Juniper Pale Ale - Rogue Ales

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Slightly chill hazed golden straw yellow color with a magnificent, thickly based, crusty white head sitting atop. It slowly dwindles down to a never moving thick skim on top and the lacing in thickly strewn moth-holed sheets stick all over the place.

Pleasing aroma of lightly crisp malts, hinting at a load of other things; soft woods, earth, dust, citrus rinds, dried berry fruits, some leafy hop cones. Overall mildly light and refreshingly earthy crisp and fruity. Nice.

Wow, and the taste doesn't fall short on this either. Quite a nice little treat we have here. Hmmmm....crisp and fruity with little touches of the earthy/woody things floating around. Great hop balance and profile, slight citrus spice, berries and berry twigs and leaves thrown in too. Complexing with a favorable hoppy dryness from some Amarillo hop cones that finish it out with lightly mixes of fruity berry stuff.

Nice mouthfeel thats well rounded, crisp, drying for its finish, creamy middling, light grabbing texture of carbonation, and a nearly full body with more mediumness at the front and back. Remarkably yummy and drinkably fun.

This had been on my to-get list for sometime now and when I saw it I just had to grab it. The name alone is fancy,comically classy enough and I have pasted it up in the past til today and now I realize I shouldn't have done that. I'm rambling...good stuff! Get it, drink it, and enjoy...I did.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2004 23:40:45 | More by tavernjef

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Had as Yellow Snow Ale.

Pours a clear orangy amber with an off-white head. Rich, malty, spicy and slightly hoppy aroma is quite appetizing. Flavor is malty and spicy and surprisingly hoppy, more so than the aroma suggests. Texture is pleasingly smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2008 03:26:00 | More by Cyberkedi

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Just so everyone knows, this was Yellow Snow, not Juniper Pale ale. Thats what the bottle told me. The old Rogue patriach in yellow garb with is black lab under his arm.

Poured from a 22oz bomber.

Appearance- A pour as hard as my pee yielded only a finger and a half head into my mug. After about halfway through drinking it, there was no foam to be seen as well as lacing. Color was a slightly hazy middle amber, copper wire color.

Smell- Amedium strength flora hop aroma. But I could tell a lot of these hops are from the northwest. Very punchy. Hop smell balanced very well with the bready malts.

Taste- Starts out like your average English pale ale, but with a more distinct hop character. This pale ale lets you know its there. It wants your attention. A watered down bread flavor quickly meets with the potent hop flavor. Not overdone with the hops though. Pretty good balance between the citric hop flavor of biting into a grapefruit and the rye bread flavor of the malt.

Mouthfeel- A little sharp on the bitterness and a slight hint of acidty. The malt makes a cameo on the palate. Mostly bitter and citice. A little one sided.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2006 03:10:16 | More by scruffwhor

TheLongBeachBum

California

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

Another 22 fl.oz of Rogue, yippee, I have not had a new Rogue beer in ages, so I was very happy when I saw this untried offering in a local store, and so I jumped at the chance of trying this "newbie" from the Oregon based master brewers.

Labeled as “Yellow Snow Ale 2002”, it pours a slightly hazy yellow color with a light orange hue, that does have a remarkable resemblance to the last urine sample I gave the Doctor. A white frothy head that is comprised of large frothy bubbles, like the bottle, adds character to its presentation, but leaves very little lace. Average carbonation, but the head is soon gone almost completely, only a thin surface covering is left.
Nose is immediately spicy but it has a sweet honey dimension to it. Initial tastes are of restrained bitterness, which lead to a ‘soft’ malty middle. The spiciness then makes it entrance and intermingles incredibly well with the hops. This is the beers single greatest asset and uniqueness in my humble opinion. My guess is that the Styrian Golding and Amarillo Hops, are in a deeply disturbing, but tempestuous, ‘Menage-a-Trois’ with the Juniper Berries.

Overall this beer is different, almost unique, I like the controlled hop-bitterness and the ‘in-situ’ spicy facet, all combined together in an easy drinking, highly refreshing beer.

I remember the first time I created yellow snow when I was 5, and even when I spelled my name in it, well, to be honest I only got to doing the first 3 letters of my long last name, but hey I tried. Yellow Snow – who would have thought that some 28 years later I would enjoy drinking it some 3,000 miles away?

A very well-balanced and intriguing beer. Clean, crisp and highly quaffable. Well worth a try, though some may not understand its restrained complexities.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2003 17:19:56 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A very interesting beer. A very exciting aroma...floral hops evident in smell but there is a different smell there as well (I'm guessing it's the Juniper berries)..The appearance is goldish, but a bit cloudy...seemed a bit charged up to0 with some frothy foam head...Taste is on the light side in regards to maltiness, but has a unique hop bite. Not overhopped though..Very interesting and definitely worth the purchase, but not one of my favorite styles...

Re-rate 12/7/02..Adjusted the ratings a little...nose is unremarkable...kind of a grassy hop texture to it....the Juniper is very hidden in the taste and nose....this time it wasn't charged up at all...I'm not real high on this beer...it's OK but not as good as I expect a Rogue winter seasonal to be..

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2002 02:16:23 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

Thanks to tenderbranson69 for sharing this w/ me. Poured cold and allowed to warm in a goblet.

A - A brilliant amber w/ 2 fingers of white foam that creates sporadic lace on the glass. This ale had a slight chill haze when poured.

S - A light apricot aroma is fragrant w/ a subtle floral note. There is a pleasant aromatic pine/juniper note w/ an herbal aspect. The citrusy amarillo hop aroma is noticeable in the nose.

M - Grainy w/ a moderate amount of bitterness up front. The malt provides a decently balanced feel. A full effervessence contributes to the balance also w/ a nice touch of malty warmth underneath and herbal tinges.

T - A smooth malt flavor w/ a good juicy dose of tangerine flavored citrus hops. Plenty of malt flavor w/ crystal influence is detected in the sweetness of the flavor. A piney note that carries on until the sweetness and subtle warming w/ a hint of spice.

D - Very decent drinkability wise. This is a nice NW pale w/ plenty of hop flavor and the juniper is hinted at also. The balance is very good, I would definitely pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2007 18:59:29 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

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

22oz bomber, split three ways last friday night after work

appearance: poured into pint glass, watery golden-yellow body

smell: ehh, grainy malts, skunky noble hops, light pale malt

taste: Maybe im missing the point of this beer or something, but i was totally unimpressed by this rogue offering - just not a good APA...really grainy, skunky euro hops, light and watery. No Thanks.

mouthfeel: light and watery, grainy

drinkability: decent

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2007 04:21:17 | More by dirtylou

Bitterbill

Wyoming

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

Poured a nice cloudy gold with a good head dissipates quickly but remains as a fine partial layer.

Smell is malty with citrus notes.

Taste is malt and more of the citrus. For me, it's a nice taste that I've enjoyed many times before and I'll have again without a whim. Good pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2005 23:39:02 | More by Bitterbill

cokes

Wisconsin

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

I'm not gonna lie to you and pretend I know the first thing about juniper berries (other than the fact they are used in the gin-making process). But since I firmly believe that beer should make a person think, here are a few fun juniper berry tidbits for all y'all:
-it's a remedy to treat tapeworm
-In the Ayurvedic system (don't ask me) juniper is believed to not only purify the body but also the aura.
-contains thujone, which I believe is a hallucinogen (of absinthe fame)
-It has stimulant and analgesic properties.
-it helps clear acid wastes from the body.
-It acts on the urinary, respiratory, nervous and digestive systems
-it's an insect repellant
-It can be used during labor to stimulate contractions.
-And it makes your urine smell like violets (as yet unproven by yours-truly).

Anyway,

This is of the 2002 breed.
Pours a smogged golden under a bleached beige head.
Nose full of ferns and pine needles, and black-light ganja. Notations of dish-washing liquid. The berry sweetness present may or may not be imaginary.
Toasty up front. Progresses towards english muffins, topped with a spit of butter. Not sweet at all, at least right away. Hops are certainly the featured event here. Lightly resinous pine cone Amarillos (oh how I love them), along with the more abrasive and metallic Styrian Goldies. Interesting cross. There's a suggestion of blueberries soaked in gin- adding minor sweetness to the general bitterness- and that is my only entrance to the topic of juniper berries.
Medium bodied and monster drinkable, though that has nothing to do with any sort of berry.
Not as unique as expected, and a bit out-of-place as a winter seasonal, but a dandy pale ale regardless.

Now off to see if that whole violets thing is true.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2003 08:31:23 | More by cokes

Tone

Missouri

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

Pours a slightly hazy, golden color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of strong spice (juniper), slight wheat, slight hop, hint of sweet malt, and a hint of yeast. Fits the style of a Herbed/Spiced ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong spice (juniper), slight sweet malt, slight hop, and a hint of yeast. Overall, very strongly spiced, as far as Juniper beer goes, it's the best I've had ... and only.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2010 02:53:23 | More by Tone

kylehay2004

Florida

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

Singer finger white head on a hazy golden with slight crimson hues. Aroma is nice but faint sweet juniper aroma with a slight almost noble hop like aroma. Flavor is mildly hoppy with a subtle nobel hop, musty almost wet sock hop flavor. Light malt. Moderate to high carbonation and light to medium body. A nice beer if u like noble hop tasting beers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2012 01:15:24 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Two fingers of off white head on a golden-orange body with excellent clarity. As the head settles, it leaves a nice, dense lace pattern.

S - Grainy, with herbal hop notes and, of course, juniper (although the gin like character is not as pronounced as one might expect).

T - Spicy, grainy flavor up front, followed by a bit of sweetness. The herbal flavors come in next with flavors of juniper berries and floral hops that fade into a strong, grapefruit bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium body and high carbonation along with just a bit of residual sweetness in the finish.

D - For hop or gin lovers, this should be pretty easy to put down. I hadn't had this beer for some time and I am a bit disappointed to find that its gin-like character is not as intense as I remember it. Nevertheless, this is an unusual beer that has some good herbal notes and just enough sweetness in the finish to be reminiscent of a gin and tonic.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2008 06:35:23 | More by nickfl

smakawhat

Maryland

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a shaker pint glass at Jackie's restaurant Silver Spring. From notes.

A pale amber body, slightly cloudy and hazy, is presented with not much rising carbonation, but a real big fluffy white head and thick clumpy lacing is given with good retention also. Iniviting, and looks big.

Nose is very faint, hints of spruce tips, faint herbal quality, but I am not getting a big juniper sense off of this at all.

Taste is fairly pedestrian. Chalky body and malt, dry finish with not much of a lasting aftertaste. A bit of a wet body, with not much flavor going on, but a passable maltiness, and slightly herbal finish.

Overall, not the worst, but not very memorable either.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 13:22:21 | More by smakawhat

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

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.54/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

the juniper doesn't really come out as much as it should I don't think in this brew, not nearly as out there as the john john ale, but still a decent pale ale for what it is. hazy brassy colored with a short white head, rather generic, yet still really appealing with a little foam running down the side of my frosted pint glass. slightly fruity nose, slightly astringent, slightly bland. American malted barley and west coast hops in lower dose for the style. the flavor is balanced, but more malty than hoppy I think, a touch of toasted grain bread to it, and the juniper comes in at the end with a fresh pine medicinal vibe. its not out of place really, just sort of a funny addition. I much prefer the john john for juniper, although I didn't love that beer either. bright carbonation and a drinkably medium body, if it wasn't so funny in the stomach id have several. not my favorite thing from rogue, but I certainly appreciate the attempt.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2013 16:12:11 | More by StonedTrippin

Brent

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +30.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What impressed me about this ale was how sharp the spicy/floral hops were at the middle, but then became quite dry at the finish with relatively little hops residual.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2001 09:27:29 | More by Brent

alexgash

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of my favorite Rogue bottles thus far. Pours a medium straw yellow with a puffy off-white head. Smells of light, macro-ish malt, with palpable un-macroish floral and citrusy hop notes. Taste is light, crisp, smooth malts with a touch of fruitiness. Hops are the main event here; very grapefruit-citrusy in flavor, but not too bitter. Finish is a touch oily, bitter, and thirst-quenching. I'd rather drink this in the summer than in the winter. Reminds me a little of New Belgium's Loft (but I like the Loft more).

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2004 18:58:23 | More by alexgash

GClarkage

California

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

07/27/05- Purchased at the Rogue Alehouse in San Francisco, CA

Presentation- 22oz bomber with no dating. Poured into a random pint glass.

Appearance- 1/2 inch foamy white head. Just the tad bit of cloudyness in the golden pour. Excellent lacing.

Smell- Picked up a noticeable amount of fruity hops as well as a heavy yeast scent.

Taste- Taste reflects smell almost identical. Very hoppy with a very fruity base. Light malt intertwined. Reminescent of the yeast used in Pyramid brews, but better tasting. No juinper berry taste detected. Doesn't taste like the Yellow Snow Ale at all.

Mouthfeel- Average carbonation.

Drinkability- Perfectly fine Pale Ale almost towards an IPA. Nice and fruity and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2005 00:47:37 | More by GClarkage

tdm168

North Carolina

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

A - tranparent copper-amber with a huge, soft, white head that has good retention

S - bready and sweet, some faint caramel

T - caramel, bready, bitter, subtle juniper berries

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a pretty decent beer. It's a bit malt forward and the juniper berries are faint, but it's easy to drink and enjoyable. I'm not sure I'll buy it again, but I'd never turn it down.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 08:35:34 | More by tdm168

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Snagged a bomber of this for 5 bucks at my local House of 1,000 beers.

A - A fairly clear dark red tinted yellow with some haze among its bubble body. Head has great lacing despite of just being a 1/4 inch that settles to a ring.
S - Has a sort of berry nose to it so it's not your typical pale ale. Other than that it smells of sweet malts, mild hops, and some bready body.
T - Well it goes down easy enough dispute the hops or whatever bitters they use (taste like spruce tips) It does have a sweet enough body to balance this bitterness but I can't really seem to enjoy it. Reminds me of licking an envelope in a way with BMC metallic-ness.
M - Very easy going its bubbly, crisp, and light to medium in body.

Overall in a way I am happy this beer is not skunked since I left it in the backseat of a hot car overnight but its close to it with bitters and pale malts it's just not that great.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:39:05 | More by DrDemento456

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

flagmantho

Washington

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

Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: light orange hue with a thin finger of rapidly-dissipating ivory foam head. Just a touch of haze; overall, not too bad.

Smell: slightly sweet caramel malt aroma with an earthy herbiness. I suppose this is the juniper, although I can't readily identify it as such. It reminds me a little bit of heather-seasoned beers. Not bad if you like earthy stuff.

Taste: slightly sweet, slightly dry caramel malt flavors with citrusy hops and an evergreen flavor. I think the juniper is rather nice here, but again, it's more of a general herbiness. Not bad.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a nice level of carbonation. There's a good creaminess here.

Drinkability: quite a refreshing and quaffable beverage. The overall impression is greater than the sum of its parts.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 00:52:56 | More by flagmantho

mynie

Indiana

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very hazy. The color of over ripe apricots with a small white head that fades to clouds lining the top of the beer.

Juniper is what makes Gin taste like pine, right? Right? None of that here. Pac man yeast takes center stage against Amarillo hops, fruity and dry and slightly wine-like.

Tastes like berries upfront, moving into the pac man yeast, and ending on dry, simple hops. Nothing here really gets me moving, but it's solid all around. I also really like the pacman yeast.

Easy drinking, firm summer session ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2006 04:19:42 | More by mynie

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a small head. Smell is mild, some berries. Taste is of sour berries with hops, not bad but nothing great. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and has average drinkability. Overall this is a decent but unspectacular beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 15:21:23 | More by tone77

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a bomber, this beer is a clear, pale golden color. Not much of a head. Medium carbonation. The juniper and a little spice is very dominant in the smell...malt, pa,e, with some flowery and resiny scents. Yeast and a little musty earthiness. Semi-sweet and malty...spice follows to the taste, with a bit of to tongue-numbingness. Medium body. Overall quite good.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 20:32:01 | More by Suds