Saint Rogue Red: Typically Rogue-ish, may be their flagship
Written: Jul 15 '01 (Updated Jul 21 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great balance, very satisfying, full flavor, not over-demanding
Cons: Should be available in 6-pack
The Bottom Line: A deep, full-bodied, full-flavored amber ale, very well balanced. A must try for anyone who likes a little hop or more. A great sociable beer.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Rogue Saint Rogue Red |
Such is the vast product range at Rogue Ales, this is now my fifth review of one of their beers on epinions, and I still have over 20 to try. Based in Newport, Oregon and named after a local river, Rogue is certainly a brewer that befits its name. Fiercely independent and a campaigner for the small guys, everything about Rogue screams of non-conformist, nowhere more evident than in their experimental and ever creative brews. As the company proclaims, they are “Dedicated to the Rogue in all of us”.
Saint Rogue Red
Saint Rogue Red is actually an ancestor of the Santa’s Private Reserve Ale I reviewed last week. The only point of explanation offered at that time was the higher hop content in the newer brew (60 IBU’s compared to 44 IBU’s). As is common with some of Rogue’s ales, this is not a case of the same brew just switching names as both ales are still available.
Specifications
Basics (common to all Rogue ales): Pacman top fermenting yeast, no chemicals or additives, unpasteurized, and “free range coastal water”.
Malt: 2-Row Harrington, Klages, Munich, Hugh Baird, Carastan and Crystal
Hops: Chinook & Centennial
Alcohol: 13 degrees Plato (about 5.2% ABV)
IBU: 44 (a bitter pale ale or a mild IPA)
Availability: 22oz bottle and draft.
Note: There is also a draft-only variation called “Saint Rogue Red Dry Hopped”, which adds raw Centennial hops to the keg.
Tasting Notes
Based on 22oz bottle
Saint Rogue Red leaves the bottle with plenty of life. True to its name, it has a bold red-amber body, lively carbonation, and a thick spongy head that lasts well.
The initial aroma is pretty fresh and very enticing, flowery with a kind of piney hop. As the beer settles, the malt becomes more noticeable, with a sweet caramel and just a hint of smokiness.
It shows slight signs of fizziness, but overall provides a very smooth, medium to full bodied, comforting mouthfeel.
There’s a nice light roasted malt flavor that turns into a toffee and caramel smoothness in the middle, while a tangy but not overwhelming, bitterness makes its way into the finish. This all rounds out into a very satisfying, lingering and well-balanced aftertaste that sits for a good while afterwards.
Verdict
This is a very well balanced ale and pleasing throughout. It’s much fuller in flavor than you’d expect from a red ale, while no part of it is over dominant, just a perfect mixture of sweet and sour flavors. The bitterness in the finish is pretty consistent with Rogue ales, and certainly makes this worthy attention of any hop lover.
It’s one of the best of the few Rogues that I’ve tried already, and at 5.2% ABV, seems ideally suited to repeat and regular drinking. As long as you like a little hop in the finish, I’d definitely give this a recommendation.
Food
The hoppy finish made this a little too demanding with my pizza tonight. In future I would probably go with a charred dark meat, maybe a barbecued T-bone steak. It really does have more than enough character to satisfy by itself, and seems ideally suited as a session beer, which makes me surprised that it doesn’t come in a six-pack.
Availability
Rogue’s ales are currently available in 40 States and 5 countries. I read a recent article stating the company’s intention to take its “micropubs” nationwide. You can read this article at:
http://portland.bcentral.com/portland/stories/2001/06/04/story2.html
If you would like further information on this brewery you can find them at:
www.rogue.com
Tel: 541 867 3660
Email: roguedawg@rogue.com
Price: $3.69 for a 22oz bottle
Ratings
Pour: 5/5 Aroma: 9/10 Palate: 5/5 Flavor: 8/10 Overall: 17/20
Score: 4.4
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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