Why Do So Many People Hate Rogue Ales?

Could one reason be that there are from Oregon? Meaning some people may not like the west coast mentality that they exhibit.

 

I've always liked Rogue, and thought their pride in being the most expensive microbrewery on the shelf to be Quixotic.

In recent years retail prices of many of their labels and formats have been matched by labels and formats in similar styles brewed by more than a handful of different Craft breweries, so the rest of the segment is catching-up on them, price wise.

 

don't hate them, but think all their beers are mediocre or worse.

 

They are the Spencer's Gifts of craft beer.

 

...AND they have been around a while and SOMEBODY is keeping them in business....

 

If you've never tried their Dirtoir black lager, that's another one they did exceptionally well! Actually their entire Organic series did more things right than wrong...

 

How about a bit long in the tooth by the time they get in these parts, more expensive than anyone else and they put out some AWFUL AWFUL beers at times- for which they charge a fortune.

 

They made, hands down, the absolute worst beer I have ever had. We also had a really bad experience at one of their Portland pubs. The server was totally rude, he knocked my wife's drink into her lap without apologizing or bothering to bring a replacement, we got charged us for stuff we didn't order, and then the frickin manager argued with us about removing those charges. F them, I'm glad that people dislike them. I hope more people start disliking them.

 

I will immediate that I fall into the "heard" mentality. I tried one and it was just "Ok". However, there are so many better options and reviews were just average except for a few beers. Price was never a factor.

 

I don't hate Rogue. Or any brewery for that matter. In fact, I am always dismayed at how easily people on a site that advocates for beer are so happy to talk shit on various beers and/or brewers, as if the existence of a beer they don't personally like was somehow an affront to their sensibilities.

But, I also don't buy Rogue beers, really at all. I've had maybe 10 or so different varieties from them and the only one that I would say I truly enjoy is Dead Guy.

And no, it's not because they aren't rare enough. I buy and drink plenty of so-called "shelf beer". It's just that there are dozens upon dozens of other non-rare options that I'd rather have before a bomber of Rogue or a sixer of Dead Guy.

That said, I'm not sure the number of "haters" they have is terribly high, because they seem to be doing just fine from a business standpoint. Might be one of those things where the impression of hate in this little subculture of ours is a larger ratio than the actual distaste for them in the larger craft beer world.

 

There you have it!

 

I know what I'm getting when I buy Rogue beers; over priced, mediocre, non memorable beer. So usually I'm more llikely try a brewery I've never had before as opposed to more dissapointment. They do a few I consider good, but none I just must buy again. Are they still doing the ailias thing? They used to be the worst at that. I swear some them had at least 3 or more. There was time in 90s when I liked them, a lot of water under that bridge since then...

 

To me, they are similar to an expensive version of Bell's. No beers are really bad, but very few are great. Pair that with higher than average costs and I usually shy away from trying any new beers (I just recently balked at the Pumpkin Savoir, though I was tempted...but at $15+ a bomber, that's quite a gamble).

 

Hazelnut brown is aiiight. But I've been hesitant to try more for some of the reasons mentioned: I'm not plunking down $12-15 for a bomber of "it's okay" when i can get stuff i love for half that. Maybe if they had singles that were more accessible.

 

Rogue: a few good beers in a sea of relatively expensive mediocrity and gimmickry. Throw on a heaping pile of arrogance and reports of their ownership being a complete douche-canoe and you have a whole lot of "Oh look, Sierra Nevada, etc, etc."

 

I really enjoy a few of their beers, but not at the price. I would rather spend 50% of the cost for something I will enjoy at just as much and have a few, rather than spend what they ask and only get the one beer. If I see them in a mix 6 section I may throw one in, but I am not paying what they want for their bombers when I can get superior beer, that is local, and bottled under a week ago with dates on them, for better prices.

 

Their beer rating average on this site is identical to New Belgium, and their beers are cheaper than Jolly Pumpkin, Allagash, Nebraska Brewing, and a number of brewers near where I live which I'm sure few people on this site have heard of.

 

This is my understanding of why people dislike them for the most part too, and also part of why I don't bother with them anymore. that said, I've had probably a dozen of their beers and they were one of the first craft breweries I started drinking, and I tend to think they're a capable brewery who does make some decent products.

 

beers like Dead Guy Ale, Hazelnut brown are decent beers, but at $15/6 pack, there's no way they can justify their pricing.
The Chocolate Stout is good too, but too bad it doesn't come in reasonably pricced 6 packs.

 

Overpriced
Don't taste good