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21st Amendment and Ninkasi Allies Win the War
21st Amendment Allies Win the War
A collaborative brew, this merger between 21st Amendment and Ninkasi is an English Stong Ale. Firmly between a Pale Ale and Barleywine. While it seems to be marketing more as a 21st Amendment brew, it’s not on their website. But it is on Ninkasi’s.
Color is an orange/brown, thin beige head. Malt is a bit on the sweet side with a big hit of hops. Nutty finish. Dates come through even more as it warms.
Busy and tasty. I’d be interested to see more collaborations between these two.
Grade: B
Posted in Beer Reviews
Tagged 21st Amendment, California, Ninkasi, Oregon, Strong Ale
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Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout
Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout
The pour of Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout promises a velvety texture. The smell of boozy chocolate hints at a very complex brew.
It is, indeed, smooth. Roasted malt just at the point of being charred, but not burnt.The finish is an interesting mix of bittersweet chocolate and dark fruits. Not as much as an Imperial Stout, but enough to add another layer of flavor. Hops provide some bitterness and dryness as it warms. With oatmeal in the name, I expected to get more in the flavor, but it’s way in the background and does more with the superior texture.
Rogue doesn’t mention why Shakespeare is in the title. Perhaps a nod to being an English take on the style?
Can’t think of many ways to make this better!
Grade: A
Rogue John John Ale
Rogue John John Ale
My affinity for bourbon barrel aged beers continues with Rouge’s John John Dead Guy Ale. This is their standard, and quite good, Dead Guy Ale aged in their own whiskey barrels.
Pours a deep, cloudy honey with a wisp of white head atop. Very floral nose with honey and vanilla in the back. Of all the bourbon barrel aged beers I’ve had, this is easily one of the most bourbony. A bit of a bitter alcohol punch in front followed by vanilla, smooth butteryness, and wood in the finish. It has quite a bit more of a hop kick than most beers with this much bourbon, and it works as a nice counterpoint. The finish isn’t long and smooth like other barrel aged, it’s short, bitter, and dry.
Overall, very complex and delicious!
Grade: A
Rogue Buckwheat Ale
A lot on complex things going on here with Rogue’s Buckwheat Ale. First, it’s not on their website. However, it appears to be the same at Morimoto Soba Ale. Yes, Iron Chef fans, that Morimoto. The bottle for me was interesting, too, as it’s in Japanese. I couldn’t find the translation anywhere.
Onto the beer. It pours a hazy orange with flecks of buckwheat floating in it. It’s extremely light without being watery. Tastes of buckwheat, and a little bit of citrus sweetness. I don’t get much hops, but there is almost a chemical taste to it. Kind of like a club soda. It’s very interesting, but I wouldn’t call it a favorite. However, I would certainly reach for this the next time I cook with soba noodles.
Grade: B
Rogue Mocha Porter
Rogue’s Mocha Porter certainly has a lot of promise. I love porters, I love mocha, and while my experience with Rogue is limited, I have really enjoyed everything so far.
I feel like the name is a little misleading, though. I think it would be better classified as a mocha stout. It has more of the roasted and bitter flavors that I associate with a stout rather than a porter. And while the mocha flavors and creamy texture are there, it’s all in the finish.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying this, but I don’t feel like it lives up to the title. Honestly, I would like it a lot more if it had a different name that didn’t mention mocha or porter.
Grade : B