Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales

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

MJR

Missouri

4.47/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a marvelous crystal clear, ruby-brown color with a creamy biege head.

Smell: Hazelnut! What a great aroma. I pick up on a touch of sweet malt as well.

Taste: What an incredible not-quite-traditional brown ale! Has a slight sweetness to it and goes down with a very 'soft' hazelnut aftertaste. Very rounded and smooth in flavor. Considering it's a Rogue, the absence of massive hop flavor is suprising.

Mouthfeel: Great medium body, with a smoothness and soft finish.

Drinkability: Very high. Goes down very easy and isn't so sweet that you couldn't drink a few pints. The hazelnut flavor is just enough...it doesn't overpower at all.

One the best, if not the best, brown ales I've ever encountered. A very worthy competitor to Samuel Smith's Brown Ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2002 13:30:06 | More by MJR

proc

Michigan

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

An excellent brown ale. The aroma is fantastic. Pours out to a dark brown in the glass with a light brown head. Taste is indeed nutty, with a perfect blend of hops and malt. It got better as it warmed up. This brewery knows beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2002 10:59:51 | More by proc

Lupe

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Deep brown color, with a large beige head that settles into a thin sheet on top of the brew. Generous amounts of lace all the way down the glass. Hazelnut aroma, along with sweet and earthy scents. Mouthfeel in a bit thin, taste causes you to expect more body, but it is still rich and creamy. Starts malt sweet, and then the slight hops come keep the malt in check. Finishes with a delicious hazelnut taste. One of the best aftertastes I have experienced. Very easy to drink, a real treat.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2002 21:27:59 | More by Lupe

zerk

California

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

Deep brown... almost opaque, with a thin tan lace. Aroma of coffee, bread and hazelnut. Flavor begins with bread and coffee, ends with hazelnut and a some hop bitterness. Crisp, with a medium body and medium to high carbonation. Rogue does it again... very tasty!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2002 15:43:47 | More by zerk

putnam

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I choose to approach this as a Brown Ale. The color is dark for the style. The head is beautifully irregular and retains adequately.
While there is nothing objectionable in the aromas or flavors, it does seem that that the ingredients of the beer stand out obtrusively. I take it as a cardinal rule of cooking, as well as brewing (or any art for that matter,) that if you can sense the conscious work of the producer, then they added too much. Call it "contrived." Bam! chocolate malt. Bam!, hazelnut extract. There is very little integration to this beer. No zen. No bliss. Nevertheless, for anyone craving overt stimulation, this is a sound beer, and entertaining. In a loud bar it might be completely appropriate. While it does nothing to hurt Rogue's deserved high reputation, it doesn't help either.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2002 06:53:04 | More by putnam

hyuga

North Carolina

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

Deep, dark brown-amber with a creamy tan head that pours big but settles quickly to about 2 or 3 cm, then disappears after a while. Wonderful rich nutty aroma, hazelnut of course, along with creamy malt aromas, mostly with roasted character. Kind of a nutty coffee aroma. "Delicious" is a good one-word description of the taste, but is also an understatement! Excellent hazelnut and roasted malt flavor with a small but easily detectable spicy hop backbone. Chocolate maltiness also plays a big role (originating from the chocolate malts used, of course). Just a touch of wood flavor as well. Medium body, but with all of the flavors it doesn't matter. Creamy mouthfeel that makes your palate cheer joyfully, and a dry, nutty finish. So drinkable it's gone before you know it. 22 oz. is almost not enough! Excellent and truly worthy of the word "nectar", my only wish for this beer is for the head to stay all the way through.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2002 01:48:35 | More by hyuga

Jon

Illinois

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

Here's a unique offering that most everyone can enjoy. The pour from a 22 oz. bomber appears dark brown with a full tan head. The smell is of caramel-ish malts with a dose of hops and is rather sweet. This is a tasty brew. Notes of sweetness - hazelnut, caramel and that subtle touch of hops - are present. Mouthfeel is quite smooth, and this is an easy drinking brew. A definite must try for fans of the brown ale style.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2002 22:26:53 | More by Jon

ryanocerus

Iowa

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

Opaque, deep ruby in color with an aroma that is all nuts. The flavor had a little coffee aftertaste and slight malt, but they were way overpowered by the nuttiness. It was very smooth and full of flavor, and they certainly achieved the desired result of hazlenut, but it was too simple for me. More malt and less hazlenut might have made this a more balanced beer. Not a bad beer, just not one of my top choices.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2002 14:53:21 | More by ryanocerus

cokes

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Attractive dark ruby brown with a creamy beige head.
Roasted aroma with hints of vanilla.
Nicely nutty and toasty for a brown ale, but the seemingly artifical (and overpowering) hazelnut extract really impedes this brew. More fake vanilla than anything. It does not taste bad, it just tastes forced. A subtler approach may yeild better results.
Smooth and creamy in the mouth. But I can't get over the cream soda comparisons.
This is alright as a change of pace, but the bomber was too much for me. It just got too sweet and fake tasting.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2002 23:55:59 | More by cokes

Jason

Massachusetts

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

Presentation: 22 oz bomber with no freshness date, full list of ingredients and specs on the bottle.

Appearance: Very creamy looking light tan lace, very dark mahogany with reddish hues. Quite a treat to look at.

Smell: So damn malty in the nose with obvious nutty and hazelnut aromas. Toasted and roasted malts in the nose with a light and ripe dark fruitiness.

Taste: Soft mix of toasted and roasted malts up front with a big handful of sweetness. Flexed medium body with a rolling smooth carbonation. Quick flash of spicy hop throws in its bitterness to keep the brew in balance. Roasted malts seem to prevail over the toasted, but not by much. Hints of chocolate and charred wood follow. Suggestions of black currants and prune fruitiness. Mild nuttiness from the hazelnut extract as well as the malts.

Notes: A full flavoured brown ale with the nice addition of hazelnut extract. This is my kind of dessert beer, give me a square of tiramisu or molten chocolate cake and I’d be in beer heaven.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2002 18:48:12 | More by Jason