Scratch Beer 28 - 2010 (Troggen Roggen)
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 28 - 2010 (Troggen Roggen)Scratch Beer 28 - 2010 (Troggen Roggen)
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Roggenbier
ABV:
6.1%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 8.86%
Reviews:
71
Ratings:
75
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 25, 2016
Added:
Mar 24, 2010
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  2
For Scratch #28, the Tröegs team decided to brew a beer to celebrate the early spring weather. The resulting brew is a take on the Roggenbier style—an uncommon German ale brewed with a portion of rye malt and a weizenbier yeast strain. Scratch #28 is loosely based on our own Dreamweaver Wheat beer recipe, but with several significant changes. First, rye malt makes up 25% of the malt bill, replacing a portion of white wheat. Malted rye gives the Troggen Roggen a spiciness, creamy mouth feel, and fantastic head retention properties. Second, lightly toasted Munich and Vienna malts contribute color and a pleasant breadiness. The Andechs Weizen yeast strain offers a clove and banana profile slightly different from our house weizen strain, and the addition of Hersbrucker and Crystal hops in the hopback give a spicy and lightly citrus end-note to the beer. As always, malted wheat gives the beer a tasty doughy flavor and thirst-quenching tartness. Unfiltered, the Troggen Roggen is a cloudy amber-orange brew meant to be drunk fresh, and in warm weather. Tröegs wheat beer fans, you’re on notice!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by younger35:
Photo of younger35
Reviewed by younger35 from Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks much from StormKing47 & Stakem for generously sending a bottle of this my way. Drank from my Surly AHA Tally pint glass while grilling and listening to TOOL.

Appearance- Pours a super hazy yellowish orange with a nice one fingered bright white head. A pretty decent cap and collar remain but unfortunately not any lacing.
Smell- Smells pretty much just like you'd expect a Hef to smell. Lightly spicy from the rye with a yeasty clove spice as well. Lots of banana and and bubblegum from the crazy Weizen yeast. A bit doughy and raw with perhaps the lightest touch of citrus.
Taste- Starts pretty doughy and raw with a fairly prominent wheat base. The yeast plays second fiddle surprisingly as the clove and banana are pretty light. The rye doesn't seem too crazy either as the beer finishes lightly dry and fruity. A bit of banana lingers and lingers.
Mouthfeel- Pretty stout body with a nice rich thickness and light spritzy carbonation.
Drinkability- Not bad I guess but it's pretty much just a subdued Hef. A light bit of rye does add a touch of bitter/spice but that's about it. Pretty decent, thanks much gents!
Sep 24, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.41/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Found myself really digging the appearance of a day glow orange much like a studly ipa on this one, ample 3/5" head. Aroma imparted way more spice rack than rye, here comes the coriander, banana bread feels.

Taste still didn't drop the rye on you, it did come off like a weizenbock/hefeweizen more than a roggenbier. So much of those belgian yeast feels in here.

Glad to try, but this isn't a type of beer where I could see drinking a 6 pack or whatnot.
Apr 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 04, 2013
Photo of homebrew311
Reviewed by homebrew311 from Illinois

3.42/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Reviewed from notes of a previous tasting.

Appearance is reddish orange with virtually zero head. S\The appearance is somewhat hazy. The nose is absolutely stuff with rye. I have tried a lot of rye beers in my day, but this is rye on a whole different level. Features a bready and spicy character that has an earthy component with it. Notes of lemon syrup in there as well. The taste starts with mild citrus and a touch of sweetness, the flavors are reminiscent of an herbal tea with the added ingredient of none other than rye. This has a pretty light body and very low carbonation. Overall, this tastes like hefeweizen that was flooded with rye. It makes for an interesting flavor profile but I can't say it's my favorite.
Jan 30, 2013
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.55/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle into a medium-sized Duvel tulip. Style tick #102/104!

A: Pours a clear orange body under a fleeting finger of white froth. Retention isn't great, but the lace is ok. It's neither "turbid" nor "frothy" as the style guidelines say it should be, but frankly I think that makes it look prettier.

S: Rye bread, vanilla, and some light herbal character. A little nutty, and perhaps a bit of soy sauce. I like it.

T: Mmm. Rye, caramel, almond, soy (in a good way!), and herbal hops. Incredibly creamy, nicely spicy, and so, so smooth. Honeydew melon on the finish. Crazy! I can't imagine a tastier Roggenbier experience. Even after two years, I don't get a hint of oxidation, just smooth, flavorful goodness. Incredible.

M: Creamy, smooth, frothy medium body. Excellent.

O: Wow! I wasn't expecting much from an over-aged beer with mediocre reviews in an obscure style, but I'm loving every sip. It's complex, creamy, flavorful, and unbelievably smooth. Terrific beer. If you've still got one, drink it!

Cheers!
Feb 26, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by gafferjohn from Pennsylvania

Jan 16, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Zeisloft from Pennsylvania

Dec 14, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by waiting4lunch from Massachusetts

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of AleWatcher
Reviewed by AleWatcher from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is like a German malty rye version of a Saison. Not bad.

Hazy apricot-rust color with small offwhite head. Minimal lacing and retention.
The smell has a slight hint off sour-mash going on, with some spicy and dry rye notes. Lemon grass makes an appearance as well.
The flavor follows the nose with a slight sweetness up front, a little acidic sourmash vibe, spiced rye, lemon grasss, and a hint of toffee on the finish.
Mild to low bitterness. Very lightly hopped. Body is light and surprisingly airy feeling-- it feels more carbonated than it looks.
Overall-- an interesting beer. This was tasty enough that I want to seek out some more Roggenbiers and try them now!
Sep 04, 2011
Photo of mdaschaf
Reviewed by mdaschaf from Indiana

3.92/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Finally found my notes for this beer stuff in my desk. Thanks to THECPJ for this one.

A: Pours a dark orange/brown color with a one finger head on top. Not much retention or lacing.

S: Starts off with some wheat and a bit of citrus - mostly orange peel and a little lemon zest. Some caramel and a touch of rye as well.

T: Starts off with a bit of rye and some spice. A little bready with some light caramel and faint citrus flavors and touch of banana and yeast.

M: Medium bodied, somewhat smooth and creamy, with medium to high carbonation.

O: An interesting beer, and my first in the style. Would like to see more of these made and would definitely like to try another one sometime. When I was up in Boston, there was one on tap but couldn't make it to that restaurant.
Aug 10, 2011
Photo of Sideswipe
Reviewed by Sideswipe from California

3.45/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Found this in the back of the fridge. 12oz bottle into my New Belgium tulip.

The beer is a hazy orange color with minimal head. No lacing to speak of. The nose is fruity esters, Belgian yeast and spice. Taste features rye with notes of banana, wheat, spice and mild bitterness. Finish is dry with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Feel is medium with an almost fizzy level of carbonation which I feel takes away from the experience. Overall this is a very interesting brew. I enjoyed having it. Not sure I'd buy it again, if I could, but glad to have had the opportunity to try it.
Jun 20, 2011
Photo of ColdPoncho
Reviewed by ColdPoncho from Ohio

3.32/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
From notes
Thanks to BeerAndBourbon for this taste!

A - yellow-amber clouded body, minimal white head.

S - wheat in the nose (recalls a hefeweizen), citrusy zest, yeast

T - very light and dry, a bit of yeast, tastes like a weird hefeweizen

M - quite thin...not sure if this is appropriate, but I didn't care much for it

O (D) - just seems like a bad hefeweizen...not sure what it's supposed to do.
Jun 04, 2011
Photo of BeerAndBourbon
Reviewed by BeerAndBourbon from Ohio

3.67/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Shared at a tasting. It took forever to track this baby dow.

A. Pours supremely hazy with orange and brown with a thin cap of head.

S. Some fruity belgian like esters

T. Fruity esters, some rye on the tail end, some bananainess.

M. Fairly thin with low carbonation.

D. I was super excited to try this. It's interesting to try, but not an incredible beer.
May 27, 2011
Photo of Urbancaver
Reviewed by Urbancaver from Ohio

3.54/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Thanks Roger for helping me tick this style.
Pours a murky hazy orangish brown. A bit of white head. So cloudy!
Smells great! Lots of rye and spice on the nose. Belgian yeasts are heavy on the nose. Tastes spicy and smooth. The mouthfeel is lacking though. Thin and not very appealing.

Overall interesting but not outstanding
May 27, 2011
Photo of colts9016
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

3.27/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
I got this bottle through a BIF and I do not remember who sent it or when, but thank you for this bottle. Poured into a mug at 45 degree.

Appearance: A frothy foamy white head that has descent retention. The head is one finger thick and there is a touch of lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is a light copper orange with some citrus orange hues. The clarity of beer is slightly hazy with carbonation.

Nose: A very rich rye aroma that has fruity esters, cloves, wheat,toasted malt, and banana. There is a musty aroma with a touch of phenols at the end.

Taste: The rye is flavorful with fruity esters, cloves and banana. The malt is lightly toasted and other flavors are phenols, a musty flavor like brett, clove, wheat , and citrus.

The mouth feel is coating and a bit tarty.

Overall: The body of the beer is medium and the finish is medium. This beer lacks some carbonation to the mouth feel the beer to me seem one dimensional good beer but not great.
Apr 21, 2011
Photo of THECPJ
Reviewed by THECPJ from Delaware

3.48/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes:

Appearance: unfiltered brown with orangish hue little head

Smell: malts, wheat, little citrus

Taste: malts, caramel, some citrus

Mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body

Drinkability: overall decent brew. nothing to exciting.

Cheers,

The CPJ
Mar 02, 2011
Photo of kbutler1
Reviewed by kbutler1 from Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle. Poured into a tulip glass a hazed orange amber color with a slight white head that tends to cling to the side of the glass. Honestly, the first aroma that comes to mind is windex, but after that, other notes of clove, orange, banana, and bubblegum become apparent. Medium mouthfeel. The taste is pretty much the same as the aroma. Starts off with a fruity orange and banana flavor mixed with some spice/herb flavors. Ends with minimal biterness. Not bad actually, it's probably not the first thing I would reach for in the fridge but it's not that bad either.
Feb 12, 2011
Photo of PDXHops
Reviewed by PDXHops from South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle from Ryan011235, poured into a La Chouffe tulip. Hazy caramel body topped with a smallish creamy head that leaves a surprising amount of soapy lacing.

A light but persistent spiciness in the nose seems to build in intensity with each sip. Plenty of rye, but also cloves and white pepper, perhaps some orange zest. Flavors of bubblegum and banana bring a weizen to mind. Nicely thick and malty, but much more bready than sweet. Dries out at the swallow with a lingering tangy yeastiness. Nice balance of flavors; if this weren't a retired beer, I'd certainly give it a shot again.
Jan 24, 2011
Photo of Hojaminbag
Reviewed by Hojaminbag from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Scratch 28 Pours a cloudy orange color that has golden edges. Quite a few groups of fast moving carbonation bubbles rise to form an off-white cap of about a finger in height. Fairly thick head with OK retention and minimal lacing.

The nose has a lot of tart malted wheat with a good bit of fruity esthers to back it up, with banana standing out.

I like the flavor more than the aroma. Lots of tart wheat and esthers once again, more banana, some orange and a blast of clove. The banana is the single biggest flavor, followed by banana. The improvement comes from the fact that the background and the finish both have a subdued yet noticeable peat flavor, and a good kick of spicy rye. Not as powerful as one might expect, but it is there and balances the beer out. A little bit of a hop profile bounces around the finish. I would like more to be honest; I want rye in my rye beer. Also, It's strange I didn't get any rye in the aroma.

The feel of this beer is very creamy, probably from the big wheat profile. Solid feel.

I enjoy this beer, but it is light on the rye, or maybe it just leans a little to heavily on the wheat and esthers. The more I drink the more rye I get though.
Jan 21, 2011
Photo of treyrab
Reviewed by treyrab from California

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Another thanks goes out to Rick for hooking me up with a Scratch beer I have not tried. I have to preface this by saying that nittanybeerfan brewed a similar style (without the peat), so I am consciously comparing this to his homebrew.

A: Pours a decent, cloudy rust orange. Very cloudy, probably due to all the wheat. A small white head that fades very quickly.

S: The smell is light with some banana, cloves, and orange. A little light and pale with some fresh wheat as well. Not much as far as smoked flavors I was expecting for the style.

T: The taste is solid, but again, light. A little peat shines through on the finish to get that smokey flavor, but it is subdued. The main flavors are light banana and wheat.

Overall, a decent beer, but nittanybeerfan's homebrew was better. Much better.
Dec 29, 2010
Scratch Beer 28 - 2010 (Troggen Roggen) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 75 ratings