 bitbucket (1453), Kirkland, Washington, USA
Apr 18, 2008
On tap at Uber. Let’s just start off by saying that this is not a Schwarzbier. It may share some common characteristics with the style, but that’s as far as it goes. Pours clear blackish brown with a lightly lacy tan head. Aroma of oranges, chocolate and pine. Medium body and carbonation. Lightly astringent grapefruit and coffee finish. The flavors in this beer seem to fight with each other rather than being complimentary, and the result is a lack of balance. Not ’bad’, but just barely edging into ’good’ territory.
nbutler11 (13), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Jul 3, 2008 As a dark beer drinker, I found this offering from Rogue awfully dissappointing. I mean, if you’re going to call your beer "Brutal Black," then at least bring it strong and stop trying to create an IPA that looks like a stout.
Biddle_Brau (75), Midland Park, New Jersey, USA
Jul 2, 2008 Pours black, opaque with tan head. Chocolate and coffee in the nose. Roasty, dry chocolate flavors balances well with hop flavor and bitterness. Has a nice creamy palate. Super tasty. On tap at The Shep’.
elihapa (169), Hawaii, USA
Jun 11, 2008 5/08 notes: on tap, Eli Cannon’s. Must note my confusion in thinking this was Rogue’s Brutal Bitter. This beer poured deep black and smelled of heavily toasted – maybe burnt is a better word – bitter chocolate. Tastes of black coffee, toasted notes, bitter chocolate, and maybe a hint of plum. Finish is notably dry and bitter, I commend Rogue for resisting the urge to throw some sweetness in the finish! Overall I enjoyed this beer, but felt that the toasted-bitter flavors were a bit one-sided: I think if they were toned down then more complexity would emerge.
crowderm (151), St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
May 23, 2008 Dark brown, nice tan head. Some decent hops in the aroma, coupled with a solid array of sweet, malty notes. Flavor is a nice combination of sweet and bitter. Good hop presence, interestingly paired with a solid chocolate/roasted malt character. Not sure that this is a Schwarzbier, but good regardless.
jerc (3035), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 21, 2008 2008-05-18. Very dark brown/black body with a small beige head and lace. (3+) Aroma is hoppy , light greenery and just a hint of the underlying roasted malt, sweet malt comes out as it warms up a bit. (7+) Fist sip is odd, aggressive hoppy bitterness, green leafy notes, light resin, with underlying roast as a strong secondary character. Mild sweet base. (7+) Average to medium palate. (3+) Pretty solid actually, I am surprised the ratings are not higher. On tap at Pizza Plant, Transit Road, Buffalo
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