Our Tastes-- Rogue Brewer's Ale

Named after Brew Dawg (1993-2006) this beer 1st appeared in 2008 to pay tribute, like most brewers to their favorite brewing companion, the dog. There is a scary likeness to many beers that we have tried including, Ubu, Winter Cheer (Spanish Peaks) and others SweetWater..Barley. There seems to be an affection to brewers and large breed dogs including labs. This pours a great true medium brown with frothy tan head. Nose is an experience of hops over malt. As it rolls around in the mouth, I think to myself, "Damn I wish this had been brewed again". But alas this was brewed once and it retired. An American Strong Ale of 9%abv that I would buy a 100 times.

Our Tastes-- Festive Ale

One of the few Rogue beers I have left to taste (until they come out with another). Festive Ale is a Belgian Style Saison Farmhouse Ale. Oddly enough, this boggles my mind. I normally think living in the SE when a beer says "festive ale" because of the local influence of a dark, high EtOH, slightly spiced "SweetWater-type" beer, but this is the antithesis of that. The nose is that of slightly sour sweet malt. Color is a cloudy heavy particulate dark mustard. Taste is clean with slight tart apricot undertones. 6.2%abv made with Two-row pale malt, Myrtle leaves, bitter orange peel, ginger root, Grains of Paradise and hopped with Czech Saaz then fermented with Belgian Saison yeast. I would definitely have another, just to myself.

Our Tastes-- XS Old Crustacean Barleywine Style Ale

We're trying XS Old Crustacean Barleywine Style Ale as we close in on the end of the Rogue run. It is a cloudy soft medium brown with a yellow to tan flattening head with the nose of malt, raisins, clove, and molasses being so thick I could smell it before I put the crocker down. It is well balanced with slight hoppiness giving way to a decent malt bill then the hops make a phenomenal rally to the tongue and gums well at the end, a good minute after the swallow. There is a charred almost meat flavor to it as well. Wow what a great beer! Made with Hugh Baird Carastan & Rogue Micro Barley Farm Dare & Risk Malts: Chinook, Rogue Micro Hopyard Revolution & Freedom Hops. 110 IBUs, 25 Plato and 11.5%abv, mmm, mmm, good.

Our Tastes-- YSB

Again, a Rogue beer, just when I think I'm at the end of my Rogue line another beer appears. YSB, named after the aforementioned (see previous post). It pours the same hue and has basically the same nose with a kick. No particulate in this one. It has a nice fruity, caramel and hop balance as mentioned, but the nose is what sets it apart from the XS series. Weird I would think it the other way around. Made with Northwest Harrington, Klages and Crystal 50-60 and hopped with Willamette and Kent Goldings. Get down with this one before the XS.

Our Tastes-- Velas Helles

On a recent trip to Sevierville, TN, The Enabler snagged a couple of growlers from Smoky Mountain Brewery. One of these contained Velas Helles a European light lager hopped with Bavarian hops. Dark straw in color and award winner this one has the usual light lager nose with a bit of hop aroma to it. Taste is clean with a pronounced Bavarian hop aftertaste. Nice overall profile must be good after cutting grass.

Brew Batch #43 Wicked Merry's Berry

WMB was racked from primary to secondary and had 2lbs of fresh blueberries added for aroma. Gravity has dropped well on this one and I hope to have it in a keg in about a week. Shortly thereafter Merry should be able to fill her own growler of brew for the Auburn games!

Our Tastes-- XS Imperial Younger's Special Bitter

XS Imperial YSB pours an orange marmalade particulate color with yellow flattening head. Sweet alcoholic slightly hoppy head and the taste is a mouth watering hop explosion. It catches you a bit off guard with regards to the type of beer it is. It's not your standard bitter by far. Made with 2-row pale and Crystal and hopped with Willamette, Kent Golding and Amarillo. This is a beer a would by again. Oddly enough, as of June 2010 this one will be available on draft, 750ml ceramic crocker and "a 7oz nip bottle". Named after Rogue's 1st account (1989) owner William Younger of the Horse Brass Pub, who died in 1994, this beer was first brewed in 06' (to commemorate the 30th anniversary of that pub) and passed onto now owner Don younger for his brother. A couple of World Beer Cups later 07' and 08', at 7.4%abv this one's a keepsie.

Brew Batch #42 Belgian IPA

KEGGED UP! Ready for serving by the next CABS meeting? This one turned out well from what I can tell of the "swill swish". Should have a nice hoppy note from the Yakima, Saaz and Cascade but a great "yeasty" profile from the 3522 used. If 1010 were a monkey, this beer would sit atop it's head... FG 1.010+0.001 @74F to yield a healthy antithesis to the bitter the the kegerator next, 8.1%abv. These BIPAs have become my latest favs:)

National Mead Day 2010

This is the 1st time I have heard of such a date but then again my wife pointed out National Cigar Day to our local tobacco shop! Having some The Bees' Knees Mead© 2009 and it's exhilarating.

Brew Batch #43 Wicked Merry's Berry, Again, and Again

7/20/10:
Knocked out a secretive WMB batch today following my old notes and recipe, only problem is that I have to wait for the yeast culture to get here tomorrow because the original one dudded. So everything is set we just need UPS to show up tomorrow for a quick smack and pour to get this one in the keg for my girlfrass's b'day (wife) in August.
Update 8/4/10:
Yeah, well UPS has failed me in the last few days then again so did FedEx. Even though the new yeast culture was supposed to be here the following day, it was the day after even though it arrived in my city the day I needed it, it just wasn't sorted for delivery. Then a day after that it was ready to go, but by then when I cracked the lid on my fermenter (insert "Psycho" shower scene stabbing music here") there were mold colonies floating in this super sweet liquid! So, here we are brewing yet another batch while it's 95F (Heat Index 111F) in the garage with every fan I can find going while the namesake is at work! MacKenzie is having a sip of SW 420 IPA with me to cool ourselves. Ultimately this will end up being the most expensive batch of beer I have ever brewed just ingredient-wise. I think so far I am at about $55 and have yet to pitch yeast:( I'm not worried about posting this because my wife has little interest in my piddling and has forgotten the website addy:) OG 1.046 +0.002 @75 which falls in line with last time, now hope for the b'day best.