Morimoto Soba Ale - Rogue Ales

Rudgers73

New York

3.78/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up on sale thinking it was the black soba I have had before. Nice surprise.

This is a very interesting beer. Pours a slightly cloudy golden color. Lively carbonation and a retentive fluffy head. It smells like peanut shells and buttered popcorn. The taste also reveals that same peanut shell character, but it makes more sense to relate it to a grain husk flavor. The hops in this unite perfectly with the husk flavor to create a sort of dry tannin flavor. A little butter at the end as well that makes it a smooth and almost salty finish. Sunflower kernels, peanut butter, buttered bread. I'm not so sure I've ever tasted a beer with all of these flavors at once. Overall, it isn't a spectacularly flavorful beer, but the interesting factor definitely gives it some points. Very earthy and raw.

Give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 01:23:39 | More by Rudgers73

likeemdark

California

2/5  rDev -43.8%

05-19-2013 18:56:57 | More by likeemdark

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-15-2013 11:22:40 | More by Slatetank

jzmaui1

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

05-14-2013 20:52:46 | More by jzmaui1

Danno48

West Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-12-2013 01:08:29 | More by Danno48

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-11-2013 22:28:52 | More by tbryan5

tjsmith910

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-11-2013 01:46:50 | More by tjsmith910

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dad bought this one for me at my birthday a while back. Don't really know what it is.. Not sure what to expect.. Poured into a 20oz tumbler.

A - Pours a golden-orange hue with a thick soapy head and big bubbles flowing up the glass. Looks relatively clean, with only a touch of have in it. Good head retention and lacing.

S - Smells pretty mild. Nutty malt upfront with some subtle fruit (peach or apricot) and mild grassy hops. Just a simple mild ale. Meh.

T - Follows the nose. The nutty malt is a nice touch, with some mild caramel and toffee notes as well. The hops are a little more pronounced than the nose implied, with a nice grassy finish that lingers. Simple, mild, balanced, but in the end uninspiring. As it warms I get an interesting creamy vanilla note that I quite like.

M - Light to medium body, with a lively carbonation. A touch sticky even. Decent enough in this department.

D - Overall a palatable and inoffensive brew, but also a little boring. Maybe I've become too caught up in all the hyped craft beer these days, and can't appreciate a simple well crafted ale, but I didn't find this exciting all things considered. Glad I tried it, but I'll pass next time.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 01:33:25 | More by Converge

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +12.4%

04-13-2013 21:18:33 | More by DaPan

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

04-11-2013 03:23:27 | More by orangesol

doktorhops

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Rogue Ales I've tried on one occasion before, I think it was the chocolate stout, anyway they are dastardly expensive in Australia so when I got the Soba Ale it was with great wallet-hesitation however I was rightfully expecting great things from this brew.

Poured from a 650ml bottle into a Pokal.

A: Pours a clear amber body with a 1cm chalk white head.

S: Has a distinct roasted nut aroma with a dry malt grain note and complimentary earthy hops in the background. Expect big nutty/earthy flavours and a lingering dry finish.

T: Very Japanese in its uniqueness. There are a smattering of flavours that make this interesting; the aforementioned nuttiness, which is more a roasted chestnut than a roasted peanut, earthy hops, dry finish, all of which were expected but here's where it makes a distinct Japanese turn; it has a soy sauce note with a hint of sweetness that you would find in Mirin sauce (along with that Sake taste).

M: Mid to light body with medium carbonation.

D: I was expecting great things and the Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale delivered. If you're looking for an ale with that weird Japanese flair then this is a great option. Personally I like the oddness of Japanese flavours in beer as it brings something new to the table and this beer exactly captures the essence of Japan in a beer so well that you would think it was brewed in Japan itself. Alternatively If you aren't looking for that quirkiness you might find yourself somewhat disappointed.

Food match: The choice of Japanese cuisine is obvious, in fact whilst drinking this I was craving some Edamame big time, but this would also go well with Asian cuisine from other nations like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam (to name a few).

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 03:34:44 | More by doktorhops

zestd

Idaho

4/5  rDev +12.4%

03-29-2013 20:46:57 | More by zestd

4runner4ever

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

03-25-2013 15:17:27 | More by 4runner4ever

ChrisMon02

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

03-25-2013 10:12:49 | More by ChrisMon02

bigbeers84

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

03-25-2013 08:00:16 | More by bigbeers84

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

3/5  rDev -15.7%

02-28-2013 22:14:52 | More by CaptainNomihodai

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-28-2013 12:38:09 | More by grahamboudreaux

Seaba

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -29.8%

02-26-2013 20:24:05 | More by Seaba

Cavanaghty

Maine

2.68/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on tap in a pint glass.

Appearance: Amber color, with a thick white head. Heavy lacing on the glass.

Smell: No overpowering scents really. But I could smell some more floral type smell, grassy, corn, and malts.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth medium bodied. Bitter taste, with a grainy grassy taste to it.

Overall: Glad I tried it but not one of my favorites by a long shot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2013 00:38:20 | More by Cavanaghty

rayman2112

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%

02-22-2013 02:00:08 | More by rayman2112

chugamugofsud

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-21-2013 16:58:32 | More by chugamugofsud

Beerswag

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-14-2013 17:13:43 | More by Beerswag

2neardead

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-07-2013 16:59:03 | More by 2neardead

laurastradford

New Jersey

2/5  rDev -43.8%

02-05-2013 20:20:10 | More by laurastradford

KillaB

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -29.8%

01-29-2013 05:45:03 | More by KillaB