Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales

Mitchster

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, deep dark mahogany in color, forming a clumpy small beautifully tan head atop medium-sized bubbles. Carbonation is moderate. Aroma is of sweet chocolate malt and roasted dark nuts. I'm not normally a fan of nut brown ales, but this one smells nice. Retention is decent and lacing is great. Mouthfeel is soft with a smooth finish. Medium-dense body. Taste...wow....up front there are dirty, earthy hops which are followed by a subtle quick note of alcohol. The best part about this brew is right in the middle; a sweet, chewy dark graininess emerges and bathes the tongue, followed by a pleasant spicy hop bitterness. The finish is toasty and dark, earthy and dry, with notes of dark fruits and warm wood. The hazelnut is rather restrained, making this an enjoyable brew, and not sickingly artificial like many other "flavored" mistakes.

Ingredients: Great Western 2-row Pale, Munich, Hugh Baird Brown, Crystal 80, Crystal 135, Carastan, Beeston Pale Chocolate malts; hazelnut extract, Perle and Saaz hops.

Measurements: 14 degrees Plato, IBU 33, apparent attenuation 73.6, Lovibond 36.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2003 18:59:27 | More by Mitchster

fastfwd

Oklahoma

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

My first review. I couldn't resist reviewing this one. This beer is such a treat! Nice thick tan head by the time I poured the second glass (first was a little too cold I guess). Began with a nice mild chocolate malt taste, very creamy, smooth, full mouthfeel, and finished with a little bit of hop, but just enough to keep it interesting. Left a hint of coffee and maybe toffee taste in my mouth. Wow, this is a great beer. If I could only have one beer a day I could live on just one of these a day. I'm really impressed with the Rouge beers so far.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2003 18:01:56 | More by fastfwd

far333

Connecticut

3.23/5  rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Very nice dark brown color, but where's the head? It's nowhere to be seen. Great aroma of vanilla and chocolate, and hints of coffee, but I'm not getting hazelnut, nor any hops. Flavor closely matches, but also has a hint of marshmallow. Overall the flavor is too sweet, and the mouthfeel is decidedly slick and oily with low carbonation. The body of the beer is not appealing to me. I would not choose this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2003 06:42:41 | More by far333

WaltTrombone

New York

3.63/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer came in a 22 oz. bomber, with the signature Rogue painted label, very classy!

It poured a dark brown, almost black, with red notes when held to the light. The creamy tan head went away almost immediately. The aroma was faint, an undefined sweetness, with nut and chocolate notes. (Served at cellar temps, BTW, around 50-55F)

The taste is not complex, mostly a malty sweetness, with just enough hop bitterness to remind you that it's a beer, not a hazelnut frappacino. Transient notes of hazelnut, chocolate, and figs.

Smooth, almost thin mouthfeel, with light carbonation. The finish is where I really noticed the hazelnut, along with the light bitterness from the hops.

So far, I've found Rogue beers to be good, not great, and surprised by the hype and aura attributed to this brewery by other BAs. They ARE, however of good quality, and very drinkable. If you've been curious about the fuss, you shouldn't be wary, as they are deserving of at least some of the accolades. Worth seeking out, at least to see and taste for yourself!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2003 06:23:33 | More by WaltTrombone

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Hazed dark brown in color. Some sediment at the bottom. Creamy tan head that stayed well.
Roasted malt aroma with cocoa and coffee.

The taste seems to come in 3 distinct phases. First a smooth, sweet, very nutty malt phase. Then an onslaught of mouth-puckering bitterness. Finally after the finish comes a pleasing hazlenut coffee and cocoa flavor that lingers on the palate for some time. Quite an interesting beer to drink.

Good body and mouthfeel with slight creaminess.
Drinkability set back a notch due to the bitter 2nd phase of the tasting experience.

The hazelnut extract really shows. Overall this beer is quite nutty and also coffee-like. If you're into hazelnut coffee this one is a must find.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2003 21:30:23 | More by PhantomVodoo

Elemental

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It was hard to review this beer, at first it was hard to drink because of the large amount of hazelnut. Of course I was expecting it to be hazelnutty but the first few sips were a little bit too much. Once the palate settled down the true flavors came out, revealling a sweet flavor with a mild bitterness that is masked by the hazelnut flavor. The first part of the sip is sweet with a light hop aroma that eventually becomes bitter as the beer hits the back of the mouth. Great color and taste. Overall a very good beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2003 20:38:54 | More by Elemental

Scooter77

Ohio

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

Pours a deep mahogany color with a medium sized off-white head. The froth quickly fades down leaving a light lace on the glass. The nose is full of different aromas, such as hazelnuts, coffee, molasses, and roasted malt just to name a few. The taste is just as complex…it contained many of the same properties as the aroma, with a hint of bitter hops at the finish. This is a very smooth and rich beer, it’s excellent to drink on a cold winter day.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 06:53:57 | More by Scooter77

Darkale

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wouldn't it be nice if all brown ales tasted like this? Fast tan head, clear, cherry-wood color, no lacing -- the head recedes to a skim and stays there. Nice carbonation, though, and one of the clearest tasting beers I've ever had. I don't know how else to say it -- it is a slick, clean, clear tasting brown ale.

A bit thin in the mouth, but it's nice to see how many flavors can be packed into the beer nevertheless (especially for those of us who are accustomed to flavor coming only from thick, heady beers). Nice tip of tongue hops burn, a slip of honey down the middle, and a nutty aftertaste that adds wonderful character. So easy to drink... smooth and just complicated enough to inhibit gulping!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2003 18:35:25 | More by Darkale

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is easily the best brown ale I have had to date. Also in its favor was the fact that those I shared the bottle with absolutely loved it...let the conversions begin!

I could not pick up much in the nose, probably due to the smoke in the bar. There was the obvious slight nutty aroma, with a bit of coffee as well. The beer was a dark shade of brown with a thin tan head on top. The taste is quite unique. A roasty bitterness arrives at the start, followed by hints of toffee and a mild hop bite, and ends with an overwhelming nutty finish. The nut flavor is somewhat sweet, but certainly not overpowering, and is delicious. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy...reminded me of a cask conditioned ale. This is a great ale from Rogue, and a very interesting one at that.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2003 10:22:37 | More by IrishRedRock

Bruiser81

Kansas

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Ahh I love bombers. This brew poured a very deep brown color with a very creamy tan head that lasted for almost the whole brew. The lacing was in thick sheets around the glass. A good looking brew. The aroma was mostly sweet malt with some toasted malt as well. There was also some chocolate trying to make itself noticed. The taste was just as nice. Sweet malts is what hit me first being pretty sweet but not overdone. The middle has a sort of buttery taste, what is that Diacetyl (sp?). The toasted malt is also very noticeable in the taste. The aftertaste has a bread flavoring and maybe a little bit of chocolate. This beer has great balance to it. The mouthfeel is medium and goes down easy. Overall I really liked this brew. It's the type of brew I could drink all night as it is not very filling. Next time I'll have to grab a couple of bombers.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2003 17:09:14 | More by Bruiser81

philipt

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's been nearly a week since I enjoyed this Rogue offering. I'll write as descriptively as possible, but don't expect many details.

I purchased the beer several weeks ago, but never got around to drinking it. It sat in my fridge since, until last Sunday afternoon, and I had a hankering for a brew. I drank this beer much too cold to get the best experience out of it.

Nothing over-powering in the aroma. Hints of sweet malt and hazelnut were the predominant qualities. Tastes, aside from being too cold, malty, with a slight hop bite in the back of the mouth. The hazelnut flavor was not as strong as expected, and not nearly as powerful as the chocolate taste in the chocolate stout.

Good beer, or maybe it just hit the spot. Either way, it's a good beer that I will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2003 13:21:13 | More by philipt

goz

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pour is dark brown, with a thick tan head that quickly settles to light lacing. Aroma is strong on the hazelnut, backed up with lots of roasted and toasted malts. Flavor is overpowered with the hazelnut, quite sweet (maple syrup?), with a hint of the roasty malts peeking through at the end. Mouthfeel is full, a bit sticky.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2003 08:00:46 | More by goz

JISurfer

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The first thing I thought when I tasted this, was Newcastle Nut Brown Ale. I guess the only thing different, is that it is better! Sure, I really like the Newcastle, but this is a level above. For one, the taste is a little more complex. It is light, but at the same time, it has a stronger taste of roasted nuts. It's also a little bit lighter on the alcohol taste, so it doesn't overpower your tastebuds. Has a little bit of a dry taste in the end, but it's not too dry. All in all, it's a good "ittle" brew. Could this be the nectar of the Gods? Nah, mead is.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2003 21:42:53 | More by JISurfer

HossMcGraw

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This one just isn't doing it for me. After having two excellent beers from Rogue (Shakespeare stout and Dead Guy ale), this comes as a bit of a disappointment. The appearance is a very rich dark brown with no head at all. The smell has a very astringent quality to it mixed with the hazelnut extract. The flavor is of dark roasted malts, hazelnut coffee, and dark chocolate. The hops provide a nice dry aftertaste. Normally the flavors I've just described would have me foaming at the mouth, but the body of this beer is so thin, the roasted malt and coffee tastes seem more suitable for a porter or a stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2003 10:22:16 | More by HossMcGraw

marburg

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I enjoy a great many of the Rogue brews, so I didn't expect to dislike this beer at all, but I certainly didn't except to love it so intensely. It's not at all what I would think of when I think of a nut brown ale...

Looks like a decent nut brown ale. But the similarities to the rest of the pack end there.

Smells shockingly of chocolate and something, not surprisingly, of hazelnut -- almost a candied pecan kind of smell. Very nice.

Tastes like an infusion of chai, chocolate, and beer -- three of my favorite things. Little hop bitterness. Very sweet but very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2003 10:21:25 | More by marburg

cretemixer

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a mahogony brown with ruby highlights. A caramel colored head fades fast to a thin collar. Sweet malty aroma with a hint of (surprise) hazelnut. I smell mollasses and bitter chocolate. Very smooth. The usual Rogue bitterness isn't there, very little hop bite. It tastes like a decadent dessert, nutty & chocolaty. A little thinner than I had hoped with carbonation fitting the style. I will by this beer again. A real treat!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2003 19:54:32 | More by cretemixer

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a pretty dark amber brown with an ample quick dissapating head.
It smells of hazelnut and roasted malt; VERY enticing!
This Nut Brown Ale is super drinkable, smooth and creamy. I taste some coffee among the subtle hazelnut. There is no sign of 6.5% ABV at all. The aftertaste is very pleasing making you want to dive right back into the next gulp.
The drinkability of this beer will make me a repeat buyer of this beer, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2003 14:03:50 | More by AudioGilz

ElGuapo

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A great dark brown with a great foamy head on top that settles to a lace in a bit and leaves a trail all over the glass. The aroma is wonderful with a beautiful hazlenut smell mixed in with dark malts and a little caramel and chocolate.

The taste is impressive and complex. The roasty dark malts hold the reigns for the most part, but the hazlenut also has a nice kick. The finish is dry and almost everything jumps in at the end including nuts, chocolate, and coffee. It is smooth and rich, and i can see myself getting this one many more times. This is one brew i would not be happy without.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2003 21:16:23 | More by ElGuapo

porter17

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Definitely the little brother of the Rogue Chocolate Stout. A very drinkable beer, with a nice hint of the same great chocolate aroma that pervades the stout. This brown also has the same great hint of chocolate on the palate, smooth and tasty. A more dinkable beer than the stout, it has greater appeal to people who seek a beer that is not as bold as the stout.
Another great success by Rogue.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2003 11:54:47 | More by porter17

AtrumAnimus

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Decent head - settled pretty quick. Malty nose. The balance of Hops and malt in this one gives it a very unique nutty flavor that makes this one (In my humble opinion) the best Rogue I have tried. This is a real interesting beer to drink. The flavors seem to change as you drink it. The beginning was shockingly good with that wonderful nutty flavor being the first and most prominent flavor. Toward the middle of the beer the flavor seemed almost like pure hops and got rather bitter on the palate. As I finished it though the nuttiness returns to have a sweet finish. I highly recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2003 07:23:56 | More by AtrumAnimus

oelergud

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Very good looking beer, dark ruby and tan head, good lace from this brew.
scents of chocolate and nuts, very much the same can be said for the taste, very complex and smooth. I didn't really read much of the label but judging from the taste and smell there got to be lots of different ingredients in this great beer.
The mouthfeel is excellent, really creamy and round, full body, perfectly balanced, hops and malts in perfect unison.
This is a great beer, good thing it's sold in 22 oz. bottles as anything less would be too little.

-Oelergud

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2003 20:02:52 | More by oelergud

ZAP

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Re-rate--12/27/02..Pretty much the same experience..I bumped the taste and nose up slightly..still a little syrupy and artificial but pretty good...I don't think this deserves a spot in the top 50 beers list but I do think it is a good beer (maybe top 200)..


Nice toasty notes on the nose...pours dark brown with minimal head..a bit of a syrupy texture, but definitely one of the richest browns I've had..Hazelnut is very very subtle compared to Longshot Brown of about five years ago..You get the hazelnut on the long finish more than anything..nice smooth rich brown ale but I wish I could smell and taste the hazelnut more..

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2002 17:36:39 | More by ZAP

LarryV

Massachusetts

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

Poured with a slight head that dissipated quickly. Muddy brownish red in color, fairly opaque. Distinct nutty aroma. Nutty flavor comes through in the taste, and is followed by a twinge of hops. The maltiness and nuttiness combine nicely. Smooth, very nicely balanced. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner than I expected, but good for a brown ale. I especially like the fact that it's not overly sweet either. An excellent brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2002 17:57:09 | More by LarryV

Scoats

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

As you place the glass up to your mouth, even before your real first taste, the scent gets you and want to drink deeply and greedily. You do, but you stop yourself to enjoy the full taste of this beer. Wonderfully smooth and seductive, nutty, balanced, perfectly hopped.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2002 07:02:50 | More by Scoats

mzwolinski

California

4.88/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The bottle proclaims this to be the "World Brown Ale Champ." Impressive claim, though it doesn't specify the awarding institution. Ayways, it was enough to whet my curiosity. Pours ruby in color with a medium-tan, creamy head. The aroma is enticing -- roasted malt and hazelnut. Not too strong, just enough to increase my excitement to taste the beer. And wow. The taste. First thing that struck me was the incredible creaminess of this beer. Hazelnut lingers in the background behind a chocolate malt body. Decent hop bitterness to the beer, but very unassertive. Just enough to keep the finish from being cloying. Hazelnut reasserts itself in the aftertaste to a very pleasant effect. All in all a terrific beer -- sweeter than many browns but complex and well-balanced enough to keep it interesting all the way to the bottom of the botle.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2002 09:17:39 | More by mzwolinski