Scratch Beer 105 -2013 (IPA)
Tröegs Brewing Company

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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8.4%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 12.24%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
22
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 24, 2014
Added:
Jul 17, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
You may remember our recent single hop Pale Ale, Scratch #100, brewed with an experimental hop variety known as El Dorado. Well, we decided to revisit this hop again, but this time we decided to go bigger… and bitter! The result is a hefty IPA bursting with juicy tropical and zesty citrus fruits flavors. But make no mistake! At only 66 IBUs (moderate by today’s standards), you can still enjoy the potent hop characteristics without completely destroying your taste buds. The variety of lighter malts lends a bit of balancing sweetness and prevents this IPA from going over the top. Enjoy a pint before it disappears. Your palate will thank you!

66 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by IPAchris:
Photo of IPAchris
Rated by IPAchris from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

Aug 01, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.25 by barflybastard from Pennsylvania

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SharkNado from Pennsylvania

Mar 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by outoffocus from Pennsylvania

Sep 06, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Sep 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by JJStorm from Pennsylvania

Aug 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by JakeEsterly from Pennsylvania

Aug 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by hmich176 from Pennsylvania

Aug 06, 2013
Photo of Birdmarg741
Reviewed by Birdmarg741 from Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a growler into an IPA glass

A: Pours a deep yellow with a slight orange frame. Formed a thick head with pretty minimal retention. Thick lace still clings to the side of the glass after the foam has melted into a bubbly and uneven layer across the top of the liquid. Foam bubbles collect at the very center of the glass, and then gather thick along the side of the wall.

S: Piney resin is clear. Grassy notes come through pretty strong for me as well, with light hints of honey flower and orange.

T: Spicy caramel flavor hits the tongue first - which is nice and unexpected from the nose. Orange (specific - not generalized citrus) is clear. Grass flavors rise to the roof of the mouth moving back to the nose. Significant resin taste certainly wakes up the middle of the tongue, then fade into light lemongrass as the burn dies down. Raisin notes grow in the mouth after swallow.

M: Medium bodied and average carbonation. You can feel the alcohol as part of the burn - this beer doesn't hide it all that well.

O: A nice scratch from Troegs. Aggressively flavored but not in a way dominated by hops only - as many strong IPAs tend to be. Not as balanced as most of their creations, but certainly a fun flavor profile worth trying.
Aug 04, 2013
Photo of 1sophrosyne1
Reviewed by 1sophrosyne1 from Minnesota

3.72/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Consumed over 25 minutes in the brewery tasting room.
The colour is a deep amber with a brick orange sheen. Almost completely clear, but with a geyser of continuous fine carbonation rising to form a functional haze. The head is densely packed bubbles that melt into sheets of lacing. The cascade after each sip is a delicious sight.
Scents are a complex blend of hops, malts, and fruity spices that give this American the style of a Belgian ex-pat. Bitter woodsy hops on the front give way to a sweet summer nose of creamsicle. Plantain and cheese funk find their way through to some degree. The pine scent carries tropical pineapple right alongside.
I'm let down by the taste after these enticing introductions through other senses. The description above is correct in noting that the IBU count is low compared to the drinking experience. Bitterness with closely following funk are right up front in the mouth, and they don't step aside for the evolution of other flavors. Spice and fruit show up for just a moment, but collapse into sweetness with a bit of herbal aftertaste of basil.
The mouthfeel is sweet and warm in ways that also suggest a Belgian strong influence. But it's a bit short. Creaminess of initial feel doesn't last, and the bittersweet flavor dominates.
This is not a bad brew by any means (now that I have posted I see I am not alone being drawn to this exact phrase), but no major thrill. Despite all the hype, hops, and hues, I'm not excited to drink more. I will say, though, the combination of orange flavors, spices, and sweetness are a splendid match for Thai duck--so taking a growler away made my overall experience better.
Aug 04, 2013
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.59/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On-tap 7/20/13 at the Troegs Brewery Tasting Room in Hershey, PA, served in a tulip glass.

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

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

T: The taste starts out with a strong hops bitterness and then a bit of an alcohol bite quickly follows. The malt character is hearty and brings some balance but it seems a bit boozy for only 8.40% ABV. The after-taste is slightly bitter.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, good kick, decent representation of style, this is a decent 2IPA but there are several choices in the style that are better.
Jul 30, 2013
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Served on-tap at the brewery.

A - Pours copper orange with a half finger tall white head, dissipating down to a small ring around the outer edges, leaving sticky trails of lace down parts of the glass.

S - Smells of sticky pine resin, caramel and toffee from the crystal malt, very light fruitiness, some candied sugar and a touch of booze. Based on the description and the previous single hop pale ale using the same hops I was expecting a lot more fruitiness from this one.

T - Starts off with some strong candied sugar and caramel sweetness that never really goes away. The El Dorado and Centennial hops add in some nice fruitiness and a nice floral component. There is a bit of light spiciness as well but the sweetness is just a little too strong for them to shine through. Finish is pretty sweet with some light fruitiness, not lingering on the palate for very long after consumption. Second offering was more balanced but still too sweet overall.

M - Medium body with moderate carbonation. First time I had this one it was super sweet while the second time was more balanced. It has a decent feel for an IPA but the flavors just aren't working for me.

O - I think this one is ok. First time I had it I pretty much hated it, it was WAY too sweet, second time was better but still nothing world class by any means. It is not a bad beer by any means, but lets not make it out to be something it isn't.
Jul 29, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by ChiliSauce from Pennsylvania

Jul 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by RnRManifesto from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by GeoffreyM from Pennsylvania

Jul 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by duqmatt from Pennsylvania

Jul 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by robieobie1 from Pennsylvania

Jul 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by salthemonster from Pennsylvania

Jul 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Bdel34 from Pennsylvania

Jul 21, 2013
Photo of stephenjmoore
Reviewed by stephenjmoore from Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A- Hints of amber in a mostly deep golden body. Almost looks like honey in the glass. Slight haze, with enough transparency that light makes an impression through. Fluffy light tan head that lingers around and leaves some lacing around the edges of the glass.

S- Lots of piney hops with a slight herbal note to the nose. Sweet bready malt comes through enough to make an impression. A slight hint of citrus aroma along with a fruity scent; maybe apples?

T- The El Dorado hops add an interesting element. Not overly bitter, not huge on citrus, pine comes through noticably, slightly sweet with an herbal/earthy element to it. Really no complaints, but not a standout in flavor either.

M- Very drinkable, mouthfeel has that slight earthiness to it. Perfect carbonation, medium-full bodied.

O- This is a good IPA, well crafted, but again, nothing stands out to differentiate it from a lot of other good IPAs. I am not all that familiar with El Dorado, but it seems to add a different element. All in all, just another well put together beer from Troegs.
Jul 19, 2013
Scratch Beer 105 -2013 (IPA) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 22 ratings