Juniper Pale Ale - Rogue Ales

HugoGrim

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 650 ML bomber into a standard pint. I'm not sure which name came before the other, but the bottle I sampled was called Yellow Snow Ale (not Juniper Pale Ale as the database lists it), and featured the Rogue guy in red ski gear with a black labrador retriever.

Color is pale orange gold like apple cider. No head or lace to speak of.

The scent is sweet and floral. You get no hops in the nose of this ale which is surprising after tasting it.

Smooth malts and strong Earth hops make up the flavor profile, with a light juniper element accent. The hops finish strong and spicy.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2006 00:34:01 | More by HugoGrim

Enola

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

** I am reveiwing this as Yellow Snow Ale

This beer is a clear amber color. There was a small white head. The smell is citrus like. There is a sweetness to the smell as well. The taste is is fairly bitter with a fair amount of lingering bitterness. The moouthfeel is incredibly smooth for the style. Pale ales are kind of hit or miss with me but this seems to be a pretty good one. The drinkability is good. I could easily session this beer. A easy drinking brew.

*Note: This beer was very good for a beer brewed roughly 4 years ago. One of the best I have had of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2006 02:11:41 | More by Enola

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy, light amber with a creamy white head that holds well and leaves some decent lace. The aroma offers bold floral and citrusy hops over a softly sweet and buttery malt. Very inviting! The flavor starts with a very nice, gently sweet malt that's laced with toasty biscuit and caramel. A creamy mouthfeel enhances the maltiness. The body is deceptive - seemingly fuller than it actually is - and the gentle carbonation is very fine. Hops emerge with both bitterness and flavor (earthy, lightly citrusy, fruity - or is that the juniper?) just prior to the swallow, and the finish is dry with a lingering maltiness and some minor hops notes. Although I cannot distinguish the juniper berries, there is something very distinct about this beer and I can only assume that they are the cause. Quite a unique and charming beer that offers some good malt character (although not alot of complexity), but also retains the Rogue signature hoppiness. Very drinkable, and a nice change of pace from the usual winter beers!

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2002 19:07:36 | More by NeroFiddled

goindownsouth

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very fine brew from Rogue, a brewery that, for one reason or another, I have tried very little. While the name may turn some off, this brew pours a wonderful golden color that still offers more character than your regular old golden beer. The head is respectable and apparent for a short time. This is one of the more drinkable brews I have had in quite some time. The taste is extremely palatable and would go well with just about any fare - in my case, it was German food. Find it, try it! Prost!

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2002 12:10:42 | More by goindownsouth

pmcadamis

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - I like the bottle's label... it looks like a dude standing in front of a massively profitable "cash crop" if ya know what I mean. This is amber-orange with a big fluffy eggshell head that stands at about two fingers and doesn't show any signs of receding soon. Lots of really nice lace is smattered about the glass.

S - Hoppy as hell, I smell something that could be the pine-notes from the hop varetal used or it could be from the juniper berries.

T - Hoppy and almost minty. I've never actually had a juniper berry my itself, but I have had good gin made with juniper and I can't say that this tastes anything like that. But, there is a minty pine-y refreshingly green note that I think is a result of the addition of this odd berry.

M - Medium bodied and extremely bitter. There is an almost menthol type "fresh air" feeling when I inhale after swallowing this brew.

D - An excellent session brew, and quite unique. This is a great beer that I'm glad that I had the chance to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 18:35:14 | More by pmcadamis

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy golden-amber with a pillowy white head that does not go away. Probably some of the best lacing and head retention I have experienced with any brew from Rogue.

S: For having juniper in the beer, the dominant aromas are still from the malt. Caramel, honey, and toast. The hops are floral and fruity, while there is just a touch of pine on the end.

T: This beer is very balanced. There is no start or finish. Flavors of fresh bread, caramel, stone fruit, grass, citrus, honey, and pine mingle with eachother to give a full flavor throughout each sip. Juniper is only present in the backround, giving the beer a long, crisp finish.

M: Medium bodied, but tastes lighter than it is. As with most Rogue brews, it once again has that creamy texture.

D: Juniper Pale Ale is underrated. It's very easy to drink, and has a great flavor profile. It's definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2009 08:22:59 | More by WYVYRN527

mjohn27603

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours golden. Very nice aroma smells of citrusy hops. The taste reveals a nice maltiness with strong hops bitterness. The beer seems to change flavors as I drink the glass. At the top was mostly bitterness by the bottom third of the glass I'm getting more citrus taste. I like the very specific ingredients list on the bottle detailing the type of hops, malts, and yeast used. Listed on the bottle as a pale ale. There is a pleasant lingering aftertaste that coats the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2002 19:22:35 | More by mjohn27603

Weissenheimer

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This hazy amber pint has a small, bubbly, very lightly tanned head. The spicy, hoppy, floral smell is strong even at arm's length.

Like many of the other Rogue brews I've tried, this one impresses me right from the first sip. It's immediately refreshing, and complicated enough to grab my attention. The first stage, focused on the tip of the tongue, has some of the same sweet/sour zip that characterized the Hazelnut Brown Nectar. In this case, though, it's so much more balanced that I enjoy it. The hops in the second stage have the same sharpness that made Sierra Harvest Ale so challenging, but here it's mild enough to be pleasant. The finish carries a floral, grainy bitterness at the back of the tongue.

Drinking this beautifully balanced beer is an intense experience. I can see the hops on the trellis. I can taste the grain. At the end I enjoy the pretty cascade of lacing, and look forward to picking up some more of these.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2003 04:00:16 | More by Weissenheimer

TinusTime

Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a colour of saffron infused beer. I almost wanted to make risotto milanese with this at first glance. Smelled of hops with a definate piney hoppy smell. Taste was Hoppy with a hint of gin like spice from the juniper berries. Fortunately the jumiper didnt overwhelm as I find Gin disgusting. It was more of the subtle juniper used in german or czech recipes. Mouthfeel was a bit sticky due to the hops but good none the less. I found this beer VERY drinkable and another great offering from Rogue. I wish it were around more of the year.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2004 04:06:45 | More by TinusTime

silenius

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A bit of a gimmicky name, so I didn't expect much from this beer. Pours a dark yellow with a light thin head that disappears quickly. Limited lacing on the glass is from the initial head.

Smell is pretty light. A very little bit of hops and spice is all I detected.

Taste is a great moderately spicy combination of hops and juniper berries (although I never would have guessed this) with a good malt center. The spicy juniper lasts well after the beer is gone, but while it is still in the glass it contributes to an enjoyable taste that complement the hops bite. I really enjoyed this one.

Mouthfeel is quenching and drying with nice dry aftertaste.

I could drink this one all the time and never tire of it. It disappeared quicker than I would have liked.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2004 02:28:53 | More by silenius

WonderfulSam

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured this one into a big glass stein, got about 1/2 finger of unremarkable head with moderate retention. The color was a pale straw, and the beer had a few big bubbles coming up through it.

This smelled slightly sweet, with a bready malt aroma and mild hops. I REALLY enjoyed the flavor. Rich, balanced bread and butter body with light juniper sweet notes coming through and creating a pleasant tangy aftertaste. I was expecting a bit more juniper flavor. However, the subtle juniper flavor that came through was a very nice touch, and I rather enjoyed the way that the flavor evolved in my mouth.

The mouthfeel was smooth and buttery. This was really nice to drink. My notes from that evening say "De-liscious." It went down quite smoothly with a nice aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2007 03:21:22 | More by WonderfulSam

merlin48

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This bomber bottle pours a chill hazed, apricot body with a prominent, ivory head that finally stabilizes at about two cm. Gorgeous, patch lace decorates the imperial pint glass I am enjoying this in. Massive presence of small, carbonation bubbles rising to the surface is duly noted.

Interesting aroma that begins with a Munich maltiness, earthy English hops which evoke a meadow suitable for grazing livestock, and some fresh bales of hay to accompany said livestock. At room temperature, the nose is closer to a British style ESB malt note.

Mouthfeel is rather average, light to medium bodied, with good carbonation.

Taste: Hops dominate the beginning, with earthy hay and bitter grass. The juniper berries are definitely noticed, but not in the sense of gin. They meld into the unique hops profile to produce a citrusy, mandarin orange/tangerine, bitter, tartness that is quite tasty. As this Rogue approaches room temperature, a delicate and complex balance emerges between the hops and malts that makes this seem very English, in style. A hybrid between a British pale ale and bitter comes to mind. The bittersweet, dryness that the juniper berries contribute adds a bonus to the complexities present here.

I like this one a lot. One of the most drinkable Rogue ales that I've sampled. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2004 21:57:30 | More by merlin48

necoadam

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy light brass color with a good head to go with it. Nose consisted of various items. Orange, lemon, ginger, junipers in the background. Citrus hops and pine hops come out of the woodwork as well. Taste is rather herbal and earthy with orange and spices coming together that work well together. Junipers come out in the finish and last into the aftertaste. I like how the flavors go together in this brew. Mouthfeel was mediumish with good carbonation. Almost seems to be a full bodied beer, but the carbonation sets is straight. Solid beer and perhaps one of Rogue's underrated beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2006 20:59:25 | More by necoadam

morimech

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright golden color with a nice one inch white head. Retention is excellant as well as heavy lacing. A terrific looking beer.

The aroma is bready malt with some floral hops, noble hop aromas.

Has a solid malt backbone with mostly hops complimenting the malt. I don't detect the Juniper until the finish with a lingering aftertaste. If finishes dry. Overall a nicely balanced ale.

Has a light body with high, bordering on harsh, carbonation.

A really nicely balanced and flavorful beer. I did not know what to expect with the Juniper berriers but it was more of a complimenting element than a featured flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2008 22:48:55 | More by morimech

erosier

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

L: Pours a nice amber color with a medium sized and medium bodied tan colored head that laces the glass very nicely on the way down.
S: Smells of sweet malts, some juniper spicyness, some citrisy hops.
T: Very nice mix of the flavors. The malt base is good and made better by some earthy and citrisy hop flavors and some spicy juniper berry taste at the end.
M: Very nice feel to it with the right amount of carbonation.
D: Very drinkable, able to finish the whole bomber with no problem and would gladly go back for more.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2008 20:00:56 | More by erosier

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first taste under the new label and name. Sure, it was a cute, clever, if crude name for a winter spiced seasonal, but vulgarities only get you so far in the wider world. Who can take a beer seriously, when it's named after something you wouldn't want to eat or drink? So, goodbye Yellow Snow, hello, Juniper Pale Ale...

Very cloudy orange appearance, bedecked with a fresh, full head, softly settling.

Citric aroma, orange, tangerine, lemon, met well with spice, ginger, juniper, and a hint of spruce? Or am I imagining things? It's sweet and pleasant, though, ...bready, malty presence is felt and makes itself known in this mix...sweet and spicy, just like I like it!

Taste: smooth, fruity entrance on the palate, very slick and easily quaffed...great balance here, fruit and spice have melded and are backed up by malt...this is a unique beer, fit for any occasion, but best suited for impressing non-beer-loving friends to jolt them from their preconceptions.
Very tasty, medium-bodied, with a light, fruity finish.
Would go great as with food or as an after-dinner aperitif, or just on it's own as a special treat.
Damn nice beer, no surprise, from Roque.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2005 09:55:15 | More by feloniousmonk

DESTRO

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this beer is bangin. its a fine lookin brew, hazy sunset with a big frothy head. smells spicy, citrus up in hurr, a touch herbal, a pinch piney...im hyped. taste? good. very good. big and malty, yes its hopped but not intensly so like some rogues. a bit grainy with an awesome spicy hit. different than your ordinary pale. medium in the mouth, yet fullfilling in all areas. an outstanding beer, beautiful and tastey...my new favourite "pale ale".

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2005 23:23:41 | More by DESTRO

generallee

New York

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 1 pint, 6oz bottle into a pint glass. The bottle has nice list of ingredients use including the malts and hops. The IBUs are listed at 34 but there is no ABV% or freshness date.

Appearance: The body has a dull yellow gold color with a creamy white head. The head is about two fingers tall and has good retention. It maintains a small cap of foam that leaves some decent lacing on the glass.

Smell: Its aroma is lighter and much more delicate than I had expected. It has a pleasant light pale maltiness with mellow earthy and woody pine notes. The hops back this up with some citrus and pine like notes as well.

Taste: The flavor closely resembles the aroma on a medium to full body. It has a nice base of white bready maltiness and mild sweetness with earthy wood notes. The hops then add citrus and pine like flavor and bitterness in the finish. The palate feels smooth but with a good balance of soft carbonation.

Notes: I was kind of expecting a very heavy woody pine sap character but found a well balanced and interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 02:14:58 | More by generallee

Jon

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Don't eat the yellow snow, but by all means, drink it! This ale pours a nice, dark golden hue from the tap and features a durable, bubbly head. The nose, typical of most Rogue products, is quite hoppy, leaving not much else to the imagination. The taste is very pleasing and balanced, featuring a nice amount of bittering hops, malt, and some fruit (Juniper berries). The carbonation is just right on this one, and drinkability-wise, Yellow Snow scores high. A quality offering, and well worth seeking out on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2002 14:32:27 | More by Jon

Naerhu

Japan

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

White medium head on an opaque body with an orange tint.
Hoppy floral aroma that just jumps off this beer.
Am I drinking beer or munching on flowers.Long lasting wild flower after taste follows and medium bodied rich malty beeer.
A lightning bolt of dryness arcs arcs across the palate, followed by by an oily aftertaste that lasts. What a long lasting brew.

Dryness and bitterness are a little much and restrain me from giving this amazing beer a higher mouthfeel and drinkability dispite the amazing flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2003 22:40:41 | More by Naerhu

wailingwench

New Mexico

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Eye Candy: Hazy translucent copper with thick fluffy white head. Individual rising lines of slow rising carbonation. Superb hop clumping and lacing throughout.

The Nose Knows: Sweet malt (kindof similar to Saranac IPA) with crisp piney finish. As it warmed, initial honey-like finished with fruity notes.

Tongueland: Initial piney hops with sweet malts buried underneath. Again, similar to Saranac IPA ininitial taste, Rogue m/f is fuller and more complex in flavor. Smooth and full, danced around mouth and tongue. Honey-like sweet middle that finished peppery. Aftertaste is of a good gin. Interesting transition of flavors.

Bender Factor: Solid to style intrepretation. It isn't an IPA, keep that in mind. Solid session brew, almost to drinkable. However, with Saranac readily available (and cheaper), this won't be a regular in my cart. Still, the compexity of the flavor range netted it a 4.5.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2004 00:00:28 | More by wailingwench

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bomber with the signature painted label. The pour revealed an interesting clouded golden-orange ale with a nice 1 finger tight fluffy cap and tiny spiraling bubbled carbonation. The nose is a pleasant fragrant hop bouquet..floral, grassy, fruity, with a sweet undertone.( I’m reminded of anchor liberty here) Front side is a mellow blast of sweet malts and fruity/floral hops in almost perfect balance...peaches and pine, apricots and sweet dough...wonderful layered tastes...medium bodied, silky with some substantial malts...moderate finish where the creamy-peach-doughy impression gives way to a slow metallic drying with a fruity very drinkable character. I like this better than Anchor Liberty.It would be my standard session ale if it were available here...recommened for those who like a fruit character in an aromatic ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2004 00:50:48 | More by pootz

99bottles

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: From a 22 ounce bomber, this beer has a deep golden body with ample carbonation and a inital head of 1" that fades to lace the surface in whispy clumps. Nice.

Smell: The nose is of clean crystal and munich malts, and the light breath of the en vogue Amarillo hop shines through. I can't quite put my finger on the smell, but it's nice and certainly not too strong.

Taste: In the taste department, nothing jumps out initally. Just a nicely balanced pale ale. The ingredients list Sytrian golding and Amarillo, and these do a nice job imparting a spicy bitterness in the finish without the piney-leafy hop flavor that beers like SNPA pour on thick. It's really quite nice in its restraint. Then, the most unique quality hits you. The taste of juniper berries lingers on the tounge indefinitely. Faintly floral and tangy, this adds a very satisfying note to an already neat finish. I wouldn't have been able to identify it as juniper without looking, but its prescence is quite remarkable.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This is nice and light, smooth across the tongue and well carbonated to carry its carefree stature. It strikes me as odd that this is released as a winter seasonal, but then again, something this nice and drinkable might be the perfect choice to liven a cold gray day. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2005 16:50:05 | More by 99bottles

arizcards

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber of Yellow Snow somewhere along the way. I am anticipating another fine offering from Rogue.

This beer pours a yellowish orange color, decent head, leaving a nice lacing behind. Smell is wonderful, a heavy dose of bread and floral hops. The taste is even better, a nice malty start, followed by a generous amount of spicy hops. In the end there is a slight taste of bread left behind. Mouthfeel is a nice combination of a nicely weighted Pale and is nicely carbonated and lively on the palate. This is a very enjoyable beer, a nice change of pace with the spicy hops and the bready finish. Nice job brewing this one!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2005 01:10:13 | More by arizcards

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a warm yellow body with a very light hazy to it. There is a strong carbonation of tiny bubbles that glide to the surface. There is a boiling white rocky head that fades after a bit.

S- This beer has a fresh sweet malt aroma with a slight honey malt note with a hint of herbal hops.

T- This beer has a fresh pale malt flavor blended with a biscuit malt flavor. There are also notes of honey malt sweetness in the background. There is a bitterness in the finish that is not from hops but there is a dry grapefruit note that is from hops blended in with it.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a light fizz in the finish.

D- This beer has a great fresh malt flavor but the bitterness is big and one-dimensional. This is a very nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2007 03:57:32 | More by rhoadsrage