Rogue American Amber

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Amber Ale
Newport, Oregon USA

"Amber Ale" usually communicates a beer that is pretty boring. In fact, to my mind, the style seems created for people who think they want a flavorful craft beer but really do not. This one did not fall into that category; it was flavorful and pretty interesting. Appearance is a bit unattractive. There’s lots of very cumulus cloud head, but the body of the beer is a weird red-pop color which is strangely opaque. Aroma is hoppy and phenolic, with a good amount of heavy hop fruitiness. Flavor is some malted milk ball flavor balanced with a pretty generously bitter helping of hops. This beer has a firm bitter character that hits me in the back of the mouth. Pretty good. I’d recommend this beer as a not-boring example of the style. I picked up this bottle at 3 Cellars Liquor in Franklin, WI.

From bottle. Copper in colour with a decent crispy head. Aroma of sweet fruit and hops. Just by the aroma and appearance already I know this is a quality ale. Great crisp taste of hops, malt. Smooth yet bitter, well balanced. Slight hint of caramel and nuts to it. Very enjoyable ale.

Holy crap this beer is good. Quite possibly my new favorite bottled beer. Pours a nice amber color with cream head. Very smooth with some nice, but not overpowering hoppy bitterness. The malts are some of the best I’ve tasted. Three cheers!

Bottled, consumed on 12/06/07. Cloudy copper pour with significant, sudsy, lingering head. Aroma is strong of apples (uh oh) and light on hops. After warming up to almost room temp, the apples disappeared and were replaced by mellow oranges. Smooth mouthfeel and complex flavor: starts with biting hop bitterness, moves into a grainy, malty midbody with a touch of yeast character (think Belgian abbey ales) and pine before finishing with a thin but seriously bitter and persistent hop flavor. Pretty impressive, but sadly, not really super tasty. Would have liked more malt character and maybe a little sweetness and less lingering hoppiness.

very nice juniper berry hopped out amber beer that is smooth but fully substantive in terms of flavor, body and refreshment. straw like malt taste arrives awhile after opening but it is tasteful and a good accompiament. light quality sweetness makes the bomber fully three dimensional. just the right volume and a very good beer for all the year. cheers!

Bomber split with ’Naka from the Deep Creek stash. Pours a deliciously hazy amber color with a carmel head. Mmmmm. Red hues throughout. Nose is malty, some carmel with a touch of hoppy citrus. Amber ales are a lost style, IMO, because its easy to hop them up or change the color, and not stay true to the style. this does. Good malt backbone, but not overdone. The hops are subdued, with the big flowery/citrus flavor coming through and leaving the bitterness behind. Good carmel and toffee tones from the malt. Very good beer overall. I wish I could get it more easily.

Bottle. Japanese version (Red Fox). Pours cloudy orange with a big soapy, foamy head. Aroma is very faint. Hops, nothing much to speak of. Beautiful taste... hoppy and creamy.

Pours a clouded ruby amber. Nose is slight pine scents with a caramel touch. Flavor is bitter at first . Like eating some wild tree or something, if that makes sense. I just imagine biting into something alive and growing in a forest and getting this not entirely pleasant flavor off it. As time goes on it smooth out a bit, but still retains that bitter edge. Feel is nice. Good level of bubble and a slightly thicker liquid feel. Overall pretty drinkable. The bitterness takes away from it a good bit, but still it is decent enough.