Rogue Brutal Bitter

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

650 ml bomber - pours a hazy gold with a smallish white head. Really beautiful big hop aroma upfront, though that’s nicely tempered by a solid malt spine. Again, big citrusy hops in the mouth, with a pleasantly sweet character provided by real quality English malt. Light carbonation is true to style. Not hugely complex, but it is very enjoyable, and the best bitter I’ve ever had. It would be nice, though, if they shaved a couple of whole abv% points off this one, as it would make a most satisfying session bitter.

Not the more bitter beer I have had, but certainly up there. Pours a nice amber color with a nice, lacey head. Flavor is some malt, but mostly hops after the initial sweetness. Well balanced, and quite tastey!

Bottle. A cloudy medium amber beer with a rich, creamy, lacing and persistent beige head. Hoppy aroma, with floral and herbal notes, but a good malt charachter. The flavour is moderately sweet, enoughy balanced and obviously very hoppy. but the citrusy notes are not overwhelming. Quite clean mouthfeel, medium body, lively carbonation, dry long finish, with medium to high bitterness. Good, the American olrigin is recognizable.

Bottle. I’d had this one before and forgotten to rate it. I’m glad I did, because I think reevaluating it helped me rate it better. Pours a perfect, opaque copper with a small but dense head. The aroma is of ameriacn yeast and some noble hops. Body is soft and highly carbonated. The flaver is overtly bitter and dry, just perfect for this type of beer. The hops are all in the punch though. I don’t get much in the way of aroma. Maybe a little back woods pine in the finish. The yeast quality shows perfect fermentation. These guys know what they are doing. Overall I’d say this is just about my favorite session beer, if you can call it that at 6.2%.

On Tap At San Diego Brewing. Pours a nice amber with average white head. aroma is carmel malts with some floral notes. Its been a few years since i had this one, and i almost forgot how good it was. Nothing brutal about it . finishes dry and bitter with a perfect sweet malt backbone. This would be a perfect session beer except for the price.

Pours lovely deep golden with an almost orange/pink hue, big, dense, white fluffy head. Aroma is fantastic, really zesty with subtle amount of spice, lots of citrus, classic pink grapefruit, cut grass, some tropical fruits, passion fruit? Lychee? Sweet florals. Flavour is delightful, more citrus, orange zest, lemon, light ginger notes and more ripe pink grapefruit, very clean and crisp with a hint of spice, no sign of the almost 7% abv. Refreshing with the right amount of dryness. Palate is soft and creamy. All finishes very refreshing, pretty dry and spicy. The beer is deceptively complex, it comes across a straight forward refreshing glugger, but spend time with it and the depth keeps increasing, easy going but a great beer.

Cascade hops predominant....Mmmmm. Pours a nice copper colour, with an off white head. Clean palate, with good hop flavour & aroma. Well balanced. Nice.

Poured a hazy orange/light brown from a 650ml. bottle into a pint glass: Aroma of faint caramel malts, citrus hops, and earth. Flavors are big on the citrus and other fruits such as apricot. Great lingering, bitter finish. Drinkability: A distinguished balance between fruity and bitter makes this ale truly enjoyable. Rebuy: Right away. #136 on 11102009, DG.