Rogue Ale
A roguish bard of a beer!
Reviewed by MT and RD
6.0% ABV
Colour: This poured “Stout Dark”…the darkest brown can be before it turns black. Topped off with a good looking mid brown creamy head. A handsome beer!
Nose: The first thing that grabbed me was the dry oat quality that I’ve become very familiar with of recent. Milk chocolate, not the rich burnt chocolate you usually encounter in a stout. I all so caught a little ash and dry smokiness on the back end.
Taste: Initially a little spritzy carbonation keeps it light. Then you are hit with a good burst of smoke followed by some sharp citrus cascade hops. A little bitter chocolate from the Beeston Chocolate malt. Finishing on another appearance from the hops and whiff of black coffee. Really well balanced with a complex flavour that develops and unravels.
Overall Experience: Matt commented that he’d gladly drink this as a lower ABV alternative to Brooklyn’s Black Chocolate Stout. “The Bard would be pleased!”.
Personally I’m a big fan of Rogue beers. They are special without being pretentious. They take traditional styles of beer and push them as far as they see is suitable without losing their core essence and traditions. I love the painted bottles and the way the whole thing is presented. I recently heard an interview with head brewer John Maier and I think his character summed up the whole Rogue ethos. Likeable, unassuming and confident in what they do.
Back to the beer and less of my “Rogue Love”. I really enjoyed it and it is one of the best I’ve had from Rogue. Great levels of chocolaty malt and clean hops make this a supremely drinkable stout.
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