Juniper Pale Ale - Rogue Ales

Shaw

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a pint on-tap at my local pub, the Cock & Bull.

A pale yellow beer. Not much of a head at all. Oh well. Its aroma is lightly hoppy, much lighter than Rogue's other offerings.

After reviewing the ingredients at Rogue's Web site, I can now understand why the taste is more complex than a typical pale ale. The use of juniper berries is quite good. They add a nice flavor that works well with the malt and hops.

Even though it is not as "big" as many other Rogue brews, Yellow Snow is still quite good. This is a beer to give someone you are trying to bring into the Rogue Nation.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2003 06:45:06 | More by Shaw

oberon

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Seems to pour more of an orange color than a urine color but what the hell,with a decenthead that left a light lacing on my pint glass,definent Northwestern ale smell of zesty hops.Taste does have a nice malt firmness to it with a slight juniper taste finishing with a hop atttack wich kinda brings this beer together.Apretty good beer but Rogue makes better.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 12:28:26 | More by oberon

barleypop

California

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I couldn't help noticing this poured a clear urine colour. Perhaps I was influenced by the name. It had a wispy, filmy head.

This had a floral bouquet of a nose with just a hint of what I can only describe as rubber eraser. The eraser scent left after the beer warmed a bit.

The malt in this one creeps up on the initial hoppy blast. Very nice with a dry, honey like finish.

A very good mouthfeel that was effervescent and smooth at the same time.

Overall this is the best "yellow snow" I've had. It is very flavorful yet not so much so that you couldn't have a nice session with this one.
Good effort.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2003 18:52:46 | More by barleypop

SetarconeX

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Hey, that's not a Huskey on the bottle!

That said, I have to admit, I might be a little biased when it comes to this beer. You see, I've got a passionate love for all things brewed, which includes tea. Juniper being one of my favorites.

The Juniper which is in this brew, however, is far from overwhelming. Indeed, like almost everything brewed by Rogue, the beer is dominated by a blast of overwhelming, up front, spicy hop bite. It's not only what I like, it's what I expect from just about anything Rogue puts out. Call it a signiture feature. I'm very surprised on the occasions when I get something different.

Even so, the Juniper backing gives this particular beer a bit of a subtle spicy edge which other beers might do well to emulate. A great example of how one or two unusual ingredients can add considerably to a beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2003 07:16:58 | More by SetarconeX

guinness33

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

not one of rogue's best, yet still a relatively good brew. pours a light amber/orange colour that is slighly hazy, but has a nice frothy/chunky head to it. i was quite surprised to see this from this type of beer. the smell is hoppy and a bit citrusy, with a sweet berry-ness dominating. the taste echoes the smell, the the hops are more balanced with the sweetness than in the smell. an easy drinking brew that i'd certainly try again, but would rather just about any other rogue beverage that i've tried thusfar over this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2003 01:54:02 | More by guinness33

StevieW

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 bomber. Cloudy golden to dull orange color. Nice dense white bubbly head. Tiny bubbles. What ? Nice inviting smell of fresh hop leaves. Cascades. Not sure what a juniper even smells or tastes like. But this had a fresh crisp, snap to the flavor. Slight fizzyness dulls the flavors. But the citrus snap comes back, lots of hops, and earthy spiciness to it. Medium bodied, nicely carbonated. Really cleanses the palate, and leaves you dry and puckering, waiting for more. Another quality product from Rogue. I had this right at the beginning of my beer advocating life and was intimidated by it. It's really very good and well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2003 01:13:03 | More by StevieW

Shiloh

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ahhh, my very first Rogue product and I was not disappointed. It poured a cloudy dull orange with limited head and average carbonation.
The body is medium and aroma very slightly of yeast...I detect nothing else.
The taste consists of a 3 prong attack...hops-malts-hops with little after taste.
Grapefruit is alive and well and living in yellow snow.
Impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2003 04:33:13 | More by Shiloh

BierReise

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz. Bomber.Hazy honey color with standard Rogue fluffly head. Good lacing. Aroma is of hops, juniper and pacman yeast.(gotta love that pacman). Medium bodied and smooth. A tad bitter and a slight watery taste. Maybe the least favorite I've had from Rogue. Nothing like any APA's I've had yet every Rogue is a new adventure.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2003 18:39:15 | More by BierReise

beerguy101

California

2.93/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Medium gold color, medium head. A medium bodied pale ale. Smooth malts and spicy hops are nicely balanced. Brewed with whole Juniper berries. They give the beer a nice spicy finish. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly spicy and very slightly bitter. Painted/etched beer bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2003 01:47:32 | More by beerguy101

RockyTopHeel

North Carolina

2.93/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

As you can guess from the name, Yellow Snow is golden in color. Unfortunately, it also smells a bit like its namesake. The taste is similar to the scent, but better, and the advertised juniper berries are faintly noticeable on the palate. Not a terrible beer, but not up to Rogue's standards. I had trouble finishing the 1 pint 6 oz bottle. All in all, a bit disappointing.

According to the bottle, this came from the 2002 batch, so it may have been sitting on a shelf for too long, explaining the bit of funkiness. I'll certainly give it another chance.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2003 23:48:15 | More by RockyTopHeel

HardTarget

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2002 (drank 8/2003) 1.5 pint brown bottle with following info: 13º Plato, 77 AA, 34 IBU, 3.2º L. Would abv be too much to ask? Ingredients list including Amarillo hops, Juniper Berries (like in Gin), and Pacman yeast.
Aroma: A light hop nose of mild bouquet.
Appearance: Pale, Bottle describes it as saffron in color, eh, looks like Budweiser to me, color wise, but a nice thin white head that lasts and laces wonderfully.
Flavor: Tastes generally like a pale ale. Taste is almost backwards; the hops, mostly floral starts the taste, then fades over to a mild malt sweetness. The citric/hops bitter comes as an almost after-aftertaste, but lingers for about 2 days.
Mouthfeel: Moderate body, which seems a touch heavy for the style, but not detraction. The heavy hops leaves a bit of a pucker, and the malt leaves the lips a bit sticky.
Overall Impression: Regardless of advice you have received in the past; don’t pass up this yellow snow. The juniper berries on the label concerned me, I can’t stand Gin, but I didn’t note any gin-like tastes here. Like all Rogue products, this is very well made, and a tongue pleaser. Drinkability, hmm, thinking this isn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed it. The taste is very drinkable, but the aftertaste and the firm alcohol level (guessing around 6%) will probably slow you down. If you’re a hophead, scoop up some yellow snow.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2003 03:40:17 | More by HardTarget

RBorsato

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy orange-ish yellow (saffron? - not really) color with a moderate to low ivory head, decent carbonation, and sheets of lace. Light floral hoppy and fruity aroma along the lines of an American Pale Ale. Decent balanced flavor but maybe a bit more bitter than anything. Crisp light-medium body with a dry finish.

Not bad but not one I'd rush out to buy. Doesn't seem as if the Juniper berries add much...

Per bottle: "Styrian Golding and Amarillo hops, and Juniper Berries", 13 Plato, 34 IBU, 77 AA, 3.2 L

Version: 2001 (on bottle)
Tasted: 08/28/03

(22 oz.)

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2003 16:05:11 | More by RBorsato

Rumrunner

California

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle

Pretty mellow but very enjoyable.

Pours a dusty golden orange color. Not much head or lacing. The smell has spices with a touch of pepper. Some malt and pine. There is a mild unenjoyable tang scent.

Flavors are heavy spice and malt. The pine reappears but not as strong. The hops give it a nice bitter bite. Some fruit but not too bold. A very nice blend of spices. Pepper is very present in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is good. There is an oily quality to it that is a little unpleaseant. It drinks well with a dry finish. Finish lasts a bit too long. This is a very nice ale. It has some flaws but the good points more than make up for them.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2003 06:10:39 | More by Rumrunner

BeerManDan

California

2.7/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

While poured from tap, the color of it was a dark golden with medium foam and no lace. The smell of this ale had a floral/herbal and spicy aroma that really wasn't that good. The taste was of a hoppy, spicy/herbal, floral flavor that just didn't move me. It did nothing for me, because the spicy/herbal flavor of this ale just wasn't what I was expecting to taste!

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2003 13:04:25 | More by BeerManDan

TheDM

Indiana

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This 2002 brew poured a small head of small bubbles. It had a transparent light amber colored body with carbonation rising in the mug. It has a floral aroma and a very tart initial taste that was overcome by and even stronger bitter/tart finish that left behind some spicy elements.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2003 08:51:00 | More by TheDM

Indybeer

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle. Poured a dark golden color, with a moderate head that slowly receded, leaving some fine lacing on the glass. Aroma is hops and some malt. Taste is hoppy with some malt sweetness. Good carbonation, and a fairly strong mouthfeel from the hops. All in all not a bad beer, but not something I'd go out of my way for.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2003 19:50:49 | More by Indybeer

SheepNutz

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bomber poured into a pint glass. It pours a clear amber color with 2 fingers of head. There is a little bit of lacing left on the glass. The smell has a spicy citrus aroma with a good hops nose also. Just a little too faint. The taste is spicy at first, you really notice the saffron in there. The strong hops help balance it out. The mouthfeel is fairly strong, and the smoothness gives it a nice drinkability. Nice to enjoy while just relaxing.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2003 19:00:33 | More by SheepNutz

Winter

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber. Pours a clouded honey golden color with an off-white head. Aroma consists of spicy hops, malt and hint of fruitiness. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, creamy and smooth. Taste has a nice caramel malt backbone. Hops are spicy, yet not overwhelming. Use of juniper berries adds a uniquely subtle pine flavor to the beer. Great tasting all-around. Some of the flavor aspects (mainly the hops, but on a lesser intesity) of Yellow Snow sort of reminded me of Rogue's Santa's Private Reserve. Definitely enjoyable and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2003 08:51:38 | More by Winter

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

fastfwd

Oklahoma

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured with – tiny bubbles......pretty orange/gold color, white head, and nice lace. Signature Rogue hoppiness but this one has some floral spicy kick to it as well. The hops are well balanced with a nice malt flavor. Very drinkable – I could knock back many of these.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2003 16:56:24 | More by fastfwd

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

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

Clear golden color with a creamy off-white head. Leaves a good amount of lacing when sipped down. Definitely not the color of yellow snow. The aroma is fruity, grainy, and bready. The flavor is of sweet malt, bread, and spice. It is a light-medium bodied beer, smooth and tasty. Not a bad brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2003 05:34:20 | More by BeerBuilder

hotstuff

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled in 2002. This brew poured a very small head. It had good lacing on the side of my mug. It poured a good amber color. In my opinion it had a fruity and citrusy aroma. It was bitter tasting and it left a lingering aftertaste. Not a brew high on my list.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2003 18:06:26 | More by hotstuff

Wildman

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a dark golden color and formed a small bubbly head that left trace lace. An aroma of malt, caramel and floral hops with a touch of citrus. A flavor of malt, caramel and spices. The finish has a tangy aspect to it. Also some elements of wood that lend just a touch of astrigency to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2003 17:24:37 | More by Wildman

Jarod

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2002 – 22 oz. – Painted label
This beer first poured into the glass a clear well carbonated golden straw color, but with each pour it became progressively cloudy. The head was white in color with a fairly decent head semi-dense and creamy. It left no lace behind. The aromas that came from the glass were of malt, a slight burnt sugar, faint milk chocolate, spicy and floral hops, juniper berries, caramel and earth tones. The tastes that rolled across the tongue and to the back of the throat were of sweet malts, juniper berries, floral hops (which seemed dominate) yeast, pine trees and some herb tones through out. Some hoppy aftertastes were present. Medium body made this beer pleasant and not overbearing. The flavors seemed to become more pronounced as it warmed. I wasn’t sure if this beer would be my cup of tea, but after tasting it I discovered that it is. I rather liked it. Another good beer from Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2003 09:18:42 | More by Jarod

Quaffer

Nevada

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. Bottle

Appearance: This beer poured a hazey, deep golden color. The light tan head rose up big and chunky. A thin layer stuck around and helped to deposit a decent amount of lace on the glass.

Smell: There was a sweet malt smell combined with a very floral hops aroma.

Mouthfeel: A medium-bodied brew that was smooth. After I swallowed the beer, there was an oily, slick feeling left in my mouth.

Taste: There were some mild malt flavors up front that gave way to a hoppy bitterness. The hops was not a clean bitterness; it tasted like it felt in the mouth: oily. There was a sharp, almost fruity flavor on the finish with the hops. It might have been due to the juniper berries, but I can't say for sure since I have no idea what a juniper berry tastes like.

Overall, this was a decent brew. I wish it was a little more balanced and had a cleaner, drier finish to it, though.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2003 14:30:16 | More by Quaffer