Tröegs Scratch 19

Formerly brewed at Tröegs Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA

Thanks to Rich for the bad-ass growler! Poured rich, deep brown with burnt umber highlights and a luxurious cap of tan head.. sticky lacing as it descended. The aroma was the first indication I was about to enjoy a fine coffee stout (I didn’t read the description first).. well-roasted, slightly sour espresso backed by cacao nibs and a dry earthy impression.. sweet vanilla and cocoa powder on the back of the nose as well as some warmth. The flavor was a huge espresso bomb as I hoped for.. well-roasted with nutty and earthy character in there.. the coffee gave some bitterness at the edges that was complemented by citrusy husk and floral notes.. sweeter coffee and chocolate notes with earth and citrus bitterness on the long finish. Heavier-bodied with moderate carbonation on the palate.. oily and bitter overall, with a challenging and enjoyable flow across the palate. Excellent brew that I’d gladly drink more of (thankfully I have almost 1/2 gallon in the fridge!).

1 L handbottle, from axilla. Pours a black body with some brown edges and a small wispy brown head. The nose is big heavy roast and coffee with a nice chocolate note and a bit of hoppiness. BIg coffee and roasty flavor, but not burnt or acrid, it’s just right. Great balanced between the malt, coffee, and hops. Just a light alcohol kick on the back end for being 9.5%. Mouthfeel is pretty full bodied with nice light soft fizzy carbonation, a little oily, but very quaffable. This was a definate improvement over the Scratch 15, lots more coffee and a heftier mouthfeel most of all. Wouldn’t mind at all if this made the jump to their regular line-up.

On tap @ brewery. Apparently there were only 16 or so 1/2 barrels of this made, which is a shame. Pours a pitch black with a large tan head, which leaves a nice lace on the glass. As expected, large coffee aroma, some nuttiness to it, as well. Big malty body, lots of roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Very bitter finish; leaves a roasted, nutty taste in your mouth. Excellent!

Sampler from a growler courtesy of Matt. Pours a black color with a slight mahogany tint and a tiny small light brown head. Aroma of expresso, lots of rich chocolate, and malt. Taste of expresso, dark and milk chocolate and malts. Very nice, although a bit flat.

Shared at BCTC 2009 thanks to Axilla. Pours a deep almost black with a medium deep tan head that laced. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, vanilla and cocoa. Flavor of roasted malt, dark chocolate, toffee, nuts, vanilla and coffee.

Growler per Jason. Sampled while traveling at high speeds out onto Lake Michigan in an attempt to catch salmon with Jason and Dave. It was 4 AM on a Sunday. 4 AM exists on a Sunday? The smell of lake was in the air. It looked black/brown with an unknown colored head, but that’s because it was 4 AM. It smelled like good coffee and chocolate which was good, because it was 4 AM. Why am I drinking beer at 4 AM? I have no idea... Anyway, the flavor was quite good. Huge espresso and earthy oily coffee. It had a nice hop but I couldn’t determine which one. The palate was velvety and creamy. Alcohol was well hidden. I’ll have another...

[BCTC 09] Poured an opaque black color, with a medium sized, tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of burnt wood, roasted malts, strong coffee, vanilla bean, and a bit of coffee. Taste of more strong coffee, roasted malts, light smoke, dark chocolate, and light alcohol in the finish. Thanks John!

Draft, at Troeg’s tasting room on Saturday May 30th. Poured pitch black, capped with a medium-sized brown head. Rich aroma of roasted malt, coffee, and bittersweet chocolate. Luscious mouthfeel, very full bodied and velvety smooth. Burnt malt flavors hit the palate first, and are joined by tons of coffee, bittersweet chocolate, nuts and a little citrus. Oats round things out a bit. Bittersweet finish, with coffee and some citrus lingering on the palate. I found this a bit more interesting than the Scratch 15, and it was probably worth my trip up from Philly.