Troegs Scratch Beer 179 – 2015 Biere de Grouch
Troegs Brewery, in Nugget Nectar and Troegenator, make some of my favorite beers — beers that I absolutely must have in the fridge upon their release. This growler of their Biere de Grouch — a reward from a coworker for going above and beyond — is my first opportunity, however, to sample their wares straight from the source. Filled on April 4th, I was able to get this tasty 6.9% ABV farmhouse ale down my gullet as quickly as 12 days later.
Biere de Grouch was originally brewed for Philly Beer week in 2012. I’m not entirely sure why the brewery decided to resurrect it, but I’m certainly glad they did. The brew has a wonderfully peppery yeast backbone and soft farm-y funk. An overall refreshing character makes for a beer that, honestly, didn’t stand a chance to last more than a day or so in my basement fridge.
Appearance
A large frothy cap of tawny foam drops slowly, leaving behind patchy lace able the amber brew.
Aroma
Yeast, a moderate funk, hay, grain, soft banana notes, cereal and a touch of caramel fill the nose gently.
Taste
The yeast and caramel lead the way for grain, a moderate sweetness, soft banana and distant spices. The beer is lightly syrupy (probably due to loss of carbonation in growler) on the tongue and gently warming. The finish lingers wonderfully with a light drying character.
Overall
Biere de Grouch is a fun brew that I wish had a bit more carbonation, but perhaps it was in the growler a bit too long before it finally arrived at my cubicle. I’m not going to complain too much though, it is a darn tasty beer. I just hope that it’s still available whenever I’m able to make the drive myself.
Rating: 3.75/5
