Rogue Brutal Bitter

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Newport, Oregon USA

A golden orange ale with a thick creamy off white head. Aroma of floral hops, chlakey notes, a bit of cave and green pepper. In mouth, a good grainy malt with subdued coffee and good British hops, sustained in mout, medium bodied. LCBO offering.

Head is initially average sized, frothy, off-white, mostly diminishing. Body is hazy medium amber, dense tiny particles, bottle conditioned. Aroma is lightly malty (cookie), lightly hoppy (flowers, grapefruit), trace yeast (video game), with light notes of orange and apricot. Flavor is moderately sweet, moderately bitter, lightly acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, heavily bitter, lightly acidic. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, lightly astringent. Two surprises: very weak aroma at any temperature (bad), less citric bite/astringency than expected (good). This malt may be derived from Maris Otter, but it's no match.

I may have reached my hop limit with this one; though I’ve gotten somewhat accustomed to Rogue’s high-hopped brews, and to the Bitter as a style, this one is still a heavy thing to take. The grapefruit pervades through the nose, taste and aftertaste, and it’s wonderful. As others have said, no malt to speak of, though the beer is not totally body-less. Beautiful color and sudsy but solid head. Maybe the best in the style I’ve had, though I won’t be drinking it often!

on tap at the brewery. orange golden colour. big grapefruit aroma with a suggestion of caramel. plenty of bitterness. pretty flavoursome but didn’t totally grab me

Aroma is something of a yeasty citrus. Reddish copper color with a white head that laces as it diminishes. Very smooth, low carbonation, medium bodied. Creamy. HOP!!!! Yes, there is some malt here, and there is some sweetness, but, hey, who cares. Hop. Hop. Hop. Burn my taste buds. Dry, spiced bitter finish. Washes those jalapenos right out of my palate. Fantastic.

Pours from the bomber with a huge thick head. It is a cloudy orange and gold color. Aroma of sweatsocks, soap and a little bit of hops citrus. The taste is pine, soap and a little orange peel. This is very dry and hoppy for a bitter. Unimpressive for a Rogue. Way overhopped for the style. Not at all subtle and not a session style beer. This is a bitter that wants to be an IPA.

Very strong perfume-like hop nose has notes of orange, apple blossom and grapefruit and a fairly strong supporting caramel malty sweetness. Hazy, murky, copper-amber body is topped with a dense, fine-bubbled, lasting, off-white head that leaves some nice lacing. Intense grapefruit and strong bitterness as well as a full, rich, earthy and caramel malt body suggest more of a strong pale ale than an ESB but regardless of style, it’s well-brewed and enjoyable. Blossom-like hop flavours last on the tongue with some lingering sweetness and the lasting bitterness. Grapefruit character becomes more dominant in the aroma flavour and after taste as it warms. Medium body that has a somewhat sticky texture tempered by a moderate, crisp carbonation that engages the tongue and cheeks. Tulip glass, allowed to warm from fridge temp. Bottle (trade, Apr. 2005). Thanks, Olivier_MTL!

Bottle: Hazy orangy yellow hue with lasting off-white frothy head and very good lace. The aroma has notes of aromatic and piney hops, grapefruit and apple, dusty and earthy malt and yeast combination, and a touch of honeycomb. The taste starts with a kick of bitters but is followed nicely by a layer of malt. Much more balanced that I expected. The finish is a chalky bitter aftertaste. The feel is surprisingly full and biting, not aggressive however. Except for the piney nature, this brew is very much within the style of the traditional ESB’s. Shocked, but I really liked this brew. Brutal my arse.