Beer - #625 - Rogue - Juniper Pale Ale *redux*

The BeerJerkNZ beerclub beer of the week is the   Rogue Juniper Pale Ale which is a beer I've previously had, but you know things change and so here we go again...

A pale ale, saffron in color with a smooth malt balance, floral aroma with a dry spicy finish from whole juniper berries

This is the smaller 12fl oz, 355ml in old money bottle, which has beer of  5.2% ABV, being about 1.5 standard drinks in NZ. Also this is 34 IBU - which is low end English Bitter, mid range porter bitter, and it comes in at 156 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Rogue Ales this is in the Style of an American Pale Ale - and they are in Newport, Oregon USA 'merica!

Juniper berries don't taste like other berries because they are not berries. They are actually a sort of fleshy pine cone. Which explains the fresh, clean, citrus, pine flavour of juniper.

This is the traditional predominant flavour in gin.

[caption id="attachment_11398" align="alignright" width="300"] Unshaved man and a beer[/caption]

This floral, hoppy beer is infused with whole Juniper berries to give it a unique flavour. The sweet malt base and light carbonation work perfectly to support the dry resin-y flavour or the hop and juniper combo.

Different but drinkable, we are fans.

Juniper Pale Ale, like all Rogue products preserves water by using more ingredients, contains no chemicals, additives or preservatives and uses Free Range Coastal Water.

“When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading"
- Paul Hornung

What could possibly go wrong ? HA! he said, I've heard all that before, but what does a Juniper berry really taste like anyway?

It's a yeasty bready aroma on opening, pour is a hazy range golden with a small (well no) head, in either glass.

Taste is a mix of tangy bitterness, and the aroma moved to something akin to mushrooms, which is not at all what you might expect. 

It is well carbonated, and that somewhat has an effect on the way you taste this, having to push through that fuzziness. It does have quite a long taste with a more middle tongue linger and finish, and then a dryness. 

It's not an easy beer to drink, and it does begin to develop a gin-like flavour (from memory it's been a while since I had the Gin out) but I recognise that tartness. 

Thankfully the aroma settles into something sweeter and bit more enjoyable. Don't think I'll be adding a slice and ice though, or tonic, or anything else. 

So unlike any hoppy pale ale that I've ever had, even ig you persuade yourself that the front notes are hop based this is tart and not bitter where it should be, and that tartness is the predominant taste, which battles for the finish over the dryness that this has.

Possibly a clever beer, but it might just too clever for it's own good, but I say that knowing that it's a staple and regular brew from Rogue, and one of the few beers they make that I've had that I can connect with, or enjoy. 

As I drink more it began to fell like an epic non-ending journey, I took a photo of how that felt too, for comedy value mostly, but you get the idea that this wasn't a beer that going down in a hurry. 

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing. I really didn't like it. But it has one feature and that is played in spades, it's not like a mystery beer, it's all on the label and in the literature . I did note that from other sources that this rates around the 7/10 based on a lot of feedback, so I'm not so far off. 

The double dip review 

• Am I enjoying it? Sadly I'm not, but I wanted to, it's not the first time I had it, I thought I might have been wrong first time around. Sadly I wasn't.


• Would I have another? I don't think I could 


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Not a chance.

Music for this one, well ' The Orange Humble Band '  an alternative rock band, also a bit of rock, power pop, folk, country, bluegrass.  I would have said soft pop. They're from Australia.  The album is ' Depressing Beauty ' you can listen on the Spotify here or most the other places I imagine.

Couldn't find a new video clip, but try this from an earlier work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obQ77g5DPtQ

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Beer | Rogue Juniper Pale Ale


• Low-alcohol session IPA is the hot beer trend for summer

Beer - #362 - Rogue - Juniper Pale Ale

Following a theme then of fruit beer I have this a  Rogue Juniper Pale Ale

Brewed by Rogue Ales this is in the Style of an American Pale Ale - and they are in Newport, Oregon USA 'merica!

Juniper Pale Ale: the new package for Yellow Snow Ale (winter 2004/2005). While the recipe (a pale ale infused with whole juniper berries) on the label remain the same, the name and label are new for 2005. Juniper Pale Ale is available in the classic 22-ounce bottle and on draft. Also known as Pale Rain. Measurements: 13 degrees Plato, IBU 34, Apparent Attenuation 77, Lovibond 3.2.

12fl oz, 355ml in old money, 5.2%ABV, being about 1.5 standard drinks, 34 IBU - which is low end English Bitter, mid range porter bitter, and 156 calories.

A pale ale, saffron in color with a smooth malt balance, floral aroma with a dry spicy finish from whole juniper berries.

The Turkey was named the official bird of the Rogue Nation in August 2007. To commemorate the momentous occasion, Rogue Juniper Pale Ale was dedicated to “the turkey in each of us.” An axe and the dedication have been added to the serigraphed 22oz bottle and Juniper Pale Ale tap stickers.

The Pilgrims were ale drinkers and most likely enjoyed beer at the first Thanksgiving. Juniper Pale Ale, like all Rogue products preserves water by using more ingredients, contains no chemicals, additives or preservatives and uses Free Range Coastal Water.

“When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading"
- Paul Hornung

HA! he said, I've heard all that before, what does a Juniper berry taste like anyway.

Stale pub aroma :-) sticky sweet, mostly yeasty on opening.

Pours really pale yellow, but cloudy with a reasonable head, aroma does not move so much, its bait earthy almost mushrooms. I might be hallucinating though.

For me it's not pleasant, I'm not sure why.

And it's very sour in a sour way, not in a way that is designed, surely? Conflicted much?

It's unusual for me not to like a Rogue Ale, and I've drunk enough Pale Ale types to know if I like it as a style. or not, so I feel at odds over this. I couldn't get over the 'shroom aroma that plagued me, once I had it in my head it was all over rover.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. Just. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, it's refreshing, looks ok, carries a flavour and has a decent length in the palate.  This time and in this place it's not for me.

The double dip review (perhaps this should be the double-sip review)

Am I enjoying it? Sadly I'm not, but I want to.
Would I have another? Not Tonight, as someone once famously may noir had said to Josephine
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Not Tonight, oh wait I've already used that.

MrsPdubyah moaned about the last musics so I put this on - Paloma Faith - and this is "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" - trust me you should be able to shimmy and sing along quite easily kit's very catchy.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqRXI1Ck7k&w=560&h=315]

 

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• A Rogue Trilogy: Parte the third - Is the miracle of the juniper bushes not enough?


• Beer | Rogue Juniper Pale Ale


• Ten Great Beers for Father's Day


• Beer & Cheese Pairing Guide


• Top beers ofthe season

Beer - #202 - Rogue - Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale

Yes it is Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale. In a bottle. It's a Sunday, it's Father's day.  It seemed appropriate that I entertain myself with this. This of course is brewed by Rogue Ales as a Smoked ale, and they do that in  Newport, Oregon 'merica.

I have other entertainment for myself with this, being  the Bailterspace LP - Strobosphere. They're an atmospheric noise rock band, I'm not an exiting fan, and I'm probably not going to end up one either, but they are a New Zealand group and so deserve a go.  I'm also dreaming of a a plate of cheese, salami, pickles and crackers.  It could happen. Probably won't though.

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale - a whole American Pint in a pink bottle, (750ml), it's 30 IBU things - Low English bitter, or Mid Porter bitterness, At 6.5% ABV this makes it about 3.8 standard drinks. I have the foreboding that it's going to take a while to finish.

Rogue Ales has collided with Voodoo Doughnut to create Bacon Maple Ale! This unique artisan creation contains a baker’s dozen number of ingredients including bacon and maple syrup from one of Voodoo’s signature doughnuts.

I'm not sure that making a beer, just because you can,  as a reason to do so, means that the goal has been achieved. There might be a good reason that you don't buy bacon maple flavours in a beer. I've tried many beer concoctions though, and on that it's churlish to deny at least tasting this.

It's undoubtedly Smokey and Maple on opening. Pours a golden syrup type of orange and has a fair decent fluffy and fulfilling head. Aroma is of of a sweet smoke, more towards burnt wood than smoked.

This is a terribly thin tasting beer though, I'm now not sure if I've endued up with a slightly dubious bottle. It's carbonated enough, obviously gave a head, but it sits fairly flat in the glass. The smokey is all aroma though, there's not palate carry.  Likewise for any maple. I might have frowned before sipping and scowled afterwards.

Very ambiguous is how I'm wanting to describe this, I wasn't expecting that, I was expecting ambitious. The mouthfeel isn't right, the palate notes are not right, and there is no length or carry.I wanted thunderbolts and lightning and got and got a candle in the wind.

In sports parlance then, a swing with no ding. Barely making a 5 on the pdubyah-o-meter this is average by any measure and I'm not sure I won't be revisiting that number.

Ticked off my list of things to try though. All things considered though all this means is that I should get a better list.

The Bailterspace album wasn't something that you could review, I'm sure it's a style of music, but it's not for me. Might make good pub music, you know the sort of thing, it's on no one is listening.

The cheese never showed up either, I think it was wise to stay away.

Beer - #196 - Rogue Farms - Dirtoir Black Lager

Rogue Farms - Dirtoir Black Lager - formely known as Chatoe Rogue - First Growth - Dirtoir Black Lager.

Brewed by Rogue Ales in the Style of a  Schwarzbier in, of course,  Newport, Oregon USA

650ml of a 5% ABV bottle - making it about 2.6 standard drinks. and 35 IBU is mid range Pilsner, or perhaps an English Bitter.

Jet black in color with a tan head, medium to full bodied, deftly balanced, seamless dark roasted malt flavors with a smooth bitterness, lingering long finish.

I'm really looking forward to this, for no reason other than it's a Rogue beer, and they've been good to me so far.  That and they didn't have a Good Chit Pilsner that I was looking forward to trying.  It'll be in the other place I shop. Or not. I'm not sure I've ended up with a bad choice in this .

So it'll be dark, mildly and pleasantly bitter, and nice.  Here goes.....

Smells musty on opening. Pours thick like syrup with a brown foamy head, smells of coffee or cocoa, and vaguely bitter.

And it tastes like nothing  like a lager tastes like, it's more a coffee stout/porter taste but it's also lighter in the mouthfeel.

Lighter is good., although it's also a full flavour. There is a goodly amount of carbonation in this, not sure if that adds or detracts, it's there though. There is also an underlying sourness to this, but it isn't a big thing. It's not overly sweet or sugary either, and I could see myself buying this again.

The intense coffee/cocoa makes this interesting every mouthful. And the finish ends more towards a dry note, it's a bit of all things.

The pdubyah-o-meter things this is a bit good, and is 9 on it's arbitrary scale of things. 9 makes this a great beer, and falls into that category of "give this a crack, you'll be surprised", category of things.

The Rogue people really do beer well, and although I'm dead against "bucket lists" if I had one Newport would be on it, and a week's worth of barfly action would be called for, I should talk to MrsPdubyah. In the meantime I'll be getting me another from the nice people at Liquorland in Forest Hill., not quite as romantic.

Related articles

• Review of Chatoe Rogue First Growth Good Chit Pilsner (beerapprentice.org)


• Rogue Irish Style Lager (tobysbeerreviews.com)

Beer #194 - Rogue - HazelNut Brown Nectar

And another of the seemingly endless concoctions from Rogue - this one Rogue HazelNut Brown Nectar.

Brewed by Rogue Ales in the style of a dull as ditch water sounding  Brown Ale and they haven't moved from Newport, Oregon USA last time I drank a beer from them.

A nutty twist to a traditional European Brown Ale. Dark brown in color with a hazelnut aroma, a rich nutty flavor and a smooth malty finish.

33IBU's which I would have thought a Porter type bitterness, this a 6%ABV beer, in a US Pint bottle making it 3.1 standard drinks.

So the expectations are set by it's type. Mildly bitter dark beer, throw in some nuts.... well hazelnut extract to be accurate.

Nothing on opening to suggest anything. It's dark brown, light thin head, still no aroma, which is weird, or not. It's sold on taste not smell.

And well, what's to tell you. Meh comes to mind. I was kind of expecting a Nutella burst sensation. I got thin and lifeless.

Sure there is a hazelnut back note, but if you know it's there you stop it, it's not the 'thing' the 'centre stage'

So what have you got really? In essence a mildly bitter dark beer, with a background of "Something" that we know as "Hazelnut"  and only then if you know, I'd not be able to pick it in a blind test if I was being honest.

Disappointed the pdubyah-o-meter says 5. This is pretty average, in my own opinion only. Perhaps I was led on by the rest of the Rogue Gallery. There isn't much to reflect on with this, it's a ho-hum so-what kind of beer, it's just then just a beer. It's not a terrible beer, it's just a beer.

Online reviews suggest I'm in a minority in not liking this, then that makes it my taste, I know that Rogue make many a fine beer, and I'm still a fan.

Related articles

• Beer of the Week: Rogue Good Chit Pilsner (headoverbeers.wordpress.com)


• Rogue Mocha Porter (tobysbeerreviews.com)


• Beer #193 - Rogue - Voodoo Doughnut Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Ale (pdubyah.com)

Beer - #144 - Rogue - Imperial India Pale Ale (I²PA)

omg omg omg - A Rogue - Imperial India Pale Ale (I²PA), which even without opening it looks like a work of art, ceramic covered glass with stopper. Brewed by Rogue Ales In the style: of a  Imperial/Double IPA Newport, Oregon USA.

And double up I've yet to be disappointed by a Rogue beer.

Above and beyond an India Pale Ale--I2PA is radically hopped with an intense aroma and hop bitterness. Unfiltered and aged for 9 months before it leaves the brewery--not for the faint of heart. I2PA is brewed with two-row Pipkin Pale malts, Saaz, Cascade and Northwest Golding hops.

a big 750ml bottle of a 9.5% ABV beer, which is 5.8 Standard drinks - in one bottle. 74 IBU's which is fair to middling.  BarleyWine and Standard IPA tops out at 70 on a good day. I should share it. I won't but I should.

A PDF of an IBU guide you can find here .

Magnificently hoppy on opening, pinegrassy, light orangey golden brown in colour, decent head, and carbonation. The aroma isn't carried though and it settles down to noticeable but not strong. It's full of body, has a citrus content, long mouth of hops and finishes nicely.  The pine/grass taste is pretty evident though and leads this charge.

The alcohol strength is well hidden, but that's not hard when the dominant taste is the bitter hops and not a lot else. Disappointing that there isn't a softer back-note or feel with this. Not that I want a sweet and sour beer, but it would add a dimension that could be nice.

I was hoping that as it warmed in the glass that it would change the impression, but the hops just get hoppier, but they're, in my opinion, just a tad on the harsh side. The malt warm does begin to get a hold, but they get a bit slammed, and the alcohol astringent gets a toe hold too.

Would I share it? Heck yes, there is enough in this to carry a conversation on it's merits. The pdubyah-o-meter says this would be 8 from 10, because I want to like it more than I do. I love the bottle and delivery, I hate the way that suddenly you've had nearly 6 drinks worth of beer: -), I love the hoppy aroma, it's just nice,  but I would have liked some lacing in the glass.

Party in a bottle? No. It's not as likeable as it could be, there could be a softer edge somewhere, this is pretty much a one dimension beer. Am I disappointed, yes, and no. It's a fine beer, I drank a lot of it too quickly, and I'm going to wish I had another, mostly to try and figure out if I was right or wrong about it.

Related articles

• India Pale Ale (dangerousmanbrewing.wordpress.com)


• India Pale Ale (part I) (beerscribesully.com)

Beer - #112 - Rogue - Yellow Snow IPA

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA which is Brewed by  Rogue Ales in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that in of all places Newport, Oregon USA

6.2% ABV (3.2 standard drinks) in a 650ml Bottle - and it's (according to the label) Beeston Stout, Chariot Pils, Melanoidin, & Cara Foam Malts, Amarillo Hops. 15.5º PLATO, has a rating of 70 IBU, 76 AA, 14.2ºL.

Alrighty.

I like the Rogue Ales, and I've got a hope for this one too. But the name..... so here's the list : Pale golden in color with a hoppy fruity aroma. Big hop flavor up front complemented by medium body and hoppyness mid-pallet. Finishes with a characteristic lingering bitterness. Which is a bit of nothing. 70 IBU's should give it a nice bittery taste, there's not a lot of other hints "fruity" isn't much is it?

And yes, it's the colour of yellow snow, hazy almost cloudy rimu tone golden and has a good two inches of powder top. Hoppy Aroma too.

It's mildly bitter too,  but there is an uncharicateristic  harsh note, blunt almost. Not like a grass note this is a bit more base, noticeable, almost chemical.

The pdubyah-o-meter flails around and settles at 8 from whatever the scale is, making this average. For me the flavour is just a bit one-dimensional, there's nothing to offset, enhance or mull over other than the impressively bitter finish. The body isn't as complex as it could be, a bit thin.

A brilliant name, but not my favourite Rogue beer.

 

Related articles

• Rams Head IPA Is Coming (eyeonannapolis.net)

 

Beer - #96 - Rogue - Dead Guy Ale

Dead Guy Ale, Brewed by Rogue Ales in the style of a  Heller Bock, and they do that in  Newport, Oregon USA.

The Heller Bock is primarily a malty beer from the German brewing tradition with little hop character - neither bitter nor aromatic - though the style typically has a little more hops than the standard Bock. The color is golden to light brown or amber. They should normally pour with a substantial white head. All examples are pale and clear.

This is 6.5% ABV 650ml bottle of beer, which I approach with great  anticipation.

It's all new to me !, so... a fantastic orange golden beer, decent head and a nicely sweet aroma. And it's the same sweet and a lovely hoppy beer. That's a bit good.

This is a beer I could be friends with, if you want to cut to a chase. The pdubyah-o-meter thinks this an 8.5 beer from it's wildly arbitrary scale of things, which makes this a beer to recommend.

Particularly at the end of a day of things this is still a beer where you can explore the hops and not get alarmed by what's being given back, it's a beer that offers instant comfort and companionship. There is a sourness that you'd kind of expect as the backwash from the hops, and this does finish on the palate, it might not appeal to everyone, but it's consistent and just, for me, adds to be whole thing, It's the pants.!

Dear Rogue, please make me your Ambassador for beers, I'd be really good and that, and happy, please. 

Beer - #80 - Rogue - Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale

It's about that time of the day when all there is left is a roll of the dice, and this is the last chance saloon (this week) and I usher in the the  Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale.
Well it's brewed by Rogue Ales Newport, Oregon USA, and they do this one in the style of an Amber Ale.

You might pick from the visage there is hope rather than certainty in this.

I know that Rogue have a fair decent thing going on, having had the pleasure of  some of their output,  please please please....

This then in a brilliantly presented 650Ml of a 6.2% ABV beer, in a way that it's a  thing going on and demanding an attention. Lets get it on.

I know this is the last beer of the night, and so I look forward to A Reddish copper in color, a roasty malt flavor with a hoppy sprucy finish. Saint Rogue Red is made with two-row Harrington, Klages and Munich malts, along with Hugh Baird 30-37, 13-17 Carastan, and Crystal 70-80 malts (44.4% speciality grains .39 lbs grain per bottle); Chinook and Centennial hops.

All of that and the blue cheese, crackers and a bit of A-League averageness.

There's a big hops in this, it's ok, and pours like a real beer, head and all. See I can do it. It's dark like you think a beer should look too.

There's a zinginess on the tounge, and not for the first time this week in a weird way I found turkish delight, which isn't normal, but might be forgiven for the sweetness.

As a learning thought I 'm getting that this is  all about the dry  hops, which  add the sweetness  and the  "green" taste. If you get it you get it. You really have to have this as a lesson, a teaching though, it's not something you could stumble across without a teacher. You have you have to have this explained A v B, And I learnt this from Ian at  the WilliamsWarne shop.

The most of me wants to fly to Oregon, not for the "trail" but just for the this. I realise that in drinking and then thinking about he beer makes you a bit of a twat. That you'd sit here and do the big aroma, length, palate thing in some way that makes you have a real opinion, you drink beer because you like the beer. There's no science in it, except there seem to be.

This is terribly good beer. although the sweetness might have you thinking twice if you had to sit and drink more than a prudent amount.

Not a "red" by any way that I know a "red" beer, and that makes the pdybyah-o-meter get to just a 7 things from 10 things in it's own arbitrary way. It's just too sweet and cloying, it's not bad I'm glad it wasn't my first beer, and I' not upset it was my last

Get some of this, there is a good story in the drinking, and as part of a journey through an evening this would be something you should include, it's nice, it's a bit good, and if you arrived with a  bottle I'd cuddle you like a brother.

Oh I forgot the blue cheese and became enamoured of this beer, which is a good thing said MrsPdubyh. Me not being daft decided she was right and that was all she wrote.  he said.

Beer – #66 – Rogue - Mocha Porter

Rogue Mocha Porter. A way to end a torrid week.

Brewed by Rogue Ales in the style of a Porter, and this again a visitor from another place, the fabulous Newport, Oregon USA.

650Ml of a 5.1% ABV dark beer then.. or as they put it ....

Ruddy brown in color, a bittersweet balance of malt and hops with a light cream finish. Mocha Porter is made from Northwest Harrington and Klages; 135-165, 95-115, and 70-80 Crystal; Beeston Chocolate, Black, Munich and Carastan malts. Perle and Centennial hops...... so there!

It is dark brown, and I got no head, de nada, nix, and weirdly again no aroma to speak of. It might be a feature of the Rogue beers.  I get a carbination, and then I get a bit of a chocolate (mocha) hit, and that has some good time in the mouth, you know you've had a beer with a flavour is what I'm saying here. There is a tad of chocolate and of smoke.

That is all. But isn't that enough? Well, no to be honest. It's a bit thin. I had an expectation of just a little more, I don't know what, because the mystery guest never was included in this.

These are clearly people with a lot of thinking, and the combinations they have for ingredients and their up-font statement about them is much admirable. Again I don't not love this as a beer, and there are beers shuffling down the pdubyah-o-meter as I write.

What's the most impressive though is that these beers are those that change your perceptions of beer, particularly, mostly born of ignorance, of the US beers. And I like that.

The pdubyah-o-meter based on taste would be 7 isn on the arbitrary scale of things for this, it lacks the jolt or the elusive and all a bit fluffy "wow" factor for me, and you know that I've found beer that has that. Am I disappointed? Heck no, I'm just not blown away.

Related articles

• Brew Review: Rogue Chocolate Stout (freshnewmane.wordpress.com)


• Bacon Beer (bacontoday.com)


• Beer Mythbusting: The Truth About Porter and Stout (drinks.seriouseats.com)


• Brew Review - Rogue's Bacon Maple Ale - NOT Harmless (thedogsofbeer.wordpress.com)

Beer – #65 – Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale

Settle down in the cheap seats - Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale, alright.

Brewed by Rogue Ales in the style of an American Pale Ale and unlikely as it sounds this is a rare visitor to the beer fridge from Newport, Oregon USA woop woop holla !!

A bit pint of 650ml of 7% ABV beer, power to the people!

This beer has all of 6 Ingredients, listed as being; Brewed using 100% OREGON Ingredients. Micro Barley Farm first growth Dare™ & Risk™ Malts; Rogue Micro Hopyard Willamette & first growth Independent Hops, Pacman Yeast and Free Range Coastal Water.

Yes well that's all well and good, sounds like a college project beer, mention everything, everyone and do it in that "it really important to know" way. Very American, they should learn the less is more thing.

and that's before I got to open it. When I do it pours the muddy brown colour of a beer, I wish I could pick the aroma, I can't discern one though, and that's strange but not weird.

And almost as a religious experience akin to a rapture this has head for afwica! Get in!!!

Wow! hang on a bit, that's a lot interesting, there's a about a bazillion things that I want to taste first and they're all interesting, for a bit of a back-burner on the aroma this has the goods in the taste department.

Absolutely a Pale Ale. Done. Delivered. Winner!

This is then already without a doubt just a nice beer. There is the sharpness of taste that you get from the hops, but then there is the lovely warmness of the caramel  malts that makes this just plain old interesting. Just all over a fine and dandy thing. Woop wwo holla!

And the head, well that's still about it's business, I'd sit and marvel at that for a bit, except that it's between me and the beer beneath. And Marvel at the drink beneath I do, it carries it hops and it has this marvellous (I want to do that in the Tony Greig Accent) creaminess that I don't know how to describe. To go another cricket thing this one is straight off the middle of the bat. (None of which the Americans will get).

Give it up then for the pdubyah-o-meter.... and this in and of it's genre is 9/10,  arbitrary thing from an equally arbitrary number, and if ever there was a thing to aspire to this would be a thing.  I'd dial back the self promotion label probably. I'd never dial back on the hops, the malts, and all that thing that makes the thing that this is.

Buy this, if you like IPA and American Pale you you don't  like this I'd refund you. Seriously.

Related articles

• Brew Review: Rogue Chocolate Stout (freshnewmane.wordpress.com)