Pale coppery soba-influenced medium body sustains steadfast crystal hop softness and familiar Rogue-related herbal spiciness to lime-y apricot-marmalade finish, abandoning golden raisin midst and becoming predictable after several sips.
All posts by John Fortunato
ROGUE MORIMOTO HAZELNUT SIGNATURE BROWN ALE
Chewy ruddy browned ’03 edition retains delectable butterscotch-candied caramel machiado insistence as ancillary soured coffee juxtaposition reinforces prune-plum-raisin splurge and thin roasted hazelnut coat. Lactic chocolate finish invites tobacco chaw and black tar bittering to surge.
ROGUE MORIMOTO BLACK OBI SOBA ALE
Richer mahogany-hued crimson-highlighted Soba Signature offspring opens with earthen wood fringe, buttered popcorn spell, and vegetal tease, building Cascade hop-charred black tea bitterness tersely consuming impending fig juice, dried fruit, and hazelnut illusions. Solemn roasted nuttiness and baked bread-pumpernickel shields inconsequential roasted chicory perk.
ROGUE MONK MADNESS ALE
Sophisticated faux-Belgian-styled brown ale raises chewy cookie dough luster above tongue-coating mocha-caramel-chocolate malts countering tingly floral-piney hop spicing. Alcohol-burned astringency defers resinous mineral grained center, molasses-soaked wheat toast bottom and recessive almond-hazelnut clip to no ill effect. Medicinal finish gains mild sherry-port remnant.
ROGUE MOM HEFEWEIZEN
Bland straw-hued witbier (with toasting white-haired Mom on label) lacks expectant yellow-fruited hefeweizen nature. Grassy Saaz hop astringency, stifling horse blanket-hay-buckwheat earthiness, and herbal white-peppered deficiency disrupt tart ginger-coriander illusions.
ROGUE MOGUL ALE
Perfectly balanced sienna-hued hop-splotched strong ale. Rich mocha malt essence heavily influenced by earthen pine-hopped barley toasting and brown-sugared fig-spiced molasses sapping to pungent coffee-molasses finish. Robust, hearty, and truly distinguished.
ROGUE MOCHA PORTER
Sweet candy aroma and prevalent black chocolate thicket court sappy maple malts, earthy mineral grains, and raisin-y nuttiness up-front. Rich mocha creaminess surrounds bitter coffee bean residue at moderate hop-roasted finish. Mellow, water sodden, and extremely casual despite dark as night inky hue.
ROGUE MO ALE HEFE WEIZEN
Unfiltered – Agitate Before Pouring claimed the label – so we shook the sucker up before opening. Tasted fine, too (although a tad watery and less wine-like than most wheat ales). Coriander, nutmeg, and ginger caress smoky malt resin, providing distinguished creamy ‘weizen’ with spicy wintry positivity. Note: originally named after Mo’s Restaurant founder, then changed to MoM Hefeweizen.
ROGUE MEXICALI ROGUE ALE
Closely resembling marvelous Rogue Smoke A Rauch and later renamed Rogue Chipotle, hybridized herbal-spiced ale lets burnt wood chip mouthfeel, sinewy yeast resin and mocha malt backdrop inform lingering ash-like persistence. Conversely, unexpected chili-peppered jalapeno permeation informs delicious mountain water purity to moderately spiced-hop finish.
ROGUE MAIERBOCK ALE
Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale under guise of brewer John Maier’s ‘bock’ handle. Hearty honey-hued ale features sticky caramel malting, sweet mocha continuance, and lilting fruited spiciness. Closer to mild porter or bold red ale than bock since soothing water texture, muted chocolate notes, and lack of bitterness keep it on lighter side.
ROGUE KELL’S IRISH STYLE LAGER
Harvest gold soft body seems quite slight for prominent brewer. Dirty grain consistency overrides pale malt seepage, honeyed nut gust, green apple urge and passing citric tang as narrow hop bittering abides time.
ROGUE IMPERIAL STOUT
Complex black-hued stout pours like 10W40 motor oil. Heavy molasses, rich chocolate, and tangential coffee bean ascent combine for luxuriant facade. Sweet sherry, ripe fig-raisin, and vanilla juxtapose vinous oaken cherry slip to the thoroughly satisfying, fully formed, hickory-smoked cocoa-nutty finish. Better than espresso as after dinner treat.