Rogue Shakespeare Stout

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: Stout
Newport, Oregon USA

Sweet and bitter, thick, but not too strong. A pleasurable slow drink that hits you slowly and smoothly. Smoky and Roasty.

The style of this Stout is moderately rich with smooth silky cocoa-chocolate flavors with a bright coffee/hop finish. Comparing this A:B with Stone RIS is a good illustration of contrast between a regular and Impy modern USA Stout, with the Stone showing a greater density and liqueur-like presentation, and near double the alcohol.Shakespeare at 6% is not all that light in the body, however - I find it one of Rogue’s finer brews. Sticky dark coffee pour with brown highlights and good size espresso crema head. I find the crisp hop bite refreshing in contrast to the roasty sweet malt. Beautiful lingering treacly cocoa aromas. I see why Greg C said he liked this, and is also a fan of St. Amby Oatmeal... Excellent... Bomber from Premier!!

Opaque dark brown with tan head, fragile lacing. Weak aroma of roasted malt and carbon. Hint of coffe if you really look for it. Very full ad nicely carbonated palate. Roast omes out first on the flavor, then develops into bitter chocolate, finshes with a dark rasted cofee and sharp hot bite. Very nice flavor, nice lasting aftertaste, but somewhat simple.

Aroma of alcohol, black licorice and roasted malts. Pours like dark coffee. Rich and creamy tan head. Leaves massive lace. Flavors of coffee, strong roasted characteristics, Bitter and harsh finish. Medium mouth feel, slightly coats. Lingers for a while. Pretty good stout. A bit weak in aroma, but enjoyable. Perhaps a little 1 dimensional in flavor profile.

TAP: nice black pour, decent head. Nose of roasted coffee, dark chocolate. Some hop profile, pretty heavy mouthfeel.

Jet black, brilliant crema head that laces a good length down the side of the glass. I wasn’t sure what to expect, a bit of a nervous schoolboy fumbling the lid off. Nice mellow aroma that smelt like my grandads robe. A bit musty, aged and kinda just old-man ish. The flavours waft beautifully around your mouth a mix of dark malts, dark chocolate, coffee beans and then this wonderful burnt ashtray type finish with a flick of almost green hop to it. This was a treasure.

Bomber. Nice black coffee/chocolate pour, with a thick, foamy, brown sugar head at least 3 fingers and of decent duration. Caramel, chocolate, coffee, and anise are well blended in the aroma. Suprisingly sparkly and light mouthfeel, as well as a starkly light, almost watery taste. Have to remember this is a stout, not an imperial stout. It is a dry tasting beer, but thick in texture, a touch short on flavor. Not bad.

Bottle this was one of my go to stouts for a long time and a frequent recommendation amongst new craft beer drinkers. A black body with a tan head. Chocolate and sweet caramel, subtle and dry with a creamy body and roasted coffee beans. Ill keep my original rating for this one.