Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales

EmChouffe

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

I actually had to review this beer because so many people loved it and I'm now wondering what I'm missing. First it poured a deep reddish brown, slighty murky. Moderate head retention with some nice lacing. Ok, it smelled good, really it did, I WANTED to like it. It smelled like a bakery, caramel, toasted nuts, all that good stuff. But the taste? eh. It was a bit one-dimensional for me. Definitely very heavily presented toasted nut and oat flavors. But something was off, like I was looking at the tap and THINKING hazelnut but really I was tasting some horrible nut extract with a heavy emphasis on walnut/pecan. Oh yeah, some vanilla and even a little cocoa. But I wanted it sweeter and more balanced. WAY more balanced. but hey, maybe it's just me.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2007 13:37:12 | More by EmChouffe

Dubbercody

Washington

3.8/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Takes browns to a place seldom though of and rarely visited, one that I Really like. At least the first pint of it.

Hazy brown, strong hazelnut flavor that following their chocolate would be a great dessert. This also like many of Rogue's other offerings has a noticeably accentuated taste, flavor and experience tasting it on tap as compared to the bottle. While Rogue in the bottle is usually very good, tap just makes the beers sing.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2007 23:15:06 | More by Dubbercody

dherling

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured out a chocolate brown, failry clear, with a thick creamy tan head. The nose was sweet, full of hazelnut, creamy, with some mild spicing. The taste was a little watered down for me, nice hazelnut flavor, kind of sweet, but not enough body or malt backing this guy up. Instead of being a nuance, the hazelnut was the main attraction here. A decent effort, but this needs to be bigger. The hazelnut is a bit too cloying for me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2007 23:22:19 | More by dherling

Gatch

Massachusetts

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

If you love hazelnut coffee, you will love this. Actually, if you love good beer, you will love this Brown Ale. A nice dark color to it, which is blood red when you hold it up to light. Smell is of hazelnut and malt. Still can't believe how good this was. I don't want to say too much, you just need to go out and try it. My ratings say it all.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2007 02:40:09 | More by Gatch

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this brew at Tank's Taproom in Tampa, Fl. It poured a deep brown with two fingers of a light brown head. The retention was medium to fast and produced little if any lacing. The smell was a very sweet hoppy smell. The taste was pretty malty, almost giving the drinker a woody sense (as in trees not the other thing). This brew went down very smooth, and was a good purchase. Don't drink and review.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2007 02:13:33 | More by treehugger02010

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer last night at Redbones. I've always wanted to try it, so to see it on tap was rather nice. Since it was dark in the room, it was hard to judge the color, but the heading was pretty nice looking. In the smell was plenty of chocolate, honey and sweet sugar. Taste...woah! this one was really sweet to the point of being a bit too sweet. Having said that the nectar side of the beer gave it a nice presence. Mouthfeel was about medium I would say. One was more then enough for me for no other reason but that it was just too sweet for my palate. Maybe i'll pick up a bomber of it to see if there are any significant differences. Cheers

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2007 22:34:07 | More by jamie2dope

beveritt

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: On tap, served in a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Reddish brown, crystal clear. No head to speak of, just a ring of foam that fades to nothing.

Smell: Amazingly enough, very little smell at all, neutral.

Taste: Very creamy taste, almost milky. Nutty finish, no bitterness. A slight sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation, as expected for a brown ale.

Drinkability: Yes, please, several more.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2006 03:03:03 | More by beveritt

largadeer

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a clear but dark brown with a full, long-lasting head out of a Rogue growler, bottled right at the Newport pub.

The hazelnut comes through strongly in the taste and smell, especially in a fresh batch like this. Roasted malt, caramel undertones, subdued hoppiness. Very dry stuff, especially in the finish. It's on the lighter side of medium-bodied, with pretty light carbonation; very smooth and refreshing. This stuff is infinitely drinkable.

Serving type: growler

11-17-2006 22:16:50 | More by largadeer

Osiris9588

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer arrived brown with rusty undertones, wearing a beige head with slight retention and lacing. The aroma consisted of caramel malt, hazelnut, vanilla, coco, and tobacco.

The flavor is nutty, predominantly hazelnut, as one would expect, with a trace of bright beery, sweet caramel malt, and a light dash of syrup.

The mouth is light to medium, a little bright on the front, dry semi-dry and nutty on the finish. It's drinkable, but after sampling it both on-tap and in the bottle, I doubt I will give it another taste. I think it was better overall in the bottle--better carbonation and complexity. But it failed to knock my socks off in either format. I would suggest looking elsewhere in the Rogue catalogue.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2006 00:28:23 | More by Osiris9588

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Yummy!!

Rich, dark brown body with a thin off white head. Lovely chocolate-hazelnut smell and the flavour is just as good. Rich. nutty, malty. No hop bitterness to hold back the nutty flavours.

My only complaint is that the body comes off as a bit heavy sometimes, but this is a very tasty, very good beer. Thank you Rogue for coming the GCBF!

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2006 02:34:26 | More by BDTyre

veech

Tennessee

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

I was impressed by the appearance of this beer as it poured darker than I expected with a dark brown body that was a little ruby when held to light. Light nose left me unsure what to expect out of the taste, beyond the expected nuttiness. The tase was very malted with nut taste predominant and fruity nuances. Enough hops to balance the smoky, nutty early tastes. All in all this was a very enjoyable beer that I will visit again. Can't sing too many praises about Rogue that haven't already been sung.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2006 04:01:26 | More by veech

MiScusi

California

3.68/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For a brown ale, which isn't my favorite style, this was the best i've had. I am reviewing this based on the style and I think they make a fairly solid offering.

The appearance is a dark but clear light brown. Smell is faint, as I've noticed in all brown ales I've tried, but no hops to be found in the nose, which would be a plus for the style, mostly.

The taste however showed a little bit more than it's competitors. Thin mouthfeel but more of a nutty and sweet taste which was enough to keep me interested. Moderately low bitterness.

Drinkability, if you are a brown ale fan, should be quite good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2006 06:29:36 | More by MiScusi

rtratzlaff

North Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer came to the table as a black beer with no head. The smell was nutty with a strong hazelnut scent. The taste was similar with a good malt backbone. The mouthfeel was pretty moderate and smooth. Of the nut brown beers, this is probably the best I've had. I've never been a fan of the style, but this beer may change my mind. Now if they could just sell this stuff in 12 oz. at cheaper prices.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2006 20:31:35 | More by rtratzlaff

JudgeRoughneck

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this pint with a thin but healthy head that had gone by the time i drank a third. Color impossible to comment on due to extreme darkness of bar. I didn't really smell anything either.

This beer tastes amazing. It starts off with a very light roasted bitterness that splashes right into a deep nutty flavor before going to molasses flavors that can even have some chocolate tones. Creamy-ass mouthfeel. Nectar indeed.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2006 01:52:15 | More by JudgeRoughneck

edmundfitzoil

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap at Northern Lights Theatre Pub in Salem, OR. It was a 16 oz. pour into a standard pint glass.

I received a nice pour with a short off white head. The beer appeared to be lightly carbonated. The beer's color apeared an incredibly deep, clear brown. Big malts with overtones of - the name hits it - Hazelnut rides through the nose. The beer itself tasted sweet, perpetually teetering near the edge of being overly so, but never becomes too sweet for my taste. The beer is big on the slightly roasted malt flavors along with the nutty flavors. The low level of carbonation aids in giving it a rich, full mouthfeel too. A slight, nice bit of bitterness comes at the very end as the beer roles of the mouth. This is like a nice dessert in a glass. It's a drinkable beer even with it's sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2006 17:14:41 | More by edmundfitzoil

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sampled at Brick Store Pub with the Atlanta B.A. crew. Hops and added flavour. Are browns needed? If I am going to have this, it might as well be on-tap. Colour-brown. I can see it appealing to some people and transitioning from coolers. A bit too much on the sweet side for my palate.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2006 04:18:35 | More by northyorksammy

mcallister

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've had this more than a few times recently on both draft and from bottle. This beer is fabulous. What a funky appearance. Very dirty looking brown with smoky attributes throughout. This is one fine and easy drinking brew. Tastes of what else but hazlenut, toffee, caramel, nice malty sweetness. Good beer to get your "domestic" drinking friends to try. Not sure how you couldn't like this one.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2006 23:23:37 | More by mcallister

DuqTroops

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: reddish brown in color and leaves a small amount of head residue on sides of glass

Smell: sweet, nutty, mild chocolate, and roasted malts.

Taste: lots of flavors throughout drink - no hops more malt and barley

Mouthfeel: opens up a lot of flavors in mouth

Drinkability: will have more again in near future.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2006 03:45:47 | More by DuqTroops

Foxman

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It came to me a black-coffee rich deep brown, flashing a ruddy red in brighter light. A thin pillow of light tan head settled soon to a frothy sheet. Curlicues of lacing etched the glass.

The aroma arrived brown: brown sugar, maple syrup, and caramel, then lightly spiced hazelnut coffee with a dark chocolate note, almost but not quite burnt.

Upon sipping, there came a roasted malt earthiness, with dark chocolate and toffee mated with toasted hazelnut. Caramel malt sweetness slithered in gently, blunting any rpeceding bitterness, then gave way to a mild but pleasing floral hops effect. The closing cleared to a malt and nut redux before a soft hop bitterness cleaned things up and lingered warmly. It seemed a tad stoutish, but that's no drawback, as it presented itself as a mature, enjoyable beverage.

Medium bodied, it came off as round and creamy, flowing smoothly, and carbonated to a tee.

I'll admit, I've not always been the biggest nut beer fan, but this one changes my perspective. The hazelnut is a wonderful acompaniment to everything else this beer has to offer, and it delivers a blended, distinguished flavor for your trouble. While it could almost be seen as a varietal beer, I think it could be enjoyed any time, as drinkable as any beer of its type. I'm not going to say I will become the biggest nut beer fan out there, but I will certainly be willing to visit the realm more often, and that's because of this fine example.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2006 15:11:54 | More by Foxman

Fish113d

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown/chestnut color with a slight tan surface layer, that dissipates quickly to a slight edge layer.

Aroma is a lot of toffee malts with some slight brown roasty coffee and nut aromas (hazelnut?)...I also catch some slightly earthy bitter hops in there as well.

Sipping gives way to lots of sweet chocolate & some coffee tones; very sweet taste with some slight bitterness. Actually a bit of butter taste also. Huge choco aftertaste that reminds me of Tootsie Rolls.

A nice light body with some butteriness to it. Carbonation is overly sharp on my palate but not so overbearing that kills the flavors.

Overall, easy to drink, but could use a bit mroe bitterness to fill in for some sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2005 23:39:36 | More by Fish113d

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A blood-red ale with a sweet plummy fragrance, the hazelnut flavor is there, but wears a disguise akin to exotic pipe tobacco – spicy and cured, with a deft, smoky finish that leaves and returns with a boomerang effect. There is also a pronounced brown sugar sweetness hardly impeded by any appreciable hopping making this somewhat suggestive of good Scottish ale.

Brewed with hazelnut extract, this deep ruddy ale is a welcome diversion from straightforward malt’n’hops beers. Trivia fact: Oregon grows 98% of America’s hazelnuts.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2005 03:30:18 | More by RedDiamond

DogFood11

California

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

On tap at Father's office in santa monica November 2005.

Rich brown color, solid head with sliding lacing and the occasional evidence. Smell is of nuts and smoked wood.

The taste is humongous compared to the smell....it is fairly modest in the nose and then a frickin explosion in the mouth. Nuts rule this brew and it is exceptionally smooth as well. Smoked presence doesn't come out much but its in the background. Just a hint of hop twang and its welcomed as this beer would be too sweet without it.

Notes: I feel like a broken record with Rogue. Mouthfeel is off the charts once again. I've yet to come across a beer that wasn't near perfect from this company. Good thing that samuel smith's nut brown is in a different category or they would have a run for their money. The two best brown's in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2005 19:03:59 | More by DogFood11

Enola

North Carolina

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

Had this on-tap at Brewgrass and bought another bottle today. This is one of the best smelling beers I've had. The first thing you notice when you have a drink is the flavor of the hazelnut. It also has a kinda caramel taste to it. It is a deep brown color with minimal head. I thought enough of this beer that it is the first one I sampled at Brewgrass that I went out and bought. Rogue brews some mighty fine beers. I'll certainly buy this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2005 00:46:33 | More by Enola

sinistrsam

Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Rogue Hazelnut brown had very dark body and little to no head. The aroma was very impressive with chocolate, brown sugar and nutty hints. The mouthfeel was clean and very smooth, and it had a wonderful sweetness, characterized by chocolate, toffee, caramel and nuttiness. It finished excellently with a sweet smoothness I rarely find in browns. I highly recommend this to people like myself who are constantly unimpressed with browns.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2005 18:31:06 | More by sinistrsam

SwillinBrew

California

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Hollinshead.

Ap - this poured a deep pine-bark brown with mohogany hues and a solid cream colored lace.
Sm - scents of toffee and nuts hit your nose in a very pleasant bouquet... some sweetness that i cant peg.
Tst - Mmmmm, delicious caramel, toffee and nuts (hazelnuts i'll assume) grace your tongue with hints of a chololate and vanilla blend. This is really damn good stuff.

Very tasty and complex this one. I'm not a nut-brown fan, but maybe i am now. This had a good medium body and could possibly pass as a porter... subtley complex if that makes sense. I will definitely serve this on the holidays and keep a bottle in my refrig.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2005 17:49:21 | More by SwillinBrew