3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 FunkyBrewster (1316) - Chicago, Illinois, USA - AUG 8, 2008
Pours a dark reddish brown brown with a small off-white head that lingers as a froth. Aroma is dark fruits and a bit nutty. Very pungent hops balance the mild roasted malt sweetness that peaks through. Flavor starts out very bitter with some strong hop that tingle on the front of the tongue. A very pleasant malty appears with a candy like sweetness that is quickly overcome with a returning bitterness that holds in the back of the mouth. While there is an obviously huge hop character I was surprised by the sugary character in the middle. Good beer, perhaps a little overwhelmingly bitter for some, but still pleasurable.
3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20 FlacoAlto (3086) - Tucson, Arizona, USA - AUG 8, 2008
Sampled on Tap at 1702, Tucson AZ; August 2008
Arrives quite dark colored with a deeply burnt amber hue. The head is thin, but quite browned with a dark tan color. The head has quite a bit of staying power to it as the creamy head fully covers the beer until my glass has been drained. This has a very hoppy aroma to it that just reeks of dominant pine. There is a touch of citrus character here too and perhaps a touch of toasted grain character underneath the hop character. This is definitely a hop focused beer based on the aroma.
The flavor follows suit as this is just plain aggressively hoppy. Huge flavors of pine sap that leans toward an astringency that makes me think of chewing on a mouthful of pine needles. The finish has a harsh menthol note and a massive bitterness that definitely bites back. There are some touches of citrus character that shine through just barely with notes of sharp grapefruit. This has as substantial herbal character to it as well (in the aroma to) with hemp oil notes and a definite hop-dank.
If you are a big hop head than you will like this tongue flagellating, thoroughly unbalanced beer; otherwise just steer clear. This can be fun if you like over the top hops, the malt is only here as a supporting (a minimal one at that, though very important) role; there is just enough caramel sweetness to keeps the hops from destroying your taste buds and to keep this somewhat drinkable. Hops gone wild! Only enjoyable for those you like to be beat over the head and strangled with massive hop bines; something that I can appreciate from time to time.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 Lowe1983 (1226) - Dayton, Ohio, USA - JUL 21, 2008
Pours a dark copper color with a tan head. Aroma is of citrus hops, caramel malts, slight roasted malts, and some dark fruits. Flavor is the same with pretty decent bitter finish. Nice blend with the roasted malts and citrus hops. Pretty good.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 robforbes (1317) - Bremerton, Washington, USA - JUL 16, 2008
pours a dark brown with a red tint, large fluffy khaki head, excellent lacing.
smell of caramel, slight hops, some nuts, sour malts.
taste is strong, prune, malt, grapefruit hops, some pine, roastiness and wood.
overall a really good beer.
3.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 Swolf3 (260) - Elkton, Maryland, USA - JUL 16, 2008
Bottle shared with GMCC2181. 2008 ceramic bottle, pours dark hazy amber with not too much head. Flavor is resin hop, with a slight taste of malt. A good Rogue Beer.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 GMCC2181 (1251) - Newark, Delaware, USA - JUL 14, 2008
Bottle shared by SWolf3. Another awesome brew by Rogue. Cool ceramic bottle. I was surprised by the bitterness. The bottle says it was 106 IBU’s and that is right on target. Not an off-balanced bitterness though. Dark in color, not much head. Good texture, not to thin or thick. Overall a good brew that I enjoyed. Thanks again wolf.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20 Palidor19 (2296) - Brandon, Florida, USA - JUL 13, 2008
Looks fantastic, has got some deep IPA like malts and hops flavor with strong piny over tones. the beer is just a tad thin. its a real pleasure to drink though.
3.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 11/20 nick76 (3461) - Tampa, Florida, USA - JUL 13, 2008
The aroma is piny and citrusy with caramel malt. The appearance is mahogany with a beautiful head. The flavor is like the aroma with an astringent finish. The palate is thin. Overall i like it but i’m not blown away.
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