Brutal
Rogue Ales
- From:
- Rogue Ales
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- English IPA
- ABV:
- 6.2%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.96 | pDev: 10.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1,138
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 15, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 28, 2001
- Wants:
- 105
- Gots:
- 299
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
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.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.85/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
RB transfer
Jan 15, 2026
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4.13/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Solid IPA. Deep golden color with a nice, white head. Not much of a citrus bomb, especially in comparison with NEIPAs, Pine, malt, some citrus, and strong bitterness will get you satisfied.
May 24, 2025
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
3.89/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
(shaker pint pour at the Newport taphouse on 5 Jul 2024... reviwed from notes and recollections)
notes: dirty pour (chill? hazy)... an amber (ale) maltiness but with (again) dirty, British, spicy-pine, herbal-bitter flavor... light note of dried fruit
recollections: the pour was a bit brutal, with no foam and a haze that was either from a frozen glass or who-knows-what in the beer (/lines)... the beer itself was rather good and, yes, a sort of hybrid of an ESB and pale, WC IPA... 'amber' I meant in its malt flavors and not the color of the liquid, which was a straw gold... shame I never jumped on this the rare times I saw bottles out east here; I'm not sure I'd drink this with any habit, but this was a tasty drop that I wish I could've had another pint of on another day (2340)
Jul 11, 2024notes: dirty pour (chill? hazy)... an amber (ale) maltiness but with (again) dirty, British, spicy-pine, herbal-bitter flavor... light note of dried fruit
recollections: the pour was a bit brutal, with no foam and a haze that was either from a frozen glass or who-knows-what in the beer (/lines)... the beer itself was rather good and, yes, a sort of hybrid of an ESB and pale, WC IPA... 'amber' I meant in its malt flavors and not the color of the liquid, which was a straw gold... shame I never jumped on this the rare times I saw bottles out east here; I'm not sure I'd drink this with any habit, but this was a tasty drop that I wish I could've had another pint of on another day (2340)
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, 2020
Reviewed 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.
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