Latona 20th Anniversary Ale
Rogue Ales

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From:
Rogue Ales
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
85
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 10.7%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
29
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 05, 2014
Added:
Apr 01, 2007
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by jaydoc from Kansas

Jan 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Zaphog from Michigan

Jan 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Tyrawlings from Ohio

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 29, 2011
Photo of zoso1967
Reviewed by zoso1967 from Michigan

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served up a darker shade of medium amber with a nice copperish hue to it. A slightly off-white head left nice sticky lace on my glass. The aroma was malt forward with plenty of brown sugar and toffee notes, and just a little bit of citrus hops. The taste was quite interesting in that it was very malty, yet still had a nice citrus hop character. Toffee, caramel, bready sweet malt and brown sugar blended well with piney and white grapefruit hop character. Not too bitter and all the flavors are well integrated. This has a very smooth medium body and a great mouthfeel that has a nice clean finish. Very drinkable and by far the better Rogue offering I have had so far.
Apr 25, 2010
Photo of morebeergood
Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap in Somerville at Redbones' Rogue Keg Party to kick of the NW Fest party. Pours a faded orange color. Somewhat cloudy body. Little head. Taste was very well built. Plenty of hops, but balanced well with other ingredients so as to not overwhelm the beer. Very smooth mouthfeel. If this is a "strong ale", then I found it hard to tell. Would not guess the abv to be that high. Extremely easy to drink and enjoy. An ale that I would buy again if given the chance.
Oct 20, 2009
Photo of plaid75
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On draft at Rattle N' Hum, NYC.

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a soft cereal grain and a flowery hop.

The taste consisted of a smooth round malt, a touch of sweetness and a neat hop.

The mouthfeel, and the beer in general, were toward the lighter side of the style.

Overall a tasty and well balanced ale.
Oct 14, 2009
Photo of Kendo
Reviewed by Kendo from New York

4.35/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Got it on tap at the Lionheart in Albany, 2-18-09.

A: Body is clear, golden-honey colored with a 1-finger ivory head that recedes fairly slowly, leaving behind good lace.

S: Grapefruity hops over lighter malt scents -- think bready or biscuity. Hint of pine.

T: Simple and straightforward, there's a bready malt foundation, followed by citrusy & piney hops with a lemony dry bitterness that finishes it off nicely, leaving a slightly dry, bitter aftertaste.

M: Lighter side of medium in heft, the carbonation on this one is about perfect -- it's there, but not in a big-bubbled, harsh sort of way (if that makes sense), but rather is more fine, giving it a fairly creamy all-around feel.

D: Excellent. I have no idea of the ABV on this one, but given the style I'd guess it's around 8%. If so, this one could be dangerous.

Notes: from other reviews here I see a couple things worth pointing out. . . . (1) apparently Rogue used just 2 basic ingredients for this recipe. If that's the case, they've proven that sometimes simpler is better. No need for 5 different kinds of hops, 3 different malts, etc. if you can get this sort of straightforward, clean-tasting, refreshing brew. I'd like to see more beers take advantage of these Mt Rainier hops, as they imparted a nice citrusy flavor that wasn't over-the-top, and left it dry and slightly bitter. Great balance over the lighter malt. (2) Not sure if this keg is fresh or if it's been cellared for awhile, given the date of some of the earlier reviews and the fact that this is an "anniversary" release. Based on the size of the head, I'd say it's probably fresh. But then the carbonation felt a little fine, so maybe it's been sitting for awhile. Whatever the case, I enjoyed this beer probably as much as any offering I've had from Rogue, which says a lot.
Feb 19, 2009
Photo of Shaw
Reviewed by Shaw from Florida

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed this during a rare visit to the stellar Cock & Bull Pub.

It's a light golden in color, and looks like a strong Belgian ale.

Its aroma is hoppy -- typical Rogue -- but also features a complex mix of fruit esters and alcohol.

The taste is also good. It's bitter and hoppy as you'd expect from Rogue, but there is a complex depth to it. It really reminds me of Belgian beers -- albeit hoppy ones.

Overall this is a fine beer and well worth drinking while you can.
Jan 12, 2009
Photo of paulthebeerguru
Reviewed by paulthebeerguru from Florida

4.3/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: pint. pours a slightly opaque yellowish orange color. white head. good retention and wonderful lacing.

S: grapefruit, some pine resin. some sweet oranges.

T: straight up grapefruit. good solid malt backbone. light citrus hop burn. wonderful hop bite.

M: clean and crisp. big hoppy palate, mostly citrus. dead on carbonation level.

D: phenomenal, though I think this is an IPA and not a stong ale. really enjoyable and highly drinkable.
Dec 27, 2008
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

2.77/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a light, clear golden color with thin, fizzy white head that quickly dissolves without any lacing. The aroma and flavor are very bland with a decent balance of hops and maltiness but nothing special. Easy drinking for a strong ale but nothing special here.
Dec 02, 2008
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

3.84/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On-draught at Sawmill Tap Room, NC.

Waitress set down an attractive, golden-amber body with a pronounced haziness. An off-white head went nowhere fast, leaving behind thick rings of lacing across the upper half of the pint glass. The aroma wasn't too special, but had some faint traces of lemony, citrus hops, caramel malt, and a hint of tropical fruit.

Latona was a bit one-dimensional, but still delivered an enjoyable flavor. Lots of juicy, citurs hoppiness balanced by notes of amber & caramel malts. A medicinal, toffee-like bitter note lingered on the finish for quite some time (I definitely enjoyed that part). Body was of medium consistency, creamy, smooth, and left behind a sticky bitter aftertaste. I'd have this again on tap, but if it were ever bottled, I might overlook it for other Rogues.
Oct 10, 2008
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Comes out of the tap a semi-transparent golden amber with a fine-bubbled, pale buttery head. Aroma is richly malty, very appetizing, with a hoppy overtone. Flavor is smooth, nicely balances malt and hops, somewhat but not overly bitter, with a hint of butterscotch. Texture is fairly smooth and lively, and very satisfying going down the hatch.
Sep 14, 2008
Photo of marcobrau
Reviewed by marcobrau from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An strong-ish amber ale with decent lacing, some earthy hop aromatics, a malty middle and a pretty powerful bitterness in the finish. A hand-written flier seemed to indicate that this beer had a starting gravity of around 15 Plato and 70 IBUs. My guess is what was probably around 6 percent alcohol by volume...but enough with the specs. I didn't take detailed notes on this beer, but I enjoyed it. The malt and hops played well together, with the bitter finish lasting quite awhile.

Had this on tap at Edgewater Lounge in Chicago advertised as a John's Locker Stock special tap (not widely available.)
Aug 17, 2008
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

2.95/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Served on draft at Barleys in Greenville during Rogue Month.

The description on the menu described this one as, I am paraphrasing here, "Lots of hop aroma with a bitter hop bite".

Amber in appearance with a white head. Nothing too impressive. Aroma was neither hoppy or citrusy. To be honest, it smelled like an amber lager. Good bit of caramel and maltiness but quite soft on the hoppiness.

Flacid taste as well. Minimal hoppiness, no hop flavor, absolutely NO bitterness. WTF? Kind of thin and watery on the mouthfeel.

Not sure what is going on here but withou a style, I cant give a "fair" review. To me, it seems more like an amber lager or perhaps an amber ale but in no way is this a strong ale or anything that has "hop" or any variation of the word in the description. Not a fan of this one.
Aug 07, 2008
Photo of johannasclimacus
Reviewed by johannasclimacus from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Surprised to find this on tap at Fatheads in the south side of Pittsburgh today. I enjoy these kinds of beers for lunch, where the beer is pretty bitter but not overwhelmingly so. Provides a very nice balance.

Latona pours a nice coppery amber and had good lacing. The first half of the beer showed some nice looking rings alongside the glass, although it faded as I kept drinking.

There's nothing that stands out about the smell. I picked up some toasted notes and a vague hop smell, but nothing more. The taste hits you with some of the toasted malts, then dries up with a sharp bitterness that stands out and then lasts for a bit. It's not overpowering or particularly exciting, but I enjoy the contrast of beers like this when I pair them with foods.

I'm not sure how it stacks up with the style, since this is the first of the kind that I've had. Overall, another quality offering from Rogue, which has quickly become my favorite brewery. I will revisit this again if I am able to find it, especially if I could have it at a meal. I especially enjoyed the lighter-medium body that was satisfying and refreshing yet not too filling.
Jul 06, 2008
Photo of Backer2004
Reviewed by Backer2004 from North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
I ended up pouring this beer for about 20 minutes at the Charlotte Oktoberfest. Surprised to find out it was an American Strong Ale, considering the distributor couldn't explain what style it was and told me to "just tell them its hoppy." Seemed like an avergae IPA to me, therefor the alcohol must have been balanced out by the malts and hops. Nice color and head retention, but nothing else was that exciting. Did not care to try too much of it.
Oct 01, 2007
Photo of FightingEntropy
Reviewed by FightingEntropy from Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Light tan head over a light foldern beer with a bit of amber color. Full thick lace around the galss. Hoppy nose with lights fruits, and spicy w/o being overwhelming. Dry bite on the tongue but an astringent taste in the center. Good, with a bite, but not great.
Jun 07, 2007
Photo of stereosforgeeks
Reviewed by stereosforgeeks from Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance- Pours a nice rusted gold. Foamy white head. Moderate lacing.

Smell- Biscuits with some floral hop notes.

Taste- Roasted malt and bisuit flavor hits the tongue initially then you have the floral hops, which offer a nice contrast to the sweet malt.

Mouthfeel- Crisp with active carbonation. Medium bodied.

Drinkablity- Refreshing and sessionable!
May 29, 2007
Photo of claytri
Reviewed by claytri from Maryland

3.26/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The beer poured copper with a light tan head. I the aroma was of light malt and hops. The taste was of sweet malt moving to a bitter finish. The feel was medium and wet. A pleasant beer, almost a session brew, not at all the type of beer one would expect from a 20th anniversery beer.
May 02, 2007
Latona 20th Anniversary Ale from Rogue Ales
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 29 ratings