Rogue Love and Hoppiness

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Tasted on tap at the Rogue Brew house in Eugene. This pilsner pours a medium gold color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is cereal and grain, slightly sweet. A light to medium bodied pilsner. Malts are fruity and sweet, touch of orange. Hops are floral and spicy without a lot of bitterness. I was expecting this beer to be an IPA or APA from the name. Stupid me. Nice balance. Crisp and clean. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Tap, when I ordered this beer, I was under the impression that it was an IPA (hoppiness in the name) I was sorely dissappointed that it wasn’t an IPA, but greatly impressed at the quality of this pilsener! Cloudy orange body with a slight head. Great flavor, although a little mild. Decent beer.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

The beer is a hazy gold with a nice, dense, white head that lingers for a while. The aroma is very hoppy, a bit floral, but definitely a noble variety. The flavor has the malt overpowered by a strong hop bitterness that starts off a bit much, but turns into something much nicer by the end of the glass. It tends to grow on you.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pint from one of the many taps @ San Diego Brewing Company.

A surprising find, especially since the SDBC doesn't normally do the really rare, limited, and/or avant garde offerings out there. But any time I can get something a bit different from the good folks at Rogue, I'm all over that...! ;)

I had no clue what sort of beer this was intended to be when I ordered up a pint of it on a lazy Sunday afternoon. And I refrained from asking the bartender, to ensure that I went into this beer with a completely "blank slate", so to speak.

My very first impression? And second, and third, as well? "A West Coast version of Magic Hat's #9". How silly do I feel coming home, getting online, and finding out that this beer is not only not a Magic Hat clone, but not even an ale altogether? Not much, to be honest.

Basically, this had some rather distinct fruitish highlights in the mix, that I can only assume was intentional. Not to be sexist or anything, but my assumption is that since this beer is a Wedding Beer, the fruit-nee-citrus-hops represents the Bride, and the Hoppiness the Groom. I suppose it could be the other way around -- but that really wouldn't be Rogue's style, now would it? ;) But then again, you know what happens when folks "ass-u-me", eh? :)

Anyway..., this was an interesting drop -- pilsener, ale, or whatever. Quite refreshing and intriguing, with a fair amount of complexity in the middle and the backend.

Probably a bit difficult for them to sell, if/when they would ever want to to try to sell this to the general public. But I could see this winning over some more open-minded Lager drinkers to the often more-complex world of top-fermented ales.

Either way, a worthy pint, from a worthy brewery. Recommended.
//TB

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Pours with a slightly cloudy amber-gold body topped by a thick head with lots of lacing. The aroma is slighlty bitter and grassy from the hops...not much else. The flavor is slightly sweet with a touch of malt to start then turns grassy and bitter from the hops. Medium bodied, smooth and a touch warming.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Poured a hazy golden color with a small white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of citrus, dough, and caramel. Taste of citrus, light caramel malts, dough, with a crisp, dry, bitter finish. Quaffable.