I stopped into the Red Atlas today to try their new Red Atlas Rocket. It is a pint of the Rogue Double Mocha Porter with two shots of espresso poured into it, topped off with a side of oreo cookies. It has a tendency to foam up a bit at the start, an issue they hope to fix through testing of various mixing procedures. I didn’t try it side by side with Double Mocha Porter, but thought it was tasty all the same. It maintains a lot of the heavy malt character, especially the roasted chocolate, and the espresso balances it out with a nice bitter kick at the end. Probably not something you’ll have more than one pint of, the Red Atlas Rocket would be perfect for a lunch break when you just need a beer, but also a little kick in the pants to get through the rest of the work day.
Red Atlas Rocket
Beer Review: Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager
It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Rogue is one of our favorite breweries at BarBEERians. Considering that we’ve reviewed six of their beers already, more than any other brewery, and that we’ve almost always liked the results, we’ve often been in the mood for finding new Rogue selections and adding another to the list of great beers. So when a limited-release offering from Rogue shows up on the shelves, it immediately becomes a beer that needs to be sampled. And so it goes with Rogue Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager. It has a ridiculously long name that essentially means that its ingredients are all locally grown and it’s certified something by the something commission or something. Usually this stuff sounds really nice, but might not mean a whole lot (but I’ve gone on that rant before). Either way, this Schwarzbier style is one that I haven’t had a lot of, so I knew Rogue could do it justice. However, all good things must come to an end. Read the rest of this entry »
Beer Review: Mogul Madness
Rogue Brewery in Newport, OR
I didn’t want it to be this way. One day we end up reviewing a whole bunch of Smuttynose beer, and the next we end up finding ourselves knee-deep in Rogue selections. I wasn’t going to stand for it! We were going to branch out! No more Rogue reviews for at least a few weeks! We’re starting to drill the brewery into the ground! But then we went to our local brewhouse and found myriad Rogue selections not in bottles, but on the freakin’ tap. This was a very welcome surprise and not one I was expecting in Helena. So, folks, I’m quite sorry, but I’m doing another Rogue review. But considering the fact that we still haven’t run into a Rogue beer that we haven’t at least had some attraction to, this was not an unwelcome surprise by any means. Plus, this was a winter warmer, and not related to one of our 12 Beers of Christmas, which, when I say this, I’m speaking for all of the BarBEERians: We are so completely over Belgian winter beers. Sorry, Belgium. Anyway, we found Rogue’s Mogul Madness and couldn’t say no. Deal with it.
Beer Review: John John Dead Guy Ale
Rogue Brewery in Newport, OR
When Miles first wrote about the release of the John John series back in December, I was super excited to get my hands on some of Rogue Brewery’s John John ales. More than anything else, for me at least, would be the chance to try the John John Dead Guy Ale, which was to be aged in Dead Guy whiskey barrels from Rogue’s distillery. My love for beers that have a bourbon tinge is unmatched, and also part of the reason I worship Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout. So when this John John Dead Guy was announced with its marriage partner being whiskey, I couldn’t have been more excited. Yeah, the Juniper Ale aged in gin barrels and Hazelnut Brown being aged in rum barrels both do sound rather enticing, but there’s something about a beer that has a bourbon touch rolling through it that really just makes me want to drink. It’s also probably the reason that it was the first of the series to be released. Thanks to a very kind friend out in Oregon, we were able to pick up a bottle of John John Dead Guy Ale to see whether this series was something that we’d be looking forward to all year long.
Beer Review: Brutal Bitter
Rogue Brewery in Newport, OR
It’s been kind of a Rogue Week over here at BarBEERians. Or maybe it’s been the Smuttynose Week, but that just doesn’t sound as sexy. Now this Rogue journey takes us to one of Rogue’s more dominant-sounding beers: the Brutal Bitter. Not too long ago, we had a fierce battle with another bitter from Rogue: the XS Imperial Younger’s Special Bitter. Now, that beer was a real bastard of a brew, and I maybe got a little carried away in the review of it. Granted, it was one of the more powerful and dastardly beers I’ve ever tasted, but it was also delicious in its own sinister way. So when I saw Rogue’s toned-down Brutal Bitter pop up on the beer menu at one of our local restaurants, I was a tad scared to dive headfirst into such a pool of hops and cringe-inducing malty goodness, but considering it had been a few months and my tongue had fully recovered, I thought about giving this Brutal Bitter a run threw the grinder.
Beer Review: Mocha Porter
Rogue Brewery in Newport, OR
You know when I said yesterday that I’m kind of afraid that we’re nearing the end of dark beer season? That I’m worried the abundance of stouts and porters will soon be giving way to a lighter fare? That in just a few more months I won’t be able to slather my body in used oil sludge and bask in the glow of the moonlight as the hazelnut hues reflect back toward the cold Montana sky? OK, so I’ve never gotten that carried away with some of my favorite stouts or porters, but it’s still kind of a bummer when my favorite types of beers go out of season, or when the bottles I have slowly find themselves in my stomach and then are gone for another year. But regardless of all that, we’re still in dark beer season, dammit, and I’m going to embrace it. Plus, with beers like Rogue’s Mocha Porter, I see no reason why winter needs to leave anytime soon.
New Year, New Beer
Rogue Brewery has announced the release of a new line of three beers starting in January of 2010. The concept behind the John John Ales is to start with one of Rogue Brewmaster, John Maier’s classic brews and age it in the Rogue spirit barrels of Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot, hence the name John John Ales.
The first of the John John series is John John Dead Guy Ale, Rogue’s award winning Dead Guy Ale matured in Rogue’s award winning Dead Guy Whiskey barrels. The cross collaboration of these two products starts with the distilling of Dead Guy Ale wort to create the Dead Guy Whiskey. The Whiskey is aged in Oak Barrels and bottled, then the Oak Barrels are taken from the distillery, by forklift, across the parking lot to the Brewery where they are filled with Dead Guy Ale and matured for three months.
The John John Dead Guy is slated for release, both on tap and in 22 oz bottles, in January of 2010. Later this year it will be followed by John John Juniper Ale, aged in Rogue Spruce Gin barrels. The Johns are also working on some John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar which will be matured in Rogue’s Hazelnut Spiced Rum barrels. Although we are all excited about this news from Rogue, these beers could be hard to find around Montana: A 3,100 gallon batch of John John will only produce around 1,350 cases of beer.
Goodbye, Beautiful Ceramic Bottles
According the Beernews.org, Rogue Ales has decided to abandon the wonderful, armory-inspired look of their 750 ml ceramic bottles in favor of significantly smaller, 7 oz bottles for their XS series of beers. *Tear
Last week, the brewery got label for two such bottles: Imperial Younger’s Special Bitter and Imperial Red Ale. According to President, Brett Joyce, the brewery will also package Imperial IPA, Old Crustacean Barley Wine, and the new McRogue Scotch Ale in 7oz bottles.
This is kind of an interesting move since I thought the monstrous bottles were some of the cooler out there, and also encouraged a real group drinking session because of their abundance of beer, coupled with the usual high-alcohol beverages. These smaller bottles will obviously be cheaper and geared more toward one session of drinking. I’ll miss the 750 ml giants.
Listin’: Winter Beers
Something about this season has me in a beer mood. Maybe it’s because Rudolph is on tonight, or maybe it’s the Christmas lights I see driving home, or maybe I would really, really like to have a beer or twelve with the real Santa Claus. Whatever the reason, I’m in the mood for some winter beers.
Rob Kasper over at the Baltimore Sun posted the paper’s list of the best winter beers today, and I was pleasantly surprised to have tried quite a few of the ones he listed. So, in the spirit of the holidays, here are some of my favorite winter beers (with a heavy emphasis on some Christmas selections because, well, Rudolph is on tonight) that will always go down well after a day of skiing, or will combine with a book and a chair underneath the Christmas tree nicely.
Lump of Coal — Ridgeway Brewing Co. in South Stoke, England: The only time I will be happy to find a lump of coal in my stocking. A thick brew that clocks in around 8%, Lump of Coal is a hearty stout that isn’t afraid to let the alcoholic hints take the stage. Subtler and sweeter notes of chocolate and coffee give way to a welcome, warming taste of alcohol that is more drinkable than whiskey and won’t be pushing you to embarrass yourself at the office holiday party. Plus, with a name like Lump of Coal, how can you go wrong? Ridgeway Brewing makes a whole holiday line of beer with names like Pickled Santa, Reindeer’s Revolt, Santa’s Butt, and one of my other favorites…
Bad Elf — Ridgeway Brewing Co. in South Stoke, England: Another one of Ridgeway’s winter mainstays, Bad Elf is the lesser of the naughty elf beers (the others: Very Bad Elf, Seriously Bad Elf, Criminally Bad Elf, and Insanely Bad Elf), but it gets huge points for drinkability. A well-built and hearty beer, Bad Elf is a sweeter IPA than most would prefer, but the drinkability of it is what makes this something everyone can enjoy. You can almost see the elves downing a bunch of these while putting together bicycles and toy trucks. It might even be perfect for you while you struggle with setting up the kids’ new bike, or the Lego set that needs to be done NOW. Embrace your inner bad elf and give it a try.
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale — Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA: In my mind, this is Sierra Nevada at its finest. The Celebration Ale may not scream winter, this highly aromatic IPA is super hearty and always a good find. If you think you’ve tried all the IPAs out there, give the Celebration a taste and notice what an IPA made for winter can, and should, be. Slight fruity notes coupled with avalanches of hops make this a real thick desert treat or one to have a go with on a chilly night.
Bell’s Winter White — Bell’s Brewery Inc., Kalamazoo, MI: Though it’s not the strongest or most commanding beer for the winter season, Bell’s Winter White does offer a smoother and calmer take on the winter season, and something infinitely better than Sam Adams’s winter selection. Smelling of sweet citrus fruits and winter spices, Winter White is a great drinking beer for holiday gatherings, even for the pickiest beer drinker. Couple this one with a spiced cider and settle in with some friends and watch the snow fall lightly outside. Note the subtle hints of spice and yeast and you have yourself something for a calm winter’s night.
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout — Dogfish Craft Brewery, Milton, DE: Dogfish Head couldn’t make just a normal stout now, could they? And thank Santa they didn’t. This Chicory Stout adds a touch of burnt wood and an earthy-tone to the traditional stout. With notes of coffee and roasted malt, this beer is full of flavor, but won’t fill you up before you go out for some caroling. Couple this brew with some chocolates or some blander Christmas cookies and you’ll have a great take on the cookies and milk combo. Plus, leave it out for Santa and he’ll probably leave behind an 56″ LED television, a riding lawnmower, and an iMac or three.
Santa’s Private Reserve — Rogue Brewing Company, Newport, OR: It may not be what Santa would drink, but I could see him keeping a healthy batch of this for when the elves were being asses or if Mrs. Claus scratched the sleigh with her purse. Making up some of the best traits of Rogue, Santa’s Private Reserve balances a dry-hop finish with a good bitterness that is hard to find in red ales. The touch of pine adds enough taste to the season to make this a great compliment to any holiday dinner, or even a companion out for a night of ‘tubing.
Young’s Winter Warmer — Wells & Young’s 
Brewery, London, England: This guy is winter in a bottle. Think looking for a Christmas tree and accidentally eating one instead. A murky and cloudy beer that doesn’t pack the usual alcoholic punch, Winter Warmer is a smooth and calm beer with touches of citrus and caramel and molasses end notes. This won’t warm you like whiskey might, but if you’re seeking something that might remind you of childhood and opening presents and Dad swearing that the dog just ate one of the G.I. Joes you got, this might do it—it’s just that comforting.
