Rogue Ten Thousand Brew Ale (10,000)

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Newport, Oregon USA

Balanced aroma, bottle thanks to Jason and Mike. Soapy head. Cloudy peach coloured body, and some lace. A definite effort at balance.

Bottled. A hazy amber beer with a thin orange head. The aroma is sweet mlaty with notes of caramel and alcohol. The flavor is sweet matly with strong notes of hops as well as medium notes of caramel, leading to a very bitter finish.

Pours an almost brilliantly clear, lightly orange tinted, pale cherry accented, copper color. It is topped by a frothy, almost one-finger thick, darkish tan colored head. The aroma definitely has some citrus notes to it as well as a sharper, more resinous character, but it also has something like water to it. I am not sure what I am saying but something reminds me of bland water, maybe it is a clean soap character. Interestingly minty, or like an exotic, woody, turpene laden spice from the Asian super market. This definitely has some malt aromatics to it, though they play a supporting role here; I get notes of caramelized sugars, brown sugar and even toffee. The most interesting part of the aroma is that sort of soapy, exotic spice, almost incense-like character.

Aggressively hopy, with a resinously herbal / pine character leading the way. Still, quite a bit of citrus flavors are found in the beer as well. Flavors of orange zest, ruby-red grapefruit, tangelo and lychee are all fairly noticeable. A rich underlying, though subtle, maltiness contributes notes of caramel, a touch of brown sugar and a chewy, Maillard driven, crusty bread flavor. That interesting, spicy, sort of incense like note from the aroma is definitely found in the flavor too; it is really most noticeable as a lingering note in the finish, though it does project its perfume-like essence throughout the flavor profile.

This beer never quite worked for me. When sampled fresh from the tap it had an aggressive green onion character to it, though this now seems to have morphed into a sort of perfume / incense / exotic Asian spice note, it still does not work. Tasty enough, but a bit too much.

The beer pours from the 22-ounce swing top deck gray ceramic bottle a slightly hazy golden amber with a decent sized creamy white head that settles slowly, leaving the lace to cover the glass. Nose has a rich grain sweetness; hops pleasant aromatic, citrus like crispness, start has a decent grain presence, hops underpowered, and with the alcohol certainly present, top is fair to middling in feel. Finish has a dynamic acidity, the alcohol overpowers the malt and hops, dry way to long lasting bitter aftertaste, not the best Rogue has brewed, a bitter tummy warmer, drinkable. However, disappointed I am!

On tap in Issaquah. Cloudy hay colored brew with a citric yeasty aroma. A little bitterness and citric notes with that I assume Pacman yeast coming through. It is very unique! It is maybe Belgium-like but at the same time very different. This would be better paired with food, but still very complex.

Poured a clear copper color with a large off-white head. Moderately strong floral and perfume hop aroma. Then some earthy hops filled in. Caramel malt under that. The malty flavor quickly gave way to hops and then hop bitterness. Moderately bitter. Medium body and warming.

Almost no nose on this beer for me. A sightly hazed orange pour. A hop bitter that is far above the nose. A bit thin but carbonation is good. All around good beer that is very refreshing a hops slam that is the way it should be. thanks to whoever brought this to the Cinncy gathering.

Clear amber colour with an off white head. Malty, caramel sweet aroma with fruity and alcohol sweet notes. Sweet malty flavor with hoppy bitter notes. Dry, fruity finish.