice thick/creamy one-finger off-white head, with some very nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, with a nice malt balance, slight citrus note, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, hoppy, nice little malt note, with some citrus, caramel. Medium body, the finish is slightly bitter/dry. Drinkable, this is a very nice IPA, glad to have gotten a chance to try it.
Jan 10, 2010
Photo of portia99
Reviewed by portia99 from Massachusetts

4.17/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle received in trade with tanger. Thanks! Poured into a Bruery tulip.

A - Pours a yeasty orange color with a skim coat of cream colored foam which falls immediately to just a nice collar with a hint of lacing left behind as the beer level descends into the bottom of the glass. Lots of particles in suspension in this beer. Note: it was a pretty vigorous pour with no regard to leaving yeast in the bottom of the bottle.

S - Hoppy - citrusy mainly with some grassiness and tropical fruitiness. Some sweet malt in the background to round things out, caramel, yeastiness.

T - Taste follows the aroma with a little more dimension. Lots of hop flavor and character. Hops are spicy, citrusy and fruity. Grapefruit, oranges, mangos, pineapple. A good bitter bite - sharp and crisp. Caramel and sweet malt keep this beer balanced - although solidly on the hops side. Very good.

M - Full bodied, firm and thick on the tongue. Carbonation is medium, a bit higher than typical for a DIPA, but works for me in this one. Helps push the bitterness to the forefront. Flavors fill the mouth as malty aspects coat the mouth and carry the bitter hops with it. Leaves a tingly feeling in the mouth after the swallow.

D - Only 7% alcohol...not very high for an imperial. Doesn't make it's presence known in the flavor either. Tons of hop flavor and plenty of malt to balance. Very nice DIPA. More balanced than most west coast examples of this style, which I love, but this one stands up on its own apart from that model. Too bad this one is limited. Could go for more of this one.
Jan 09, 2010
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4.42/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Acquired from mikereaser courtesy of the Local Goods BIF, so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep golden brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malts, floral hops and fruity citrus.

T: The taste is very nicely balanced and starts with sweet flavors of caramel and citrus. There's a good strong but not over-powering hops bitterness that comes in next along with a hearty malt character. The after-taste is slightly sweet. It seems a lot like a less hoppy Nugget Nectar.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a very good beer that is worth drinking for a whole evening.
Dec 28, 2009
Photo of rye726
Reviewed by rye726 from Colorado

4.21/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy brown with tints of amber. Silky beige head displays very nice retention and a sticky lace.

Nose has citrus and piney hops over sweet malts, caramel and toffee.

Taste has fruity hops up front followed by bready malts and carmelized candies.

Medium body is nicely carbonated. Tasty stuff, a bit bit stale, but still drinks well.
Nov 29, 2009
Photo of RonfromJersey
Reviewed by RonfromJersey from New Jersey

4.42/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Hazy dark orange body, topped by four fingers of off-white level foam.

Aggressive pine aroma, with some grapefruit and caamel in the mix.

Rich caramel base foundation. Bitter, earthy, and juicy hops arise and tingle.

Firm full mouthfeel, almost chewy.

Drinkable? Had a case and want more.

Another hoppy gem from Harrisburg.
Nov 23, 2009
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to SkinnyElvis for this one.

A: Pours your standard DIPA golden orange. Nice tall creamy white head. Good retention and some lace.

S: Tons and tons of pine in the aroma, subtle caramel and a touch of biscuit malt. Mostly resinous pine though.

T: Pine up front nice and sweet when paired with the malt. Cutting citrus pushes through in the center. The center has a touch of floral hops and a bit of soap.

M: On the fuller side of medium. Very thick on the tongue.

D: Not too bad. Worth a try for sure.
Oct 31, 2009
Photo of number1bum
Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Entered this review last week but it was lost in the recent server crash. Trying to recreate as best I can. Got this one from krisandajt. Thank you Joe!

Pour was a very cloudy amber color; definitley unfiltered. Good retention and stick.

Smell was full of grapefruit pith and earthy, "dirty" hops. Stick, sappy, and somewhat stinky. Very resiny.

Flavor was like the smell. Somewhat "dirty" hop flavor, very earthy, sticky pine, grapefruit pith. Good bitterness. Some nice sweetness to balance. Not an overwhelming DIPA in terms of hoppiness, but nice balance and a nice hop bill.

Mouthfeel was very oily and creamy; very smooth on the palate. This was a very tasty and very drinkable DIPA. Another good one from the Scratch series.
Oct 30, 2009
Scratch Beer 20 - 2009 (Apollo Imperial Ale) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 64 ratings