Rogue Chipotle Ale

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Newport, Oregon USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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Ooh, ales brewed with chili peppers. I’ve had only a handful in my time, and pretty much all of them have turned out to be total disasters. Yet here’s Rogue, a pretty well-known craft brewer, taking a stab at the style. It pours with minimal head and an amber-copper body, like a brewhouse IPA. The aroma is an odd mix of caramel, malt, and tortilla salsa. Did someone drop a quesadilla into my beer? Did I somehow wander into a Mexican restaurant with a beer? The flavour comes off as close to a smoked ale - the pepper is there, and it’s balanced enough to work with the malts and hops to pull off a shoe-leather kind of flavour. This is better than I expected, but the palate is sadly too watery. I’ll finish this bottle, as I almost always do with bombers, but I wouldn’t buy it again.

Pours a golden brownish color with a thick yam foamy head. Not much an aroma. Taste is hoppy, slight bite. A hint of hear in your throat. Not much happening here.

Tap into mug. Burnt orange scant head. Touch of smoke on nose? Thin in the mouth, maybe it’s too cold. Cassie sense of an ale, not getting chipotle. Maybe a bit of funky earth notes on the early finish? A bit of an astringent finish could be hoops could be adobo. Uninspired and surprisingly nondescript.

On tap at Rogue Public House in San Francisco, CA. After the amazing Jalepeño Sculpin, I figured this could be great as well. So, so wrong. So, so gross.

Bottle from world market sterling. Pours amber with a half an inch of white head. Not much on the nose. A little bit of malt on the tongue. Has a bit of heat to keep things a little more exciting. Otherwise just a boring amber ale.

22oz bomber. Pours an amber/reddish color with a very small white head. Aroma has a smokiness upfront and slightly peppery. Taste has a slight burn with huge flavor of smoke, bready malts, and fruity hops.

Smoky chipotle flavor up front. No pepper heat though. Weirdly smells like juniper ale. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Appearance: Garnets and ambers under a soft white head which lingers thick and tight, moving for no one. Swirls creamy and thick but no lace.
Nose: Roasted chilies in the back – charred sweetness, meaty, then spicy. Sweet toasted grains and honey kissed all grain bread mixes well with the roasted chilies. Stewed and spiced apples and peaches play second fiddle to the chilies.
Palate: Much lighter than expected based on the nose. Gentle sweetness and spice up front – charred red and green chilies. All grain toast and crackers underneath. Hint of toasted oats. The stewed and spiced peaches and apples are nowhere to be found as the chilies dominate.
Final Thoughts: It smelled quite promising but unfortunately didn’t live up to that promise. The chilies were spot on, but the body was missing needed malt flavor characteristics such as the all grain breads, honey sweetness, and fruits. Once again, it’s back to the drawing boards for Rogue Ales.
(An original written work by Beer Ambassador, LLC. Plagiarism is not tolerated)

Pours a translucent golden brown from bottle. Fluffy tan cream head that dissipates. Light lacing. Aroma is of smoked peppers and earthy malts. Starts off bland with a nice heat kick at the end.

Pours a slightly hazy golden brown from the bottle with fluffy cream head that dissipates to leave light lacing. Aroma is slight smokiness, metallic spiciness and earthy malts. Taste is kind of like a bland earthy pale ale that comes in with a kick off spice on the back end. A little thin, was honestly expecting more, but I guess the spice isn’t too crazy or overpowering.