#149, Latona, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

Apparently with only two ingredients: Special Aromatic malt and Rainier hops, Latona Ale is a delicious addition to Rogues expansive list of ales.

It pours a cloudy brilliant amber.

The aroma is very subtle - slight sweetness and slight hop.

The hop builds in the body. The sweetness is curved by the bitterness that arrives in the medium body and at the back of the tongue. Honey and earthy bright hop at the end. It is smooth and refreshing.

The aftertaste is bitter and hoppy and very fresh.

Cheers!

#148, Chatoe Wet-Hopped Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

The newly released Chatoe Wet-Hopped Ale!!! Need I say more?

It pours a hazy red color with a white foamy head.

The aroma is slight with light hop and mild sweetness.

The taste is hoppy with a medium body. It has a pleasant bitterness on the tongue and is very very smooth.

The aftertaste is slightly bitter with nice earthy tones to the hop.

It is a rather simple beer with delicious hop tones. Smooth and easy to drink and pair with food.

Cheers!

Morimoto Soba, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

On yet another recent trip to the coast (and therefore, to Rogue Ales) I enjoyed their Morimoto Soba Ale - made from buckwheat (Soba) which is of the rhubarb family (not wheat). Interesting, but not as interesting as the taste! Let's give it a try....

It pours copper with a thin head.

The aroma has an interesting caramel essence, but not sweet. It is also slightly nutty.

The taste is delicate, but holds it's own. It is almost cask-like with it's smooth velvety medium/light body. Honey is apparent up front, but a nutty flavor arrives on the tongue. There is slight caramel (again not sweet) in the finish.

The aftertaste is sweet and slightly bitter. It is very smooth -

This beer is definitely hard to pin down - it's refreshing and unique, but the unique quality doesn't overpower, it's a nice clean beer to enjoy anytime -

Cheers!

Glen, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

And we're back...On a recent adventure to the coast, we dropped by the Rogue Brewpub in Newport, Oregon. It was a hot day, but the Glen from Rogue hit the spot - both cold and refreshing.

It pours a honey hue with a medium head.

The aroma is mild hop, but not overly flowery. The hop is curbed by the malt aroma that arrives a little later.

It is hoppy, but smooth. There isn't much bitterness in the body, which is medium/full and velvety. Bitterness does arrive in the finish with a malt presence which gives it body.

The aftertaste is bitterness with malt that weighs on the palate keeping the hop from dominating the finish.

Cheers!

Imperial Red Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

I sample this next beer at the Rogue brewhouse/restaurant in NW Portland. Part of their XS series, it is available in bottle and on tap.

It pours a deep hazy copper with a thin head.

The aroma is sweet mild malt with a mild hop.

The taste is medium/full body. Malt roastiness combines with the hop earthiness in the body. The bitterness builds in the finish. It is creamy and there isn't much sweetness. It is most pronounced in the finish with bold flavors and bitterness.

The aftertaste is all bitterness that lingers for awhile.

I'm not a huge fan of Reds, but put "Imperial" in front of any beer and I'm game - (Imperial PBR - why not?) I really enjoyed this red, bold and unafraid to announce it's character. I highly recommend it if it crosses your path!

Cheers!

Independence Hop Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

Once again, let's return to Rogue. This is an ale brewed in honor of Independence, Oregon which, according to the bottle, is the "Hop Capitol of the World!". This hopped up pale ale features Two-Row, Munich, Caramel Wheat and Carafoam malts. It has Fresh unkilned Centennial and Cascade Hops with Rogue's Pacman Yeast. It has 80 IBU's...Let's sample -

It pours a nice deep copper.

The aroma is earthy hop with mild citrus.

It has a big hop that arrives in the body. It is smooth in the beginning, but finishes with the big bitterness. It is dry and the malt is more prevalent in the finish. There is mild grapefruit and mild apricot in the hop body.

The aftertaste is a good clean hop bitterness that lingers nicely.

This is a great refreshing beer - definitely for the hop lovers. It's not overly bitter of flowery with the hops, but has wonderful character in it's dryness and finish.

Rogue ales are available all over!

Cheers!

Santa's Private Reserve, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

Let's keep it on the West Coast for now...The next comes from the well-known Rogue Brewery...Santa's Private Reserve, nice of him to share it with us, let's see how it goes....It is a double-hopped red ale. I'm not always a fan of red ales, but the double-hopped sounds alright to me...

It pours tawny with a big head.

The aroma is hop, fragrant and flowery. Mild sweetness, as well.

The taste is hop forward, but then balanced back in the body with mild malt. It is very lively on the palate - almost a sparkling on the tongue. It is not the flowery hop flavor that is detectable in the aroma, it is more mild and earthy. There is a spicy/peppery finish to it.

The aftertaste is mild hop and bitter. It leaves a clean palate, especially since it is such a sparky body.

It is a good bright winter warmer, easy to drink and easy to pair with a variety of meals on the Holiday menu, especially anything spicy.

From the website: Malts include: Great Western Harrington, Klages, Munich & Hugh Baird Carastan, & Crystal.
Hops include: Chinook & Centennial.
Yeast: Rogue's Pacman Yeast.

It is available all over in 12oz, 22oz, & draft, of course.

Cheers!

Yellow Snow IPA, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

Nothing truly says winter like Yellow Snow. This IPA from Rogue Ales is one of their winter seasonal offerings. This is the first year that I've tried it - I love the idea of an IPA in the dead of winter....

It pours bright yellow with a big foamy head....Of course.

The smell is big earthy hop.

It is all big earthy hop with a slight spice. The bitterness is evident throughout, but it's not over the top or too biting. It is balanced back in the medium body. It has a bitter and hop finish.

The aftertaste is bitter with flowery notes at the very end.

I love IPAs. There isn't a whole lot to say about this one - it's delicious and clean. Not too extreme. It offers a great reprieve from the big malty winter brews that rule the season. Definitely recommended for any hop fan - it is available in fairly wide distribution.

From their website: Two Row Pale, Cara Foam & Melanoiden malts. Hops: Amarillo. Yeast: Rogue's Pacman Yeast. 70 IBU's.

Another fine ale from one of my favorite breweries!

Cheers!

Jazz Guy Ale, Rogue Brewery

Let's return to the Northwest with the Jazz Guy Ale by Rogue.

It pours a light amber hue, with not much head.

The aroma is very very light coffee, which seems unexpected due to it's relatively light color. This was a tough one for me to define, I could smell malt and yeast but beyond my expertise to put a finger on it exactly.

The taste is crisp initially, but has a full body - almost creamy flavor. It is hoppy, and seems to coat the cheeks a little. Again, slight coffee tones.

Aftertaste has a full florally finish. There seems to be something like caramel in there somewhere, but again tough to define...

I am looking forward to returning to this beer after my tasting knowledge has improved. From the bottle: "9 ingredients: Harrington & Klages, Cara Vienna, English 115 & 135 Crystal Malts; Cascade & Kent Golding Hops, Free Range Coastal Waters & Top Fermenting Pacman Yeast"

53 IBU & dedicated to Jazz Lovers!