Santa's Private Reserve Ale
Rogue Ales

Santa's Private Reserve AleSanta's Private Reserve Ale
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From:
Rogue Ales
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #117
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,207
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 13.64%
Reviews:
1,212
Ratings:
2,383
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 28, 2023
Added:
Nov 29, 2001
Wants:
  76
Gots:
  305
10 Ingredients:
Carastan 30-37 & 13-17, Crystal 70-80 & Rogue Micro Barley Farm Dare™ & Risk™ Malts; Chinook & Rogue Farm Revolution & Freedom Hops; Free Range Coastal Water and Pacman Yeast.

13º PLATO
65 IBU
73.1 AA
26.75º L
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ChrisCage:
Photo of ChrisCage
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)

3.69/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A- This has a very hazy reddish hued slightly brown color to it. The head isn't very thick upon the initial pour, however, the tan colored foam retains very well and a thick film clings to the beer itself as well as providing a sticky lace on my glass. Also, I really like the label, with a mean looking Santa, with arms resting on the Rogue lable....mug 'o beer in hand.

S- The aroma is primarily of hops, and the fresh, Northwest Chinook smell is dominant. Behind this, a subtle, yet noticeable roasty malt comes through. This overall aromas are earthy, and remind me of cedar and pine that is damp.

T- Initially, the flavor is of robust, moderately sweet roasted malt and blackstrap molasses. The amount of hops used in this provide a very fresh, leafy and distinct bitter finish, that borders on astringent after the swallow. It's balanced enough that the bitterness doesn't overpower the entire character of the beer.

M- In between light and medium...it isn't real thick but just a notch above being watery. It's quite creamy, as the carbonation is fine and doesn't overtake the palate. The bubbles do however really bring out the hop flavors upon combustion. The flavor really lingers long after each drink.

D- This is a balanced red ale, but definitely leans more toward the American Amber style. The alcohol is well hidden, which could lead to trouble, this being 6% and all. I like the the beer overall, but I think I'd stop after two of these max. I recommend trying this one out.
May 27, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.93 by Ox8840bo from Illinois

Dec 28, 2023
Photo of Cm55
Reviewed by Cm55

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Can
L-dark with tan creamy head with leaves a few fingers
S-acidic and sharp, with undertones of earth
T-slightly sour with a vegetal component. The toffee attempt seems to have gone sideways here. Finished with hints of cocoa but that is layered on top of bitter and sour flavors
F-smooth and medium
O-a strange beer that would honestly be a pretty good field and vegetable ale where sourness is expected - but didn’t hit the mark for a seasonal stout.
Dec 04, 2023
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2022 Can from the Advent Box.
Dark brown with faint garnet at the edges and a frothy tan head that slowly recedes. Sweet sugary stout with hints of roast and chocolate. Faint citrus light earthy hops. Odd but it works.
Dec 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3 by prisdefer from New York

Dec 21, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. Head retention is very good.

Smell: It has strong tangerine aroma almost like a liquor with chocolate notes intermixed. The aromas are sweet and candy like.

Taste: The chocolate is more prominent in the flavor with the tangerine being equal. There are some tropical flavors that remind me of tropical skittles.

Feel: It has a medium body with a sweet finish.

Overall, a very candy like and chocolate beer.
Dec 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by kraut6363 from Pennsylvania

Jan 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.98 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 26, 2021
 
Rated: 3.74 by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania

Feb 17, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Nov 09, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From old, undated notes. Poured from the bottle.

Deep rust color; barely see-through.

Bright white head; nice lacing.

Citrus hop nose with malt undertones. Smells good.

Medium mouthfeel. Hop forward with a nice citrus bite; slight roasted notes underneath. Tastes like a red IPA.

Unique & quite quaffable, but this is for hop lovers only.
Sep 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by toast9 from New Jersey

Feb 09, 2019
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle, it pours a brownish color with a modest light tan head that lasts a bit. Lacing as you enjoy it. In the nose, Scent is light, but the taste is dark fruits and malt predominantly.
Feb 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.15 by J_Arbizzle from Kansas

Jan 15, 2019
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.51/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Here I go off the reservation yet again, but I can't help it. If you like bitter - and I do - this one's for you. Clear, dark amber colored pour, with a dense off-white head that lasts forever leaving tons of pretty lacing. Very well balanced with lots of complexity. Notes of dark bread, caramel, and dark fruit, with a little tart cherry and lots of resiny bitterness that lingers from start to finish. Malty, bitter, and delicious. What more could you ask for?
Dec 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Dec 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by eluvah from New York

Dec 02, 2018
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

3.63/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From notes 6/17/12: Pours a murky brown producing 2 finger of frothy, short-lived, tan head that leaves only a little thin lacing. Aroma is dark bread, toast, honey, caramel, floral and resinous pine hops. Taste is hop heavy pine/spruce bitterness throughout the sip but especially in the finish and aftertaste. The malt is plentiful with dark bread, fig, prune, molasses,some smoke, alcohol with a vague hint of wood. This review is from old notes and my example was the 2012 version. I understand they change the recipe every so often (not sure it it changes ever year or not). You could be fooled into thinking the 2012 version was a Winter Warmer based on the name and label, its far too hoppy for that (and too hoppy for an American Amber/Red Ale also).
Dec 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by BeerDreadz from Florida

Nov 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Nov 22, 2018
Santa's Private Reserve Ale from Rogue Ales
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 2383 ratings