CanIHave4Beers (873), Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 3/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Jan 29, 2009 Possibly one of the best in the whole Rouge XS, strong beer, locker stock (WHATEVER THEY CALL IT THIS WEEK) lot. This has a very earthy aroma, and I can smell the coffee aromas from three feet away, pretty awesome. The colour is very dark and there is a ruby red tint when held up to the light. There is also a small head with good lace. The flavor is very earthy, my wife says it tastes like dirt! I think it tastes much better than that, I like the coffee notes in the flavor. This is largley dry and has a good bitterness, and there is some good fruity notes in the background. The mouthfeel is very nice! PorterPounder (3137), Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Jan 25, 2009 Tallahassee, Fl. - Liquor Loft - 750 ml ceramic bottle. Pours black as coal with a medium thick mocha colored head. Strong aroma of bittersweet chocolate and dark espresso coffee. Flavor is rich and earthy and full of good solid potting soil, dark bittersweet chocolate, hints of licorice. Thick, rich mouthfeel - reminds me of a good fresh Fuller’s London Porter on tap - the beer that turned me on to craft beer. ante (2928), Stockholm, Sweden
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 | Jan 22, 2009 Bottled SBWF 08. Pours out in a really dark brown colour with a small beige foam. Dryish aroma of pepper and dark chocolate with that familiar cracker-like Rouge note. Also picked up notes of nuts and cocoa. Nearly full-bodied with strong notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, crackers, black pepper and mild alcohol. Long bitter finish of cocoa, nuts, grass, alcohol, and crackers. riversideAK (2686), Shoreline, Washington, USA
| 3.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 | Jan 14, 2009 Tap at Brouwers. The aroma is pretty hoppy with lots of earthy dry roast, a touch of light sweetness, and some metallic notes that kind of detract from the overall experience IMO. Pours almost black, dark brown with a nice tan head that lasted throughout. The flavor is initially very hoppy. Lots of earth, some dry roast and dirt follows, a little dark malt sweetness, and then off metallic notes. The hops are pretty dominant and there are lots of lingering dry notes in the mouth feel. Meh. JPDIPSO (4897), Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA
| 3.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 12/20 | Jan 13, 2009 Ceramic bottle listed at 8.2%. Brown color with a tallish, somewhat creamy looking, light tan head. After my last porter this one has a ton more hops in the nose. Some grapefruit notes with just a hint of caramel and fruit. Blindfolded, I would have not guessed a porter. From the start this one is fairly dry. Malt and salted grapefruit in the front and middle. Charred wood in the finish and especially in the linger. This one calls for another sip just to wash away the ashes. I do not get much black malt bitterness, more the charred flavors. A pale with scorched coffee seem to comprise this one. Travlr (727), Washington, Washington DC, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Jan 7, 2009 Black with light beige head. Aroma of coffee and peanuts. Flavor of dark roasted coffee, nice bitter finish. DuffMan (2751), the land of bitumen, beef & beer, Alberta, Canada
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Dec 23, 2008 Pours a near-black brown with a compact almond head. Burnt malt and bitter chocolate with earthy undertones fill the aroma. The same is relayed on the palate along with a little anise and quite a pithy bitter dry finish. A mild alcohol burn arises late. This is certainly big but not as complex as I had hoped. JaBier (1212), Capital City, Ohio, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Dec 20, 2008 Ceramic bottle typical of Rogue special releases. Pours darkest brown with a medium tan head. Malty aroma with some alcohol and roastiness. Sweet malt up front with a roasty coffee finish. Pretty darn good.
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