ROGUE SANTA’S PRIVATE RESERVE ALE

Santa Claus has come to town with this wintry red ale! But it’s unspectacular, as fig-dried tangerine-cranberry tartness, dryer green-hopped oiling and resinous grapefruit pining never command attention. IPA-like smoked bark singe overwhelms latent gingerbread-nutmeg spicing as well as peat-tobacco-basil niche and cola-walnut sear. Needs naughtier alcohol strength at precarious spruce-toned finish.

ROGUE OLD CRUSTACEAN BARLEYWINE

In teensy 7-ounce bottle, rapturous well-aged crustacean meshes syrupy yeast sugaring, brown-sugared black molasses malts, and spiced hops for thick resilience closer to Ipswich Dark Ale than typical barleywine. Mouth-watering caramelized barley sweetness, musty port-like fruitiness and light vanilla creaming strengthen full-bodied alcoholic fervor. Delicate red grape, raisin, plum and date illusions fill the backdrop. On tap, kirsch-whiskeyed cherry jubilee finish emboldens perfect winter warmer nightcap.

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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.