Juniper Pale Ale - Rogue Ales

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

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

I found this on-tap at The Shanachie

This beer came a mandarin orange and honey color with some cherry highlights with only a small collar of white head.

Smelled of honey and oats with a light piney hop that carried with it a much more sweet and gooey pine essence. Could it be juniper?

Tasted light and doughy with a sweet nectar of pine that is presumably the juniper. The juniper is really well blended into the light doughy malt and accentuate with a slight nip of hop dryness.

The mouth feel is light bodied and very creamy, working very well with the flavor.

This reminds me a lot of Alba Scotts Pine Ale, except with a little more hops. (more hops than a gruit you say…) I’ll definitely find a bottle or two of this to take up to the cabin on the 4th.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2006 17:04:30 | More by DarkerTheBetter

genaro

Massachusetts

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

The Juniper Pale Ale was a light, slightly transluscent gold/yellow beer in color with a half inch head. There was some streaky lace. It had a nice floral bouquet that lead into a slightly sharp initial taste that led into elements of fruit and evergreen with some malt sweetness. The evergreen and fruit tastes lasted into and throughout a dryish flavorfull finish. I had this beer paired with the gumbo at the Rogue brewery and it pretty much held its own.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2005 21:23:24 | More by genaro

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I appreciate the concept inherent in this herbal beer; however, this ale is less charismatic than most of Rogue’s other efforts. Juniper Pale Ale (also known as Yellow Snow) is clouded chamomile color with a relaxed sudsy head and broad draping lace. It tastes like a clean and handsome pale ale in a curious juniper dress. An agreeable curiosity and a welcome diversion, but not a standout on Rogue’s roster.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2005 01:34:23 | More by RedDiamond

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

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

A: Thin head. Scant lacing. Color is a clear light amber.
S: Big floral hoppy nose. Nuff said.
T: Way too hoppy to be an APA, I honestly thought that this one was an IPA. Overall taste is a nice mellow citrusy hop flavor with some faint malts in the background. This brewery knows how to hop a beer without overkill.
M: Sharp bite at first. Carbonation is high, but plays well with the taste. Alcohol feel is a bit punchy.
D&N: This would make a great IPA, as an APA, this beer rocks hard. Well done, and I was sad to see the keg die.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2005 08:12:05 | More by JackTheRipper

carln26

Missouri

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

I had this on tap at Anam Cara. The color was gold to light brown and cloudy. No head or lace to speak of. The aroma had a fruity character. Both from the hops as well as from something I discovered later (reading Rogue’s site) was juniper berries. The taste had more of the citrus character along with a tartness that had to come from the berries. The malt is blended well to provide a balance to the rest of the beer. The tartness and flavor lent by the juniper carries through the entire beer. This had a nice light mouth feel and is very drinkable. Once you get used to the addition of the berries, this beer grows on you.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2004 01:13:22 | More by carln26

mntlover

Tennessee

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

Light amber with a white head not much lacing. Aroma is malt with hops citrus dominates but also some earthy floral also nice west coast aroma little subdued though. Flavor is malt with a nice hop flavor citrus flavors coming thru but not overpowering nice earthy lightly bitter finish. Not as hoppy as some pale ales which I like but little sweet with a good hop flavor would be a good cross over beer. I enjoyed it mediumish mouthfeel a nice little ale very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2004 19:53:02 | More by mntlover

UnionMade

Colorado

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

The beer is a medium, unassuming amber, a little towards gold, topped with a hugely thick off white froth that juts forth out of the glass. It settles down to about half an inch after about five minutes, leaving the glass completely covered with lace where it once was. Probably the most lace I've ever seen left by a beer, completely obscuring the empty glass with layers of sticky foam, clumping up on itself in some places. Just stunning.
The aroma is only lightly malty, with a strong, assertive hopping dominating. An odd floral aroma, with a pungent piney hoppiness. I don't know what they added to this (juniper, after checking out some other reviews), but it adds a very distinct, dogwood-like floral aroma. Just enough toasty malt creeps through to prevent the beer from becoming one sided.
The flavor starts out a bit thin, with only slight toasty malt, and an immediately present floral, vaguely appley sweetness. It's not an estery flavor, something else entirely. A fairly clean brew, the sip moving directly into a moderate hopping, very powerfully piney, with a bit of citric lemon flavor. The floral flavor takes on some dogwood-like bitterness, like chewing on a flower petal, which I have actually done as a kid. The pine continues with no signs of letting up, some lilac flavor towards the end, finishing with a strange, vegetal astringency, almost like broccoli rob. The hops feel fairly mild, and most of the bittering comes from the added plant life. A lingering piney hop flavor, reminiscent of an actual coniferous tree, contributing an almost overwhelming bitterness. Thankfully it loses some steam in the aftertaste, settling into a moderate piney/floral bitterness. Fairly light bodied, with moderate carbonation. I don't know what to say about the mouthfeel. I was too busy having my tongue stabbed with pine cones to notice. I'd say it was fairly smooth drinking.
This is definitely whacked out stuff. It's so incredibly bitter that it's endearing, and I challenged myself to another pint. I could stand for a bit more malt, but for some reason balance doesn't seem like an issue with this one. I have no clue what juniper tastes like, but it's definitely piney and real damn bitter in a floral, vegetal way. No one else seemed to think this was especially bitter, and I recall being a bit "meh" about the bottle when I had it a couple years ago. The tap version was seriously bitter stuff. Maybe it was dry-berried? If you like punishment that transcends anything a hop can produce, seek this keg out.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2004 07:37:05 | More by UnionMade

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

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

Another nice prouct from the folks at Rogue Ales. This brew is dark amber/copper with a nicely developed off-white head of ivory billows. Good retention and decent lace, though not glass-coating.

The nose is good and gives note of the hops and the nice malt base. Flavors tend toward citrus fruit notes though the lighting spicing sharpen the edge and give this brew some nice tight tartness. The feel is smooth but has nice crispness in the ending. Eminently drinkable and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2004 16:30:43 | More by AtLagerHeads

shirfan

New York

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

Pours a dark clear golden, with a mountainous, foamy, retentive head.

Aroma is mostly citric hops with a lesser sourdough note.

Having never met a juniper berry outside this beer, I'll have to take the bottle's word for their inclusion. Taste is slightly peppery, sourdough again from the malt, mild grapefruit and an evergreen-type flavor I can only assume comes from the juniper berry. Not resinous like wildly hopped brews, more of a pine-needle sensation. Finishes dry and bready.

Slightly thinner bodied than I had hoped, however this would make a good "left-field" session beer just because it's a unique concoction.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2003 23:58:06 | More by shirfan

ecoboy

Rhode Island

4.47/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at New World Brewery, Ybor City, FL.

This is perhaps my favorite herb/spiced beer with high marks probably because of the IPA underpinnings (rather than a belgian style or some other malt dominant style.)

A nice citrus-tart hop aroma actually gave me pause: how would herbs go with citrus notes? I shouldn't have worried. I never expected such a mild "judicious" addition of spice to a dominating IPA. An addition of character, but not a competing flavor, the juniper falls into the nice blend of flavors. There's a swell dry finish that also contains some citrus and grassy notes. All beers should be this complex and yet so well blended.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2003 18:02:26 | More by ecoboy

dpend

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a typical yellow-amber color.Head dissipation is also typical.Hops are immediately present in the aroma although I didn't pick up on the junipers and spice all that much.That's good that they weren't overwhelming.Light and a bit watery mouthfeel and I would consider it highly drinkable.I actually think this beer could pass as a lager.I've had this in a bottle as well, but on tap is the way to go.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2003 17:40:38 | More by dpend

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

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

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

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

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

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

tastymug

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Pours a clear, deep gold with an adequate head and minimal retention. Some minimal lacing as you drink.

Smell: Hoppy and piney and a little floral.

Taste: Dominant pine and hops upfront, then ends more on the malty side with a mild sweetness. It leans on the dry side. There’s a very slight taste to this that reminds me of the hint of a pilsner somewhere in the middle.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied but feels right for the taste of the beer, crisp and carbonated. Sticks to the tongue a bit at the end.

Overall: I’m classifying this in the “it’s a good craft beer to try for craft beer newbies weaning themselves off of Bud Light” category. It’s nothing extraordinary to a seasoned craft palette – it’s got some flavor, but it’s got a slight underlying taste that falls in line with something that tastes similar to a domestic. It’s got better flavor and hoppiness to it though, which shouldn’t come off too strong for a newbie palette. Would definitely be a good lawn-mowing beer on a hot summer day when you need something crisp and refreshing. Good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 23:38:45 | More by tastymug

3HovsepiansBrews

California

3.46/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Gold with white head

S - Not much aroma. Slight earthy/vegetable smell.

T - Nice spiciness up front with a hint of sweetness that quickly transitions to flowery bitterness.

M - Crisp and thin mouthfeel.

O - This is light, refreshing, and very drinkable. This makes a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:34:47 | More by 3HovsepiansBrews

bmwats

Louisiana

3.61/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Golden hue. Pours a 1 finger foamy white head. Slight effervescence. Head settles leaving a light foamy blanket on the surface. Very spotty lacing.

S: Light sourdough bread, with a little pine and floral components.

T: Dry and piney with a little clove and oregano.

M: Light and crisp. Bitter throughout. Dry finish. The spice is less in the flavor, but kind of filters up into the nasal cavity.

D: Character will dictate a sipping experience.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Decent hue, slight head, and a little lacing. Nose is bready and piney. Piney hop accentuated with a little Italian spice. Dry and bitter. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 05:53:33 | More by bmwats

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.51/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1pt 6oz bottle poured into a nonic pint.

S - Little bit of sweetness, biscuit graininess. Mild grassy hops.

A - Thick/rocky white head packed with tiny bubbles. Perfect clarity inside the golden color. Tons of sticky lacing.

T - Starts with an early appearance from dominant pine hops. Malt is mild and lacks defining character. Twangy weird spice flavor midway through and into the finish. Never dries up.

M - Semi-dry, medium to medium-light body, medium-light carbonation.

O - Beautiful looking beer. Not the freshest example I'm sure. Aroma was modest and the flavor was unusual. Had near the same mouthfeel as a good pale ale. Unique in its own right but I didn't especially enjoy the strange twanginess to the flavor. Worth trying once but not quite worth seeking out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 01:27:20 | More by Jparker37

brewerburgundy

California

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, Ommegang tulip, thanks Rogue, no freshness dating on the bottle. I have had it for at least a month in the fridge, so it's not super fresh.

Clear, light end of gold beer with a very lovely white, rocky head. Lots of it on the pour, nice retention, lacing, and clumpiness.

I'm definitely thinking this is not too fresh judging by the aroma, or lack thereof. The hops seem to have mostly disappeared. There's a solid pale malt base, nice graininess, and a subtle, cooling herbal note. I'm really digging at the moment, but it's not like a fresh pale ale. Oh, and of course the Pacman yeast.

The taste is essentially as I described the aroma. The evergreen, cool herb is perhaps more distinct and the grainy malt is very hearty.

Nice, medium weight in the mouth. Despite the head, the carbonation is medium-low.

I don't feel like this is an ideally fresh sample, but I know it has been treated well (refrigerated). The Juniper isn't overwhelming at all, in fact, it seems barely there to me, but it's nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 23:03:52 | More by brewerburgundy

TeamMathis

West Virginia

3.39/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Hazy apricot. White head.
Smell: Very light honey and fruit.
Taste: Refreshing. Light fruit. Hoppy.
Mouthfeel: Smooth.

This is a good tasting brew. There is nothing really outstanding about any one facet, except that it is all-around enjoyable; a great warm, summer day drink. I would get it again, but wouldn't go searching for it.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 03:32:08 | More by TeamMathis

dar482

New York

3.03/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

I love the juniper in Taqueray, but this doesn’t have that. I went in hoping for strong spicy aroma and flavor, but it was just subdued. I would think it was a pilsner if I wasn’t reading the label.
However, even it has a bit more flavor than that, it really just cuts off the tongue really quickly. This helps the drinkability, but not what you expect from a "Juniper" Pale Ale. Not a great beer for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 20:33:22 | More by dar482

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.36/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

We pour a dull golden-amber brew. It holds a chunky two finger head of white bubbles, showing nice retention. Thick sheets and patterns of lacing are left as it slowly recedes. There is a definite haze to the beer, but no sediment noted. Carbonation appears active. The aroma gives chalky and drying pale malts, baker’s yeast, juicy citric hops, and a strong astringency of raw, sugarless Juniper berries. Salt, metallics, green grapes, and light vanilla coolness come out with warmth. Our first impression is that the beer is nicely light, but with big bitterness to the back of the flavoring. As we sip, chalky but juicy pale malts mix with drying yeasty bite and citric zest. These continue to the peak, where floral hops, raw pine cone stem, grassy malts, and raw astringent bitterness of berries picked from the field behind your grandmother’s house. The finish comes with metallics, yeast, Juniper berry dryness and sweetness, citric hops, more orange zest, light grassiness, and a hint of corn. The aftertaste breathes of light adjuncts, white flour, baker’s yeast, Juniper dryness, mint leafiness, grassy bitterness, peppery booze, and citric hop bite. The body is on the lighter side, while carbonation is moderate. There is nice coolness and coating to the sip, with strong dryness to the palate at the finish. There is nice pop and glug to each sip, and nice cream and frothiness to the lip. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was its lightness and drinkability. The flavors blend nicely, giving a light and fruity, yet citric and juicy balance throughout. This keeps things lively and drinking easily to the last sip, especially when coupled with the soft feel. The nose was comparatively weak, with adjuncts and corn ringing heavily. This is a nice, refreshing beverage, but we do wish that the fruitiness was just a bit more prominent.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 00:51:27 | More by TheBrewo