XS Old Crustacean
Rogue Ales


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- From:
- Rogue Ales
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
Ranked #116 - ABV:
- 11.5%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #10,410 - Avg:
- 4.01 | pDev: 13.22%
- Reviews:
- 721
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 22, 2021
- Added:
- Jan 03, 2001
- Wants:
- 120
- Gots:
- 165
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding


Notes:
Formerly "Old Crustacean"
8 Ingredients:
Hugh Baird Carastan and Rogue Micro Barley Farm DareTM & RiskTM Malts; Chinook and Rogue Micro Hopyard Revolution & Freedom Hops, Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.
25º PLATO
110 IBU
83 AA
57º Lovibond
8 Ingredients:
Hugh Baird Carastan and Rogue Micro Barley Farm DareTM & RiskTM Malts; Chinook and Rogue Micro Hopyard Revolution & Freedom Hops, Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.
25º PLATO
110 IBU
83 AA
57º Lovibond
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2013 vintage. Poured from a beautiful ceramic bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Cloudy copper pour with 1.5 fingers of off-white head. Nice ring of lacing.
S: Hops and malts. Big and boozy.
T.F: Just like it smells. Semi-sweet toasted malts/grains. Loads of pine... caramel and citrus. Earth and spice... more citrus and fruit. Boozy and warming. Medium bodied... moderate bitterness. More malts/hops to finish.
O: A big but fairly drinkable American Barleywine. Lots going on, and for being nearly 7 years in the cellar this one held up quite well. Bonus points for such a gorgeous bottle.
Dec 22, 2021L: Cloudy copper pour with 1.5 fingers of off-white head. Nice ring of lacing.
S: Hops and malts. Big and boozy.
T.F: Just like it smells. Semi-sweet toasted malts/grains. Loads of pine... caramel and citrus. Earth and spice... more citrus and fruit. Boozy and warming. Medium bodied... moderate bitterness. More malts/hops to finish.
O: A big but fairly drinkable American Barleywine. Lots going on, and for being nearly 7 years in the cellar this one held up quite well. Bonus points for such a gorgeous bottle.
Reviewed by blazerkor from Nevada
4/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It smells malty, funky and strong.
Bitterness hits you first and then a ton of complex malts and yeasts.
Thin bodied with a long fruity bitter finish.
Really good 4.8 out of 6
May 10, 2021Bitterness hits you first and then a ton of complex malts and yeasts.
Thin bodied with a long fruity bitter finish.
Really good 4.8 out of 6
Rated by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
4.17/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A little too hoppy for my taste but a good American style Barleywine.
Feb 17, 2021Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.56/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottle, under some obscure Japanese name, sampled at HaandBryggeriet, Drammen, Norway. Deep copper colour, decent beige head. Intense aroma and flavour dominated by caramel malts, plenty of sweetness. Full and rich mouthfeel. Pretty impressive, I guess, if you’re on the caramel wagon.
Dec 06, 2020Reviewed by Riff from Virginia
3.79/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a reddish-brown, darker and leaning more towards the brown. Head is creamy, pillowy, leaves behind some nice lacing. Smell is molasses and pine, fairly faint. Taste is bready malt, molasses, pine, caramel, and dark fruits. Medium body. Really benefited from warming up, at first the bitterness from the hops was quite powerful, warmth allows for the softer fruit and sweet notes to come out.
Jan 12, 2019Reviewed by BerryKumquat from California
4.75/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
L: Dark golden amber colors.
S: Strong barley wine flavors.
T: Strong ride of strange dark flavors.
F: Very heavy and dark.
O: A very dark beer unlike any other that exists.
Nov 22, 2018S: Strong barley wine flavors.
T: Strong ride of strange dark flavors.
F: Very heavy and dark.
O: A very dark beer unlike any other that exists.
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.27/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2016 bottling
Appearance: Pours a tawny burnt orange color with a rocky two finger ecru head; good retention and plenty of lacing action
Smell: Resinous pine tones abound, with notes of char, molasses, raisin, cherry and cocoa
Taste: Resinous, with cocoa and molasses forward; the raisin, cherry add a fruity dimension; through the middle, an earthy/piney bitterness builds powerfully as the 105 IBUs take over and dominate the finish
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: Not in the very top echelon of barleywines I have tasted but not far off, either
Nov 17, 2018Appearance: Pours a tawny burnt orange color with a rocky two finger ecru head; good retention and plenty of lacing action
Smell: Resinous pine tones abound, with notes of char, molasses, raisin, cherry and cocoa
Taste: Resinous, with cocoa and molasses forward; the raisin, cherry add a fruity dimension; through the middle, an earthy/piney bitterness builds powerfully as the 105 IBUs take over and dominate the finish
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: Not in the very top echelon of barleywines I have tasted but not far off, either
Reviewed by craftaholic from New York
4.24/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A rich amber mahoganny hue which captures an array of glowing autumnal radiance. There's a thin veil of pillowy lace that rests atop. Has a strong note of diesel on first whiff which develops into a burnt caramel sweetness. The sip is reminiscent of an oaked cognac with flavors that dance on your palate.
Oct 12, 2018Reviewed by siskiyoucellar from Oregon
4.89/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.89/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is the 2013, in my cellar for five years. And it is sublime, a really heavenly beer drinking experience. It is only fair to say though that after five years in the bottle it’s not very beautiful. It does have a nice head, even after this long, and a nice orangish barleywine glow, but it’s a bit muddy at this point. But the aroma is a different matter entirely, one of the most wonderful I have ever encountered. Sharp with hops - again, even after five years - rich with honeyed malts, it is so powerful that is just explodes into my olfactory senses. And the taste is just as amazing, so complex that it is different with every sip. There are berries and caramel and smoke and brown sugar and tart apples and much, much more. The feel is excellent, with balanced body and carbonation. Fabulous, one of the best beers to ever come out of my cellar.
Update: tonight I cracked another that had been in the cellar for two years (though dated 2015). It’s excellent, but not nearly the equal of the 5-year-old. I’d give it somewhere in the 4.3 range.
Jul 03, 2018Update: tonight I cracked another that had been in the cellar for two years (though dated 2015). It’s excellent, but not nearly the equal of the 5-year-old. I’d give it somewhere in the 4.3 range.
Reviewed by yesterdayfaraway from Missouri
3.43/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.43/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
2013 edition
L: pours clear bronze color with a finger of off white head
S: sweet caramel and raisins with slight bitterness
T: big bitterness throughout, a touch a caramel sweetness.
F: thick, but with lots of carbonation and a dry finish.
Jan 17, 2018L: pours clear bronze color with a finger of off white head
S: sweet caramel and raisins with slight bitterness
T: big bitterness throughout, a touch a caramel sweetness.
F: thick, but with lots of carbonation and a dry finish.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.68/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a rusty brownish amber color, the malty tones, the 1/4" light tan head, more off white I guess. Aroma of booziness and caramel maltiness.
Taste drops a substantial amount of that foresty pacnw Chinook hop when you have this one fresh. This one transforms similar to Bigfoot when aged. Sticky caramel malt and maris otter draped all over this one. While it is plenty warming, the alcohol doesn't stay too heavy for too long. A very slight impression of wood from the malt tone. I figure this one clocks in around 90 ibu. This one drinks somewhere between old school barleywines like Old Foghorn and Bigfoot. Not as sweet as the Anchor, but not as hoppy as the Sierra Nevada.
Jan 14, 2018Taste drops a substantial amount of that foresty pacnw Chinook hop when you have this one fresh. This one transforms similar to Bigfoot when aged. Sticky caramel malt and maris otter draped all over this one. While it is plenty warming, the alcohol doesn't stay too heavy for too long. A very slight impression of wood from the malt tone. I figure this one clocks in around 90 ibu. This one drinks somewhere between old school barleywines like Old Foghorn and Bigfoot. Not as sweet as the Anchor, but not as hoppy as the Sierra Nevada.
Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia
4.24/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - murky brown with some clarity near the bottom and around the edges with a large tan head that sticks around and leaves a decent amount lacing behind.
S - Sweet bready malt with bitter hops - otherwise a really faint smell.
T - Sweet bready malt and barely up front followed behind by bitter hops. Intermixed are notes of caramel and dried fruits as well as some citrus.
F - Medium to full bodied with a light to medium amount of carbonation. Somewhat chewy.
O - A really nice standard barelywine - everything seems pretty spot on and done very well with nothing crazy or over the top.
Jan 14, 2018S - Sweet bready malt with bitter hops - otherwise a really faint smell.
T - Sweet bready malt and barely up front followed behind by bitter hops. Intermixed are notes of caramel and dried fruits as well as some citrus.
F - Medium to full bodied with a light to medium amount of carbonation. Somewhat chewy.
O - A really nice standard barelywine - everything seems pretty spot on and done very well with nothing crazy or over the top.
Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York
4.01/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Served in a snifter glass from a fresh 2017 bottle.
Appearance: dark amber color coming off with medium bubbles creating an orange tinted white head rising just about two finger's length off the body. Lacing not sticky at all, drops quickly after the first sip.
Smell: light malt scent not exactly super strong.
Taste: Softly bitter and touch of honey consisting of floral and citrus. Hybrid brew which crosses the plane of IPA and barley wine.
Mouth: sticky brew which I'm painting with chips and you feel that after taste just linger.
Overall: Very good brew but deceiving in regards to the name. Not exactly barleywine, but still a pretty good beer. Always in a glass and I say if you see it on a shelf grab it. Salud!
Jan 08, 2018Appearance: dark amber color coming off with medium bubbles creating an orange tinted white head rising just about two finger's length off the body. Lacing not sticky at all, drops quickly after the first sip.
Smell: light malt scent not exactly super strong.
Taste: Softly bitter and touch of honey consisting of floral and citrus. Hybrid brew which crosses the plane of IPA and barley wine.
Mouth: sticky brew which I'm painting with chips and you feel that after taste just linger.
Overall: Very good brew but deceiving in regards to the name. Not exactly barleywine, but still a pretty good beer. Always in a glass and I say if you see it on a shelf grab it. Salud!
Reviewed by Pray_For_Mojo from Colorado
3.93/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cellared 5 years. Poured into a tulip.
Appearance: dark chestnut-brown with considerable haze. The head is a light tan ½ finger with good retention.
Aroma: sweet malt with hints of molasses and raisins. Alcohol is not readily detectable but you know its there.
Flavor: sweet – but not overly so, with molasses and raisins as in the nose. Alcohol is present, but it is more in the background.
Mouthfeel: medium-medium
Overall: this was enjoyable. A quality barleywine but not the best – really middle of the pack. I wouldn’t buy this again. It is good, but I’d prefer trying other breweries’ barleywines before returning to this one.
May 15, 2017Appearance: dark chestnut-brown with considerable haze. The head is a light tan ½ finger with good retention.
Aroma: sweet malt with hints of molasses and raisins. Alcohol is not readily detectable but you know its there.
Flavor: sweet – but not overly so, with molasses and raisins as in the nose. Alcohol is present, but it is more in the background.
Mouthfeel: medium-medium
Overall: this was enjoyable. A quality barleywine but not the best – really middle of the pack. I wouldn’t buy this again. It is good, but I’d prefer trying other breweries’ barleywines before returning to this one.
XS Old Crustacean from Rogue Ales
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
1312 ratings
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