Yellow Snow IPA - Rogue Ales

budgood1

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

5 litre mini keg purchased on sale for $20.

pours out of the keg a hazy and cloudy sunset orange colour with a huge meringue like head that sticks and shows no sign of receding. tons of chunky lace. grapefruit rinds, orange, tangerine, and wispy lemons in the nose with some grainy malt notes. the taste is a quick and simply sweet malty note followed by a citric hop blast that really is quite bitter in the end. the bitterness lingers quite awhile providing many puckering moments. there is a hint of alcohol spice lingering about. really one dimensional in that this IPA is bitterly hop centric and everything else takes a back seat. in another words....unabashedly unbalanced. the overall body seems about right for an IPA although the mouthfeel could use a slight boost away from the coarseness from the hop bitterness. drinkability is just ok for an IPA from a brewer of the caliber of rogue.

not sure if the use of one hop, amarillo, is the cause of this being so out of whack. this is wickedly one dimensional. a hop whack upside the head and on the tongue. after drinking celebration last night, this offering doesn't hold a candle to that perfection. and for the prices i've seen ($40 or more for the 5L mini keg), the only way i would drink this is for the price i did pay for it...and still for $20 i can get two hearted for the same price (or lower) and this isn't near as good as that.

still...if you like hops, especially amarillos, this is your fix.

Serving type: can

11-28-2009 00:27:18 | More by budgood1

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

5L mini-keg (didn't know what that qualifies as so I went with can). No date.

Appearance: Poured into .5L mug. 2 fingers of fluffy white head that took a while to fade down and coated the glass. Somewhat cloudy (no particles) and copper/amber in color.

Nose: Somewhat muted, sweet clover honey, orange blossoms, sweet orange juice, hint of pine and maybe sage?

Palate: Medium-bodied and bitter right off the bat! Carbonation is a *little* dicey, maybe the pour, maybe the container. Not bad mouthfeel though, just lightly carbonated. The bitterness of the hops round out the mouthfeel though. Dry and lingering finish is all about dusty pine and cedar and dried citrus rinds. Lots of flavors here!

Notes: A great purchase (got it on a closeout deal for less than half-price, but didn't let that influence my review). Was a little worried how the mouthfeel would be, but as far as I can remember, it's very similar to the bottle. A great beer, highly recommended to people who like dry, aggressively bitter IPAs.

Serving type: can

05-16-2009 22:06:31 | More by SFLpunk

ironlung

California

4.38/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Mini-Keg from Rogue Ales Public House S.F. on-sale for 15 bucks!!(normally $65)(note: I'm not factoring in the price for this review, as this is just a damn fine IPA)

Looks a hazy-orange with a massive 3 finger foamy head that leaves some of the nicest lace I've ever seen! Smell is subdued with just a bit of sweetness detected by my nasel-cavity.

Where this beer really shines is in it's taste and mouth feel. It starts off sweet then the hops finish with that text book perfect IPA "snap". Leaving your mouth dry and craving the next sip. @70 IBU's this is the perfect hop-head's all day beer. I'll be looking to pick more of this liquid gold(pun intended)up!

Serving type: can

04-05-2009 19:55:10 | More by ironlung

JoeST

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from one of the mini kegs into my pint.
Color is a copper orange with a two finger fluffy white head.
Not much here for smell, very light citrus & pine with some mild hints of alcohol as it warms up.
Taste is nice & bitter giving way to some slight sweetness as it warms up a bit. It dose leave a lingering bitter dry taste in my mouth long after taking a drink.
An easily drinkable beer but dose leave me wanting a little more.

Serving type: can

03-29-2009 19:31:38 | More by JoeST

Edgecrusher

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a Mini Keg from my fridge into a Sam Adams cool glass.

Appearance: Yellow-true to its name-minimal lacing and a bubbly head. May be due to having the mini keg for a while.

Smell: Yellow hops-are there such a thing? Smells very inviting-heavy citrus aroma and fresh cut grass.

Taste-Oh yummy this one is. Very hoppy-but doesnt kick you in the teeth. Citrusy flavorful hoppiness.

Mouthfeel: Mouthfeel is very good. Medium carbonation-nice considering this keg has been in my fridge for 2 months. Slight oiliness.

Drinkability: You can drink this puppy all night. I mean all night.

Get some. So glad I picked up the mini keg, and reasonably priced too. It has kept a long time in my fridge-as fresh as the day i bought it!

Serving type: can

01-18-2009 02:26:17 | More by Edgecrusher

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a mini keg into a lagunitas wide mouth glass.

Pours a darker golden color with a large white head that slowly dissipates. Smell is very prominent citrus and hops. very big smell that hits you just as the beer touches the glass. The taste isn't as big as the smell. It is very balanced between malts and hops, neither one overwhelms the other. slightly sweet aftertaste with just the right amount of bitterness from an IPA. high carbonation (thanks to the mini keg) and medium bodied.

overall a VERY easy to drink IPA. it might be the easiest drinking IPA ive ever had. No wonder they sell this in mini kegs, it's so easy to down.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2013 15:47:34 | More by Axnjxn

EagleTalon

Arkansas

4.09/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours to a meringue-like permanent 1/2 inch head with extensive lacing and hazy orange-gold hazy color. Aroma is a strong whiff of citrus and pine with a slight malt aroma in the background. Flavor is balanced by a strong malt backbone and generous dose of American hops. Slight honey and biscuit notes. Mouthfeel is decent. Overall this is an IPA that is deceptively easy to drink like a session ale. Take it easy.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 20:42:20 | More by EagleTalon

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a pint glass at PiBar - Lausanne.

A: Pours a hue yellow to orange color forming a nice, creamy and soapy off-white head. Good retention and lots of lacings formed and left in the glass

S: Sweet grains, herbal hops and fruits. Notes of pine and pineapple

T: Slightly sweet upfront. Quite malty with a strong dry bitterness in the end. Notes of caramel and wood. In overall, a dry and bitter taste

M: Medium body and good carbonation. Herbal hoppy bitter aftertaste

O: Good drinkability. My first Rogue. Nice IPA

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 09:52:56 | More by eduardolinhalis

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Bright orange in color. Very cloudy, can barely see shadow of hand through it. Massive slightly off white head that doesnt go anywhere as you drink it. Tons of sticky lacing all the way down. Aroma of floral hops right in your face. Good ammount of citrus, orange peal. Some spice. Taste- quick hit of malt followed by an explosion of hops. Bitterness hits midway through and lasts through the finish. Taste stays with you. Dank. Light bedium body. Im about 30 beers into my reviewing career and this is the first beer that I said "wow" multiple times while sipping and smelling it. Excellent brew

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:39:36 | More by Burkbom23

beerdrifter

Germany

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Couldn't believe I've never reviewed this beer. Cloudy golden yellow pour with an off-white two finger head with great retention and lacing. Nicely balanced nose with sweet biscuity malts and equally intense citrusy, resiny, piney, hop notes. The taste definitely leans towards the hops. Huge bitter citrus notes with hints of lemon zest, grapefruit, pine, tangerine, and some subtle caramel malt sweetness to keep it honest. The mouthfeel is totally mouth-puckering with a sharp, bitter, in-your-face hop bite from start to finish. With that said, it's one of the more sessionable hop bombs out there. Overall, this is one of beers I always come back to. It's just an all around solid IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 17:59:23 | More by beerdrifter

bmwats

Louisiana

3.91/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a standard pint.

A: Amber hue. Lots of effervescence. Pours about a 2 finger, bubbly white head. Settles into a froth, and has a dry slow disintegration; leaving dry residue in its wake. Sporadic lacing. Head never really dissolved completely. Head renews completely with each pour.

S: Hay and pine.

T: Very hoppy and bitter. Just a bit of sweet tea, woody notes, and peat. Alkaline, pungent, and rubbery.

M: Light and shallow body. The slightest hit of sweetness as it careens onto the palette. Dry, pungent finish. Steely aftertaste which haunts you throughout.

D: Pungent and mouth-puckering, will dictate a more plodding experience.

Atmosphere is really solid. Lots of carbonation, a great head which never really vacates the brew completely, and a bit of sporadic lacing. Nose is a basic combination of fresh hay and pine. Hoppy and bitter, with some sweet and woody notes cleverly settled in. Overall, this is a really good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 07:05:27 | More by bmwats

IsaacCraft

2.98/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Maybe my pallet isn't ready for the IPA since I'm a relatively new beer drinker, but I didn't particularly enjoy this beer. It got a great deal better toward the end, which is why I rated it as average, on taste, but the overwhelming bitterness was tough to get past. I didn't notice much in the way of mouthfeel because of how quickly I swallowed every sip to get past the bitterness. I did enjoy the background flavors though. I believe I would have really enjoyed this beer if it weren't for the bitterness, but I'm pretty sure I could handle it if I just simply wasn't a wimp.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 17:17:31 | More by IsaacCraft

Jemonster

California

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Nice thick white head, leaves a lot of lacing, opaque gold color. Medium sized bubbles.

S: The amarillo hops come out first with a lot of floral notes.

T: Light floral hops, and standard bitterness for the style. Having not had a plain ol' single IPA in a while, it seems like it's lacking in something.

M: Creamy and rich for an IPA. Moderate carbonation.

O: Pretty good but kind of standard IPA. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 06:57:46 | More by Jemonster

barczar

Kentucky

3.76/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a slightly hazy deep gold with copper highlights and a dense one inch cream head that dissipates slowly, leaving spotty lacing.

Aroma is fairly subtle. Lemon, fresh cut grass, pine, and a hint of cattiness are subtle, with floral hops and slightly sweet, bready malt rounding things out.

Flavor reveals more hop character. There's an initial citrus kick, which subsides to toasted malt, ending decidedly bitter. Tangerine, orange, and mango emerge in subsequent sips, quickly giving way to resiny and earthy, bitter hops at the end. There's enough malt to hold things together, but that's about it.

Body is moderate, with carbonation a touch on the high side, and slight alcohol warmth.

Definitely has the bitterness of an ipa. Flavoring hops make a good showing. Wish there was just a lot more prevalent aroma. And the bitterness is more than my palate favors.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 04:59:00 | More by barczar

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pale orange IPA with excellent foam and lacing. Good carbonation as well.

Smell: Very strong pine cones. Very Northwestern.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Similarly to the smell, the flavor is full of Cascade hops. A bit too assertive on the hop bitterness, but it finishes with a nice resiny mouthfeel. Medium-full body.

Overall Drinkability: A pretty IPA that could use some more balance or some toning down of the hops.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 18:47:25 | More by tjsdomer2

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.81/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Personaly I love this beer ... High IBU brewed beers are not for everyone, especially if you are not used to them. Rogue has a special touch to the beers they make! ....I am a home brewer and would love to make this kind of beer.

Very nice golden color, very good aroma ... malt hop ballanced well concidering the high hop addition. Great hop flavor, ...don't plan on drinking any other kind of beer after this one, you won't really taste it!

If you like "Ruination, Hop Slam, ...ect, you will like this one!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 17:34:01 | More by FlatRabbitRed

atr2605

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a cloudy golden, almost light copper color with an off white head that has great retention
S-citrus, lemon, grapefruit, hint of pine
T-Ton of citrus and lemon flavors, with the malt coming in the finish and providing a nice sweetness and leaving orange zest on the palate
M-medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation
O-really solid example of the big hoppy citrus filled American style of the IPA. Would most certainly drink again

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 01:13:02 | More by atr2605

scot_chale

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Very murky cloudy orange- there was some yeast sediment in the bottom of the bottle. I thought I should pour it like my homebrew, and leave the yeast behind, but I decided to pour it in as it did not say anything about leaving it behind. Heavy 3 fingers of white pillowy foam that recedes in 1 finger in about 2 minutes. It looks like head mountains.

S- Classic mild IPA aroma. Citrusy hops with an almost vanilla ice cream type sweetness.

T- BOY! IS THAT BITtER!? The amarillo hops are mean. Not for the faint of heart. Grapefruit, orange peel, pine needles, and lawn clippings in an aggressive hop package. Can't pick up much from the malt because the hops are so over the top.

M- Medium carbonation, nice soft liquid feel, not too dry. You can swish it around nicely and it doesn't get too spritzy or dry. It's a little creamy as well.

O-Too strong for this guy. I like my IPA's, but i like them to be balanced and the hops to be uniform. This is a good example of how the American brewery's are trying to make up for the European's insulting our beer tastes for so long. I fear we may have gone a little too far, but for those on a quest to try the biggest, meanest, bitterest IPA's America has to offer, this should be on the list.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:15:56 | More by scot_chale

swalesean

3.76/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a golden haze. Moderate white head dissipates fairly quickly though lacing is durable throughout entire glass. Nose consists of predominant sweet malts overlaying subtle citrus; ultimately charactersitic of while understated for the variety. Same hierarchy initially persists in taste before giving way to a peppery finish.

I need to taste this one closer to release.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:38:40 | More by swalesean

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.76/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served from tap into a shaker. Poured a golden (appropriate) yellow-orange with a one finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, pine, pine hop, earth, and earth hop. The flavor was of sweet malt, earth, earth hop, pine, pine hop, and spicy hop. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. If you are a hop-head this brew is definitely made with you in mind. While the hops aren’t overly aggressive like some out there, this one is very hoppy and brings a nice hoppy spiciness along with it. This fact keeps your palate intrigued but does not fatigue it at the same time. Just wish that there was a little more sweetness to balance it out slightly. Definitely worth trying for any craft beer fan out there.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 21:33:29 | More by thagr81us

jaz58

Ontario (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another fine IPA. Served in a clear pint glass.

Very nice golden orange colour, cludy, with a very thin head.

Very good nose of carmel and malt

Citrus start to the taste finshed with a generous hit of hops that lingers for a decent amount of time.

Round mouthfeel.

An over all favorite to add to my IPA list..

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:01:04 | More by jaz58

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.09/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

This beer poured out from a bottle. It was golden in colour with a cloudy, orange hue to it. The beer had a very light nose to it. There wasn't much going on except for a slight aroma of hop. The taste, however, was very bold. It was clean upfront, transitioned into a citrus-hop taste, and concluded with a strong, bitter aftertaste.

Would I buy this beer again? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 21:10:24 | More by NilocRellim

brewtus

Ohio

3.79/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours hazy copper orange. Smells are floral, pine, some lemon, crayon waxy smell. Tastes very clean and well balanced, a lot of lemon and sweet citrus fruits, and earthy pine. This is a very easy drinking IPA, very well balanced, great for any occasion. Like most rogues, its in your face, but it's not too complex. its very solid and definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:31:06 | More by brewtus

viverlee

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I was kind of hoping #50 would be a milestone. It is in a way. But the brew itself, while decent, lacks the celebratory pop.

STYLE: American IPA

ABV: 6.5%

LOOK: I need to get used my new surroundings, tasting downstairs instead of the guest bedroom. Apricot orange, dirty. Hazy in the right light and a nice little head.

NOSE: Soft pine and what else?

MOUTH: Cold, especially for a beer that’s been at room temp for nearly an hour. Hoppy bite at the end, but I’m missing the expected floral and citrus notes. I could chalk it up to being out of the game but that’s not quite true. I think it’s just wanting.

Beeradvocate Rating: 86

ratebeer Rating: 96

Hayward Abbey Rating: 78

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 03:10:37 | More by viverlee

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Single bottle from a six pack, picked up at the LCBO.

Poured into a Bells nonic glass. Hazy honey-grapefruit colour, big billowing head of foam, great sheets of lacing. Nice looking IPA.

Nose is sweet malt, grapefruit, citrus hops, orange peel.

Good IPA, bitter, bold grapefruit notes, strong bittering hops to the finish that oddly enough ends up feeling quite dry. Not overly complex, but nice nonetheless.

Carbonation is a bit sharp, but the feel is dry and slightly creamy.

There's plenty of good IPAs to be had out there, and I don't feel that this one cracks into that upper echelon of 'must-haves', but it's quite good and I wouldn't mind it in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 19:33:54 | More by JohnnyBarman