-
Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more. Thanks! — Todd
Brutal
Rogue Ales


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Rogue Ales
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- English IPA
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 6.2%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #12,975 - Avg:
- 3.96 | pDev: 10.86%
- Reviews:
- 1,136
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 26, 2021
- Added:
- Aug 28, 2001
- Wants:
- 104
- Gots:
- 300
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good


Notes:
Formerly known as Brutal IPA, Brutal Bitter Ale, and Portland State IPA (2010).
An Imperial bitter with exotic traditional floor malts, citrusy, hoppy flavor and stupendous hop aroma. Rogue brewmaster John Maier describes his Brutal IPA as a cross between a Very Extra Special Bitter and an Indian Pale Ale. Hedonistic!
8 INGREDIENTS: 2-Row, Carawheat, C15 & Rogue Farms Dare™ & Risk™ Malts; Rogue Farms Alluvial™ Hops; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.
15° Plato / 46 IBU / 81 AA / 13° Lovibond
An Imperial bitter with exotic traditional floor malts, citrusy, hoppy flavor and stupendous hop aroma. Rogue brewmaster John Maier describes his Brutal IPA as a cross between a Very Extra Special Bitter and an Indian Pale Ale. Hedonistic!
8 INGREDIENTS: 2-Row, Carawheat, C15 & Rogue Farms Dare™ & Risk™ Malts; Rogue Farms Alluvial™ Hops; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.
15° Plato / 46 IBU / 81 AA / 13° Lovibond
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.89/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Deep golden to orange colour, hazy, big white head. Very nice aroma of fruity Crystal hops, notes of oranges and tropical fruits. The flavour is distinctly hoppy from start to finish, "bitter" - well yes indeed, but not "brutal". Fairly dry, a more pronounced maltiness would not hurt. Still, a very pleasant and drinkable beer as it is.
Dec 06, 2020Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Rogue Brewer's on the Bay
A: Pours copper amber with a frothy being head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Floral, slightly spicy herbal notes, a touch of citrus, toasty bready malt, and a little caramel toffee sweetness.
T: Floral leads the way, slightly herbal notes, a bit of cirtus, orange and lemon, slightly toasty bready malt, and a little almost toffee sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: I am a sucker for a good English IPA so this hits the spot.
Apr 16, 2019A: Pours copper amber with a frothy being head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Floral, slightly spicy herbal notes, a touch of citrus, toasty bready malt, and a little caramel toffee sweetness.
T: Floral leads the way, slightly herbal notes, a bit of cirtus, orange and lemon, slightly toasty bready malt, and a little almost toffee sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: I am a sucker for a good English IPA so this hits the spot.
Reviewed by VoodooBear from Puerto Rico
2.96/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.96/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle, served in a tulip glass.
Appearance: Small one finger head that goes away quickly. Cloudy dark gold color. The lacing is pretty weak.
Smell: It's not that aromatic. There's some piney hop notes, some citrus peel and grain.
Taste: It starts with a big tangerine, citrus, hoppy taste and then transitions to a strong caramel malt backbone as it goes down. Neither one is dominant and there's a good balance between bitterness and sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Medium high carbonation and cloying. Not much to say here.
Overall: Rogue describes this as "a cross between a Very Extra Special Bitter and an Indian Pale Ale." The description is quite fitting and it makes for a an interesting beer, but not an outstanding or incredibly good one. The taste profile is nice but the lack of aroma and the cloying mouth feel knock it down a couple of pegs.
Aug 25, 2018Appearance: Small one finger head that goes away quickly. Cloudy dark gold color. The lacing is pretty weak.
Smell: It's not that aromatic. There's some piney hop notes, some citrus peel and grain.
Taste: It starts with a big tangerine, citrus, hoppy taste and then transitions to a strong caramel malt backbone as it goes down. Neither one is dominant and there's a good balance between bitterness and sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Medium high carbonation and cloying. Not much to say here.
Overall: Rogue describes this as "a cross between a Very Extra Special Bitter and an Indian Pale Ale." The description is quite fitting and it makes for a an interesting beer, but not an outstanding or incredibly good one. The taste profile is nice but the lack of aroma and the cloying mouth feel knock it down a couple of pegs.
Reviewed by lmaduells from Spain
3.51/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.51/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A beer that seems to be made by mass consumption. The beer is fine but I have found a standard beer, without any appeal that makes it different. M has left quite indifferent. The best, the tag.
May 03, 2018Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa
4.27/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12-once bottle into a nonic pint glass. Quite a handsome pour, hazy dark orange colored body capped off with a thick white head that left some pretty ladder lacing as it settled. Big malt presence, with lots of bitterness and a clean, dry, and slightly astringent finish. I could see this as a dynamite pairing with pub food. This was a pleasant surprise. Well thought out, well executed. Sometimes it pays to go Rogue!
Apr 30, 2018Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
4.15/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
**
05/27/13
aroma is orange tangerine citrus touch of pine/evergreen. Hoppy, but not overpowering. Hazy yellow-Orange color. Taste is crisp citrus. Very nice. Creamy white head, above average Carbonation. A really pleasant beer. This reminds me why I love rogue.
**
Apr 21, 201805/27/13
aroma is orange tangerine citrus touch of pine/evergreen. Hoppy, but not overpowering. Hazy yellow-Orange color. Taste is crisp citrus. Very nice. Creamy white head, above average Carbonation. A really pleasant beer. This reminds me why I love rogue.
**
Rated by Nass from Florida
3.44/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
3.44/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Piney and refreshing with some slight floral on the finish. I recommend this IPA. Cheers! B-
Feb 22, 2018Rated by devo1980 from Pennsylvania
3.38/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
It is ok . Enjoyed it. Smooth. Decent taste like a red ale.
Dec 05, 2017
Brutal from Rogue Ales
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
2342 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!