Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Specialty Grain
Newport, Oregon USA

I love Masaharu Morimoto. He has a very serious composure, with the utmost majime and a stoicism today found only in lingering photographs of the now extirpated samurai class of Japan, but when need be he can become as convivial and frivolous as a schoolboy. His creativity is both tasteful, yet eccentrically Japanese, and his overall determination and good sportsmanship is second to none. Putting his mug on a beer was a darn good way of catching my eye, reminding me that it was about time to try another Rogue Ale. The Moromoto Soba Ale, which I understand to be only the latest moniker for the beer, pours a hazy, sticky looking orange with great torrents of carbonation circulating all around. The head is pillowy and poofy, looking a great deal like curvaceous sea foam with ripples and pockets of air matted between thick layers of soft sea lace. The aroma elicits only a slight honey smell, with fresh peanuts, burnt caramel, and Mexican spices and cheese. Do I detect a mild hint of jalapeno? And even more, somewhere behind the capsicum is an odiferous waft of wet lilac flower. It is an enticing aroma, but a bit strange and hodge-podge. The flavor is more mellow and reserved than the aroma, repeating the same honey and nut combination (now in every cereal, cereal bar, cereal bar stick and cereal bar stick tube on the market), but includes a sparkling water freshness and a spoonful of coriander, all wrapped in a general wit like flavor that is more hoppy than a wit, and also more pungent and powerful. The mouth feel is well tailored to the flavors, being both easy and bouncy. My only problem with this beer is I can’t slam my fist down and exclaim “Aha! Yes! This is buckwheat! Buckwheat at its finest!” and I blame this more on my own ignorance than Rogue’s brewing. Somehow I don’t see Morimoto’s reflection in this beer, but it’s less about the label than what’s inside I suppose, even if the upfront visage is almost entirely irrelevant to what is inside. Now I’m hankering for some real soba. Is there a possible pairing here?

Thanks to beer buddy ghawener. Pours into a rich golden color with nice head. Great aroma of citrus and ginger. Palate falls short as I felt it a bit watery and flat. Would have liked more boldness on this one.

From a bottle of Morimoto Soba Ale at Woodman’s. Big white head over golden pour, notes of buckwheat, citrus and caramel. Nice roasted buckwheat flavor

The bottle has changed. Now it reads the ’soba’ signature ale. Pours a hazy dirty maze color with a light white head. No specific taste to note in this brew but it is extremely smooth and medium-bodied. In fact, this beer just keeps coming on with a light well-balanced palate. What a solid brew.

Bottle says "Soba". Pours a pale toffee-gold with a gorgeous uneven cloudy head with stiff peaks. Very very faint, light, syrupy aroma. Very... interesting taste. Very corn-like, doughy and soft, with vodka-like alcohol notes, especially near the end. Some hops at the start, but they peter out into faint sweet malting which is so soft and light that it can be forgiven. Body is slightly thin, but carb is decent. A most unusually palatable beverage, I can’t really think why this beer doesn’t offend me, because really, it should, but I think I’ll just keep sipping for a while, if that’s ok...

Bottled as Morimoto Sobe Ale. Light amber color with small head. Feels like a wheat beer with some extra flavors, maybe some citrus. Decent beer, but not highly recommended. Should try at least once.

Bottle, 22oz. Aroma is citrus-like with notes of caramel. Ambercolor. Flavor is OK, but leaves the mouth pretty quick. Carbonationlevel is low.

Bottle (Morimoto Soba Ale) at Dæmningen - shared with Karen, Henning & Mette. Clear amber - white head. Sweetness, cactus, grass, light nutty, straw, crisp, light soapy, light perfumed, caramel. Soft body. A bit boring.