Rogue Brutal Bitter

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

Orange, cloudy, nice tannish head. Gentle citrus hop aroma. Big malty flavor, bith a big citrus hop flavor and bitterness. Full palate. This kindof defines its own catagory...

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.

Re-rate from a fresh bottle.Nice aroma of caramel malts and heady PNW hops(fresh green hop aroma is very pleasing).Pours out a very hazy honey orange w/a very well built and retained head w/all the lace you could ever want from a fine ale.The taste of this beer is so balanced.Heady piney,spicy hops swirl into nice bready,caramel malts.Palate has a decent hop tingle,smooth as silk.Nice ligering aftertaste.A very fine bitter ale from Rogue.I like all the hybrid ingredients.Nothing brutal about it though.

Pours a clear orange/amber with a thick, dense off-white head. Aroma is hoppy with a hint of grass. Taste is very earthy with plenty of hops, grapefruit, citrus, caramel and honey. Rock-solid malt background. Lingering bitter aftertaste and finish. Mouthfeel is very full, thick, round and creamy with moderate carbonation. Just glorious. Spotty lacing, great head retention. Can be considered an IPA in my opinion. Highly recommended.

Tap, KClinger’s Public House, Etters, PA. Hazy dark amber in color with generous light tan head. Pretty highly carbonated. Mildly floral, very hoppy aroma....you can actually smell the bitterness. Flavor was extremely hoppy and citrusy, with a pleasantly bitter aftertaste. Overall, pretty good, and better on tap than from the bottle.

Draught @ PH Portland. This beer could make a hophead out of anyone. Approachable light amber, thin head. This beer really shows how good fresh north western hops can be. They are backed beautifully with light earthy malt notes. Very Clean and refreshing beer.

22oz bottle: Pours a beautiful clouded amber orange with an impressive sticky 3 finger cap Aroma is intense, apricot-grapefruit-grass over substantial caramel tones. Rich body silky smooth mouth feel, Big caramel malts in the front (not cloying though) surprisingly delicate fruity notes in the center mingle with increasing resinous bittering...finishes balanced and clean.... lightly drying with lasting metallic bittering. A very fine ale, nicely executed and easy to drink.

Looks cloudy orange with slight head. Fruity and spicy aroma carries over to the flavor as well. Also caramel in the scent and flavor, especially as it warms. Somewhat sweet at first, but then a spicy bitter finish.