Rogue Russian Imperial Stout Vintage 2009

Brewery: Rogue Brewing Company
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 11%
Country: USA, Oregon

I found this on my way back from Vermont at a store in Maryland called State Line Liquors which, as its name suggests, is located near the PA and DE border. This store had the best beer selection I've ever seen with an entire section dedicated solely to Belgium beers. I couldn't spend as much time here as I would have liked since we were near the end of a long drive and four buses of tourists were showing up to overwhelm the place.

According to the bottle, this beer is best after aging for at least a year. Luckily for me this was a vintage 2009 bottle, so no waiting for me to enjoy this. The aging allows for some of the harsher alcohol flavors to mellow out and make the drink more smooth overall.

Poured out thick and pitch black with no trace of any other color. Dark brown head lingers a long time. Strong roasted aroma with traces of coffee, chocolate, earthy flavors and a bit of alcohol. First sip showed an incredibly thick body that was almost syrupy. Massive amounts of roasted flavors all over the place. Both a roasted barley and a roasted coffee flavor dominate. Feels like sipping on an espresso in some ways. The hops imparted some herbal and earthy flavors that complemented the roasted flavors well. The malts had a small hint of sweetness near the end that transitioned into a bitter finish that was well complemented by lingering roasted flavors. Not a trace of alcohol was present at all in the taste. There was nearly no carbonation and the body was incredibly smooth. This was supremely drinkable and delicious. My only complaint with this was that it came in a 7oz bottle and I would have loved to have savored this much longer. A+

Rogue McRogue Scotch Ale

Brewery: Rogue

Style: Scotch Ale

ABV: 7%

To look at this bottle is worth a laugh as it only holds 7oz. While this does say best when aged a year, I couldn't help but to open it up.

Pour is thick and cloudy with a carmel brown color. Little to no head, and a very very thin lace.

Aroma is roasted/smokey malt, toffee, caramel and a hint of chocolate.

Taste follows the aroma, hints of toffee and chocolate at first. A sweet smokiness in the middle. Finish contains dark fruits, plum and some raisin.

I'm giving this a B+ very drinkable even at a decent ABV. Wish the bottles were bigger though.

-Roy

Rogue Santa's Private Reserve

Brewer: Rogue
Style: American Amber/Red Ale
ABV: 6.0%

Now I know Christmas has passed but I still have some Christmas beers to make it through. Next up is Rogue's Santa's Private Reserve which I picked up from good ol' Wegmans in a craft pack.

The color matches the style a deep amber with the some slight yellow on the edges. Head settles to a thin off white lace.

Lots of piney hops in the nose with some malt.

The taste follows the aroma quite well. Malty start with some pine in the middle and with the hoppier finish. The bitterness is minimal but a nice touch. Medium to heavy body and quite filling.

Really not much to it but not a bad beer, I am giving this a B-.

-Roy

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Rogue Chocolate Stout

Brewery: Rogue Ales
Style: Stout
ABV: 6%
Country: USA, Oregon

Poured a pitch black, no hint of brown anywhere around the edges. Nice and thick head. The foam was a light chocolate color appropriately enough. Quite foamy and bubbly, it left a lingering lace.

Rich chocolate aroma with a touch of oatmeal. Quite a pleasing aroma, this is up there with the Founder's Breakfast Stout in the smell department.

Initial taste was sweeter than I initially expected but certainly not in a bad way. Earthy hop flavors mix with the sweetness initially. Smooth, dark chocolate flavors are present throughout. Finish is bracingly bitter. The aftertaste presents the toasted flavors that I was expecting. Best way to describe it would be roasted toffee. Bitterness lingers a long time.

Mouthfeel was nice and creamy from oatmeal malts. Carbonation gives this a nice spiciness that mixes well with the flavors. Certainly not a typical stout. Coffee flavors are much more understated than in a typical stout. By far, my favorite part of this is the aroma. So smooth and chocolaty, I could smell this all day. Everything else about this beer is incredibly pleasing to sip on. Fantastic. A

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Brown Ale

ABV: 4.8%

The first thing to be said about this brew is it has an amazing aroma, as soon as I opened it my kitchen was filled with the rich sent of hazelnut. It was rather intoxicating. The initial pour released a thick foaming head and watching the reddish brown color appear below the head created a beautiful contrast.

Ok I was a little overzealous with the pour but what can ya do?

The flavor of this beer is primarily hazelnut with a nice malty finish. The hazelnut isn't like the syrup you'd add to your "on every corner" coffee. It gives a lingering hazelnut aftertaste that is quite enjoyable.

Rogue continues with the use of their pacman yeast which gives their beer its distinct flavor. With a low IBU of 33 there is really no bite to this beer and it has a very smooth character.

All in all I would give this beer a B+. Granted I'm not a huge brown ale drinker but this is one I would like to keep around and enjoy from time to time.

Keep on drinkin'

Roy

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