Imperial Stout - Rogue Ales

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

1.8/5  rDev -55.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Review from Inaugural Issue of Beeradvocate Magazine.

Here's an old-school 2000 Rogue XS bottle, a seven-ounce mini-bottle with a painted label which warrants props for listing all the ingredients, year bottled, plato (26), IBU (87.5), lovibond (258), apparent attenuation (77) and a recommendation that it's best served when aged for a year. Well, folks, how about over six years? Let's find out.

Popping the twist-off cap made little noise, so it's no surprise that the pour led to barely any head, but what's there is a thin topping of chocolate-colored bubbles. Beneath is an ominous, black-as-hell liquid, sitting heavily in the brandy snifter. Oxidized aroma of sherry, Port-like alcohol, wet paper, herbal, leaf, hint of smoke, and some peppery rubbing alcohol. Falls fl at on the palate. No carbonation. An even, somewhat thick, hard-water consistency; slightly chewy. The big malts that this beer was known for have been converted, dried up, and weakened greatly by time. It's become more vinous, sharp, with young Port-like flavors, and a dash of black pepper, but a powdery chocolate and smoke character is all that remains of its former malt presence. Hint of chocolate cake breadiness. Some semi-bitter, raw leafiness from the hops are still intact. An unpleasant smoky, dry and powdery fi nish, with a candied-fruit booziness that seeps out of the palate and lingers for a bit. Not overly fun to drink, but interesting.

If you're cellaring some of these at home, they've hit their peak and are probably good candidates for the kitchen. We'll be turning our remaining bottles into some tasty drizzle reductions for desserts.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2008 19:28:54 | More by BeerAdvocate

Jason

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown bottle with a 2001 bottled vintage date.

Appearance: A think vicious brown head forms three fingers deep, awesome slow-motion cascading effect. Retention is superb. Jet black colour shows no trace of light.

Smell: Soft espresso, ghost smoke, sharp unsweetened chocolate and light burnt malt come from the blend of roasted malts. Ripe black currants, molasses and a rough smell from the hops as well.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Almost syrupy in the mouth with a heavenly creamy smoothness. This brew is just bursting with roasted malt flavours. Fresh espresso, bakers chocolate and light charcoal. Hops bitterness is not to be ignored, bitter oil resins all over. Alcohol is there but does not see to flare out too much, more warmth in the back end. Some sweetness does make it threw with complex tones of dark sugars. Bitterness from the hops and roasted malts drives a day and a life into the after taste.

Drinkability & Notes: No holding back, big time flexing and just so outrageously good. To sum it up this brew as far as Imp Stouts go is one to be reckoned with. Some chocolate covered hazelnuts went very well with this one.


Tasted on 12-30-99. 7oz 1996 vintage bottle. As black as black could be ... with a wispy brown yet sticky lace.

Smell: A touch of sweetness that has hints of over caramelized fruit and a mild acidic twang from the roasted malts ... some hops are there but underlying. There is also the smallest hint of wet paper which shows a bit of aging.

Taste: Oh so smooth with a massive chewy malt mouth feel in this more than full bodied brew. Catastrophic flavours erupt from this thick black liquid ... rich dark chocolate and espresso, sweet and bitter hop flavours ... this is a war upon the taste buds. A faded papery taste is there yet is cast aside as the finish come forth. The finish is a devastation of roasted malt flavours and well as residual sweetness.

Notes: Yes this brew seems like it is peaking in its 3rd year ... a god like brew, this stout is only for those who are worthy of drinking the best. The weak will surely perish upon the mere touch of this brew to their lips. As close to perfection as you can get.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2003 17:55:38 | More by Jason

phunkychickita

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-20-2013 16:39:25 | More by phunkychickita

JMBSH

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-20-2013 03:19:55 | More by JMBSH

Beer21

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

05-18-2013 04:28:17 | More by Beer21

carlosega

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-17-2013 19:30:59 | More by carlosega

cmdmzmjm

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-16-2013 02:27:58 | More by cmdmzmjm

zonker17

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-11-2013 21:00:27 | More by zonker17

Bill235

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-09-2013 19:21:12 | More by Bill235

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-09-2013 01:16:50 | More by ShemRahBoo

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-04-2013 21:37:15 | More by ZEB89

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-28-2013 23:39:41 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-20-2013 03:09:28 | More by browniewithnuts

Sokool

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-19-2013 14:00:25 | More by Sokool

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-18-2013 04:57:45 | More by Jason1337

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

04-13-2013 21:16:52 | More by DaPan

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-11-2013 03:20:17 | More by orangesol

Lynn

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

04-10-2013 23:30:04 | More by Lynn

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.61/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 7oz bottle into a St. Bernardus baloon glass. Vintage 2009. Served at cellar temp.

Appearance- Black with zero head. Mild mocha lacing near the rim of the glass.

Smell- Bitter chocolate mingles with port-like booze characteristics. Coffee and faded hops come into play along with some light stone fruit. Truly, very nice.

Taste- Wow. Very bitter chocolate and coffee dominate this. Mild booze comes through, but mostly in the feel and not so much the taste. Faded hops mix well with the dark chocolate malts. Bitterness lingers long after the first couple sips.

Mouthfeel- Lighter bodied than expected. Mild carbonation with a little heat at the end.

Overall- Very happy that this beer came out so good. This was more or less my first attempt at "cellering" a beer (bought it around this time last year). Very nice flavor. Nice night cap.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:59:38 | More by Seanniek91

Knuckles_Nuclear

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

04-06-2013 00:22:40 | More by Knuckles_Nuclear

hiphopj5

Colorado

3/5  rDev -26.3%

04-05-2013 14:21:59 | More by hiphopj5

vidguy17

Iowa

4/5  rDev -1.7%

03-30-2013 14:57:45 | More by vidguy17

heavenlyStash

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

03-26-2013 06:54:20 | More by heavenlyStash

Dope

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

A: Pours pitch black with a dense, dark cocoa brown head. Fades at a moderate pace. Head awakens easily, great retention. Thick continuous patchwork of lacing everywhere

S: Lots of cocoa and char with some roasted coffee to boot. Quite a bit of anise. Kind of creamy, maybe some oatmeal?

T: Chocolate up front with some coffee and char mixed in. Sweet grainy taste in the middle, I assume oatmeal? Some anise in there too. Bitter coffee and sharp baker's chocolate in the finish. Resinous, oily hops add to the bitterness in the finish, surprising after a couple of years. Zero sign of the 11% ABV.

M: Heavy, thick, viscous and a bit creamy.

O: A really nice RIS. It's big, heavy and slick. Just the way I like an RIS, with pure heavy roasted malt character. Lots of black patent malt and chocolate for sure. A lot can have dark fruits in them but not this one. Only addition is a little bit of hops to break it up. Probably a lot hoppier when it's fresh, if I'm honest. Not sure if that would be an improvement or not - will have to seek one out someday. Very tasty overall, I found it very similar to brooklyn BCS but with a little less chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 02:14:57 | More by Dope

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

03-24-2013 22:02:48 | More by Sparky44