Brewer's Ale 2008
Rogue Ales

Brewer's Ale 2008Brewer's Ale 2008
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From:
Rogue Ales
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 10.94%
Reviews:
53
Ratings:
63
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 22, 2020
Added:
May 22, 2008
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by fireqc:
Photo of fireqc
Reviewed by fireqc from Canada (QC)

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Everybody will agree with me, this bottle is very nice!!!! Of course, like many people, I bought this bottle because the look invite me to do that. But don't be fool, the beer inside is very interesting!

I'm not use to Rogue product so when I bought some bottles is for curiosity. But, this one will be a great addition to my personal bottle collection (over 700 different), but the beer inside was tasteful.
Nov 14, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.09 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Sep 22, 2020
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

2.23/5  rDev -43.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.75
This beer has not aged well. Not that I remember it being all that great back when it was new, but it has really fallen off. If you're saving any, hit 'em now.
Mar 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by thaghost from Illinois

Jun 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Dec 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Bradbury from Minnesota

Jun 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Tyrawlings from Ohio

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by JustinMatthew from Pennsylvania

Dec 12, 2011
 
Rated: 4.5 by JohneHoodlum from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 05, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Nov 23, 2011
Photo of snogglethorpe
Reviewed by snogglethorpe from Japan

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a very funny beer, it looks like a porter or stout, almost black, with a huge thick head. The taste is very hard to identify, but it's very strong and unique (the bar-tender described it as tasting like marmite, which is scarily close to the truth!), with hints of a porter, but also the roasty flavor of a stout and hoppiness of an ale. It certainly seems consistent with Rogue's general lack of subtlety.

At first I was somewhat turned off by the strong and weird taste, but I ordered half a pint, and found myself warming to it. It's definitely unique, and quite drinkable after one gets used to it; I find myself thinking I'd like to try it again...

[... which I can't, of course, as it was a limited productiod beer ...]
May 08, 2010
Photo of ShogoKawada
Reviewed by ShogoKawada from Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A- A murky, rich, deep brown with a thin but attractive caramel head. The beer will not allow light to pass through, and I'm digging the head coloration.

S- Incredible pine resin hops. Pungent, dominating, almost overpowering. Right in my wheelhouse. A significant malt base provides the caramel sweetness to round this one out.

T-Disarmingly hoppy; so much that it's hard to take it all in at first. Whoo boy. The taste is, as one reviewer put it... 'sucking on a pine tree'. (Side note.. that's the review that made me want to buy this!)

I love it! The malts provide (as in the nose) a blossoming, bludgeoning caramel base that tries its best to hold its own, but can't compete with the hop overload. This beer must have been ridiculously expensive to produce.

By far the hoppiest strong ale and one of the hoppiest beers I've ever had. 106.9 IBU? I taste every one of 'em. No floral, no citrus, all pine tree resin. Really perfect on a cold, rainy NE night. This beer is so hoppy you can't take it all in. As hoppy as it was at first sip, I feel it grew exponentially bolder by the start of the 2nd snifter. By the end, it was like I was eating hops by the handful.

M- Full-bodied, bitter, scathing... and surprisingly balanced. Well, not really, but they made a noble effort. If an equal amount of malt was added to this pine-fest, the beer would be so dense it'd collapse on itself. As it is, I couldn't ask for anything better. Fresh, this must have been an eye-waterer, as it is wallpaper-peelingly bitter and scathing a year in the tank.

D- Moderate, maybe a hair above... but I loved this beer. Score is bumped for the ear-to-ear smile I had on my face as this went down. I would drink it a lot more if I had easy access and a blank check. Not for everyone, and I can see how many would be turned off at this malty pine tree behemoth of a brew.

For me, damn close to perfection.

I was asked to compare this to Double Bastard by a friend. I find this to be significantly hoppier, way more piney, and not as overbearing. That prob. doesn't make sense... the Double Bastard hops were plain ol' bitter, these have tremendous flavor behind them. I also found the malt in Double Bastard to be bordering on cloyingly sweet. Perhaps the malt in this one is... but the hops knock them out of view.

Serving type: bottle
Oct 26, 2009
Photo of mwilbur
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from 26 oz commemorative bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a very, very dark burnt orange with frothy 1 inch cream colored head.
S: Strong pine and citrus hops...very fresh aroma even after cellaring for about 1 yr. Sharp piney note dominates. Hint of caramel comes through with warming.
T: Overly strong piney hops. Not well balanced and a bit bitter. I'll call this above average, but this might be being kind here.
M: Sharp bitter notes definitely are off-putting. Medium body with acidic aftertaste.
D: This one started off promising, but took a nose dive. I still like Rogue, but this is not one of their better offerings.
Aug 23, 2009
Photo of pinotboy007
Reviewed by pinotboy007 from Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
750 ml ceramic bottle purchased from Thorpe's in East Greenwich, RI.

A - In a Duvel tulip, dark brown/root beer-like appearance with a thick, khaki cap with bubbles and lace. Very nice!

S - Malted coffee laced with grapefruit and leather.

T - Sweet malts with a sharp grapefruit/pine hoppiness; finishes with a bittering dryness that lasts for at least a minute. The alcohol is there but it's not scorching.

M - Exceptional for the style. Medium bodied, with soft carbonation; creamy. The hops actually add a surprising bit of "freshness" making this simple to down.

D - The high ABV inhibits my scoring (not to mention the silly ceramic bottle, impressive as it is). This might pair with ribs rather well. If this came in a can or bottle I'd buy more.
Jul 11, 2009
Photo of beachbum1975
Reviewed by beachbum1975 from Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." ~Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Rest In Peace, Brew Dawg (1993-2006)

Presented in a 750ml ceramic bottle with Rogue Brew Dawg dog tags wrapped around the neck.

After a modest pop of the pry off cap, it pours out a deep ruddy to amber color with a huge massive, light tan head. Thing of beauty to look at...

There's a lot going on with the nose... Complex malts (hazelnut and toffee) with a fair amount of earthy and piney hops and light juniper.

Taste dictates the nose. Surprisingly low carbonation in the mouthfeel, but smooth and enjoyable, none the less.

This was very nice, but not worth $22+ in my opinion.
Jul 05, 2009
Photo of Floydster
Reviewed by Floydster from California

3.51/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
750 ml ceramic bottle purchased from Bottle Trek for a little over twenty bucks a few months back, the last beer of the night that I drank with my dad and buddy yesterday, poured into my Duvel tulip glass, dark brown, 1 ¼ inch off white head, lacing the whole time, even after a swirl towards the end of the glass, aroma consists of citrus, huge sweet malts, also a large presence of piney hoppiness, earthiness, and grapefruit, taste begins with bitter and dry hops, some toasted malts in the middle but earthy flavors take over quickly, more hops in the finish, mostly grapefruit but some pine still too, dry, earthy, and malty mouthfeel, medium bodied, well carbonated, taste lingers a long time, could have probably drank this bottle, not too filling, alcohol is mostly hidden, would drink again but not with this huge price tag, not worth the money in my opinion
Jul 03, 2009
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured a darkish brown with gigantic head that just wouldn't die off. A mix of toffee, caramel and some breadiness along with some heavier hops in the smell. The taste/mouthfeel is more of the same with a chewey, thicker body that is both heavy in sweet malts/dry malts and hops, for a taste that is both sweet and dry, and well-balanced to boot. To me, the malts really come through as I was tasting toffee, caramel, and some light chocolate and picked up some sticky syrupiness on the sides. Citric and floral hops on the backend moreso than anywhere else lead to that dry, crisp finish. A great beer and I'm glad I got one.
May 26, 2009
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.41/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
"Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends."

--Alexander Pope

Apricots and cherries covered in melted caramel (with bright orange accents). The golden brown sugar colored crown is at least three fingers thick after a spirited pour. The cap is a marvelous mass of sticky bubbles that are beginning to blast the glass with loads of cheese grater-like lace. Outstanding!

The nose features toasted brown bread (Munich malt) covered in caramel (caramel malt) and tropical fruit (Simcoe and Centennial hops). Newport hops are present as well, but they're more of a workhorse, bittering hop. If Brewer's Ale 2008 tastes as good as it smells, then look out.

I don't care how many ways John Maier devises to combine the four basic ingredients, he almost always deliver the goods. His secret (other than a great deal of talent) is to use plenty of ingredients. Especially hops. Even though this big brew just celebrated its first birthway, it's still hugely hoptastic.

The nutty earthiness of the Munich malt (not one of my favorites) is easily countered by flavors of English toffee, scented pipe tobacco, brandy-soaked apricots, bitter orange zest and pink grapefruit peel. Rogue should use Simcoe hops more often. The contrast between sweet and bitter is ultimately decided in favor of the latter. Man oh man, this must have been some humdinger when fresh.

Subsequent pours look even more amazing, giving me no choice but to grant the ultimate appearance score. I hate to sound like a scratched CD, but this brewery is one of the best mouthfeel breweries in these United States. This one is medium-full, soft, silky smooth and supremely enjoyable.

If dogs are man's best friends, then Rogue Ales is a beer lover's best friend. One of them anyway. Brewer's Ale 2008 carries on the tradition of big beer excellence from one of this country's gems. If you see this beauty in the stores, buy as much as your budget allows. Cheaper (in bombers) and a regular release is probably too much to hope for. R.I.P. Brew Dawg (1993-2006).
May 10, 2009
Brewer's Ale 2008 from Rogue Ales
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 63 ratings