Rogue Farms Wet Hop Ale - Rogue Ales

saccro

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Probably my least favorite Rogue beer. I'm done with wet hop beers. I haven't found one I really like. The hop flavor is there I guess, but no punch. Pales in comparison to double ipa hop flavor. Classic Rogue malt flavors though. Hard to believe it's just Munich malt and 2-row. Just disappoints on the hop flavors and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 01:19:37 | More by saccro

salvo

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This brown ale arrived effervescent under a half inch of off-white head, dissipating slowly, and laced the glass nicely as I drank. The smell is richer that other Rogue beers, sweeter malts and a thick mouthfeel, with the fresh hops remaining mostly in the nose and the finish. Astringent finish lingered nicely, but was lost in the malty middle. Well worth tasting.

While I was disappointed with this beer, I wasn't as disappointed as some, and certainly not willing to pour it down the sink! I'm concerned that reviewers are confusing fresh hops with strong or overpowering hops flavor. Just saying; not flaming.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2010 17:28:26 | More by salvo

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.28/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep and surprisingly thick orange amber colour, with a slight haze that just lets in enough light to make it glow. Two-fingers of yellowish-cream head sits slightly filmy on the top, leaving some lacing, but collapsing in short measure. Carbonation is extremely fine and it looks wonderful pushing through the residuals in the body. Overall, a really lovely looking brew.

Subdued nose, with not a huge amount of hop aroma. Some subtle sweet orange characters, spiced raisin bread and some honey-like malt are more dominant. Almost a cleansing ocean-spray type of note to it as well. Nothing that screams Wet Hop Ale to me. Also, I'm unfamiliar with Rogue's unique hop varieties, so I was looking forward to experiencing their flavours.

Taste is also very subdued, almost obnoxiously so. Very little in terms of flavour on the front, not even much malt - surprising given the body and the sweeter notes on the nose. Some savoury orange characters start to linger a little later, and there's a slight rosewater character that releases a little fragrance, but it's all very toned down and muted. There's a somewhat grating bitterness on the very back that lingers more as an aftertaste than anything present on the beer itself. It all comes together to speak of a mediocre beer to me. Mouthfeel is sparkling with tiny bursts of effervescence, but it doesn't have much to work with.

I think it's fair to say I found this a disappointing brew. It's not just that I expected more luscious fresh hop characters given the style, I found the beer itself to be a bit tepid and lacklustre. It's drinkable enough, but I would have had issues with it no matter what it styled itself as. Rogue does much better.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2010 08:34:39 | More by lacqueredmouse

froghop

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pours a cloudy amber with a small light beige head, and a little lacing.

smell is of light grapefruit, caramel, a touch of spice, and malt in the back.

taste is of hops, some caramel, a touch of citrus, malt, and earthy, ends a little dry and somewhat bitter.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 17:51:56 | More by froghop

hopheadjuice

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 ox bottle, no freshness date.

Pours a dark amber copper red with a slow rising 1 finger head that holds tight and laces modestly.

Smells pretty balanced for a beer that's supposed to be showcasing "wet hops". slight bitter hop presence with more of a rounded caramel malt profile.

Taste is a bit off to me for some reason. Strong hop bitterness with almost no flavour and a big malt backbone that makes this ale a bit thick.

Full bodied with moderate carbonation and a creamy tongue coating finish.

Drinkability was okay but for the 6% or so ABV it drank more like a 10% ABV with the thickness aspect. I probably will not seek this offering out again but i would drink it if offered to me.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 17:26:21 | More by hopheadjuice

rtepiak

Poland

3.35/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

an average quality APA with a proper look and a mild head. nose is a bit more grassy with a delicate hushiness about the yeast. not an outstanding malt. not particular memorable in palate to some other wet hops. just a bit of pine and a bit of grass and a pop corn bitter finish. a bit flat and the yeast protein fingernail quality is accentuated by the lake of malt and carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 02:53:05 | More by rtepiak

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.38/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beautifully blurry bronzed orange peel that practically glows when the glass is backlit with bright morning sunshine. The lovely looking lid is closer to ecru than ivory and is seriously sticky. Salt water taffy-like bridges of foam deposit attractive sheets of lace when they break.

For a fresh hop ale that is barely two months of age (first released on September 25th), the nose is disappointingly meek and mild. In fact, the Munich malt is barely appreciated. However many pounds of hops were used clearly weren't enough. Considering the fact that good beer of this style has an amazing aroma, the score doesn't deserve to be average.

When it comes to the intensity of its hop flavor, Chatoe Rogue First Growth Wet Hop Ale tastes like it's at least 10-12 months old. 40 IBUs tastes and feels pretty accurate, so for whatever reason, the brewers failed to unlock the lupulin goodness of the Independence and Revolution hops.

The malt tastes mostly biscuit-like pale, with a bit of toasted nuttiness in the background. Too bad there isn't anywhere close to enough hop flavor to make any comparisons to the better known varieties. From what I'm able to appreciate (oranges and apricots mostly), these particular hops aren't blockbusters that will take the brewing world by storm.

The beer is impressively bitter if that's important to you. Actually, now that it has warmed a little, CRFGWHA is improving just enough to earn higher taste and drinkability scores. Anyone who isn't a hophead probably won't be as kind.

The body/mouthfeel has a wonderful contrasting combination of creamy smoothness and serrated alpha acid edges. No matter what else is going on, this brewery almost always comes through in the areas of appearance and mouthfeel.

In my opinion, there are few things more delicious and drinkable than a well-crafted fresh hop ale. Unfortunately, Chatoe Rogue doesn't fit that description. If a reasonably fresh beer of this sort isn't dripping with juicy hop flavor, then it isn't a success. It really is as simple as that.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 15:39:01 | More by BuckeyeNation

cswhitehorse

Oregon

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

The first wet hop ale poured light brown orange color with a single finger foam head. Not much initial head with a quick dissipating foaminess.

The smell is fairly muted even as it warms up. I wonder if they dried them a little too much before putting it in the wort. The taste is a spicy maltiness with a medium to low bitterness in the end. You get a tiny bit of tingle on the tongue. Overall this needs improvement. I expect more wet hop aroma and flavor from this style.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 05:02:14 | More by cswhitehorse

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

Picked up a bottle at Abe's Cold Beer for $7. I like what Rogue's been doing with their First Growth beers, but this is my least favorite so far. The hops are a mellow and spicy citrus blend, but there's none of the crisp, bright notes of a classic we hop ale or typical pale ale. There's a bit of toasty malt to balance things out and while it's not a bad beer, it leave something to be desired from a Rogue beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 00:11:00 | More by tempest

Xul

California

3.45/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy amber, capped by a finger of frothy eggshell colored head. Retention is good as it recedes slowly, leaving light lacing down the glass.

S: Subdued earthy and piney hops followed by lemon zest and some light citrus notes, caramel and sweet bread. Overall a rather weak nose.

T: Sweet bread and caramel up front, some lemon zest on the mid-palate followed by earthy and piney hops that ramp up towards a reasonably hoppy finish.

M: Medium bodied with creamy, moderate carbonation. Probably the high point of the beer.

D: Nothing offensive but not particularly inviting or interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 01:22:05 | More by Xul

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Golden burnt orange color with a slight amount of foam. Leaves a large amount of thin lace. Not too much hop in the nose but some strong caramel tangy wheat malt. Almost a rye aroma. Flavor is light on character. Some sweet and tangy malt notes. Wheat definitely with a light metallic middle. Crisp, lightly floral hop finish. Body is light and crisp with a good amount of carbonation with a dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 16:40:51 | More by DrinkingDrake

barczar

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a fairly hazy medium gold color with a dense, creamy half inch ivory head that lingers as a pool of foam.

Aroma is fairly malty, with bready caramel malt, fairly sweet, forming the backbone and piney, citrusy hops adding complexity.

Flavor is far more hoppy, with bitterness pervading throughout. Grapefruit and resin surface early, with pine and spruce rounding out the fairly bitter, peppery finish. Fresh cut grass surfaces as it warms.

Body is moderate and slightly creamy, with moderate carbonation, slight alcohol warmth, and significant hop astringency.

Overall, a very bitter brew, with much more hop flavor than detectable in the aroma. Then again, I have a cold, so aromas may elude me. Too much skew toward bitter for my liking.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2012 02:11:39 | More by barczar

Lunch

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from a 22oz. bottle, purchased at the Perfect Pour in Columbia, MD, into my 20oz. Stone Imperial Nonic glass (11/24/09) at an appropriate temperature.

A: Pour a rich, golden, light brown with an orange/amber hue capped off with a crisp two finger off-white head with nice retention.

S: A very much subdued aroma of malt with just a slight hint of bitter hops. I'm a little surprised that the hop smell is so minute, but I guess that this being the first harvest, the hops might just need time to mature.

T: As with the smell the hop flavor is quite subdued leaving just a trace of bitterness along with mild malt character that is fairly one-dimensional. There was a nice fresh quality though which I did enjoy.

M: A medium-bodied beer which is lacking in flavor, but has a decent feel with moderately crisp carbonation.

D: Good drinakbilty but the lack of flavor leaves me with no real desire to have anymore than the one bomber.

Overall this beer was a bit of a disappointment, but it had a fresh quality that slightly made up for it lack of hops flavor. Worth a Look.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 17:10:07 | More by Lunch

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As the "grow your own" movement sweeps across local farmer's markets and backyard gardens, Rogue brings such sensibility to the brewing community. Using their own hops, fresh from the hop fields and straight into the brewing process, gives the beer a decidedly fresh unadulterated hop taste.

With a firm copper-amber pour, the beer casts golden highlights through a yeasty and hoppy haze. A dense blanket of foam caps the beer with tremendous staying power and clumped lace.

Balanced aromas of malt and hops intertwine with medium intensity, neither allowing the other to dictate the taste. Caramel, honey, bread, peanuts, and fresh kilned barley provide the malty base while pungent grapefruit, grass, and wood deliver the hoppy counterpart. Complementing esters of oranges and fig attach to the malt scent and give a richer impression.

The taste of the beer resonates similarly- firm malt flavors of thin caramel, honey-soaked bread, biscuit, cashews, fig, orange, and peach give a sweet and fruity under carriage that blends well into the hop complex. This is where notions of orange zest, white grapefruit, and citrus pith begins to extend from the sweeter components of the beer and steer toward drier fruit taste. Finishing with the resinous bitterness of pungent grasses, leaf, and stem- it seems that the chlorophyll of the moistur-rich hops are playing a major role in the beer's overall taste.

Medium bodied, the beer's malty weight also plays a big part- allowing the beer to give richer sweetness than is probably there. The lingering residual sugars and dextrin-rich proteins extends deep into the finish before the stern bitterness and detected hop astringency comes into play, just ahead of mild alcohol warmth and fading sweetness.

The Wet Hop Ale is certainly a very rustic type of pale ale, with its English yeast-derived flavors and biscuit malt taste. But as the fresh hop are injected into the brew, I would prefer to see less influence from malt and more "juicy" hop flavors that favor citrus and tropical fruits instead of the highly grassy versions here.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2012 16:51:35 | More by BEERchitect

jwc215

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange amber with a creamy white head that leaves strands of lacing.

The smell is of the Rogue Pacman yeast house character with orange, with a bready tart character.

The taste is yeasty/tart with some sweetness. Bitterness is muted, making this more sweet and tart than bitter. At 40 IBU's, I wasn't expecting a bitter hop bomb, but being "wet hopped" and the IBU level, while rather tame today compared to others, and even considering it's an APA rather than an IPA, I expected more hop character. Things are a bit out-of-whack/ clumsy. It isn't "bad", have some character- but the pacman yeast strain is a nice one and makes up for the muted hop and malt character that don't clash, but don't exactly mesh either.
Finishes on dry side, with a brief aftertaste.

It has a creamy, medium body. Carbonation is right here.

I don't know that the hop bill is all that thrilling. The house character and feel save the day here. In the end, it's worth having if you're a Rogue fan, but isn't one of the brewery's greatest creations by a mile or so...

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 16:37:28 | More by jwc215

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer was a dark amber color with a medium-sized tan head. As the head receded, it left some nice lacing, but the surface of the beer resembled a bacteria culture plate. Very herbal aroma, but also a nose of flowers (lavender), and clover. Some malt flavor, but it was very piney. Mouthfeel was dry and oily. Definitely not as hoppy as I expected.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 13:13:46 | More by lordofthewiens

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter

Pours a clear, bright orange body with a thin, bubbly ecru cap. Settles nicely to a thin collar with delicate lines and dots of lace.

A light aroma of tangerines and caramel. I really want more of a punch from my fresh, wet hop ales.

The flavor profile is a little subdued as well. Tangerines and slightly gooey caramel. Lightly bitter finish.

Medium body with a dry finish that leans more toward the bitter side. This might be the best part about this beer.

This is an easy drinker for sure. Nothing overpowering, a light, crisp hop bite--well more of a nibble--and easy to get through a 22. I just wish the hops were more of a showcase.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 17:19:10 | More by ColForbinBC

atsprings

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle into a Hopus glass pours a crisp bubbly dark orange with a nice frothy khaki head that lasts as a thin layer and leaves decent lacing on the glass. Aroma is some crisp citrus hops and mild sweet malts. The taste is a decent kick of citrus hops with some very sweet malts coming through in the finish. The beer is on the light side of medium with decent carbonation. This one was a decent wet hop ale, but not likely one I'll have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 01:43:23 | More by atsprings

ADZA

Australia

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a bright orange,copper colour with nice carbonation that leaves a one finger head and average lacing,the aromas are brown sugar,hard candy,alcohol and piney fruit filled hops,it has a nice medium mouthfeel and the the first taste i get is a caramel,toffee,brown sugar taste followed by a nice hit of piney bitterness at the end,overall this beer is not bad and will easily finish it i just expected more from one of my favourite US breweries.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 10:47:11 | More by ADZA

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Could the name of the specified hop varietals be any more Red State, belying Newport's rural standing, in the metro Portland dominated Blue Beaver State?

This beer pours a hazy medium burnt amber hue, with two fingers of foamy, creamy ecru head, which leaves a smattering of lace around the glass as it recedes. It smells of bready caramel malt, a bit of bitter citrus, and musty, dusty hops. The taste is bready malt, a wee bit of caramel, and noticeably bitter leafy, citrusy hops. The carbonation is on the soft side, the body just shy of medium weight, with just a late-arriving prickliness on the palate to spoil the smoothness shutout. It finishes off-dry, but with a decidedly biscuity, bitter hop edge.

A reasonably decent, but all-around middling pale ale, with a certain mirror-worldliness to it, which I would imagine to be due to Rogue's in-house, well, everything.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 00:19:28 | More by biboergosum

Seanibus

California

3.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A curious little offering from Rogue. It is a sneaky surprise in some ways.

Pours a frothy amber, with lively carbonation and a sprightly head. The aroma is distinctly malty, more like one of Rogue's characteristic amber ales than a pale ale. The flavor too is surprisingly muted considering Rogue's sometimes punishing hop character. The flavor is a bit malty, again rather amber in character, with a herby, grassy character, fairly mild. It's only on the finish that you get the full hop effect, with a sneaky, spreading bitterness that coats the entire back of your mouth and throat. The bitterness has a piny, sharp edge. The mouthfeel is a bit clingy, and surprisingly flat, which highlights the bitterness.

Good overall. Not astonishing, but drinkable. I can't testify about the stated 6.4 Percent ABV, but based on the slight fuzziness between my eyes after one 16 ounce glass, I wonder if it might not be higher.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2009 22:27:29 | More by Seanibus

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Orange-brown, light-tan head, thin ring of retention, some lace.

S: Orange rind, peach, apricot, alcohol, brown sugar, cotton candy fruity esters.

T: Orange rind, caramel, good bitterness, nut, bread.

M: Well-attenuated moderate body has a drying alcohol finish.

D: A good drinker... though a little light on the fresh hops (I expected a little more punch).

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 02:22:13 | More by Derek

Gavage

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a hazy orange color with 1/2" head sporting some large bubbles. No lacing develops.

Smell: light floral hop aroma with some mild caramel sweetness in the background.

Taste: caramel, some ripe fruit sweetness, and a floral hop bitterness that is mild. Flavor profile is a bit subdued.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp to start, less crisp at the finish. Very short aftertaste here.

Drinkability: easy to quaff this beer. Not one that will excite you but a decent drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 13:50:28 | More by Gavage

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks Derek. Already waiting the second growth. Attractive orange appearance, with a great head and spider lace. Full mouthfeel, very mild, only 40 IBU so its its own style and a wet hop not your typical IPA. Blind tasting winner because this is something for supper, without being intrusive. Munich malt.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 01:51:11 | More by northyorksammy

CHILLINDYLAN

Washington

3.68/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orangey copper with tangerine and amber highlights. Small whiteish head which dissipated into a pool of hop oils. Some decent light lacing.

Fresh citrus, lemon and grapefruit, and herbal hops. Although not a as big as one would expect a fresh wet hop harvest to be. Sweet toasty tangy malt.

Fresh herbal and citrus hops. sharp and crisp. Toasty, caramel, nutty malts. mild smooth resinous herbal bitterness. Decent, but needs to be turned up a notch, esp in regard to hops.

very smooth, med body, dry, oily

Good fresh APA. Not quite as hoppy as one would expect a wet hop to be, but a decent brew, glad i tried it.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2010 01:31:11 | More by CHILLINDYLAN