A unique tribute to a special boy, indeed! Had this beer a the 2006 OBF. By far the top beer at the entire fest. Solid dark brown toffee colored. Tastes like a refinded Old Crusty. Very heavy beer, With a complex hop bitterness and aroma mix. Bittering Hops include: Newport, Chinook, Horizon, Simcoe, Summit. Aroma Hops include: Summit, Amarillo, Centennial, German Saphire. ABV, 7.33 ; IBU 106.9; Plato, 17.6 John’s most memerable masterpiece.

Color is a rich chocolaty brown with a thick and persistent head. The very hoppy aroma has smoky hints and a touch of coffee. Flavor is strongly hoppy and rather evergreen-ish, rather like drinking a pine tree; it is rich and satisfying, nice and bitter, with a trace of smokiness and a hint of burnt coffee. Strongly recommended to anybody who enjoys both hoppy beers and stouts/porters.

Good lord…tell the folks at Rogue to make this a regular brew. WOW!!! Pours a very dark garnet/chocolate color with a fluffy caramel head. Malted cherry and hop nose. Fluffy head that leaves nice lacing. Lots of bubbles on the pour. Luscious mouthfeel. Strong hop profile (the amarillo are a bonus) with a sweet chocoate and cherry flavor. Hoppy aftertaste. Get this beer if you can - it is outstanding!

Draft at KClinger’s. Dark brown. The big hoppy nose doesn’t jive with the visual. This is a big, hoppy beer ... a double IPA-like punch. Resiny, oily. Outstanding strong beer. (#2651, 1/14/07)

On tap at the brewery in Newport. Nice dark brown pour. Intense flavor, it has that typical Rogue sweetness, but it combines it with a very nice hoppiness. Top notch, one of the best I’ve had.