Scratch Beer 55 - 2011 (Double IPA)
Tröegs Brewing Company
- From:
- Tröegs Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 8.6%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.03 | pDev: 9.18%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 35
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 12, 2019
- Added:
- Dec 28, 2011
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
With 2011 coming to a close, we are in the mood for hops! Our brewers have been filling up the hop dosers and hopback with ridiculous amounts (and blends) of hops while learning to tame our new twin brewhouses. Scratch 55-2011, a Double IPA, has the subtlety of a hop sledgehammer. Yep, there’s a nice amount of color and sweetness from a massive blend of Munich and Crystal malts, but the playmaker here is a bevy of mouth-puckering hops that create a taste bud-numbing blend of pine and grapefruit that begin in your nose and linger long after your glass is empty. Tread gently beer lovers as this high-ABV level is masked by the big hop flavor.
82 IBU
82 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Billolick from New York
3.88/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Glad to find this one flowing for growler fills at DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY.
Pours murky darker almond amber, fluffy and lasting medium tan head. Leaves thick webs of lace all the way to the top of the glass.
Nose is all about the maple malts
Large and on the malty side. Some time seems to have smoothed some of the hop attack out of this one. Maple, caramel and maltyness are what stands out here. Hop bitterness kickin in midway and on the back end/finish. Good depth of flavors and complexity. Basically a nicely balanced and thoroughly enjoyable DIPA.
May 12, 2012Pours murky darker almond amber, fluffy and lasting medium tan head. Leaves thick webs of lace all the way to the top of the glass.
Nose is all about the maple malts
Large and on the malty side. Some time seems to have smoothed some of the hop attack out of this one. Maple, caramel and maltyness are what stands out here. Hop bitterness kickin in midway and on the back end/finish. Good depth of flavors and complexity. Basically a nicely balanced and thoroughly enjoyable DIPA.
Reviewed by John_M from Washington
3.28/5 rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.28/5 rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Max's today. Given that this beer is listed as retired, I have a feeling this beer might not be showing its best today.
The beer pours a copper amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is worrisome, as I get a lot of sweet malt in this beer, with some underlying dry citrus and tobacco. There's just way too much tropical fruit on the nose, and I'm guessing this beer will be sweet and boozy on the palate. Unfortunately, that was an all too accurate guess. This beer is very sweet and malty, and there's not nearly enough hoppy bitterness to counter it. As a result, this 8.6% abv. beer drinks like a 10% or 11% soutern tier DIPA. The sweetness is nearly cloying, and the finish is hot and sweet, with a dash of hoppy bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a hot, tiring finish.
Thank God for sample sizes at Max's. I can't imagine drinking a full glass of this. My guess is that this beer was a completely different animal when Troegs released it, but now... it's a hot, sweet mess.
Apr 28, 2012The beer pours a copper amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is worrisome, as I get a lot of sweet malt in this beer, with some underlying dry citrus and tobacco. There's just way too much tropical fruit on the nose, and I'm guessing this beer will be sweet and boozy on the palate. Unfortunately, that was an all too accurate guess. This beer is very sweet and malty, and there's not nearly enough hoppy bitterness to counter it. As a result, this 8.6% abv. beer drinks like a 10% or 11% soutern tier DIPA. The sweetness is nearly cloying, and the finish is hot and sweet, with a dash of hoppy bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a hot, tiring finish.
Thank God for sample sizes at Max's. I can't imagine drinking a full glass of this. My guess is that this beer was a completely different animal when Troegs released it, but now... it's a hot, sweet mess.
Reviewed by aorloski from Massachusetts
3.8/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Canary Square for Troegs Tap takeover
A- nice golden hue, fluffy white head, nice lacing
S- smells of a nice east coast IPA, very piney and bitter nice floral notes of lemon zest are subdued
T - Pine up front, grapefruit in the back, a very nice pine resin and bitter beer great rendition of an east coast IPA
M - very nice carbonation allows this one to be crisp on the tongue
Overall - Very good beer, not anywhere close to the best DIPA I've ever had but it hides the alcohol extremely well and drinkability is HIGH
Mar 28, 2012A- nice golden hue, fluffy white head, nice lacing
S- smells of a nice east coast IPA, very piney and bitter nice floral notes of lemon zest are subdued
T - Pine up front, grapefruit in the back, a very nice pine resin and bitter beer great rendition of an east coast IPA
M - very nice carbonation allows this one to be crisp on the tongue
Overall - Very good beer, not anywhere close to the best DIPA I've ever had but it hides the alcohol extremely well and drinkability is HIGH
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
3.65/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sampling a cellar temp bottle poured into a snifter. The beer pours a clear copper hue with creamy eggshell to beige colored head of 2 cm foaming up and receding to a thick edge layer and islands fairly rapidly, some tight lattice also remains on the glass.
Aroma is mostly hops with some pine sap and a bit of grapefruit mixed with fresh cut grass. Maybe a little caramel buried in the beer, but definitely hop dominated brew.
First sip reveals an average body and mild gentle carbonation. Texture is a little sticky and chewy with lots of stickiness on my lips.
Flavor is sweet very briefly before rolling to pine sap hops and some fairly astringent bite on the finish. I dont really get any booze so that keeps it drinkable. The aroma is more complex than the flavor but it is still a solid beer. Not amazing but good.
Mar 18, 2012Aroma is mostly hops with some pine sap and a bit of grapefruit mixed with fresh cut grass. Maybe a little caramel buried in the beer, but definitely hop dominated brew.
First sip reveals an average body and mild gentle carbonation. Texture is a little sticky and chewy with lots of stickiness on my lips.
Flavor is sweet very briefly before rolling to pine sap hops and some fairly astringent bite on the finish. I dont really get any booze so that keeps it drinkable. The aroma is more complex than the flavor but it is still a solid beer. Not amazing but good.
Reviewed by chocosushi from Oklahoma
3.91/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Canis Major Becker
A ~ Pours chestnut/amber with superfine carbonation & an absolutely gorgeous head.
S ~ Caramel & English barley leading into sugared Grapefruit & Orange zest. Faint mintyness.
T ~ Caramel following through with breadiness & a mountainous wave of citrus close behind with a crisp piney resinous finish that lingers. Slight jammyness/marmalade.
M ~ Hefty malt feel on the palette with an assload of Resinous (floral/pine) hopping. Mild heat. Not sure how to classify the finish; it's not necessarily dry, but it lingers & strips down the palette, almost becomming dry as it goes on.
D ~ My first Troegs! Pretty great IPA that would probably turn into a malt bomb after extended cellaring. Drink it NOW! Big ups to Crabbicus, thanks homegirl.
Mar 17, 2012A ~ Pours chestnut/amber with superfine carbonation & an absolutely gorgeous head.
S ~ Caramel & English barley leading into sugared Grapefruit & Orange zest. Faint mintyness.
T ~ Caramel following through with breadiness & a mountainous wave of citrus close behind with a crisp piney resinous finish that lingers. Slight jammyness/marmalade.
M ~ Hefty malt feel on the palette with an assload of Resinous (floral/pine) hopping. Mild heat. Not sure how to classify the finish; it's not necessarily dry, but it lingers & strips down the palette, almost becomming dry as it goes on.
D ~ My first Troegs! Pretty great IPA that would probably turn into a malt bomb after extended cellaring. Drink it NOW! Big ups to Crabbicus, thanks homegirl.
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland
3.53/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Churchkey in DC, beer is amber / orange with a mild haze and an off white head of small bublbes, some lacing but low retention and carbonation.
Aroma is piny with a mild sweetness and mild yeast character.
Beer is medium in body and malty up front with moderate bitterness, mild fruit and a minor body on the backend, the finish is fine but overall not a great IPA. Not a repeat.
Feb 28, 2012Aroma is piny with a mild sweetness and mild yeast character.
Beer is medium in body and malty up front with moderate bitterness, mild fruit and a minor body on the backend, the finish is fine but overall not a great IPA. Not a repeat.
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois
3.53/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Churchkey. Served in a snifter.
Pours a nice amber color with a good white head and a bit of lacing. The nose carries some fresh pine needles and a bit of citrus plus a bit of bready malt in the background. Flavor has a good dose of hops and fairly-prominent malt presence. Not as hoppy or as great as Nugget Nectar. Medium body with a semi-dry finish and nice bitterness. PRetty good.
Feb 25, 2012Pours a nice amber color with a good white head and a bit of lacing. The nose carries some fresh pine needles and a bit of citrus plus a bit of bready malt in the background. Flavor has a good dose of hops and fairly-prominent malt presence. Not as hoppy or as great as Nugget Nectar. Medium body with a semi-dry finish and nice bitterness. PRetty good.
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