Day 2 - Drive from Astoria to Portland

Time to pack the bags and head for Portland, home of lots and lots of beer. But not before a quick visit to the Rogue Ale House on Pier 39. I was really looking forward to visiting this pub; Rogue brews has always beer solid and sometimes innovative. It all seemed good at the start. A nice gentleman brought me a beer to sample as I sat down. It was a guest tap: Buckma n Black Saison. The Buckman was very good with ample ash, spicy yeasts and tastings of milk chocolate and vanilla mocha coffee. Your selection of beer samples were listed on blackboards located in various locations around the pub. After listing you choices, which was around 12 beers, on a simple form your sampler tray arrived.


Don't get me wrong, I like Rogue beers, but their public house just seemed a little ... flat. The menu looked above average but not exceptional. There was no brewing on premises, at least not that I could see, just a lot of kegs. There were also lots of Rogue product (ie. bottles and T-shirts) lying around waiting for you to pick them up. Yes, yes I know the point of a pub is to sell beer, but you don't have to be overly invasive about it. And no I do not wish to join the Rogue Nation. Perhaps my feelings were tainted by the awesome beers at Fort George Brewery we had the night before.

After the Rogue let down we headed towards Portland to prepare ourselves for Oregon Brewers Fest.

Everyone knows how I feel about flavoured porters. One cannot simply resist a fancy bottle with the word 'double' by Rogue. I'm not sure what to believe about the labour relations accusations circulating about Rogue. Hopefully there will be more news about this topic. Regardless, they make great beer.

Double Mocha Porter (Rogue) = 10/10

An understated nose escapes the glass; not what you would expect from a 'double'. The taste speaks of double. Big flavours of roasted coffee beans up front yield to bittersweet chocolate, slight vanilla and hidden dark fruits. As the Rogue warms up, more vanilla aromas appear. Through it all there is a massive nose and taste of citrus hops; not surprising for a 78 IBU beverage. A good dose of astringency carried the long linger of roasted bitter goodness.

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 8.2%
Value +1
Appearance +1

No preample. It's Rogue, it's dry hopped, yum!

St. Rogue Dry Hopped Red Ale = 7/10
Ratebeer 3.53 94th percentile
Beer Advocate B+


Oddly faint on the nose, but the roasted/caramel malts with citrus and floral hops foreshadow greatness. Up front it was very hop assertive: loads of spicy citrus, piney and quite dry. This hop blast fades to reveal a roasted caramel malt base. At the end a long bitter astringency lets you know PNW hops were here. A hop head must, but not stellar.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content 0 5.2%
Value +1
Appearance 0

Yukon Red Amber Ale
Skyhopper Amber Ale
Drop Top Amber Ale (Widmer)

Captain Sigs Northwestern Ale

Ratebeer 3.56 95th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

So Ratebeer calls it an IPA. Beer Advocate calls it an American Amber/Red Ale. Rogue calls it an India Red Ale. So what would BJCP call it, Style 14B subsection A? I love a good odd-ball beer; one that does not fit the mold. There is an idea for a new beer floating around in my head. I will enter that in a homebrew contest and rock the beer world! Perhaps I should scale my back my dreams. If I am lucky the judges will not spit it out and yell "WTF!"

Taste +4

Sigh..Yet another big citrus (tangerine), floral nose and a huge meringue like head. The medium astringency and slick caramel malts has now captured my attention. Before I can beg for more, the citrus and resin hops kicks you in the back and says, "Welcome to my Castle!" I love that song by the Evaporators; it is a little ironic that the Youtube file name contains the letters "u, c, f and k." This all mixes well with the accessorized roasted, pine and full mouthfeel,

Aftertaste +2

Both the song and the beer leave a long taste in your mouth. The song is all bad; the beer is nice with caramel and citrus/pine hops.

Alcohol Content +1 6.2%

It gives that 14.5 Plato number again. I do not want to be reaching for my calculator while sampling a beer!

Value +1

This beer must be F'in good, look at all the numbers on the side:80 IBU, 77AA, 36oL. WOW.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I have to substitute a current experience for the ingame enhancement. Tonight was the M60 unlimited ammo mod for L4D2. Never has there been so many zombie bits fly!!

Overall 9/10

This is a good beer. Ignore the stupid, self indulgent review. Buy this PNW hoppy beer, drink it and start your own beer blog to review it. I will link to you. Is it coincidental that the homebrew I drank cave a Three Beavers Red Ale bottle - I think NOT!

Three Beaver (Howe Sound)
Double Dragon (Phillips)
Hop Head Red Ale (Green Flash)

Rogue Mogul Madness Ale

Ratebeer 3.48 87th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

Wow, it has a super big malty nose that is more like a doppelbock. Other pleasantries in the nose include spicy hops, roast and chocolate. The taste is something else with caramel, mild molasses and sweet chocolate. There is also vanilla in there that is enhanced by the sharp hop bite at the end. Can I also taste a bit of chalk? Must be the glass. For those keeping track, there are 68 IBUs.

Aftertaste +2

Just like a skiing injury, the taste lingers a long time. There are equal parts astringent hops, dark sugar sweetness and big earthy hops.
Alcohol Content +1 6.25%

Value +1

This is like a great dopplebock with a hoppy edge.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I am now fully hooked on Defense Grid. I hope there is a recovery program out there after I finish all the levels.
Overall 9/10

This beer has big tastes on both sides. There is the big caramel and dark sugar malts which is barely contained by the big citrus and earthy hops.

Stone Vertical Epic 9/9/9
Widmer Bros Cherry Oak Doppelbock
Ommegang Three Philosophers

Rogue Shakespeare Stout

Ratebeer 3.89 99th percentile
Beer Advocate A

Taste +4

It poured as black as computer plastic with an espresso crema head. The nose was milder than expected, with faint earth, oatmeal and bitter chocolate. Well, the taste is thick like a good bowl of oatmeal should be. The whole mouth is coated in thick, roasted, bitter chocolate goodness. It is a very quaffable beer despite the massive flavours and coffee notes also.

Aftertaste +2

The roasted oat flavours just coat everything, with a long lingering of bitter mocha.
Alcohol Content +1 6%

You would never know it.
Value +1

If this is not the best oatmeal stout I have ever tried, it ranks a close second.
Ingame Enhancement +1

No gaming tonight, I think the H1N1 got me. The positive score is because this thick brew is chasing the nasties away.
Overall 9/10

Any thick, bittersweet chocolate stout makes me happy. This one makes me double happy.
Other stouts
Drakes Imperial stout and Executive class guilt
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Pike XXXXXX Stout

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar

Ratebeer 3.76 96th percentile
Beer Advocate A

Taste +3

The nose is a malt heavy nectar, with additions of roast and (yes) hazelnuts. Upfront the brew give a roasted malt sweetness, followed very close-after with a sudden hop bitterness. The hops are a bit flowery and spicy. Again there is a prevailing flavour of roast, cashews and hazelnut at all points of tasting. The nutty bits gives a very smooth mouth feel to this beer. As it warms up, the flavours get better. For those who follow the numbers, it has 33 IBU.

Aftertaste +1

The smooth nut finish lasts as long as an in-law visit.

Alcohol Content +1 6.22%

You could never tell.

Value +1

This is a great beer; something flavourful and unique.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Maybe a little L4D tonight, but it does not matter. I started my first batch of home-brew today.
Overall 7/10

For something completely different, give this one a try.

Double Dead Guy Ale 2009 (Rogue)

Ratebeer 3.56 89th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

This is one nice bitter ale. The first sip reveals to you a sense that there will be huge grapefruit/pine bitterness to follow. Sadly the taste is more candy malt and roasted nuts followed by a slight citrus and pine resin hop bitterness. The nose is actually quite attenuated from what you might have expected. Over all it is a very smooth, bitter ale with a touch of wood and bourbon.
Aftertaste +2

The bitter citrus and pine resin makes your mouth salivate for the next sip. It seems to keep on building after each gulp.
Alcohol Content +1 9%

No mistaking this beer for a lightweight. The smell and taste of alcohol is a powerful as a Superbowl Sunday post-game fart.
Value 0

It was very nice, but for $15 a bomber... Possibly for a special occasion.

Ingame Enhancement 0

I sat on my friends couch and watched Elvis Costello's train-wreck of a talk show. Is it just me or does Elvis look like Gordon Freeman; must be the glasses.

Overall 7/10 BOOM Costello head-shot

This was a good bitter ale. The ceramic bottle was a nice touch; it now holds my dish washing soap.

Youngers Special Bitter (Rogue)

Ratebeer 3.49 85th percentile
Beer Advocate B+
Taste +3

This will most certainly be a bitter; you can tell from the citrus hop bitterness that permeates the room. Once the nose gets closer, you can pick up a slight nuttiness and malt sweetness. The first thing to hit your tongue is the citrus hop and carbonation bite. This is followed with a medium malt sweetness, very bright, mixed with light citrus and cloves. Overall a very refreshing swig.

Aftertaste +2

All the flavours drift around and cleanly head off to leave a nice residual citrus bitterness. The bitterness just won't stop.
Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

True bitters are meant to be refreshing and not knock down beers.

Value +1

This was a great bitter. I will get this one for my Father at Xmas.

Ingame Enhancement 0

I think I knitted a sweater for a homeless dog this night.

Overall 5/10

Rogue always brews good stuff. This is no exception.

Flavius: No time for small talk, we need to get reviews done. We are backlogged and need to prepare for the 100th beer review.
Meterman: Great the less you talk the better. Anything planned for the 100th review?
F: We need to shatter the palate! Whenever you can detect the flavours of grapefruit peel and vanilla, something needs to be done.
M: Well it is not like you are Michael Jackson or anything. It would be nice to do a hard reset on the taste buds.
F: Stay tuned, I have a plan. What does the King of Pop have to do with it?
M: No the other Michael Jackson you idiot; the great "Beer Hunter".

Rogue Santas Private Reserve

Ratebeer 3.51 85th percentile
Beer Advocate B+
Taste +3
IBU 44

This red amber ale had the look and nose of a pale ale, just with more hops. The first drink did not give the full mouth feel you might have expected from a hoppy Rogue Ale. As predicted, the taste was a pleasant hop bitterness, quite sharp. There was not a lot of malt sweetness to balance out the bitter. Don't get me wrong, it is a tasty beer. I just expect more from a Rogue. You could also pick up hints of citrus and pine.
Aftertaste +1

The malt/caramel sweetness vanished quickly to leave a residual hop bitterness. This slowly faded away to leave a clean palate.
Alcohol Content 0 6%

Just under the mark for a positive score.
Value -1

Ouch, Meterman got rocked with a $8 bill for this 650ml bottle. It was a cool bottle with the glow in the dark snowflakes. We expected more from a higher priced special edition beer.
Ingame Enhancement 0

I can't remember what I did this night; this certainly wasn't caused by a 6% beer. Maybe I was abducted my aliens. If I was; we all probably played L4D.
Overall 3/10 meh

This was good beer, but nothing outstanding. Perhaps I expected too much from this Rogue, everything else they make is outstanding.

Kells Irish Style Lager - Rogue

Ratebeer 3.01 44th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

The nose is all lager with sweet grains, grass and bread. The flavour is very smooth with hints of honey/light malt, light hops and dry bread. This is a very drinkable beer.
Aftertaste +2

A nice, long lingering of sweet grains. Almost like leaving a piece of dry bread in your mouth until the sweetness comes out.

Alcohol Content 0 5.2%

Value +1

This was a nice lager; priced in the $6 range for 650ml. I would buy it again.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Not exactely sure what happened this night. I'm sure it involved myself and Nightware terrorizing zombies.

Overall 7/10

I liked this lager; it was not overly complicated but more flavourful than expected. If you have a friend who is stuck in the lager rut, this might give him a little lift.

Rogue Chocolate Stout

I think Clan ARC should start reviewing lower end beers. All of our scores are quite high. Then again, life is too short for crappy beer.

Rate Beer 3.91 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A

Taste +4

It pours with a full, thick tan head that settles down after a few minutes. The nose is all bittersweet chocolate. Surprise, the taste is just like the smell; roasted malt with bitter chocolate sweetness. There is a very nice balance between the sweet and bitterness.

Aftertaste +1

This brew gives a full mouth feel. There is a pleasant lingering sweetness the fades off to a nice hot chocolate bitterness.

Alcohol Content +1 6%

I'm sure there is alcohol in there somewhere.

Value +1

This was standard import craft beer price; very worthy of your dollars.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I am so glad Valve added the ability to move of a ladder in the latest L4D patch. I needed it to get over the pile of dead zombies left by Meterman, Nightware, Painkiller and myself.

Overall 8/10 BOOM HEADSHOT

Again, another great stout. This was on the sweet side; unlike the Green Flash which was on the roasty side. If you buy a Rogue, you can be sure of a great beer treat.

Flavius: Have you made any New Year resolutions?
Meterman: I resolve to simplify my life.
F: Very modern of you, focus on what's important.
M: Yup, you're the first thing to go; you are to complicated and unimportant.
F: I resolve to not let negative comments and thoughts affect my sense of inner peace.
M: Great now I don't have to feel so guilty.

Yellow Snow IPA (Rogue)

Beer Advocate B+
Rate beer 3.68 93rd percentile

Anything by Rogue provides a unique tasting beer experience. These beers are not for the faint of heart or soft of palate. If you think Alexander Keiths is a great IPA, stay away from the Rogue. The Rogue XXX Stout is the nastiest thing in a bottle; one step below draino. I can't get enough of these beers; I have had my fill of draino.

Taste +4

The nose is straight up aromatic hops and apricots. The taste is the same full IPA hoppiness. The flavour of hops is hard to describe; put this beer at a 7/10 for hoppiness. A rating of 10 being undrinkable-pucking-taste-bud-shattering. Some Phillips IPA's reach a 8 or 9. Alexander Keiths might rate as a 3. It does fill the mouth with full hop bitterness. Hidden amungst the floaties are flavours of grapefruit and just a bit of malt sweetness.

Aftertaste +2

Very nice for an IPA. Pleasant and long lasting slight bitterness; it lasts for over one minute. Yes, I did time it.

Alcohol +1 7.5%

I'm sure there is alcohol in there somewhere.

Value +1

This one set me back $6.95 for 650ml at a local CBAW (Cold Beer and Wine). Well worth it if you are an IPA fan.

Ingame (Life) Enhancement +1

I shared this beer with my father on Christmas day. Whenever I get a reaction of "great beer, what is it?" from the old man, it scores high marks.

Overall 9/10 BOOM SANTA HEADSHOT

It is a rare day that I find an IPA that I truely like, but this is the one. Don't rush out an buy this IPA and suck it back, you might hurt yourself. Warm up with a few Keiths, usually after a Irish whisky shot.

Flavius: I have decided to get a new job.
Meterman: I thought you liked working in the health care field as a high price consultant.
F:It gets a little tedious, caring for people.
M:Where have you applied?
F: Tim Hortons. It's closer to my house and I like donuts.
M: @#$#, Well let me help you with some interview questions. "What is your biggest challenge? How did you deal with it."
F: Getting out of bed this morning. I called in sick to work.
M:"Describe you relationship with superiors"
F: Back-stabbing arrogance.
M: "Why did you leave your last job?"
F: Restraining order.
M: This might take more work.

Rogue Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale

Rogue is known for their much better than average beers. The XXX Stout in the ceramic, pot topper bottle is not to be missed.

Taste +2

This was actually quite a dark ale; I think it tasted more like a stout or porter. Like all dark ales, there was a pronounced malt sweetness balanced with a slight vinegar sourness. Hidden amongst the strong chocolate flavours were hints of pepper. The bottle said there were "hints of nut flavours", I didn't taste any of that.

Aftertaste 0

There was a nice coating of sweet malt and chocolate than vanished quickly.
Alcohol 6% +1

They give the Plato value of 12, which is about 6% alcohol.
Value 0

This was not a cheap beer, Rogue beers never are. Usually they are worth every penny. Sadly this one was not.
Ingame Enhancement +1

As always, any day playing left 4 Dead is a good day. Meterman and I finished the farmhouse finale.

Overall 4/10

This was a nice beer, perhaps I expected too much. Great excitement fills my heart whenever I find a good selection of Rogue beers. These beers are usually outstanding and something to be enjoyed. Perhaps the pinnacle of brewing. While it was above average; this brew did not stand out.