Rogue FestiveAle

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Saison
Newport, Oregon USA

Bottle: I shared a 22 oz. bottle with my wife and we were both pleasantly surprised because we had seen the rating before we opened it. It gets major points for the murky gold brown look, like I imagine the kind of beer they drink in Narnia or something. It is accompanied by a white head that slowly diminishes throughout the drinking time. I thought thr aromas were also interesting: citrus fruit leather, light spice notes, bread yeast and mild hops. The tastes pretty much matched the aromas: hops and citrus. The body is thin but the feel in the mouth is creamy. The aftertaste is quick. It sounds like ClarkVV thought the hops were non existent, but even though I am more than 2,000 beers shy of his experience, I did notice a mild hop presence. I liked it and would get more if I had the opportunity.

2005 bomber drunk on 12/17/2005. Pours a perfect brass color, small, foamy white head is retained at cover, while of course there is plenty of sediment in the bottle creating a slight haziness. Aroma smells of old cheese and old apple cider/apple pulp. Almost creates a sulphur-like note, but this is just the initial vapor that rises from the bottle upon opening. It passes somewhat as it breathes. Light flower petals and some light pale sugars are about the extent of what I can pull from the very weak aroma. Flavor is light caramel at first and then plastic, old cardboard, madeira. Expansive overcarbonation, but the unfiltered texture otherwise, is supple. Not even five minutes and the aroma is gone. In its place light isopropyl. Must be tasting the myrtle because there’s a fuzzy tea-leaf like flavor that isn’t orange, ginger or grains of paradise. Speaking of ginger, that’s very subtle and tastefully done. Grains of paradise pepper the palate, adding that dry, nutty, flavor and peppercorn chewiness. Malt grows strong, but because it’s just pale malt, it does not cloy or dominate. I think my biggest question is, WHERE ARE THE HOPS!?!?!? I’m not expecting a hop monster of a saison, but come on, some balancing/palate clearing saaziness would be much appreciated. Not so here. Just light herbal sweetness on the very end. Alcohol begins to emerge, in the flavor, after 10 minutes or so (on the finish). As well, the head is gone, which is odd for Rogue. Yeast emerges, somewhat, up front, adding light apple, powdered sugar and bubble gum (very faint) notes. Gently swirling even, I can not get the vigorous carbonation to die down. And, not surprisingly, the beer is replete with tons of yeast activity. Lots of carbonation, alcohol and esters, and quite attenuated. I think, while the end product was not successful, it’s a successful experiment in that they could easily make some changes to make it great. Probably a very slightly cooler fermentation, maybe a little longer in secondary. Less grains of paradise, maybe about 25 to 33 percent of the grain bill should be pils malt and it must have more hops. Not sure how they can work on the carbonation, but that has to be controlled as well (20 minutes later, it is still annoyingly expansive and omnipresent). Grains of paradise and a bready, heavy yeast builds too much on the palate and I’m not able to finish the bomber.

Bold and flavorful. Hoilday spices yet doesnt totally feel like a holiday beer. Beautiful bouqet of aroma and taste. With so many malts and hops used in this beer, its no wonder its so distinct.

Weird. Fluffy. Herbal. Lavender. Lilac. Mint. Sweet. Soft. Pepper. Ginger. Buttery. Complex. Rough. Amber.

Cloudy amber,lasting white head.Somewhat spicy nose.Watery flavor, slightly tart,spicy yeast taste. The general trend seems to be watery

Great looking brew, with a soapy head and translucent orange body. Plenty of lacing. Aromas are snickerdoodle -- cinnamon, sugar cookie, butter -- and some soap. Flavors are also lightly soapy, but there is a good spicy hop presence. The beer mellows on the middle and latter part of the profile. A bit thin on the palate.

Looks like a hefe with the pour, murky yellow with a massive white head Aroma is...unusual. Fruity and wheaty, with some soap and something sour. The taste is okay. Its mostly malts with ginger and orange flavors, but nothing really stands out. The mouthfeel is sticky and the finish is thin. I wanted this to be better.

Probably my least favorite Rogue beer so far. I guess that I’m just not a big fan of this style. Pours a cloudy orange yellow with a decent head. Flavor and aroma are of fruity yeast. Body is thin and quite fizzy. Has a dry champagne finish.