Dad's Little Helper Malt Liquor - Rogue Ales

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow, what a refreshing change! And here I thought all malt-liquors had to contain fusel alcohols and an extra label warning you not to light up a smoke while drinking one! ;) Kidding...

Dad's Little Helper is hazy and deep golden in color with a creamy but fairly short-lived head. It does leaves some very nice lace at the outset, however, and continues with some wide splotchy streaks as you go.

The nose is mainly malty, mostly cereal-like, with a very light touch of hops in the background. Clean and pleasant with no noticeable alcohols.

The flavor follows suit, and it's malty with an edge of both acohol and hops. As a fan of crystal hops, I really enjoy them here, and find it has a refreshing edge that's just lightly floral and works well with the sweetness of the malt. It's not overly sweet though, and there's some distinct graininess going on. Adjunct is, however, obvious - but you need it in a beer that's this big with so little hops hops! Bitterness is just balancing given the girth of the malt. Still, it's not out of bounds in any way, and it finishes pretty clean and dry with just some mild residual ceral-like maltiness in the mouth.

Not unlike most American malt liquors, it's sweetish, and tasty, and somewhat rounded at first, but as you progress it warms to reveal it's true nature. But this is cleaner, and fuller in maltiness and flavor. It's actually not unlike some of the better-made strong eastern European lagers on the market (from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, etc.). Interesting and enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2006 00:36:42 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.05/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Bryant-Lake Bowl, $6 the pint.

Came to rest on my coaster without a head upon it, a muddy golden tone...

Grainy nose...not much else...

Slick, malty mouthfeel, corn syrup-y...starchy...

....lasts long on the palate, but not very unpleasant...can't say much more for it, though, taste-wise...and then I hear a thunder in the distance...hoofprints in the hall...they're coming, they're coming...

this is what happens anytime I try a malt liquor..don't know the abv on this, but I can feel the alcoholic content advancing like the horsemen of the apocolypse...okay, so I exaggerate...

Not bad a thing to do once in a while, but not a brew I can particularly enjoy...so it goes...

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2007 04:31:20 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a gold color with a thin white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a clean malty aroma with no hops and a bit of sweetness. The taste is good. It has a smooth pale malt and adjunct flavor that goes down easy and finishes crisp and clean. There is little complexity, but the overall flavor is pretty good. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good tasting malt liquor. I'm not a huge fan of the style, but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 01:25:13 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

No date on bottle but that's OK. Served in a Rogue shaker pint glass (why not). Beer is yellow and clear. Forms a big white head of small and medium bubbles that falls away leaving a little lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate with tiny bubbles. Looks good.

Aroma is sweet and grainy. Not much going on there. Smells OK.

Nice, medium body clean. Very nice. Sweetness up front, great feeling on the palate. I really like this beer. I have a soft spot for big lagers. Drinkability high and mouthfeel good. I would recommend it for either the pedestrian or serious beer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2010 19:12:25 | More by drabmuh

MasterSki

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First Annual(?) Chicago Malt Liquor Tasting. Thanks to stowehop for this one.

A - A finger of white foam settles to a thin ring, leaving behind a few splotches of lace and some wisps on top. Hazed apricot body. One of the best looking malt liquors I've encountered.

S - Honey, sweet malts, some fruity notes. Somehow manages to avoid being cloying - just nice clean sugar, corn, and alcohol.

T - Honey water and cereal grains. Fairly bland, with a clean finish.

M - Zesty carbonation, medium body, that is simultaneously chewy, sticky and grainy.

D - This is one of the better ones we had - probably only surpassed by Liquor de Malt an Headbanger. Actually, it may be one of my favorite Rogue offerings - too bad they replaced it with that awful Black IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 17:19:12 | More by MasterSki

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.03/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a mug glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color with a short white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of grain, light malts, honey and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of caramel and honey. There's a thin malt character but enough to provide a little substance. The hops presence is mild and there's not much trace of alcohol as you usually get in a malt liquor. The after-taste is sweet.

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

D: A little tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, nice representation of style while not seeming as cheaply made as most in the style, it's definitely one of the best Malt Liquors that I've had but my choices overall would have to be limited for me to drink it.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2009 01:50:40 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was expecting this to be worse than it was. Thankfully it was decent and not garbage. The pour was a golden amberish color with a thin white head on it. The smell was of hops and malts similar to Yuengling Lager. The taste of the beer has a good amount of malts throughout. The hops kick in later in the finish. The mouthfeel is a little on the watery side but this seems to be a bit common with most of Rogue's release in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 03:18:44 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

3.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22 oz. bottle, bought at Lone Hill Liquors, in Glendora, CA, a Malt Liquor made by Rogue, pretty cool idea, let's try it,

A: Pours a golden yellow, with a hint of orange, small white head as well, fair retention, and no lacing.

S: Smells of corn and alcohol, not as fusely as most malt liquors, similar to an average strong pilsner.

T: Tastes like your average macro malt liquor, only better. Corn is there heavily, but the beer also has some yeast character that is nice, some apple, not as drying out as some other malt liquors that I have had.

M: Very robust for a malt liquor, definitely has some body, smooth, but light and drinkable as well.

D: Probably the best malt liquor I have ever had, not the best beer in the world by any sense, but still if other macro malt liquors were as good as this one, for the price I would buy them more often. An interesting beer to say the least, somewhat of an homage to those strong lager beers out of the American '50s and '60s, similar to what my grandfather and my father in his early days was probably drinking. So it was cool to go back to a beer of this day, props to Rogue for trying this experiment, and going back to the beers of mid-century, post-war America.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2007 00:40:16 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

2.8/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: clear yellow / light orange color with a thin 1/4" head that disappears immediately. No lacing.

Smell: sweetness is all that is detected.

Taste: malt, corn, honey are dominant and there is a touch of bitterness but not enough to mellow the sweetness. Some alcohol is detectable.

Mouthfeel: smooth all around. Long sweet aftertaste. Medium bodied.

Drinkability: not for me as this is just doesn't taste good. Couldn't finish the bottle either. I'll stick with the good Rogue beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2006 12:23:55 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours golden with a thin white head that fades.

The smell is of a fruitiness that is quite different (and better) than your typical malt liquor. Closer to a macro lager, maybe, but there's certainly a "craft" beer touch to it.

The taste is of a candyish sweetness with a crackery biscuity balance. Some corn and rawish alcohol lets you know that they were going for a malt liquor. A tough one to rate, because I wonder what malt liquor drinkers would think of it. (Put it in a bag, drink it straight out of bottle...)Still, on it's own, it has a nice sweetness if you're in the mood for that, with a controlled alcohol bite. Sweetish, abrupt finish.

Smoother, and with more of a body, than your typical malt liquor.

Drinks pretty quickly - gimmicky, and this wouldn't be a staple in my fridge, but I enjoyed it for what it is. Would have been interesting to compare it to DFH's interpretation (which I had awhile ago). In a different class than the typical of style, for sure. Try pairing the second half with some fatty pork. The sweet malt will cut through the greasy fat and not interfere with the pork taste. An interesting, and drinkable for the 22 ounces, brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2008 03:22:12 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a slightly hazy light straw colour, with two fingers of creamy, puffy white head, which leaves a paint-job of lace around the glass as it falls away. It smells of white cracker grain, grass, and a little skunk. The taste is white grain malt, with a bit of corn mealiness, grassy hops, and some relatively smooth warming alcohol. The carbonation is quite mild, the body full, and only hinting at being cloying, and it finishes sweet, the mixed grains and mild booziness holding things together.

The malt liquor heritage definitely shines through, but everything seems fuller and more well rounded than every other example of the style I've had the misfortune of sampling - but I suppose that's the whole point.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 03:50:47 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

OK, so this basically comes off like a strong pale Euro lager. There's a big caramel malt flavor, followed by a sweet finish. It's sort of a one-note beer, but I have to give the score a little bump considering the style. It's very easy to drink, and maybe worth trying just for being a not-nasty malt liquor. Just don't expect a rich and subtle brew.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2007 04:35:37 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appears a deep clear honey golden tone really clear quick dwindling white head leaves uneven lacing around my 12oz pour. Aroma has sweet maltiness with a touch of honey sweetness evident cooked veggies and corn sweetness mild fruit tart apple note light herbal hop finish. Flavor is a bit rough alcohol wave crashes syrupy honey malt notes rough malt liquor edge with cooked veggies and more tart apple in the finish an interesting beer from Rogue ales to produce. Mouthfeel thin to light bodied brew, carbonation not enough to carry the heavy offtones found here. Drinkability not so much I wouldn't comeback to this especially with Rogue Integrity on tap at the same bar.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2007 23:08:02 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This brew was even and not overpowering at all and I found it to be very easy drink. I enjoy my taste buds to be pushed a bit farther, so I probably wouldn't go for it again. Nothing exciting at all, but it was worth trying just to check out another Rogue production.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 01:47:28 | More by RblWthACoz

Wasatch

Utah

3/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a nice looking golden color, nice carbonation, not much of a head though, lacing is skimpy at best. Scents of sweet malt, hops, yeast, and some spices. The taste is kinda sweet, slightly hoppy, there's some spicyness going on as well, nice clean finish. Medium body. Drinkable, not really into this brew though.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2006 00:13:56 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

(Served in an dimple mug)

A-This beer has a golden straw body that is clear with a strong carbonation of tiny bubbles. There is a foamy white head that turns to a film but last for a good bit.

S- The slight sweet smell of pale malt has a dry sulfur note to it but is pretty clean otherwise.

T- The dry light pale malt flavor has a faint corn sweetness with a faint dry hop bitterness in the finish. There is a slight sweetness that comes through more after the pale malt but th corn flavor is not as noticeable. There is a faint butter note in the malt as it warms also.

M- This beer has a medium light body.

D- This beer is light and very subtle in flavor and the malt liquor notes are very faint.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2006 03:20:14 | More by rhoadsrage

Zorro

California

3.58/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Clear golden colored beer with abundant carbonation. A decent white head forms and then falls fairly quickly.

The smell is sweet and corny with a fruity scent that suggests that this was possibly fermented a bit hot. Not much of a hop or a malt scent, Malt Liquor just isn't known for having them.

The taste starts out very sweet and a little fruity in the mouth, there isn't much of an aftertaste. Not a lot of hop here this is mostly a fruity flavor with some corn and a noticeable alcohol sting. Good "for a Malt Liquor" but just average for a malt and hop beer. Corn is noticeable and probably what makes this taste so sweet but this isn’t one of those “can of creamed corn” type beers.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Not a bad beer but it certainly isn't something I would seek out. Best described as a Malt Liquor without any jet fuel characteristics like most. I'm going to finish the bottle so it isn't too bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2007 03:33:25 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pale piss yellow tone. Thin dirty white head leaves little lace. Aroma is sweet and grainy. Sweet taste. Almost cloying, but not quite. Syrupy heavy body. Alcohol is noticeable, but not to a great extent. Not a lot of adjunct in the flavor. Maybe a little. I haven't had a malt liquor in a long time, but from what I remember, this one compares favorably to those.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2006 02:02:59 | More by Bighuge

Gusler

Arizona

3.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

After its release from the 22 ounce bottle, it sets in the glass a slightly foggy gold color with an adequate white creamy head that fade to nothingness rather quickly, leaving a velum like sheet of lace. Nose is saturated with sweet malt, a hint of hops and a nice refreshing experience overall. Start has a delectable malt presence and is somewhat sweeter than I expected and the palate feels middling. Finish has a fair bit of hops, sweet and a bit of bite from the alcohol that also warms the tummy, dry lingering aftertaste, now if all “Malt Liquors” tasted this way I might take a shot at Old English! lol

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2007 20:21:07 | More by Gusler

DoubleJ

California

3.8/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Welcome back to the Brown Paper Bag Invitational! Two beers are down, two more remaining in this invite, where tonight, Rogue's version of the style takes center stage. Wait a minute...craft brewers making malt liquor?! I know, I know, it's heresy, but let's see what they can do. On to the beer:

Pale golden straw color, the head is patchy after fizzing away from the pour. Now my beer has no head. Meh. I can't say I'm jazzed by the aroma, it's musty with faded hop character in the background, a little sweet I might add.

Without a doubt, this has a good flavor to it, regardless of how you judge it as. Melted caramel in my mouth? Who knew? Very smooth flavor with the alcohol kept behind bars. Starts to get sugary in the middle, then comes a zip of fusel hitting on the palate. The crystal hops arrive late, but not too late to delever some hop flavor.

Another beer finished in the Brown Paper Bag Invitational. The final beer will participate tomorrow night, where we award the winner of this prestigious series.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2008 04:50:38 | More by DoubleJ

Brad007

Vermont

3.73/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Color: Pours a nice golden color with a decent head that recedes. Looks like a standard malt liquor.

Aroma: Malty with some alcohol burn in the nose. Somewhat smooth as well.

Taste: Strong and malty upfront with sweetness in the middle and some hop bitterness. Corn makes its' presence known but it's not overdone. Smooth. Goes down well. Lots of alcohol burn.

Mouthfeel: Dry and sweet with alcohol hotness. Lingering hop bitterness as well.

Drinkability: Well, it's a Rogue interpretation of the style. Not as "adjunct-y" as other malt liquors. Smooth and drinkable. Should be served cold and if you like, straight from the bomber in a brown paper bag (I drank it from a glass).

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2008 19:56:13 | More by Brad007

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It's been years since I've had a 'malt liquor', so I thought I'd give this one a try.

A: Clear gold with a white head, very little retention, slight leg/lace.

S: Earthy mineral, grassy, floral, corn.

T: Cornbread, grass & a hint of citrus.

M: Moderate body is smooth with a dry finish.

D: It is what it is. I'm sure it would "get the job done" easier than say an Olde English!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 02:31:47 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

2.6/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a corny yellow with no head. Not a very lovely beer. Smells of corn as well, but with some hops and none of the chemical harshness of some of the cheaper malt liquors. Similar notes in the taste. Somewhat harsh and hot with more corn flavor sweetness. Some earthy hops at the end. Definitely a malt liquor. Not very smooth, and really not all that drinkable. This is a joke right? Funny to produce something like this, but its definitely a novelty rather than something I'd actually want to drink. I generally rate within a style, but I'm sorry, this style is just not something I respect- or that tastes good.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2008 00:28:40 | More by Georgiabeer

Dogbrick

Ohio

3/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sample at AleFest Dayton: Kudos to DFH and Rogue trying to bring some respectability to this style. The beer is an orange/gold color with a medium off-white head. Thin patchy lacing. The aroma is of course malty, with some dough and fruit. Medium-bodied and saccharine sweet with a lot of malt and corn flavor. The finish is grainy and sweet. Despite being made by great breweries, I just can’t get into this style.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2006 20:56:00 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Perfectly clear spotlight yellow. Soft, fading white cap of firm foam. A skimming of bubbles hangs around for most of its time in the glass. Some lacing is distributed along the edge closer to the liquid in rounded patches and sheets.

Aroma is nearly non existent as it kinda stymies itself in a hovering pale sweetness of malt grain thats soft and bready and hard to get in the nose unless you wiff in big.

Taste is all solid malty smoothness, but not a whole lot of flavor really. Dulled...dulled some more and semi, lightly tanged and cloying malty breadish tones with a heavy buttered corn accent topping off the middle into the finish. Finish is quick but soft and creamy with a malty body and clean Maibock-like cloying sweetness that coats the mouth well. The Harrington malts are quite evident with that certain bready, doughy centeredness of paled, dull tang and soaking.

Feel is quite nice. Malt is king of this throne. Ruling with a steady hand of Harrington malt coating ever so smoothly with bready softness and sticky, cloying thickness thats not overbearing but definately pushing its borders with a clean slice of medium body and a fairly long rule of semi sweet, bready, tangaifingly broad scape of malty clean soothingness.

I could drink this into oblivion, but would easily get bored of its paled, uninteresting flavor. The body of the beer is great, but beyong that its not much; yet it could be everything to the right person. Leave it to Rogue to make a Malt Liquor that almost makes you wish there were more like it. Dad's Little Helper could be just that, depending on the Dad of course...

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2006 02:00:04 | More by tavernjef