Tröegs has just announced that the 2021 release of Nugget Nectar is starting to roll out: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJZvC5poIuq/ https://troegs.com/beer/nugget-nectar/
Dale, I will be 'that guy' here. Beyond the aspect of beer age there is the continuing issue of batch variation with Nugget Nectar. Two years ago I purchased a six-pack of Nugget Nectar and I actually made a 'wish' when I picked that six-pack off the shelf: Please be a good batch. It was not to be. There were no off flavors in those beer but the hop aroma was essentially zero even though those beers were only a couple of weeks from packaging. I said to myself after drinking that first beer out of that six-pack: Oh no, not again! Last year I vowed to never buy Nugget Nectar again. I redirected my budget for Nugget Nectar last year to Victory Hop Wallop and boy was I very happy there. Last year's Hop Wallop was OUTSTANDING in my opinion: "Overall: In one word OUTSTANDING! In my opinion Victory has hit a HOME RUN here." https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-779.632517/#post-6779259 If Victory ships Hop Wallop down to you this year I recommend you try it. Last year I bought 3-4 six-packs of this beer. Buy it fresh! Cheers!
Damn , I haven’t seen Hop Wallop here in forever. For some reason outside the monkeys Victory doesn’t exist. I like Hop Wallop, and my last was great, the NN, it’s been two years but I thought it very good. Surprise the Double Hop Drop And Roll is new o me and it’s terrific.
Golden Monkey is Victory's top selling beer. And they decided to utilize the "monkey" things as a product line (similar to what AB does with Bud Light). So, they are shipping the 'top sellers' down to you (so they continue to be the top selling brands?). Nugget Nectar, when it is a good batch, is indeed a very tasty beer. A few years ago when the Retail Beer Distributors had to sell by the case (24 bottles) I would buy Nugget Nectar by the case (some years it was two cases). I was very lucky back then that all of my case purchased were good batches but in BA threads I read many posts of woes from folks who were not lucky like me. The past 4-5 years I have purchased Nugget Nectar by the six-pack and I was not as lucky - kinda about 50/50. A few years ago (3?) I purchased two six-packs (one bottles the other cans). The batch which was bottled was very good while the batch which was canned was a dude. There are too many other high quality hoppy beer brands out there that are not a 50/50 proposition so that is where my money will go. Cheers!
The NN I got last year was excellent. I'm still down for a trial 6er whenever I see it; and if it's just as good I'll very likely get more.
Variation IMO isn’t necessarily a bad thing in and by itself. It could be something you like a bit better as well.
I use to love nugget nectar when it was in the older labels I know it sounds ridiculous lol still a solid beer. But like the one guy stated hop wallop was killer last year and NN was just eh. But I always pick up NN every year gonna hit up troegs Saturday for it
Great Lakes Nosferatu > Nugget Nectar I'm not usually one to say a beer has "fallen off" but in recent years, thats exactly whats happened with NN.
Sound like you got a bad batch too. When Nugget Nectar is a good batch it is very tasty - much better than "eh". Maybe try it again this year? Do you feel lucky?
I will cross my fingers and hope that you luck out here. Based upon my recent experiences you have a 50/50 chance here. Cheers!
It always an automatic 6 pack purchase, some years more, depends how quick it disappears from my fridge.
It used to be all over here, cans, bottles, 12 packs, last year nada. Either the distribution network dropped it or retailers couldn’t sell it and stopped buying it. I’d bet the average casual craft guy here has zero clue what NN is. They’ll buy Celebration or Cold Mountain first and foremost.
For those that can get Double Hop Drop and Roll I’ll swear by how good this beer is, don't be fooled by the crappy little brother. Real deal here. I’m hoping for NN unfortunately I can’t special order here even if it’s distro but not at my retailers. I’d be leery of buying by the case anyway.
How long since you have had regular HDR? Palates vary of course, but I have had it many times over the past couple of years and I think it is the best it has ever been (including before the nosedive it took for a period of time). The new imperial version is great also, but I don't taste much difference between the two, except a little more of a melon-ish flavor in the double.
I'm with you. I pick up a 12 pack as soon as I see it out. After that, I'm done. It is extraordinary super fresh but it goes South quickly.
Maybe 2 months, it’s far better than it was, but for me it’s still a fraction of what it was. More tropical with the Double, nicely balanced too. Your right palates are different, I know people who hate Heady, that’s a slim list.
Agree, the very first time I had it the hops faded and I called it a malty mess of a beer. It was about 3 months old if I remember right. Fresh when it first hits here it’s been terrific, I’d love it on tap at the brewery.
Sipping on it now. BB 4/22/21. A touch on the boozy side, but otherwise tasting nice! Sweet candied citrus is driving. Not shabby, but I prefer others so much more that its always a one and done for me. I don't expect this year to be any different. @JackHorzempa
How would you characterize the intensity of the hop aroma on a scale of 0 - 10? 0 = zero hop aroma. 10 = Like a sledgehammer
Hmmm... Perhaps a solid 5? Smelled nice, but wasn't explosive in intensity. A bit more subdued but not terrible, either!
I drink a ton of Troegs and I’ve never gotten the love for NN. Nugget isn’t even a great hop no matter who is using it.
IMO that is a bad batch. As perhaps @eagles22 would characterize it: "eh". From my perspective a good batch of Nugget Nectar would be >7. I do indeed enjoy those batches but as I opined above, of late that is a 50/50 proposition (unfortunately). Cheers! P.S. My wife and I split my last bottle of Czech Dark Lager. Despite that bottles 'mature' age:
I would disagree, I have two Nugget hop plants in my yard that I use for homebrewing and despite it traditionally being a bittering hop variety, the cones do have a nice aroma. But also, Nugget Nectar is not a single hop beer - based on Tröegs info they use a mix of Nugget, Warrior, Tomahawk, Simcoe, Palisade.
Honestly one of the most disappointing releases of the year for me. I have had 3 over the last 3 days and I give up. This is an average beer at best. Bland and weak. I will, like many other annual released classics, by another 6 next year but this years is just not good. Last year I gladly went through a case.
Funny they’re two completely different beers, that imo aren’t even close. I agree on the The Imperial smells great, tastes follows, I was a bit impressed.
It sounds like you were unlucky and bought a bad batch. If you are willing to 'flip a coin' maybe you might luck out on a different batch? When a batch of Nugget Nectar is 'on' it is indeed a treat. Cheers!
I have noticed the last couple Tröegs IPAs (Haze Charmer and Lucky Holler) have been “weak” - almost watery. Both were obtained very fresh. Can’t say they were bad though. On the other hand, Field Study was phenomenal this year. Could def. be batch to batch variation as Jack has stated. Who knows lol.
If we get a second drop in the next few weeks I may give it another shot. It is one of those annual releases that I look forward to year after year and yes, when it is on, it is freaking delicious. Cheers and Happy New Year!
I didn’t try Charmer or Holler, but I did really enjoy Hop Cyclone. I am not sure what is going on, but having to guess about batch consistency sucks. Nectar is one of my absolute favorite classics and when it is not “on” in a particular year, its really disappointing. Cheers and Happy New Year!
Supposedly a double Nugget Nectar will be released later in January....I'm interested in trying that one. I'm not sure if it will be brewery only, lightly distributed, or if it will hit their full distribution.
I was considering a sixtel of NN this year after skipping last year. I’m afraid of the disappointment. Will pick up some cans instead.
I'm on my 2nd from a sixpack of bottles purchased this afternoon. It's delicious. Seems to be spot-on from what I remember of previous years.
