Dead Guy Ale - Rogue Ales

datalager

Connecticut

4.41/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pour is a lovely unfiltered copper with a frothy ivory head. Suds retract quickly and leave minimal lacing.

Aroma is nutty and bready. Just a hint of "spicy funk" sits in the background.

Sipping will bring the bitter hops closer. The hops are unquestionably reminiscent of western European pale ales. More like a bitter root, or a raw artichoke, and not the piney/citrusy flavor that Oregonian and Californian pales are famous for. But don't be fooled. This ale possesses a malty sweetness that gives the backbone a nearly perfect balance.

The dryness that lingers for several minutes after a swallow is what brings you right back for more. There is nothing "Bruce Lee" about this ale, like the 100+ IBU's of Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, or the dessert-like experience of Founder's Breakfast Stout. Rather, the profile is well married and full bodied. Smooth and drinkable with medium carbonation. Virtually no ester presence.

What I love most, here, is that it is not like all the other medium ales coming out of the States. It is a superbly done "anytime" ale that works with sandwiches, ice cream, pizza, char-grilled fodder, or simply on it's own. I'm enjoying it this very moment on it's own.

Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 13:28:38 | More by datalager

bjwilson

Alabama

4.29/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a real go to for me. Always delicious. The malts and hops are mixed just about as perfectly as can be on the palate. Color is a darkish brown that just makes my mouth water looking at it. While the smell may be lacking a little, the taste is a real mouthful

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:52:00 | More by bjwilson

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.29/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Rogue Ales - Dead Guy Ale - 1pt 6fl oz "bomber"

Look - Pours an almost clear deep copper amber with an inch thick soapy head that sticks around. Lacing present but slides. Minimal carbonation.

Smell - Malty bready caramel with a slight hop on top. Little bit of bite.

Taste - Malt, bread, rich and hearty fruit, with an ever so slight hop touch mixed with caramel for the finish. The taste more than makes up for the lack of breathtaking aroma.

Mouthfeel - Hearty and full, smooth throughout. Good drinkability. No booziness at all. Yeast and malt coat the palate.

Overall - This is a great representation of this style and beer in general. Once in a while you can live without the hop zing element and get back to basics, this hearty ale proves that.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 23:48:00 | More by JMScowcroft

kshizzle101

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber into pint glass

A - a slightly cloudy dark orange/almost brown beer. only about an inch of head, which dissipates quickly. decent amount of lacing

S - bready/grainy malts, slight hops, and some yeast characteristics as well. not a lot going on in the smell

T - malt forward but a nice kick from the hops (citrus i think), which wasnt there in the smell. dried fruits permeate throughout, finishes very smooth

M - Medium bodied which is surprising given the booze content. well carbonated

Overall - A very nice offering from Rogue, not surprising this is their pride and joy and most heavily distributed. smooth drinking, good flavors. only complaint is from the nose, which is a minor complaint

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 02:22:09 | More by kshizzle101

DaveySebastian

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Awesome dark gold color, not quite ruby like an amber. Rogue advertises this beer as glowing and it practically does. About one finger of off white head

S: Malty caramel with some dark fruit

T: Initial bitter hop presence that finishes with pure maltiness. Caramel and candy flavors dominate with hints of vanilla. The balance is incredibly enjoyable

M: Light to medium bodied with only the slightest bit of dryness. This beer really goes down smooth with a pleasant aftertaste that you almost dont even notice

O: Definitely the best bock ive ever tried. Seemingly simple beer that is truly enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 16:26:22 | More by DaveySebastian

Rocky9

California

4.85/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

The best beer ever brewed. My go-to tasty brew when I want something that's not crazy-hoppy (which I drink as well, often).

I don't drink this out of the bottle; I always pour into a glass to enjoy the color. It does require a bit of splashing at the end to get a nice head on it.

Smooth and full-bodied, this brew is everything a beer should be. I drink it by itself, or with almost any meal or snack. Did I mention it's my favorite beer all of time? I did? Okay, just wanted to make sure that was clear.

Thank you Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 14:27:24 | More by Rocky9

mschind

California

4.23/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle into a pint glass...

A-Very little head and zero retention. Crystal clear pale amber.

S- Fresh grain and malt with toffee notes. Faint floral hop aroma.

T- Malt forward, toasty and sweet with an immediate bitter kick to balance things.

M- Smooth and crisp, good carbonation despite the lack of head retention.

O- An ale disguised as a lager. None of the typical fruitiness associated with an ale really lets the malt shine with just enough hop bitterness for perfect balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 21:33:04 | More by mschind

Thaddeus

Michigan

4.04/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Small off-white head, beer was a clear light amber.

Aroma & Taste: Toasty hay notes combined with citrus and herb hops. Had a slight banana taste to it, which I think sweetened it up and helped maintain a good balance with the bitterness.

Had this in my hospitality beverages course. Apparently this beer is brewed like a lager, but uses an ale yeast. We were given this as a Helle Lager, but it was more similar to a Boch style and was to dark and hoppy to be a true Helles Lager. Still tasted great though.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 13:39:04 | More by Thaddeus

Roman5150

Michigan

3.51/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

bottle into duvel glass

appearance: ruby/amber color with a hint of orange, 1 finger white head

smell: nutty, caramel, some fruitiness, smells like belgian yeast (remind me faintly of a trappist), malt heavy, slight banana, pumpkin, very subtle earthy hops

taste: huge english malt backbone, slight bitterness from the hops, but not too forward, theres subtle notes of pumpkin and apple somewhere in the middle as well, the ending is very refreshing.

mouthfeel: not much carbonation, could use a little more

overall: Just bought a 6-pack, may revise this review once im finished with it. Not much experience with the style, but I enjoyed this beer. I feel like it will grow on me even more as well, its a very warm, tart, malty brew. I'm having a really hard time describing it, but it's very well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 01:53:14 | More by Roman5150

finstadp

Michigan

4.11/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Dead Guy Ale from Rogues was a very interesting beer. The beer had a great amber appearance. The smell had notes of caramel and pumpkin flavors. The taste was very malty and had pumpkin flavors. The body had a medium mouthfeel. This is a delicious but different beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 19:53:15 | More by finstadp

hopsputin

California

3.61/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4.25

poured into a pilsner glass

a: 4 finger off white relatively smooth head. golden orange/burnt copper color

s: toasted malts, bready caramel, slightly grainy, sweet malt backbone, finishes with an almost nutty smell

t: sweet malts, caramel/toffee, watery toasted malts, slightly nutty. theres almost like a pepper spice throughout with a grassy hop flavor. finishes with a slightly-sweetened tea flavor (weird to describe, I know). smooth flavors that are nicely balanced

m: lighter side of medium - carbonation gives it that little extra

o: not bad. it has been a while since I had this and I wasn't disappointed. this isn't the best beer in the world, but its a smooth drinker that has a nice amount of balanced flavor. its a nice beer to drink and not have to think about.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 04:53:42 | More by hopsputin

constantine_272

Oregon

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Brownish red with little head. What few bubbles I see are almost completely white. Not sure if the co2 is running low or if the head is supposed to be like this.

S: Mild spicy and warm nutmeg aromas. Some sweet caramel.

T: There's a lot going on here. Good balance of hops without being so overwhelming. Some tanginess and dryness is the first taste i get. Finishes sweeter with caramel and a bit of oak and vanilla. Oddly enough, the sweetness actually reminds me of maraschino cherry. Definite malt flavors indicative of a bock.

M: A bit thin and slightly dry. A little too dry for a session if you ask me, but good for a doubleheader. Slightly flat feeling--co2 may be to blame again.

O: It's been a long time since my last dead guy and this used to me a mainstay for me. I'm more impressed now than I was before. Maybe my overexposure to double IPAs has dulled my taste buds letting the subtle flavors, and not the bitter, shine through here. In any rate, I was impressed with the depth of flavor. I may just order another..

Side note: As I was drinking this I couldn't stop thinking how darn good a barrel aged version would be of this. After googling, apparently that's the John John dead guy. I will be looking for it!

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2013 01:11:05 | More by constantine_272

DrewSnyc667

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

12 oz bottle into a pint glass

A:Cloudy deep orange to light leather tan, almost no head but some sticky lacing, a few bubbles

S: Light a mild, i notice the roasted malts more so than the mild spicy hops, some fruity apple and pear, too

T: Perhaps the most balanced beer Ive ever tasted, the sweet fruit and the bitter hops are married in harmony

M: See notes on taste

O: What a treat always, this beer is so simple and so good

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 22:34:10 | More by DrewSnyc667

shu

Georgia

4.59/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

not the richest or the most exotic however it has become my current signature beer. satisfying, drinkable as a single or for a few in a quiet moment. although chilled properly it is also an excellent room-temp ale if you like to get the full measure of texture, scent and flavor . be sure to enjoy from a wide mouth [pref glass] container as the aroma is a substantial part of the experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 18:39:03 | More by shu

rangerred

Tennessee

3.71/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a fizzy one finger head that quickly fades into almost nothing. No lacing to speak of.

Aroma of rich caramel and honey along with some raspberries and toasted nuts. Very floral as well and sweet smelling almost like the aroma of cooling wort. Pretty nice but a little flat as well.

The taste continues the maltyness with loads of honey, iced tea, and sweet caramel. Not a ton of sweetness in the flavor which is nice but the malt also tends to fall off a little too quickly. No hops to really speak of but a nice moderate bitterness to balance out the sweetness.

Overall, an ok beer but pretty unspectacular. If it wasn't so expensive it might be something to pick up on occasion.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 02:26:16 | More by rangerred

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

The bottle, of course gets homebrew points for being reusable. I definitely give an extra few tenths of a point for bottle and design. Both of which are excellent. May they never change it!

The beer pours a beautiful hazy (chill haze, poured it cold) deep orange/amber with an amber/tan one finger head that stays throughout the drink as a full ring and Friar Tuck cap in the center of tiny silky bubbles mixed with a few larger bubbles. Lacing is very apparent with sticky looking disorganized archways.

The aroma is centered around citrus, whether it be citrus hops or actual orange and lemon, it's there with a nice sweet caramel base to it. There are some hop floral notes as well and maybe a bit of breadiness. Very faint.

Wow! The taste! There is a good reason that this is a world class beer! It's two major constituents, sweet and bitter are so very well balanced that it allows for the minor flavours such as citrus, caramel and some yeasty banana to play a hand in making you fall in love with this beer. And to tell the truth, all these flavours play on your tongue equally throughout the sip from start to finish, one never dominating the other until only at the end when there is some mild dry hop bitterness. I think the slightly above moderate amount of carbonation is what really pulls this off. It's truly a beer drinking experience to behold.

Mouthfeel. Silky, creamy and sweet with a just-under mid range body to it making it thin enough to session and not get overly tired of any one character like sweetness. EXCELLENT! The amount of carbonation is moderate yet a little lively and really lends to helping bring all these flavors and aromas to your senses.

Overall I am going to have to give it a 4.75 out of 5. I don't know what a 5 would be, I haven't tried it yet and I'm banking that this may be an actual 5, but I'm new to this and don't have the experience to give out 5's.

All that I really have to say that if you don't try this beer, you don't know what you are missing and it needs to be on your bucket list! Thank you Rogue! Now get out there and drink some different drinks! Mix it up, but stop drinking f@cking Jaeger Bombs and drink good beer! Life is short enough, don't make it even shorter drinking that complete garbage!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 00:08:40 | More by WissBrauSean

Louis_Toschner

South Carolina

4.64/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle served in a pint glass.

Appearance: Beautiful dark amber color with reddish highltights. I didn't get a very big head or much lacing. Then again, it may be the way my wife poured it.

Smell: Smoky caramel notes. Wonderful Hops smell, Very intoxicating.

Taste: I have to admit, i didn't do a good job of differentiating the various tastes. When the first mouthful hit my tongue, my eyes rolled back in bliss. Such an overal great experience drinking this beer. On one hand, I wanted to keep drinking and on the other, I didn't want to swallow it so I could keep enjoying the taste.

Mouthfeel: A little silky to me, not as thick as I thought it might be but still a great experience.

Overall: Definitely on my radar for another go around. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 14:12:01 | More by Louis_Toschner

sooner961

Oklahoma

4.54/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I actually liked this one compared to others who have fared much higher in the rankings.

Appearance was light-medium golden with a nice head (almost a 1/2 inch or so)

Smells were of citrus (orange/lemon) and hops. Taste was well balanced and aftertaste didn't linger, but wanted you to keep trying to figure out what it was that made it taste so good!

Mouthfeel was just the right amount of foam to allow the liquid to flow through it and hit the palate with an appropriate splash of bitterness, but very little bite in the aftertaste.

Overall, great beer that I will consider buying much more of...if Rogue allows for it.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:06:17 | More by sooner961

scot_chale

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Golden orange color with 1 finger of creamy white head (that fades to a thin layer, but still stays entact) and moderate carbonation appearance.

S- a bit hoppy with some fruity esters. not pungent, but not faint overall.

T- citrus hops, orange peel, lemon peel, and a slight punch of bitterness. there's a malt sweetness that comes later in the flavor.

M- medium bodied, dry, very lager like, with a carbonation bite yet still has a creamy texture that makes it overall very pleasant.

O- Killer beer. It's sessionably lager like with a full hop character and slight malt sweetness that gives it balance and good flavor. I'd buy a 6 of this any time.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 02:41:07 | More by scot_chale

MrJolly

Arizona

3.96/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: hazy honey color, thin head becoming nearly nothing at all, not much carbonation, here.

Smell: Complex: sweet, a little caramel, something toasty, but not burnt, and in the backk maybe even a floral perfume.

Taste: There is a sweet and pungent flavor. Sweet and even tangy at the start, then as the flavors settle, there's a tangy pop at the edges of the tongue, almost sour mustard. There's bitterness in the finish that is very nice.

Mouthfell: Here's a chewy one. A bit of carbonation (not pronounced visible maybe due to the density of the beer) lends some tickling, too. This is nice.

Overall: I'm glad for this beer. I'll buy more. And an added bonus--now I have a Dead Guy Ale growler.

Serving type: growler

03-03-2013 22:36:10 | More by MrJolly

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

650ml bottle poured into a pint glass. ABV 6.5%.

A - Poured a clear copper with a 1cm white head. Minimal lacing.

S - Bread, caramel, grass, citrus.

T - Caramel , a hint of citrus, some spice, strong Pilsner bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium carbonation, medium-heavy body, sticky, a bit oily, lasting aftertaste.

O - Well balanced and very flavourful. That ABV is very well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 02:36:54 | More by decimator

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.64/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

NOTE: this is a re-evaluation of this beer. First time was reviewed from 12oz bottles. This time is from a bomber.

Coppery and mostly clear, two finger head that lasted and left good lacing.

Smells malty with notable hops. Some bready character and fruity aromas.

Tastes very caramel-malty, with a hops bite and lightly spiced bitterness that are noticeable but not too strong. A bit of dark fruits is also present. It's a flavorful beer, but not too overpowering.

It feels tangy and well carbonated, medium bodied.

I like this beer better from the bomber, or at least this time around I do. That's probably psychological, BTW, but for some beers, bombers are just king. If you like this maibock/helles bock, this is a very nice and hoppy example.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 21:29:07 | More by AlCaponeJunior

thegodfather1076

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Presentation: Simple bottle with an eye-catching color scheme and some cool graphics. Label gives a bit of info on the brewery. Neck label and cap state the Rogue slogan “Dedicated to the rogue in each of us”!

Appearance: I poured this from its 12oz bottle into a 13oz tulip glass. Pours out a hazy copper amber color with a 2 finger white foam head of a lighter airy density. Head retention was good at 2min 30sec. Good lacing.

Smell/Aroma: Smells of sweet grainy malts with slightly fruity scents and maybe some herbal hops.

Flavor/Taste: Taste is very malty with a slight sweetness that is overtaken almost instantly by bitter herbal hop bite. Finishes with a slightly fruit-like malt sweetness.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: Medium bodied and smooth with a medium carbonation. Extremely drinkable.

Overall/Comments: Dead Guy was a very tasty well put together brew that was a pleasure to drink. A must try. Classified as a Mailbock/Helles Bock at 6.5% ABV. Consumed 2-16-13.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 10:27:40 | More by thegodfather1076

barczar

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a clear light amber with a frothy, dense inch and a half light khaki head that slowly dissipates, leaving sheets of spotty lacing.

Notes of caramel and buttery toffee are offset by a metallic tang in the initial aroma. Brown sugar, doughy malt, booze, and light floral hops round out the profile. Figs and dates emerge as it warms.

Flavor reveals fruity esters at the base, with cherries and dark berry notes accompanied by toasted malt and slightly sweet caramel notes. The finish is fairly dry and lightly bitter. Feels a little short.

Body is on the full side, with moderate carbonation and slight alcohol warmth.

Not at all what I expect from a helles. Esters are way too high. Hop flavor is lacking, but bitterness is about right

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 00:49:47 | More by barczar

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The coolest thing about this beer is the bottle with the ghostly glow in the dark label so extra marks on appearance. Somewhat darker ale and a decent white hide complement the bomber bottle. I have come to prefer a more murky Belgian style brew.

Nice clean grassy aroma. Taste is flavorful and strong but a little dry. I get a mild sweetness even fruitiness. Very west coast. I am a stout or Belgium beer style guy, but I like this malty ale pretty well. The texture is OK. A little bubbly, but it has went down awful damn fast. Almost too fast to review! Recommended for that more mildly dry bitter beer drinker. I can see why this is very popular.

Pair this fine ale with the music of John Carter "Dance of the Love Ghost"

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 02:35:14 | More by frankiepop