Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales

APetitfils

California

3.28/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: It has a dark red and brown when in direct light, which deepens in color when not in direct light resembling an almost red wine-like appearance. Has a clear consistency with a beige head that retains well.

S: A definite nutty smell that is blended with malt. There is a slight sweet smell that I couldn't wrangle though..

T: A nice roasted malt flavors that make me have to give praise to the name. The hazelnut plays through pretty plainly and you don't have to stress yourself to taste it. There are other components such as coffee, chocolate (lighter than dark), some hops, alcohol, and a slight sweet and acidic signature.

M: Much lighter than I expected. Smooth, somewhat oily, with light hints of carbonation. Nice crispness and bitterness at the end.

D: This is definitely a nut brown and has qualities that make it unique and worth trying. The flavors really open up, and I would recommend allowing them to do so because the get much better.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 03:10:20 | More by APetitfils

TexasTowHead

Texas

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

Pours a cherry wood color with a two-finger head that doesn't linger. Very little lacing. The aroma is quite intriguing and chiefly of hazelnut and pumpernickel bread.

The taste is hazelnut and molasses straight-away, followed by a nice slight hop bitterness that keeps it from being too syrupy-sweet while still leaving sweetness on the tongue afterward. It is medium-bodied with just enough carbonation to stave off the said syrupy-sweet sensation you find in so many others of this style.

This is an extremely quaffable beer and a nice option for a "bigger" (while not BIG) beer that allows you to down a few. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 01:51:28 | More by TexasTowHead

puertobrewing

Puerto Rico

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a pint glass.

A- Great looking beer! Dark amber to reddish. Not much head but it may be due to the tap pressure settings.

S- Sweet and a hinch of fruitiness followed by a bit of wood but not a big smell.

F- Berries on the beginning, followed by a perfectly achieved nutty flavor. At the end a pleasant cocoa aftertaste very similar to the Yoo-Hoo! drink.

O- Very nice beer! Certainly I will have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 19:08:17 | More by puertobrewing

Thurgoft

Illinois

2.26/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bomber into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

A: Pours a clear amber brown with a fluffy cream head.

S: Digging the extremely(!) nutty nose but a little nervous how it will taste in the context of a beer. It's nutty, like REALLY nutty.

T: Really, really strong hazelnut "nectar" taste. Like drinking pressed hazelnut juice with a bit of malt backbone and a slightly bitter hop finish. Really not sitting well on the palate.

M: Mouthfeel is a somewhat thin, thinner than I;d expect for a beer like this.

O: Overall the beer smelled good before tasting but after tasting the cloying hazelnut flavor became overbearing about four sips in. By 1/3 of the way through I found the unrelenting concentrated nut flavor to be somewhat nauseating. Sink poured the rest. Was expecting a lot more given the hype. Really seemed to lack subtlety in favor of "HEY WE PUT NUTS IN THIS BEER!" Would consider giving it another go but not anytime soon and not over $7 a bomber...

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 07:00:25 | More by Thurgoft

SlowTwitch

Massachusetts

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

Appearance - Reddish brown. Clear. Tight 3/4" head when poured. Laces nicely and lace sticks to glass through the drink.

Smell - Nutty, chocolatey, rich.

Taste - A nice rich maltiness. Hops present in aftertaste that aren't noticeable when first tasted. Chocolate malts are easy to identify. Call me crazy, but I didn't taste the hazelnut (or general 'nuttiness') as much as I expected to.

Mouthfeel - Rich mouthfeel. Taste lingers for a while between sips.

Drinkability - Easier to drink as the beer warms.

Overall - Good beer with a great initial richness that is more apparent as the beer warms. Not the best example of a Brown Ale, but one that is certainly worth tasting.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2004 04:31:35 | More by SlowTwitch

Klunco

Massachusetts

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

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into two small Ommegang dubbel glasses.

A-Dark chestnut brown with a tan head that left good lacing

S-Roasted malts along with a strong buttery smell that could only be identified as delicious hazelnuts. The smell was definitely enticing.

T-Taste was fantastic. A great blend of dark malt with a tiny finish of hop just to balance it out. The malts are not over roasted but crisp and clean unlike many brown ales which end up tasting like syrupy flat soda. Very refreshing and a fantastic taste, although not as much hazelnut flavor as in the nose

M-Creamy and medium bodied. The best part is it is not as syrupy as many brown ale's which gives it big points in the mouthfeel area

D-A superb ale with a great all around flavor. I will definitely be buying this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2008 02:34:12 | More by Klunco

roar1345

Connecticut

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

This beer looks a little darker than your average brown ale mildly foggy. the head is an off white and has a decent retention
has a dark nutty smell with the hazelnut being prominent with a mild caramel scent
the taste is more complex than just hazelnut there is a blast of flavors the instant it hits my tongue and the hazelnut is brought out when it gets towards the back of my throat. it has a perfectly mild bitter finish
a medium to heavy mouthfeel which is what i prefer. this is probably one of my top beers and i could drink this stuff all night every night great job rogue brewery

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2010 02:44:54 | More by roar1345

Loot

Florida

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

I was a bit skeptical, at the concept here, thought that the hazelnut was going to be overpowering. Boy! Did they prove me wrong!

A- it pours a redish, brown, copper, think maple syrup. Beautiful, delicious, two-finger head, nice lacing.

S- this was amazing you can smell it right when you open it .
Even other people in the room, turned there heads and asked what smelled sooo good. Very hazelnut, maple, fragrance. Toasted grains come through too. Something sweet too, almost molasses. Great!

T- as big as the smell was the taste is much more subtle. The hazelnut is definitely there. If your looking for hops, probably not your beer, but this is a malt persons dream. Smooth, very smooth beer. Sweet finish, with maple syrup like taste. Delicious!

M- this was surprising too me, it poured great, like a heavier beer but, it's very light, Lightly carbonated, a little sticky after your done.

D- I drank the 22oz bottle no problem. It was more to the thin side of the spectrum actually. Very drinkable. Great winter beer. I served mine just cooler than room temp.

This one is now in my rotation in fridge. Soo good! Kicking my self for not trying it sooner.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2010 21:13:58 | More by Loot

GusDom

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

As soon as I opened the bottle I can smell the sweet Hazelnut. It also has some cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar notes. The smell is definitely strong, if you've got a sweet tooth this is your beer.

It pours pretty good. The head is about 1 1/2 inch. The head goes down rather fast after pours, lacing is weak. Its a very slightly foggy copper color. After setting it down for 2 minutes to cool down the head and lacing were almost completely gone.

The taste is quite the same as it's smell, if not slightly more tamed. Very sweet beer, again, if you have a sweet tooth this is your beer. The hazelnut and brown sugar hit your mouth instanly, hops are present, but very minimally. The mouthfeel is light, I can see myself drinking more than one bottle easily. Reminds me of a pumpkin ale without the pumpkin. If you want a strong beer you might want to skip this one, I however quite liked it.

In conclusion, this was a pretty good beer. I definitely see myself trying this again on a day where I crave sweets. I would not recommend this for anyone who enjoys fuller bodied beers, or hoppy beers for that matter.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 02:20:37 | More by GusDom

TheMadChef10

New Jersey

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

I love hazelnuts so when I saw this on my bars MBA beer list I figured why not. The beer did not fail to deliver, it was a nice dark brown. The smell was amazing to me there is no better smell than roasted hazelnuts. The nuts weren't very forward, to me i got a bit of maltiness first then came the hazelnuts. The beer was quite smooth not overly carbonated. I could easily drink this everyday possibly with chocolate as a dessert beer?

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 21:31:24 | More by TheMadChef10

NurseJody

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Mellow Mushroom...

Very interesting, I must say!!! I expected different...but, here is my review :)

Upon pouring, it's a deep, dark color, yet somewhat transparent...a good brown ale for you...about a one finger off white head, with very little lacing..

The nose was very interesting! I could immediately smell cream...slight vanilla...yet the overall nose wasn't too much to talk about.

On the palate...Well lets see, cream, coffee, hints of 'burnt' nuts - quite odd, yet it all worked well in the finish. Not too malty. I could see how they labeled it 'hazelnut'.

Would I buy this again? Not sure... I would try it in the bottle, even though I have much love for taps :) Would I recommend it? Yes, due to it's oddness and creativity!

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2011 02:09:11 | More by NurseJody

sisterray

Florida

2.73/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Was excited to try this on tap and the Ale and the Witch in downtown St. Pete, but I didn't make it in time. Unsurprisingly, it didn't last long.

So, when I saw a bomber at Shep's Deli, I figured I should give it a go - it being the heralded beer that it is. As you can see by the grade, I'm disappointed by my experience.

A: Attractive copper. Light for an American Brown, but pretty nonetheless.

S: Faint. Exceedingly faint. I can just make out some malt hidden deep beneath what smells like some kind of liquid sugar extract. Maybe some honey too.

T: Something is amiss. There's an odd cooked vegetable flavor that keeps peaking through. I can taste the malt more than I can smell it, but it still gives way to that sweetness - and that vegetable flavor. If this beer contains hops, you wouldn't know it.

M: It's clean, but it's thin. I'd rate it lower for being thin, but with the unpleasant taste, I'm actually grateful.

O: I think I'm being a little generous by rating it as average. For the price, it's certainly well below average. There are moments between the vegetable and the sweetness that I was able to enjoy the brew. They were just too few.

Maybe I got a bad bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 16:35:56 | More by sisterray

maxwellboh

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I asked a couple of times the age of the barrel and was assured maybe a week old.

Appearance: amber in color characteristic of a brown ale. No head and no lacing.

Smell: definitely hazelnut. From beginning to end.

Taste: Hazelnut throughout

Mouthfeel: Like nutella, it sticks to the roof of your mouth and does not want to leave, (which is a good thing).

Overall: You want hazelnut, this is your beer. Great tasting that finishes clear, but the aroma is with you throughout.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 15:09:16 | More by maxwellboh

Vigilante

Nevada

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a pub-style pint glass.

A: Dark brown color with reddish hue. 1/2 inch of head which dissipated quickly leaving no lacing.

S: Carmel, hazelnut, toffee, malt.

T: Carmel, hazelnut, toffee, malt, slight taste of pine, and slight citrus aftertaste.

M: Crisp but with a thin body that is a little too watery. I was disappointed by the mouthfeel. From the smell I expected this to be a medium or full bodied beer.

O: Good brown ale with complex flavors but a little too light bodied. I enjoyed trying this beer but it is not something that I would drink frequently.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 06:44:16 | More by Vigilante

bhitt

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Poured from a bomber dark brown with small head with little retention.
Nose: Sweet with hazelnut extract aroma right up front.
Taste: The flavors take a while to kick in but are very well balanced. Not overly malty but just the right amount of sweetness, blends perfectly with the hazelnut. Flavor hops are just noticeable. Mouthfeel is silky, low/moderate carbonation.

Like many of Rogue's offerings, this beer is unique and enjoyable. A very drinkable brew that I return to regularly.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2007 03:11:30 | More by bhitt

icebergfat

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The only reason this review was so late coming was because I couldn't think of enough good things to say about this beer it is my all time favorite out of all the brews I have drank and the list is probably 350 plus beers (not bragging)just stating the truth I always return to this because it is so good what can I say out of 1-5 this is so over the top it s a 10, try it and you will seee, nuff said!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 02:04:43 | More by icebergfat

joesc230

New Jersey

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

I enjoyed drinking this beer. It's a dark redish color with tan lace. Very creamy. While drinking I notice a nutty, particular hazelnut taste with a very malty smell. Not too much carbonation. Very sweet, perfect compliment for a dessert. Would definitely drink it again...and again!

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2010 04:15:02 | More by joesc230

bellafromsocal

California

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

Has a amber-brown appearance with a decent tan head. You can definitely smell the hazelnut and it carries through into the taste. Smooth and malty with little bitterness. It was easy going down and not overly carbonated. Altough not one of my favorites, I definitely enjoyed it and would order again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 15:25:04 | More by bellafromsocal

JayRey

Rhode Island

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

Poured from 22 oz. bomber into Newcastle glass.

Appearance: copper/brownish color. Yields about 3/4 finger head the dissipates slowly. Frothy film sticks around throughout.

Smell: Very nutty and malty. Roasted nuts is the initial whiff and the most prevalent smell, with some slightly toasted malt in the background

Taste: Sweet upfront with a great hazelnut aftertaste. Many beers claim to be "chocolate" or "coffee" and such but fail to taste anything like their description. This beer genuinely tastes as advertised: hazelnut. A little bit of malt in the background with some chocolate undertones, but this is a true hazelnut beer all the way through.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with a good amount of carbonation. Smooth finish.

Overall: Definitely a solid brew. In terms of a" Hazelnut Brown Nectar", they definitely portrayed it nicely. Tons of nutty flavor and a solid finish. Would drink again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 05:08:14 | More by JayRey

vader

Idaho

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

Let me start off saying that is by far the best brown I have had hands down. Poured out very brown, almost like a wood stain of some kind, little head that tried to hold on till the end but left some lacing. Right off, the smell sucked me in, it was very sweet, nutty, chocolate, coffee and some malt. You can definitively tell there is hazelnut in there...the first sip was astonishing. Sweet, but not too much, lots of hazelnut with some chocolate and coffee. The thing that made this beer stand out is that it was paired with a final bitterness that didn't cover up the sweetness. But rather complimented it just enough so you knew you weren't drinking an iced mocha morning shit, but a BEER! I wouldn't go as far to say it was a dessert beer, but it definitively is a treat.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 00:54:52 | More by vader

awesomeandrew

California

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown caramel color, light carbonation, thin one inch head which slowly dissipates, minimal lacing which slowly disappears.

S: Hazelnut is apparent, smells nutty and sweet, little hint of malt

T: Sweet, not bitter at all, minimal hops, hazelnut is apparent, finishes sweet, little bit of chocolate taste

M: Light to medium body, minimal carbonation, very balanced mouthfeel, very smooth beer

O: I really do like this beer, it's smooth and extremely drinkable, there are no dominant tastes, everything is well balanced. I would drink again, a nice flavorful, light feeling beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 08:02:20 | More by awesomeandrew

McShane

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

The Specialty beer winner from this years Great American Beer Festival is my beer for the evening. Well I agree that it is special. One of those brown beers you just have to love. I'm not a big brown beer fan. This one though is from Rogue and it carries a signature goodness that some brewers can't pull off. Let's get to it.

Appearence - Beautiful brown beer. A half inch thick head that really let's you get to the core of the beer quickly.

Smell- Clean and crisp. Rogue really has mastered the smell of beers. They never smell "treated" or chemically. It never seems as though they added something to it bring out the smells. It's all ingrediants. Hazelnuts aren't a wonderful nut but they have a distinct smell. Good stuff.

Taste- Is a brown ale with a sweet finish. It doesn't try to do to much.

Mouthfeel - Crisp with a hint of Carbonation. It lingers a little bit at the end though which is ok, not awesome though.

Overall it's a good solid beer. If you like brown beers, this one you will enjoy a great deal.

Thanks

Steve McShane
The Drunkardscall Podcast
Growler Radio Podcast
www.inkandaudio.net
@ayemcshane on twitter.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 04:25:10 | More by McShane

johnnydollar

South Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Yes it's good, but I wouldn't say great. Maybe my expectations were too high, but this Rogue didn't blow me away. The glass has a nice transparent brown hue and it doesn't smell like much of anything. The taste is enjoyable, but a little too sweet for my liking. The carbonation, color and flavor all resemble cola in a weird sort of way. I like cola so I enjoyed drinking it, but it's not the Rogue experience that I am used to. Is it REALLY 6.2% ABV? I would have guessed much lower (it is also available in South Carolina where we have a alcohol cap on beer at 6%... shhh. don't tell anybody).

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2007 02:57:16 | More by johnnydollar

beltyrion

Massachusetts

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

A: Dark brown with tan head. Excellent lacing

S: Hazelnut and vanilla and caramel notes.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, with some hoppy character.

Tasting Notes: Some light hop character, hazelnut tones, as well as some light hints of chocolate. Maybe a dash of maple. Came highly recommended by a colleague of mine. Extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2008 20:51:58 | More by beltyrion

masterallen

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Medium dark red colour, but little head
S - Rich oatmeal and hazelnut notes
T - Awesome milk chocolate and hazelnut flavour, but didn't lack the bitterness of the nut.
M - A touch foamy on large quaff, but nice and soft carbonation
D - Definitely not a session beer, I could easily put back a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2009 17:57:14 | More by masterallen