AltBier (JLS Release #15)
Rogue Ales

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Rogue Ales
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Altbier
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 12.53%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
18
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 11, 2012
Added:
Jul 12, 2006
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by granger10:
Photo of granger10
Reviewed by granger10 from Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Another interesting offering from the Rogue JLS. Clearer brownish color with touches of crimson throughout. Medium white head maitains itself. Not too much lacing. Smell is bready almost grainy, definitely a German malt influence. But then there's a nostril burn. Holy bitterness. Taste is very similar. There's a German malty sweetness that almost seems Oktoberfest style with the toasted caramel sweetness. A touch of flavor hops come in with an earthy bitterness but that is almost immediately drowned out by the alpha acid bitterness. Bitterness carries through to the end. Just too much, this beer loses drinkability and complexity. Not bad, actually decent but I don't think I'd get this again. It's no alt.
Aug 09, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by hanlonrn from Virginia

Jul 11, 2012
Photo of WAP
Reviewed by WAP from Alabama

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a hazy copper with a thin head that, surprisingly, left a moderate amount of lacing. Smell was slightly sweet but nothing stood out. Taste was very nice and surprisingly well balanced -- pronounced sweetness and dark fruit overtones balanced by floral, slightly spicy hops. Very drinkable - a nice effort from Rogue.
Feb 23, 2007
Photo of badbeer
Reviewed by badbeer from Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a deep amber color with a soft pillowy white head that left excellent lacing. The lacing came down in rings almost as if cask conditioned, which is weird because others have described little to no head. Smell was a bit floral and fruity, light citrus, and a hint of biscuit. Taste was very good. Had a nice malt backbone to it, caramel like flavors balanced nicely with the hops, still leaning towards the hoppy side though. Mouthfeel was a bit lighter than medium bodied, and somewhat low carbonation, but seemed to fit pretty well. Very drinkable beer, I plan on stopping by for a few more pints before it runs out.
Jan 30, 2007
Photo of neonbrown82
Reviewed by neonbrown82 from Nebraska

4.59/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This is a damn good beer. One of the best I've had from Rogue. On tap at the Sanctuary in Iowa City. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to try it, given that altbier is one of my favorite styles, and it is often not brewed by Americans (or anywhere outside of Dusseldorf, for that matter).

The beer pours with very little head to speak of. Less than a centimeter. Needless to say retention is a non-factor. Lacing is actually half decent, however. The beer itself is a nice deep brownish copper. Would have looked much more attractive with some head to it.

The smell is very good, however. Nice malty presence, along with some fruity esters. Almost seems like mango or pomegranate. Some spicy and floral noble hops thrown in for good measure.

The taste is excellent. Some nice dark malty sweet flavors from caramelized malts. Very smooth and light. Very nice hops flavor. The esters complement the hops quite well. The alcohol is nowhere to be found, though after two pints I can definitely feel it.

The body is very light, almost as if I'm drinking water. The carbonation is very subtle as well. The bitterness from the hops washes away almost instantly, leaving only the dry hopped flavor and a great caramel malt flavor. Very drinkable, though it takes its toll on me. Seems to be at doppelsticke strength, but doesn't quite taste like one at all. Far too light. A very good alt, however. As a plus, it doesn't taste like pacman.
Jan 21, 2007
Photo of TiMX
Reviewed by TiMX from Oregon

4.83/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is a exceptional Altbier. Once again Rouge and John Maier have out done themselves. You don’t find many Altbiers in these days of ultra hoppy micros. If you get a chance you owe it to your self to try this one. OG = 12.7 degrees plato, TG = 3.1 degrees plato, IBU are around 55
Jan 17, 2007
Photo of rhoadsrage
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
(served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer has a warm dark brown body that is pretty dense and doesn't let much light through. The head is a thick tan mousey mat that last a good long while. No sign of carbonation in that body.

S- The smell of spicy green hops had a faint toasted malt note that was nice but a bit hidden. It came through more as I got used to the hops and the beer warmed a bit.

T- The taste of green piney hops was all I got from the first few sips. The slight sweet toasted malt note was fresh and tasty but overpowered by the hops. As it warmed the hops be came a bit more spicy but the malt was always in the background. The malt had a nice fresh toasted bread note in the finish.

M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with a chewy texture in the finish. I was surprised by the fullness.

D- This beer has a big hop character with a fresh but faint malt flavor. It was a nice beer and well crafted but it left me wanting more malt.
Sep 28, 2006
Photo of Kendo
Reviewed by Kendo from New York

2.76/5  rDev -29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Got it on tap at the Ginger Man in NYC yesterday (9/13/06).

A: Slightly hazy copper/amber with a 2-finger off-white head. It left some lacing as I drank it.

S: Very faint, especially at first, but as it warmed I could smell the sweet malt as well as the bitter hops. It was still pretty faint, however.

T: Sour was the word that kept coming to mind. I wrote down "lemony citrus" and "sour patch kids," so that will give you some sense of what I was tasting. I really couldn't get past that sour flavor.

M: Feels pretty highly-carbonated and fizzy.

D: Not so much. I forced myself to drink the entire 20 oz pint, but it wasn't easy. The more I got used to that sourness, the easier it was, but it still took me quite awhile.

Notes: This is probably the first Rogue beer I've ever had that I didn't like. I considered bringing it to the attention of the bartender when I took the first sip and was assaulted by that astringent sourness, but I wasn't really sure if the keg had gone bad or if it was just me or maybe that was the taste Rogue was going for. In any event, it wasn't at all what I was expecting for an altbier. I'd like to sample it again someplace else to see if maybe I just got a bad beer yesterday.
Sep 14, 2006
Photo of Enola
Reviewed by Enola from North Carolina

3.41/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer was a hazy mahogany color. There was little head and no carbonation. The smell was a little spicey. The taste was of spiced apple cider. There was somewhat of a winter warmer taste to it but nothing too strong. The mouthfeel was smooth and the drinkability was good but could have been better. A good beer.
Aug 19, 2006
Photo of PSUDREW
Reviewed by PSUDREW from Pennsylvania

3.47/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a very nice, deep amber color. Very deep floral, and somewhat grassy nose. Rather pleasing at that.

The taste is pretty refreshing. dominant citrus tase, with a solid maly backbone There is a nice interplay between the hop flavor and the malt sweetness. I think it blances out nicely.

Rather drinkable and pretty refreshing I think this brew makes a great mix
Aug 12, 2006
Photo of MuddyFeet
Reviewed by MuddyFeet from North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on-tap at Redbones with my lunch with Warriorsoul and Truh. Poured into a pint glass.

Dull mohagany in color with a foamy white head. Hardly clear but not hazy. Nose was very mild and was just slightly of biscuits.

Flavor was very simple but exquisitely balanced. Malts and hops were bother very mild. Sweet malts countered with just a sprig of bitterness. Also some very pleasant tones of biscuits and cookies. Light outhfeel that was perhaps a touch watery but it seemed appropriate. Very nice beer.
Aug 11, 2006
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

3.36/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Landmark 1850 Inn in Milwaukee.

Pours dark read with a small white head. Very hazy and frothy.

Smell is a stark mixture featuring crisp bock malt and intense, funky foothop. Where are you Pac Man! Daddy needs you!!!

Tastes bitter and soapy. Good malt, I guess, but the hops are too funky and there's none of that usual Rogue pac man goodness. It's there, according to the Rogue website, but the funkhop just outweighs it.

Solid body but this must have quite the alcohol content because it was kicking me in the ass.
Aug 10, 2006
Photo of GCBrewingCo
Reviewed by GCBrewingCo from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer arrived on the bar lightly hazy amber brown with a well lasting white head which laced the glass.

The aroma was nicely malty with a toasty presence and a slight nuttiness. Also present was some chocolate.

The flavor was quite aggressive with hops, citrusy and seeming just a bit out of style for an Altbier. Caramel malt and the same toasty/nutty character was notable but with a very well achieved bittering level.

The finish was dry with a long lasting hop presence into the aftertaste and beyond but the malt impression was never too far behind. The body was just above medium and nice with a creamy mouthfeel. The website shows the hops as spalt, but they seemed a bit American to me. Still a very nice beer!

Pint at Barley's in Greenville, SC.
Aug 04, 2006
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.27/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a hazy iced tea color and a small head that provides little retention or lacing

Smell: Balanced aromas of caramel and hops

Taste: Starts with a fruity caramel flavor that is quickly joined by a surprising degree of piney hoppiness that lasts into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Nice and hoppy with a good malt backbone; not necessarily a classic Alt, but what would you expect from Rogue?
Jul 28, 2006
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Rogue Public House in Portland.

Appearance: hazy copper in color with a 1" head that fell quickly to a thick surface foam. Nice lacing develops.

Smell: caramel sweetness is all that is detectable.

Taste: brown sugars, caramel, toasted nuts, pepper, a bit of alcohol, and some soft pine hops bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Smooth throughout. The aftertaste is short on the alcohol tones and caramels.

Drinkability: easy drinking for the style. A serious altbier here. Find this on tap and enjoy.
Jul 28, 2006
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Nice to see a new JLS release so early here in western NY,poured a dull brownish red color with a very thin wispy head that really didnt stick around for long.In typical Rogue fashion the piney,citrusy hop shows itself in the aroma and later flavor of this beer a big brown sugar-like sweetness comes thru in the nose and and flavor for that matter up front along with a biscuity note but the hops hit with a big dose of resiny pine and grapefruit that lingers for sometime.Traditional no not really although its firm somewhat sweet malt base is nice for the style the American northwest shows thru wich put this offering in very high category for me,well done if you get a chance to try it take it.
Jul 20, 2006
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
In true Rogue style: OG = 12.7 degrees plato, TG = 3.1 degrees plato, IBU are around 55...this german style interpretation appears a dark copper slightly cloudy amber forms a nice off white head leaves behind thin lacing as it dwindles down. Aromatics contain piney hop characteristics with a touch of mild fruitiness with some bready yeast tones and caramel toasty malt presence. Taste is upfront bitter especially for an alt, "Rogue" gives it their style for sure with more herbal fresh cut pine with mild malt sweetness touch of caramel nut and it finishes dry on the palate. Mouthfeel is medium bodied evenly carbonated yet tended to tickle the back of the throat just a bit. Drinkability...aggressive gloves off version of a favorite German style ale thanks to our Northwestern friends for keeping it west coast on this one.
Jul 12, 2006
AltBier (JLS Release #15) from Rogue Ales
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 18 ratings