XS Old Crustacean - Rogue Ales

sommersb

Tennessee

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Tasted On: 05-07-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 750ml colored bottle, swing-top
Glassware: Signature glass
Purchased: Single from The Bottle Shop, Franklin

I like the format on this beer, a ceramic-feeling bottle with a swing-top lid.

A: The hazy, orange-brown beer starts of with big off-white bubbles in the head, probably from the glugging of the first pour due to the narrow neck opening.

S: Aromas have a fruit sweetness, as in dark fruits first off, followed by pine and evergreen hops. Very clean and pleasant smelling.

T: The taste starts off with hop bitterness, in a way I can't easily classify, which is then followed by malty and fruity notes, making a nice contrast between the bitter and sweet. However there is some sort of unpleasant taste I can't put my finger on.

M: Full-bodied brew, with carbonation in the medium to high range. The finish is bitter and has some astringency to it.

O: Overall a good beer, but it seemed to be lacking in terms of others I've had in the style. It smelled better than it tasted...

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 04:31:49 | More by sommersb

snaotheus

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml ceramic bottle poured into a large snifter. This is a 2012 bottle, opened 6 April 2013.

Pours ruby brown, very little head (probably because I poured very gently). Slow carbonation makes this look thick and viscous. Smell is rich, musty, vaguely sweet, fairly muted (might be too cold). Dark fruit -- I think I smell dates. A little bit of grapefruit rind.

Taste is grapefruit rind bitterness, some floral sweetness, a little bit of smokiness. Lots of bitterness. A little bit of the dates or plums.

Mouthfeel is thick and rich and pleasant. Overall, this is a very solid beer. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 19:42:28 | More by snaotheus

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from a 7 ounce bottle, the beer pours a dark amber color with very little foam. The aroma is strong with candy sugar and laced with dark fruit overtones. Smooth and slightly carbonated on the palate. It starts sweet, offering a few tobacco notes as it glides back. Bitterness rises at the end to finish it off. Overall this is a good beer. I would appreciate more depth, perhaps more age, for Barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:38:35 | More by BeardedBoffin

Ascender

Illinois

4.49/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This was a gift from my bro-in-law and I'm thankful for it!

A cloudy burnt umber pour with a one finger head and medium lacing afterwards.

The nose has plum, pine and a bit of wood, or almost bark in it.

The taste is cinnamon, allspice, hops, pine and a high sweetness where the alcohol comes through. It's really tasty but it's clearly a high alcohol beer, that taste is unmistakable.

That said, I really enjoyed this. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:42:46 | More by Ascender

Kromes

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A hazy dark amber color with a thin tan colored head.

Toasted malt, caramel, and grassy hop. A little bit of earthy hop or peat in there also.

Initial flavor is of sweet toasted grain and caramel malt. The earthy and grassy hops then kick in to cut through the sweetness and give it a peppery spice and bitterness. These are strong flavors that complement and balance each other very well.

Good carbonation makes it smooth. A little bit oily.

Very nice beer here. There's no doubt that this is a sipper. The flavors are very strong yet blend together very well.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 23:53:16 | More by Kromes

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2006 release poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, brown sugar, bourbon, some fruit and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of bourbon, caramel, brown sugar and a little fruit. Then a hearty malt character comes in along with a touch of an alcohol sting. The hops presence is strong considering the age of the beer and brings a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, very strong kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are better beers in the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 00:03:12 | More by TheManiacalOne

DocZygote

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I like Barleywines, unless they are too sweet. Like many good Rogue beers the flavor of the Old Crustacean was never lacking, and for a high gravity beer that is important. One of the best Barleywines I have had.

Brewed 2004
Bottled 2004
Drank 2012 in a beer snifter.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 04:51:54 | More by DocZygote

darktower

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was given a bottle from 1998 that an uncle had cellared. I cracked it open on a damp, cool September night. I enjoyed it but wasn't blown away. I'm thinking it might have been slightly past its prime (14 years is quite a long time I know) but it was enjoyable. The alcohol had all but vanished but there was some subtle bitterness that felt out of place. It was definitely better when it was closed (cold) then after I had let it sit. The warmer it got the worse I felt it got. I have another bottle that was cellared in 2010 so I think I'll try that shortly and compare the two. I have no doubt about it's legendary status but, for me, this wasn't spectacular, just merely good.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 19:02:45 | More by darktower

lovindahops

New York

3.78/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This cold and rainy September night calls for this crustacean to make an appearance

A- a dark orange and copper body fills the glass with ruby hue on the edges of the glass. A good looking barley wine appearance

S- good caramel and toffee scent is completely surrounded by dark fruit and raisin scents. Some sweet sugar and mollases are in the background as well

T- very heavy handed syrupy caramel flavor with dark fruit flavor all over. Alcohol is very evident but also invited. Really a full bodied barleywine

M- syrupy full flavor that is smooth

O- crustacean is a powerful barleywine that is smooth but does pack a powerful punch. Good enjoyable flavor

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 02:26:29 | More by lovindahops

smakawhat

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass. Unsure of vintage or dating here.

Muddy murky orange and light brown body, with a faint tan head that falls to a good collar, but a bit of a hazy top.

Nose is warm, inviting. Boozy malt and alcohol, figgy, warm pleasant spices of nutmeg slightly. Good dark sugars hide, not too cloying or syrupy, but big.

A good hop kick to this barleywine on the palate. Bitter mellow astringent hop, hits in the mid palate with a good thick warming malt body. Not much fruit like undertones to this, but a good solid malt backbone provides a good canvas. Mouthfeel is light, but full of flavor. Carries the flavors real nicely. Hints of pine and earth finish on the swallow, with a light bodied malt density. Seems like a contradictory statement, but it works.

Overall quite a good and very different from most barleywines. Nice to grab this one for a change.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 23:32:28 | More by smakawhat

ediaz

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage (7oz) into a glass

A: Warm deep apple cider color with warm red notes. thin white lacing.

S: Sweet caramel and dark fruit notes with vanilla and a little booze.

T: Bright dark fruit taste that finishes with the other tastes noted in the smell.

M: Medium with a light amount of carbonation.

O: I would have this again but I wouldn't search very hard for it. Nonetheless, a very decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 04:05:44 | More by ediaz

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle pour at the bottle share hosted by Adam Fine Wine & Liquor held at Sophie’s Place in Redondo Beach, CA.

2008 vintage.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a foamy beige head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, toffee, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with a sweet flavor and an herbal hop flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is tasty and easy to drink with some nice aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 03:22:44 | More by UCLABrewN84

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

P:  Pours a murky dark apple cider appearance with minimal tan head the leaves thin spotty lacing. 

S:  Huge roasted caramel aroma, luscious berry wheat bread, coriander, dry dog food, soy sauce, burnt toffee, musky yeast. Once swirled the sweet aroma of alcohol stings the nose. 

T/M:  Taste follows the nose bready, loaded with sweetness and roasted caramel. The taste opens up the palate to bitter citrus and pine resin. Decently thick and silky mouthfeel that has subtle carbonation. Finish is dry with bitter fruity and grassy hops. 

O:  This beer is huge on the sweetness, bready malts and the bitterness is there but not truly pronounced.   I think this has faded somewhat but is still good regardless. The flavors really playoff each other a develop a complex and balanced beer.  Bottled in 2010 I can tell that the hops have faded quite a bit. I was expecting to have a big robust hop palate but I will have to find a fresh bottle to get the real flare of this beast. That being said it has aged very well. 

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 00:49:26 | More by Hopswagger

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

7oz bottled in 2000 Sampled in 2012 so it's got a bit of age on it. Pours a mostly clear dark brown with ruby highlights when held to light. The aroma is filled with caramel dark sugar and lots of dark fruit with some alcohol and a bit of wet cardboard. The flavor is dark sugars and cherries and raisins with a healthy dose of warming alcohol. There's an earthy herbal component in there as well. Medium to thin body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet harsh alcohol type mouthfeel. Its nice to be able to try a 12 year old bottle of barleywine. I've had fresher bottles of this and felt the alcohol was a bit too present, and this proves that age won't fix that. The twist off cap probably didn't help much, but there was still a little bit of carbonation. Nice to try.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 05:36:37 | More by johnnnniee

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Thanks to David Rosen for bringing over the 2 small bottles (Flying Dog and Rogen)!

Maybe the age has killed the carbonation, but very undercarbonated.

For its age, the dryness isnt as strong as id expect. Which kind of scares me because usually sweetness turns to dryness with age. Lots of very sweet toffee and even more caramel. Im thinking its soooo sweet that its almost dry.

i so wish it tasted like it smelled, but nope. Its kind of bland actually. Its sweet, but not as sweet as it smells. Its like an overly dry, almost off tasting sweetness that turns me off. I think it may have oxidized. I think I want dry sweetness, but I get some dryness, but the grains feel dry (and they dont work with the sweeter notes at all).

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 20:02:19 | More by VncentLIFE

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from 7 oz bottle dated 2010 into snifter

Appearance – Pours a hazy orange- copper color with a huge yellowish tinted head. The head had giant carbonation bubbles that slowly popped over time to leave a wonderful level of lacing.

Smell – The smell is sweet and malty. The sweet aromas are of fruit and sugar with the malty aromas of biscuit and sweet bread. There are lighter notes of alcohol mixed within, which when mixed with the rest of the aromas makes a very pleasant smell.

Taste – The flavor is big of chewy bread up front with a light, almost orange, citrus like flavor. The citrus leaves with an even maltier presence coming into the taste as a big biscuit flavor meets the chewy bread. At along this same time an alcohol flavor enters the taste. It gets stronger and stronger toward the end leaving a somewhat mediciney burn on the tongue in the end.

Mouthfeel – Insanely thick. It is like a thick syrupy-decongestant thickness. It coats the mouth thoroughly letting all the flavors really penetrate the tongue. This with a lower level of carbonation and a the burn create a rather unique mouthfeel.

Overall – Big and potent with a heavy boozy flavor and a wonderful thickness.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 23:46:35 | More by Darkmagus82

endovelico

Portugal

3.2/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Taken from notes. Reviewed under medium low artificial light.

Appearance: Murky amber stroke mahogany brew with almost no head (effectively snitching on the alcohol level) and medium perceived effervescence. Upon some swirling, a beautiful tan head emerges. The color is very inviting.

Aroma: Medium in intensity. On a first sniff: Cloying melanoidin with alcohol up front. Grainy and caramel on the back, but all in all very muffled aroma as i can't really put my finger on what i'm getting. Paradoxically a great descriptor, for me, would be piña colada and yougurt.

Taste: Intense flavour. Ash, melanoidin, alcohol, yeast slurry and caramel. Strong minty / vegetable hops reminiscent of Northern brewer hops. Very muddy as opposed to complex.

Palate: Medium low to low carbonation. Medium high body. Coating finish. Medium high bitterness. Some yeast bite. Alcohol apparent but it's really not supposed to be any other way at 11.5% and 110 IBUs. Soapy texture.

Overall: This beer is all over the place for me. Some things i like, some things are off, some things i hate. It's not an amateurish or badly made beer, it's just badly designed in my opinion, it doesn't really work as a whole. I almost feel guilty giving it such a low score but i expect a re-taste in the future to correct or confirm my suspicions.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 20:46:23 | More by endovelico

ckollias

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 750ml bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pours a cloudy brown hue with orange highlights. Small, white, head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace.

S: Strong malty aroma with a good caramel background and a decent hop presence.

T: Robust malt flavor that is slightly sweet. Caramel and slight hop background.

M: Very big, strong and boozy. Heavy body and medium carbonation.

O: Love, love, love this big ass barleywine. Total worth the money. Great flavor and huge amount of alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 00:46:25 | More by ckollias

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: The bottle is absolutely gorgeous, which is a good start. The beer itself isn't bad either. A few shades lighter than Mahogany, burnt orange I guess with a thick head that faded fast.

SMELL: Great smell with a ton of bread in this thing. Banana, clove and brown sugar are all there as well.

TASTE: This smelled like a malty beer, but it tastes like a hoppy one. The finish is exceptionally bitter while the front is loaded with bread from the nose. A bit of sweet maltiness manages to sneak in between the two, but only a tiny bit.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium bodied, dry and palate-cleansing.

OVERALL: Not great, but not bad either. The look and smell are great, but the taste and the feel are only slightly above average. All of this adds up to a good beer, but it probably isn't worth paying $17.99 for a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 04:04:23 | More by StoneTSR

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass from an awesome resealable gray ceramic 750ml bottle.

Pours a gorgeous oily light caramel color liquid with some nice orange hues and amber notes. Very nice off-white almost yellowish head that is dense and has some sticky lacing to it. Very nice and thick looking.

Aroma is also very nice. Caramel notes a plenty with some hop backed citrus notes and some herbal grassy and flowery notes. Slight molasses aroma can be perceived with some bready notes as well. There are some nice fruity notes as well with some slight prune notes. Mild heat as the beer warms.

Wow. Pretty impressive brew. Feel and body is a bit lighter than expected but the flavor really makes up for this. Strong malt undertones. Tons of caramel and molasses notes that are quickly overtaken by a nice prickly and citrusy notes. Very strong hop backed flavor profile. Definitely a hop bomb American Barleywine. Delicious combination of hops and caramel malt notes. Very rich flavors and a nice boozy notes. As it warms some more fruit notes pop up with some nice toffee notes as well. Mouthfeel is still pretty thick and oily with some nice carbonation and a nice dry bitter finish.

I was pleasantly surprised. I had stayed away from Rogue for a while but this is a great beer. Very flavorful and well crafted. Great job Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 22:59:03 | More by JoEBoBpr

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

XS Old Crustacean
Rogue Ales
Style: American Barleywine
ABV: 11.50 %

LOOK: Amber hued brew with excellent clarity. Small, short livid head forms and recedes. Looks like a big Barleywine.

SMELL: Complex nose of fruit, spice, heat, and everything nice. Fruit borders on cherry/dark fruits. There is a peppery alcoholic spice aroma as well.

TASTE: Mildly fruity, strong, and hearty. Brown sugar, toffee, molasses, dates, and cherry all come through. Definitely a barleywine.

FEEL: Full bodied, well carbonated. Fruit, spice and alcohol in the finish.

OVERALL: This was a pleasant brew, strong, but never overbearing or not tasty. This would pair with a solid dinner like roasted pork loin and smashed potatoes.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 17:00:06 | More by Stinkypuss

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I forget where I picked up this little bottle. Was in a barleywine mood and figured I’d try it.
7oz bottle that is marked “bottled in 2010” & “Best when Aged 1 Year”
Poured and left the sediment behind. Yep, looks like a barleywine! Thin film of head that actually shows surprising retention. Classic deep amber color with some burgundy tones. A spot of lace believe it or not.
Some hops in the aroma and a deep malt character. A hint of what surprise lay ahead for me in the flavor.
The flavor is MUCH more hoppy than expected. I am quite shocked actually. Pretty balanced, in that that hop bitterness offsets a hearty base of dark toasted malt.(not roasted or burnt) A touch of sweetness that really gets overwhelmed by the aggressive bitterness.
The body is actually a little thinner than some, but the bitterness offsets this and it’s a big beer.

A hoppy surprise in every bottle

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 00:13:46 | More by Reagan1984

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Originally reviewed on paper 2/3/12.

Received this bottle at my tasting as a gift for my recent birthday. :) I've never had this before. This is a 2009 vintage bottle.

Pours a ruddy, reddish-brown hue with virtually no head. Despite the very thin crown a straight down the middle pour provides, it leaves decent enough lacing behind. The smell on this is lovely. It's a bit on the hoppy side of things, but overall it has that lush vanilla, caramel, dark fruit, and generally sweet nose to it. I just love the smell of this barleywine. The taste is decent enough too. The smells don't translate fully into the taste, but the hops certainly shine through, to the beer's detriment, IMO. The mouthfeel has a lot going on. Boozy, hoppy (very), and sweet...this has a pretty smooth draw. It's not as thick and lush as I'd prefer, but it's nothing to sneeze at. Overall, this is a very solid barleywine. Despite it possessing some characteristics that I typically don't find appealing in a BW, the beer as a whole is very successful.

P.S. 11.5% ABV? WHERE? VERY well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 13:58:17 | More by Retail1LO

Meerkey

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: No real head to speak of. Muddy orangey brown. Kind of like thick, dark honey.

S: Grainy malts and some hops. Some fruit.

T: Yum! Lots of strong, drying hops accompanied with bready malts. Some fruit. Alcohol is definitely noticeable.

M: Bitter, very drying. Sharp, but smooth on the tongue. Nice.

O: A very good beer. Surprisingly hoppy. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 03:48:55 | More by Meerkey

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.3/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 7 ounce bottle into an Albemarle Ciderworks glass. 2010 vintage.

A: Light but dense off-white head is short-lived. The beer is an ugly sort of translucent, muddy orange-brown. Unfiltered.

S: Bready malts, older hops that still have some kick, and significant amounts of fruity alcohol.

T: This is a damn good barleywine. Loaded with hops that have barely mellowed over the last year+, but balanced with a heavy malt base and a subtle sweetness of fruity esters and alcoholic body. The back and forth across the tongue is oh-so-pleasant. By the end, the hops have finally won out. 110 IBU? I believe it.

M: Astringent, but full-bodied. Bitter, but only lightly dry on the aftertaste.

O: Really great Rogue beer -- one of the best -- and a steal at under $2 a bottle. Highly recommended; a stellar example of the American Barleywine style. I have no idea what it's like fresh, but this aged bottle is a thing of beauty. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 03:37:04 | More by AgentMunky