A review in praise of the homebrewer-PGA
Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA
If you talk to HopBack Nate he is so unassuming. He takes for granted that you know and like beer. He brews beer. He is a home brewer. he has made a beer that is exemplary. Well what does that mean? That means the only flaw in this beer is that he only sent me one bottle. It means that he has evoked the hops to their utmost potential, that he has instilled a title that will commit that to memory. That his malt is for some reason memorable. Nathan- that’s his name is Nathan, he has an affinity for hops that remind s me of Mikkel Borg Bjergsø. He’s also a self taught hombrewer.
He has evoked in this beer a fruit character that surprises you a fresh plum! He has a bitter that will astound you not because it confronts you but because it assuages you after a full palate of fruit. He has coaxed these hops to their potential and he has crafted a bitterness that will leave you remembering the fruits of the beer and saying there was No malt to speak of. (That reminds me of Hill Farmstead.) Damn! Floral and perfumey. Flowery and herbal, soft and elusive malt with a dry belgian yeast that does not give up any funk but stays to the side and lets you be mezmerized by fruit. A bit of pine, evergreen not pine needles. A lovely balance makes a great beer that I wish you could taste it!
Thank you for sending me this beer HopBack Nate
4.5
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.