XS Old Crustacean - Rogue Ales

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage, on-tap at Bar Hop.

Dark amber in colour. Small white head, nice lacing. Fades quickly.

Smell is not particularly strong. Bready malt, caramel, some grassy notes.

Sweet caramel malt flavour-wise, along with toffee. Decently hopped, some pine and slight citrus. Well balanced with a slightly bitter finish.

Medium to full bodied, moderately carbonated. Oily. Surprisingly light bodied given the ABV.

Overall, pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 18:02:03 | More by jrenihan

Bung

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Been a long time since I've had an old style Rogue for various reasons.
Draft at Grapevine.  Dark amber pour, just a ring of white.

Aroma,  mostly hops, citrus and pine.  There is an exteamly faint caramel malt.

Taste,  a sweet caramel up front, then fruitcake.  Then dominated by the bitter hops, pine and some grapefruit.  A little unpleasant alcohol.  Kind of a toasted malt with slight anise finish.  

Pretty big and sticky.  Carbonation keeps it from being too sticky.  Definetely some warmth, can see this should get less abrasive with some age.

An old standard.  Probably a good starting place for those new to the style. Yet another reminder of why I prefer a good English Barleywine though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 02:09:14 | More by Bung

macrosmatic

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Had on-tap at Mr. Dunderbak's. Served in a goblet.

A: Dark amber with some haziness and an off-white head that settles to a ring of foam. Minimal visible carbonation.

S: Sweet malty caramel on the nose. Also some alcohol heat to the nose.

T: Follows the nose with some coriander, dark spice, dark fruitiness. Ends with some boozy alcohol burn with the sticky sweetness.

M: Nice thickness to mouthfeel. Not a whole lot of carbonation but not unexpected with style.

O: This one is tasty, and I went into it with no expectations. There are barleywines I prefer to this one, but I would drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2012 20:37:01 | More by macrosmatic

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a light amber color with about one finger of off-white head with decent retention.

The scent was fruity with citrus hops and notes of alcohol.

The taste was of citrus and other sweet fruit notes, bready malt, moderately bitter hop presence, prominent alcohol presence.

Medium body, smooth and drying, moderate carbonation.

Overall a pretty good representation of the style, it was balanced very well, the alcohol was noticeable but not overbearing. I wouldn't mind having this again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2012 14:54:39 | More by BeerCon5

Kornoms

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice copper color with a decent head and lacing, but soon dissipates. The smell has definite notes of malt and a bit of fruity notes. The beer tastes awesome! You can taste the hops but it is smoothed out with the malt and the subtle sweetness of the fruit. You can definitely taste the higher alcohol content, but it doesn't take away from the beer. The smoothness mixed with light carbonation makes for a great mouthfeel. Overall, this was a really well done barley wine.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2012 19:54:13 | More by Kornoms

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An old favorite of mine... rare to see this on tap outside of the NW in my experience. On tap at Max's tonight.

The beer pours a copper amber color with pretty good head retention and lacing. The nose is attractive, with cherry cough drop, lots of sweet malt, vanilla, and something of a meaty flavor. The flavor replicates the nose in this sweet beer, except there's even more cherry cough drop, along with some noticeasble alcohol and hoppy bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is full, with a long, sweet and bitter finish. Alcohol is noticeable, but is not over the top.

There are better barleywine's out there these days, but this is still an impressive, well made, very well crafted beer from the folks at Rogue. Definitely a walk down memory lane with this one....

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 23:13:47 | More by johnmichaelsen

EricCioe

Montana

3.58/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 vintage on tap at the Rhino. At their February 2012 barleywine fest there is 2009 Old Crustacean, 2008 Alaskan Barleywine, 2008 Bigfoot, 2008 Gnarleywine, and 2007 Old Guardian.

This pours ruby red with a small head that dies down leaving decent lace for the abv. On the nose there is a mixture of raisin, smoke (?), toasted malt, and pine resin. In the mouth there is an immediate strange saltiness combining with more standard dark fruit flavors. There is still a surprising hop presence given the age. The body is medium sticky with a long bitter finish.

Overall, this was probably the least good beer of the flight. There seems to be a weird amalgamation of flavors here, almost like rather than a well-integrated barleywine it's a mixture of scotch ale and DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2012 16:10:02 | More by EricCioe

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draft, poured into a 10 oz tall snifter at Cobblestone’s York PA, 1/8/2012.

Notes taken at bar.

As poured a rather thin head, but this glassware leaves a little something to be desired.
Deep, brown amber color.

Medium rich malty aroma, with a hint of yeast. Could be a little more distinct, but it’s pleasant enough. I believe a larger more open glass would have helped the smell quite a bit.

Thick creamy entry on the palate of crisp bitter hops, followed by very rich malt. The yeast tries to come forward but loses to the hops and malt. Very full mouth feel and great carbonation.

Very long finish of bitter hops and rich malt.

A somewhat different take on the American Barleywine Style. Scotch Ale like flavors and somewhat candyish malt. Still there is a really distinct hop kick to this ale that hangs in from the first sip to the last. Very tasty. Best at 55 degrees or so. I would love to try this in a proper glass.
Recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 00:57:43 | More by JTSbeerislife

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

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

2009 vintage on tap at St Augustines in Vancouver.

A: 1/4" tan coloured head that left a nice lacing over mahagony liquid.

S: Muted rich toffee malt and vanilla.

T: Bitter pine hops up front with rich toffee malt. Peppery and vanilla flavours are present as well.

M: Thick viscosity and a medium level of fine carbonation.

O: Complex and drinkable, a very good barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2012 02:33:37 | More by DaftCaskBC

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

gnarly beer. pours a hazy golden amber color and looks thick and sticky. like the texture of marshmallow fluff. smells mildly hoppy and just super strong. was told by the barkeep it was 121 IBUs, which would make this the most bitter beer i have ever consumed, but it didnt feel bitter, or certainly not 121 units bitter. did little to mask the alcohol in any event, this was just brimming with boozey punch. a pint of this could kill a casual beer drinker. overall just a huge beer, not for the faint of heart, and even gnarly for a barleywine, which tend to be burley to begin with. cool to try around the holidays for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2011 20:11:17 | More by StonedTrippin

Phelps

Arizona

3.45/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a 9-ounce glass at Mellow Mushroom.

Dark burgundy, with a waxy look. It’s mostly murky and opaque, though it clears up to a lighter burnt orange at the edges. Very thin head the color of beach sand.

Sweet nose. Burnt sugar, orange juice, some sweet floral notes as well. Orange blossom? It’s a little hard to pick up, but it’s not bad.

The flavor, in contrast, is kind of toasty. Crumbly cocoa, hints of caramel and overripe oranges mix with toasted bread, lots of burnt sugar, molasses and maple before a toasty biscuit finish. Good amount of booze.

Light massaging carbonation inside a sugary, syrupy medium body. It’s not crusty, but it is rather thick and blasts with fire in the nose.

I had tasted some Old Crusty from the bottle once and found in heinous, but Rogue beers do have a tendency to sit on shelves around here. From the tap, it’s a heavy, sweet, syrupy, above average barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 22:08:08 | More by Phelps

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ the Rogue Brewer's on the Bay (Newport, OR) on 8/29/11. Served in a goblet.

Pours a deep clear ruby (with some coppery edges) and topped with a thin frothy covering of off-white head. This sticks around with a nice creaminess to the look, leaving back a good bit of spotty lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma smell quite bold in the nose, with a warm stickiness of caramel, toasted grains, green fruit, pine, spice, and alcohol sweetness. This definitely has some strength in the nostrils.

The taste has a big mouth filling combo of sticky caramel and grainy sweetness. Green citrus and sharp resinous character really helps add some assertiveness to the profile, as this finishes very piney and bitter with a sweet kiss of warm spicy alcohol on the tail-end. The hops and grains feel at even strength here. The mouthfeel is full bodied and large and in charge with a LOT of presence in the mouth. The ABV is well done here for an 11-12% beer, never being stinging on the palate but definitely giving this a hefty warming nature and there were plenty of extra flavors of sweetness and spice being thrown off by the ABV. Well done.

For a fresh American Barleywine, I thought that this one got it about right. Although the complexity wasn’t quite here, the base ingredients were definitely in place for more to develop as this ages and while there is a pretty hefty hop presence, I was pleased to find that it didn’t beat you over the head like some of these one that are borderline DIPAs. Bitter and sticky wrapped up in an easy sipping warming package about sums this one up. It had been a while since I’ve had this and I couldn’t think of a better beer to have during our chilly late afternoon visit to the brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 18:41:57 | More by Kegatron

bishopdc0

Maine

3.98/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the tap take over at Novare Res.

The appearance is amber with a hefty head formation. It pours over the glasses edge multiple times at the bar tender pours it. The head stays and leaves a generous lace.

The aroma is very nice, notes of vanilla, honey and earthiness from the hops comes through, it is all backed by pale malts.

The taste mimics the aroma starting with sweet flavors of vanilla and honey it begins to dry as the carbonation subsides and a bitter earthiness finishes to the end.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 00:11:34 | More by bishopdc0

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap in a pint glass at Bodega on 2/14/11

Dense, hazy copper/brown. Not much of a head save for an island of wispy retention and a tight collar. A few strands of lace, but not many.

Aromas of citrus (think orange) and pine nips bleed into toasted, sugary notes of caramel, dark fruits, candied malt and a hint of dry bread. Doesn't smell too boozy.

Tastes similar albeit with an appreciable alcohol heat. Hoppy citrus and pine at the onset. The mid-section is robust malt territory - toasted bread, caramel, brown sugar, raw sugar and a dash of cocoa. Even burnt at times. Despite the sugars Old Crusty maintains a dry appeal. Dry, lingering bitterness builds to a long, tapered finish.

Medium-full feel and a dry grit. Carbonation seems fine; maybe could be a notch lower. Definitely stimulates the feelers. Rather warming.

Old Crusty is quite good in the realm of hoppy barleywines. Certainly it could hold up over time; however, it's fine right now.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 02:25:25 | More by Ryan011235

dgilks

Australia

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

Clear, dark copper colour with a non-existent head. Some lacing.

Sweet, burnt caramel. Nutty. Slightly earthy. Good.

I wonder where the hops are. There is certainly hop bitterness but there is far more burnt sugar, toffee and malt.

Full body with moderately-low carbonation. Fine.

A decent beer but nothing overly impressive. I think it needs a touch more fresh hop character to build up the flavour profile.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 21:06:24 | More by dgilks

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured on tap into sampler glass at ChurchKey. Pours dark amber in color with a smooth look to it. Nice cloudiness to it. Some carbonation could be seen streaming up from the bottom of the glass, with a nice amount odd white head sitting on top of it. Smooth settle, left behind only trace amounts of side lacing. The aroma was rich, light notes of alcohol and a ton of bready malts. Hints of pine resin hops and a nice, touch of grain mingling in throughout the profile. The flavor was smooth as could be, a very mellow barley wine with hints of caramel and a muted hop note. Interesting balance here, with the alcohol mostly hidden in amongst the profile. Mild carbonation throughout.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 20:38:06 | More by CuriousMonk

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at MiKro Beer Bar in Hamden, Conn.

A: Orange-tinged, medium, golden amber color with a decided amount of chilled haze beneath a two-finger, bubbly cap of carbonation.

S: Very hopped-out and citrusy smelling, with a complex, orange, lemon and peppery blend. Hops were generally herbal and cirtusy with just a hint of pine and alcohol.

T: Super hopped-out flavor for a barleywine as well; decidedly American in approach. Those 110 IBUs tend to wash out a lot of the subtle, fruity and herbal spiced flavors created by the malt, but it's still pretty lush and enjoyable. The bittersweet finish would be more enjoyable if the alcohol sting were reduced a bit.

M: Rich, full-bodied barleywine with lots of sticky malt flavors and bitter, herbal hop and citrus flavors as well.

D: A hophead's American barleywine, Old Crusty is an 11.5% ABV, 110 IBU bomb. Tough to gather the full complexity of malts here, but if you like your barleywines on the imbalanced, hop-side of things, this brew might be for you.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2011 21:17:42 | More by Gambrinus1184

jeranbrews

New York

2.5/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - rusty red brown. Light low bone white head and lacing that slides down quickly.

S - sweet cherry sugars red wine and a bit of shampoo. Malty and estery. Bit of old cheese.

T - wow. Bitter. Too bitter. Hoppy. Not sweetness. No esters. Only the tiniest hint of strawberry. What is this? Surley it can't be barley wine. Was I not supposed to get this one on tap? Is this one that needed to be in the basement longer or less time?

M - so dry and bitter you can't tell

D - I realize this is an older American barely wine from before the days of the hop heads and DIPAs. And I know American and English barleywines are fundamentally different in this regard, but it is much much closer to an ipa or even dipa. What's the point of making all the amazing deep complex barleywine flavors if you are just going to bury them in a sawdust pile of hops? I can't recommend this beer as an accurate representation of barely wine

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2011 12:06:45 | More by jeranbrews

Gehrig

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at the brilliant Blind Pig.

Two frothy fingers of dark tan froth top a somewhat cloudy amber body with ruby trim. Good duration and ample lacing on the tulip provide a good start to Old Crustacean. Big, beefy nose filled with molasses, biscuity malt, ample hops (including the advertised Chinook), plenty of fruit, and caramel; outstanding.

The taste is no letdown whatsoever--big, bold, complex, and loaded with flavor. The first half is seriously bitter, very English-style barleywine, malty and loaded with black licorice. It's good, but really strong. The second half is a delight--very fruity with both berry and citrus flavors permeating the molasses.

It's is not as viscous as I like barleywine, but Old Crustacean is packed with flavors, is complex, and offers much to lovers of good, strong barleywine. For all its ABV (11.5%) and heft--and this has heft to spare--Old Crustacean is not a sipper; very accessible and, while robust, is smooth enough to enjoy at a a variety of paces. It's like a great basketball team--it can win at either a slow or fast tempo.

And Old Crustacean is unquestionably a winner, a truly outstanding barleywine that I would love to enjoy on a semi-regular basis. Kudos to the great Blind Pig for yet again providing a complex variety of beers from around the nation and world, for putting this beauty on tap was a first-rate coup.

A must try.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2010 22:58:43 | More by Gehrig

hughesm4

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a copper brown color with a slight haze. Smelled intensely hoppy and the taste wasn't much different. I was taken aback at how strong the hops were in the first drink, surprising because hoppy is my style. The following drinks weren't as harsh and it became a decently smooth drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 00:37:46 | More by hughesm4

CampusCrew

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

had this at the huge kickbacks dinner in Jacksonville, FL. I took some notes but mostly doing this from memory.
Appearance: deep garnet red color and nice lacing
Smell: lots of intense hop aromas
Taste: intense beer. balanced barleywine and a greta malt backbone. great aging beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2010 17:26:08 | More by CampusCrew

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Presentation: 2008 vintage on tap at a local bar. Poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Ruby red and hazy in tone. Very bright colored. Very little head, but a nice thin white lacing settles after the pour.

Aroma: The hop presence does not smell like it has faded despite the fact this is a two year vintage. Pungent citrus dominates, but a strong malt body is certainly present right behind it.

Taste: Nice strong hop presence balances well with the caramel and earthy flavors from the malt. Even after a couple years, the hops are still biting and full flavored. Very well rounded. Barely a hint of any booze notes.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with enough carbonation to keep this beer refreshing overall. Still feels like a sipper for the most part.

Drinkability: The high ABV does not assert itself at all. Feel much lighter than it actually is. The balance also makes this very drinkable for a brew of this considerable strength.

Overall, a quality, balanced, well-hopped barleywine that ages very well. The flavors are all here and well accounted for. The hop presence on this vintage is rather amazing too. Highly recommended, especially for fans of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2010 03:18:33 | More by Gosox8787

BretSikkink

Mexico

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gorgeous mahogany brown, served with a tight yellow-tanned foam. Retention and lacing are magnificent, and the overall appearance is perfect barleywine. Nose is strong, with two tons of hops smacking you in the face: floral, citric, pine resin. Big dose of fusel alcohol goes hand in hand with a huge caramel malt presence.

Slick, viscous mouthfeel is pretty deep, very smooth and full in general. Lots of hops still, but the balance is better here: the caramel and toffee malts hold their own against the aggressive grapefruit pith, pine resin, and black pepper. Long, boozy finish leaves traces of hops all over the tongue and palate.

Exciting, but restrained in a certain sense. I'll never tire of this beer - drink some young, drink some old; it's got the full spectrum of skills.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2010 17:19:56 | More by BretSikkink

HopHead84

California

4.6/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1/25/2010

2007 vintage on tap at Churchill's in a snifter. The beer is dark reddish amber with a nice creamy off white head. Retention is excellent and it leaves thick rings of lacing on the glass.

The nose is of sweet caramel and dark toffee with a strong hop presence. Notes of grapefruit, orange, and pine are ascertainable. I detect aromatic fruit cake. The citrus notes become more pronounced with warming.

The flavor is sweet caramel with a strong citrus hop presence an upper moderate bitterness. The hops are reminiscent of grapefruit and pine resin. The long finish is dry and well balanced, with lingering caramel and grapefruit.

I haven't had this beer in ages, but it displayed an excellent combination of rich caramel malt and citrus hops. It's certainly one of the best experiences I've had with an American Barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2010 08:01:28 | More by HopHead84

nickfl

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage.

A - Poured with a small, light brown head on top of a somewhat hazy, dark brown body. The foam settles quickly and leaves only minor lace.

S - Aromas of figs and pine hops with some spicy alcohol notes. Complex malt character of caramel and toffee with some molasses.

T - Sweet caramel up front with velvety hop flavors of pine. Rich malt flavors of molasses and toffee mix with the hops and yeast to produce flavors of rum and chocolate covered cherries. The flavors darken in the finish with notes of burnt caramel that are balanced by strong bitterness and mustardy hop flavors. Lingering spicy alcohol notes along with molasses and tobacco.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat sweet finish.

D - Nice, complex malt character with very complex dark sugars. I have had fresh bottles of this beer before, when it tastes like acetone and vomit, and the two years that were supposedly on this keg improved it vastly. Both the hops and alcohol have mellowed significantly and the malt character has become darker and more complex. There is still enough of the resinous hops and sharp alcohol left to keep the beer intense and lend it a boozy quality. This was quite good, but I suspect that there is still room for improvement. I can't wait to crack open the five year old bottle that I have in my cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2010 04:27:37 | More by nickfl