Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales

elNopalero

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I’m reviewing this as if it was a brown ale with hazelnuts. Which I’m assuming it is.

Lately brown ales have fallen out of my favor. I remember during my early days as a craft drinker favoring “dark” over “light,” as that was the best distinction I knew at the time. But as my palate expanded I realized the dark beers I was drinking were brown ales, and as I experienced more and more beers I found myself less enchanted with the big malt profile common to (or I associate with) them. So, strike one.

Strike two comes from being over Rogue beers. As a novice craft beer drinker I really took to their variety, and the clever yet snarky marketing they did. Plus, they were/are ubiquitous—you can find some Rogue beers in places where you’d be hard pressed to find any other craft taps. But, over time I started to feel like so much of their beer appeal came from the cool-but-unnecessary packaging, the multiple-releases under the same name, and a price-point that tended to be higher than some of the better stuff I could get locally at the time I was living in the Bay area.

While I still drink brown ales in recent memory I haven’t had anything that I’ll seek out again. And aside from a growler of Dead Guy and a few pints at the North Beach Rogue satellite spot I’ve been Rogue-free for a few years at this point. So Rogue Hazelnut was a curiosity pick, a novelty selection, something I wasn’t expecting to … well, enjoy so much, to be honest. And enjoy it is just my way of dialing back my enthusiasm. This was some good stuff. It hit all the right notes, and I was in the mood for something just like it.

It poured a clear amber with a light, welcoming aroma. I didn’t get anything resembling a hazelnut on the nose, although I’m not sure I’d get much of a hazelnut aroma from an actual hazelnut either. This beer taste great. It has a sweetness to it without being overly malty or syrupy, and a finish that I would describe as hazelnuts on parade. Not your typical brown ale but oh so good.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 17:57:00 | More by elNopalero

GrantBrennan

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-19-2013 01:01:50 | More by GrantBrennan

meghmmm

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-19-2013 00:10:21 | More by meghmmm

Purp1eOne

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +10%

06-18-2013 16:00:46 | More by Purp1eOne

mcaulifww

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

06-17-2013 13:10:05 | More by mcaulifww

delta490

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

A- cloudy light brown with a long lasting creamy white head
S- sweet and nutty
T- a little sweet, with maybe some hazelnut but it lacks the richness and depth of hazelnut. Or any other nuttiness. No hops noted. Not much roasted malt flavor that I would also expect from a brown ale.
M- a little thinner than I wanted. No carbonation.
O- not bad but sort of a one note song. Lacks the depth a brown should have.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2013 11:53:03 | More by delta490

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle out a 6-pack. review is from notes.

look is a hazy brown with a small mocha head. smell is sweet hazelnut, not unlike nutella. taste is better: crisp malt, roasted/woody. finishes nutty, hazelnut throughout. feel is medium, crisp and easily drinkable.

good brown with an odd, overpowering scent. easy to drink otherwise, with a nutty hazelnut sweetness throughout.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 06:26:28 | More by jimmah120

Hsraiders9688

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-17-2013 04:10:47 | More by Hsraiders9688

RyanAU

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-16-2013 20:51:02 | More by RyanAU

Hoptron_3000

Australia

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-15-2013 22:30:45 | More by Hoptron_3000

ohyayitstrey

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-14-2013 20:43:49 | More by ohyayitstrey

Dyerseve

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-13-2013 23:35:42 | More by Dyerseve

Eazy28

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-13-2013 05:10:08 | More by Eazy28

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-13-2013 01:20:08 | More by mportnoy

JMUbrewz

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-12-2013 20:22:34 | More by JMUbrewz

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-12-2013 17:51:04 | More by InspectorBob

lndsy

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-12-2013 13:23:51 | More by lndsy

goblin7704

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-11-2013 21:54:08 | More by goblin7704

KingSlayer

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-10-2013 18:29:01 | More by KingSlayer

lauries444

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-10-2013 00:01:02 | More by lauries444

Greywulfken

New York

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: into a tulip, deep brown beer body, dark orange/red highlights center-pour produced a thick finger of tan head - persisted nicely, left sparse lace arms

S: deep, earthy malt and hop smell accented by dry hazelnut aromas; soft, earthy aromas suggesting molasses' sweetness and herbal tart/bitter-ness

T: not too bitter, faint chewy dark sweetness; suggests a wet, brown, pastry; dusky hazelnut presence; a yeast presence that is reminscent of some dark Belgian ales; flavors clear nicely on the finish, drying the mouth just enough before the next sip. Sweetened as it warmed.

M: somewhat tacky, soft and almost fuzzy; smooth, faint coat, light tingle that grew softer as the beer warmed

O: a very nice brown ale - the hazelnut isn't overpowering, cloying, or sweet - it fits well with the style and is a seamless blend. I'm not a big brown ale person, and the feels and tastes of the style are not my typical preference. That said, this was a very enjoyable beer that appealed in all areas. A fan of the style would no doubt enjoy this beer tremendously.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 15:41:52 | More by Greywulfken

praxis16

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-08-2013 09:49:29 | More by praxis16

calcutron

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

06-08-2013 04:45:12 | More by calcutron

CK812

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +10%

06-08-2013 00:28:09 | More by CK812

yanosh

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-07-2013 02:56:22 | More by yanosh