Juniper Pale Ale - Rogue Ales

Floydster

California

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

22 ounce bomber purchased from Cooke's Family Market in El Segundo for five dollars, split with my dad a couple nights ago

Poured into my Firestone pint glass with a pale golden yellow color that a bit of a murky appearance, small 1/4 inch white soapy head did not stick around for long, weak retention and minimal lacing

Smell was a mixture between fruit, hops and mild spices, mostly sweet berries and bready malt characteristics stood out, the hoppiness was faint but still definitely there

Taste was crisp at first when chilled and the straw-like hops really stuck out, then it turned into a chewy malty beer and had too much funky fruitness going on, particularly blueberries and cherries, the spices were a little much too and had a strong herbal flavor, not my thing when the beer is overly sweet and spicy, if I were ever to drink this again I would make sure the beer was very cold and not drink it because of its enjoyable taste because that is not the case, pale ales should be far more hoppy than sweet and this one was the opposite

The body was pretty weak and not thick, the carbonation might have been too heavy, the beer tasted much better when it was cold rather than when it warmed which is usually a bad thing, taste did not last long

Could drink about two bombers before getting really tired of its weak flavor, it is not heavy and the alcohol percentage is low, but the sweetness would really catch up to me, not a good session beer like most pale ales tend to be

Not Rogue's best, thought it was worth trying because I only see it about one month out of every year and it seems to sell out pretty fast, recommended if you are curious but not the best pale out there, average beer that did not do to much for me overall

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 02:02:13 | More by Floydster

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber
I picked this up the other day as it sounded interresting.
Pours an amber with a bubbly white head one inch head that quickly faded to the sides of the glass. Aroma comes through with some caramel maltiness, some citrus fruit, and an slight almost medicinal smell. The taste is typical north american pale ale. Medium body with good carbonation.
A decent pale ale, I only wish the juniper was more pronounced. I felt that it was barely noticable.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2007 01:50:57 | More by johnnnniee

kmpitz2

Tennessee

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

Pours solid light coppery color with a finger of head that falls to a nice coat over top. Nose is defintaly APA. Earthy and slightly sweet hop, with a moderate caramel sweetness from the malt. Flavor is a little light. There is a moderate sweet citrusy hop, moderate bitter on the finish with a hint of the juniper flavor right at the end. I'd like a touch more robustness in the flavor. Feel is moderate with a light-moderate carbonation. Overall, this is a pretty nice brew. Nothing really keeps it down, but I would like more flavor boldness.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2005 01:42:30 | More by kmpitz2

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.1/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bomber into a pint glass. The beer pours a cloudy orange-gold color with a sparse, foamy head about half an inch on pour that disappears as I write this. Not sure if I was expecting a nose full of gin smells, but I am pleasantly surprised by the subtle aromas; flowery and a hint of hops. The juniper absolutely comes through on the taste, and actually overpowers any taste of hops. It has a weird dynamic of being flowery and sour at the same time, and that doesn't necessarily blend all that well together. There is also a note of roasted barley somewhere deep down in the taste. The beer is dry and a bit harsh in mouth, with a sour aftertaste. Rough on the finish, this might be a tough bomber to polish off.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 01:25:48 | More by GarthDanielson

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

CrazyDavros

Australia

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

Pale amber pour with significant head that leaves great lacing.
Spicy and floral hop aroma hits first. I'm guessing the spiciness is actually from the juniper. Big sweet toffee malt follows. Well balanced, if perhaps a bit too heavy on the malt.
Flavour is first of all some sweet bready malt, followed by a dry spicy note from the juniper. Good hoppy bitterness makes for a long-lasting finish. Great complexity for what is often a simple style.
Creamy mouthfeel, but more carbonation than necessary.
Quite impressed with my first Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 08:37:38 | More by CrazyDavros

Reidrover

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought at the local grocers after getting a sample taster from a Rogue guy doing a promotion.
22 oz screen printed brown bomber( as always)..some dude with his pet Lab. "Together we can do it"..I hope so!
Very pretty looking beer..dark golden with a nice carbonation..small white head.
Whoa..strong and fresh aroma..load of hops..some malt undertones and a piney aroma..must be the juniper.
mmm nice tasteing ale..not as strong as i thought after the aroma..but nice..mostly malty to begin with..creamy, then a hop bite and right at the end a spicy junpier bitter aftertaste.
Pretty nice on the palate..smooth.
A most drinkable beer..at any time of the year.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2003 03:49:32 | More by Reidrover

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Another new installment of the Rogue line here in Alberta. Hadn't heard of this one before.

Pours out with a white head the consistency of whisked spongy cream and great retention. Thick ripples of lacing. The body is a piercing clear amber until held to the light where it transforms to a deep golden hue. The aroma is citrus rind at first, but when I go back for more I get a dose of spice, with faint grainy malt hiding in the background.

The flavour holds up its boot straps on all sides, and blends so well it takes a moment to decipher the flavour. Rich bready malt immediately joined by spicy and rindy hops, finishing with what can only be dry, mouth-puckering bitter/sour juniper berries. The mouthfeel is full, consistent, with a creamy velvety light texture that is a pleasure to come across.

A fairly solid pale ale all around, but that extra peppery spice of the juniper on the finish doesn't really do it for me in the end, I'm quite content finishing this bottle but have no huge urge to run out and grab more.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2006 03:39:05 | More by IronDjinn

dsa7783

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A good, but not an above-and-beyond selection from Rogue... their Juniper Pale Ale is a nice rendition of the style and is very crisp, refreshing, light, and satisfying... a good brew for a hot, summer day... Copped a 22 oz bomber from Gary's in Madison... Pours a very light copper color with minimal or no head and some visible carbonation... smell was very faint, not too apparent, and I had expected more from the Juniper berries that were advertised on the logo sticker... taste is light and sweet with a slight Juniper berry essence... somewhat hoppy with a strong floral character... pleasing bread and butter flavor with no bitterness detected at all... vanilla and light-caramel taste with a pleasing and satisfying taste laden with quality... Overall, this is a very good brew and a step above most other Pale Ales out there... Recommended...

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2008 00:09:06 | More by dsa7783

cjgator3

Florida

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

Pours a hazy orangish yellow with a thin layer of white lace. Nose consists of a nice buttery malty aroma, citrus and hops. Taste is dominated by malt that finishes with a bitter hoppiness that is not overpowering. Overall, this is not a bad brew but not a brew I would go out of my way to get again. It kind of grew on me the more I drank it.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2006 04:10:13 | More by cjgator3

tigg924

Massachusetts

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

Appearance: clear, bright yellow in color, one inch head, high carbonation

Smell: wood and citrus hops

Taste: wood, citrus hops, caramel malt, melon, and bubblegum on the finish--is that the juniper taste?

Mouthfeel: moderately bitter, medium light bodied, high carbonation, dry

Drinkability: The taste gets better as it warms and is only slightly different than most pale ales. Very dry and on the hoppier side I could have two. A sipper.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 16:06:31 | More by tigg924

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big head, clearish orange-amber. Fresh and deep malt aroma, touch of evergreen. Malty flavor but a nice, light body without a lot of syrupy qualities. Very nice subtle bittering aided by the slight pine taste, non-assertive but gradual. Again Rogue shows an uncanny ability to balance its brew's flavor profiles. Malts are wonderfully combined, this Ale is inherently drinkable. I could drink this on tap all night on a cool evening. After the pour tasting, I took a pull right out of the bottle. This method concentrates the juniper flavors more.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2002 08:27:11 | More by ADR

Mitchster

Michigan

2.42/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

$5.49 for a bomber. Brewed with Northwest Harrington, Crystal, Triumph, Maier Munich, C15 malts. Hopped with Styrian Goldings and Amarillo. Flavored with Juniper berries.

OG=13 plato. 34 IBU. 77 AA. 3.2 Lovibond.

Pours out to a chill-hazed peach, forming a rocky pale yellow head with very good retention and lacing. Carbonation is moderate. The aroma is odd...there is a definite soapiness imparted by the juniper, but aside from that, there is a definite ruddiness and very strong cardboard smell. Not impressed at all. The mouthfeel is lively, and thankfully not oxidized with a medium body. The taste starts off with some floral hops, then a brief flash of pale malts, then overpowered by a plain chemical bitterness and finishes with damp musty cardboard and dank forest soil. Bitterness is medium strong and somewhat harsh.

I'd be hard pressed to tell you this was made with juniper, which is a contrast to Rogue's otherwise genuine knack for bringing out the best flavors when using adjunctive ingredients (chocolate, chamomile, chipotle peppers). Ultimately, this beer is a total disappointment, just like the last few Rogue's I've had. Definitely not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2006 18:25:53 | More by Mitchster

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

prototypic

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: It's a nice golden to copper color. Foamy one finger head had short retention. Not a lot of lacing to speak of.

Smell: It's pretty light on the nose. It has a floral scent to it, which I'm sure is the Juniper coming through. There are a few light citrus scents as well (a little orange or mango). Definitely a bit of hops in there.

Taste: Initially, it has a sweet taste to it. Some of it seems to come from the citrus notes. The remainder possibly stems from the Juniper. It certainly has a sweeter taste than other pale ales on the market. Hops add a decent bitter taste, but not as bitter as I'd prefer.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: It's light bodied. I think it's a tad to sweet to session, but it's fairly drinkable. Carbonation seems very light. Overall, it's okay. Not one of my favorites from Rogue, but it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2007 02:27:08 | More by prototypic

ADZA

Australia

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

This brew pours an impressive nice semi see thru amber colour with a good looking sudsy,foamy two finger head which then settles down to a nice tier of foam across the top of the beer,i really like the aroma of this it comes across with a nice clean,crisp,herbal smell very nice,it has a good medium moutheel to it with that clean crisp aroma coming thru on the taste and i also can taste a nice taste of the juniper berries in there aswell but i dont find it overly dominant in the brew just nicely paired and it does finish quite bitter,overall a nice brew that is easy to session on and afterall being a beer by Rogue im not suprised.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 05:56:07 | More by ADZA

atsprings

North Carolina

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

Pours a slightly hazy pale orange with a thin but lasting head. The aroma is a nice blend of citrus hops and juniper with a hint of spice. The taste is very well balanced between earthy citrus hops, sweet malts and robust juniper flavor. The beer is rather crisp and light bodied. This is yet another extremely enjoyable beer from Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 02:16:14 | More by atsprings

clayrock81

Virginia

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

Poured the bomber bottle into my glass and received a dark gold body with a two-finger head that stayed with the beer and left minor lacings. A dry, hoppy smell with some floral aromas and some citrus to it also, but nothing too descript. Not the greatest tasting brew, but it has a fuller citrus flavor from the juniper and there is a nice malt mix to give it a full body. A little too hoppy and dry on the back end makes it a little less smooth than it should be, but it goes down easy. Just a little too dry and not as sweet as I though - just not something I would repeatedly buy.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2008 20:16:36 | More by clayrock81

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Beer review from BA Mag Nov 2007.

We prefer the previous name but we know the ceiling is very short when it comes to marketing beer with potty humor--aka Yellow Snow Ale. Brewed with whole juniper berries, four malts, three hops and their house yeast.

Sizeable foamy head from a normal decanting, the head dissipates to a thin ring of lace after a while. Weathered-gold color still glows with a good clarity. Soft aromatics of citric floral hops, steely juniper and biscuity malt infiltrate the nostrils. Trademark Rogue smoothness always aims for the bull's-eye of being quaffable, impeccably smooth with a medium body. Bready malt flavors with some sweetness to start, then a quick shot of juniper which runs sharp but not harsh. Hop bitterness finally kicks in to bring the balance full circle. Clean palate. After a few more sips the steely juniper flavor sticks to the taste buds a bit more but never too much. Oily hop flavors complement the juniper with woody, herbal and mild citric notes. Finishes a touch dry with a faded lingering juniper character.

This is a great example of what extreme beer can be--simple but still extreme. You have a Pale and add juniper berries to it--right there the brewer is thinking outside of the box. Toss the turkey to the dogs, a juicy glazed ham will do the trick for the holiday pairing. If not for the pairing it is at least a good conversation beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 01:11:37 | More by BeerAdvocate

bditty187

Nebraska

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

Hazy, yellow-gold with a modest white head, pretty good retention, plenty of lace. The nose was yeasty, musty, citursy, a hint of malt with a note of juniper berries. I love how the herbal, musty, citrusy, malty, oily hops mingle on the palate… equally enjoyable dry ending. The semi-pungent nose and taste was, oddly, really pleasing. I really enjoyed Yellow Snow Ale.

I would understand if this beer was hit-or-miss to some; this is a unique brew, one I happen to like, but not one of Rogue’s best.

I will have to find a couple more bottles of these.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2002 13:25:26 | More by bditty187

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

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

22 oz brown bomber, capped. "Rogue Yellow Snow Ale"

This pale ale poured a clear, golden color with off--white foam that settled. The smell was very malty with a very good mix of bitter and floral hops and faint juniper spiciness. The taste was first and foremost a pale ale: pale malt with a nice mild hop bitterness and some fruity hops and floral hops. The juniper was barely noticeable, but was there if you concentrated. There was the faintest taste of alcohol as well. The mouthfeel was smooth and creamy with medium body and low to moderate carbonation feel. This ale was relatively clean overall. This was a rather nice pale ale with a little something extra. Yellow Snow Ale is an odd name for a beer, however, but I see from Rogue's web site that they changed the name to Juniper Pale Ale in Jan. 2005.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2005 09:00:04 | More by UncleJimbo

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

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Copper colored brew, mostly clear, with a head of white foam that jumps up a couple of inches.

Earthy hop with a dextrin depth, fruity aroma which I'll assume to be the juniper berries.

Flavor is crisp and fairly clean. Hops are a decent presence, grassy and herbal but fairly prominent for those characteristics. Malt is pale, but the depth of the flavor, especially in the finish, comes from the dry juniper taste. Dextrin, sea side, oyster cracker finish.

Strange brew, not unlike other coastal brews except this one showcases Northwest hops that stand up to any lightly heated malt. Interesting ale, may come back to it in a pinch.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 05:03:21 | More by BretSikkink

harrymel

Washington

1.65/5  rDev -54.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Bottled: unk

A: golden with a finger of white foam which falls nearly immediately to a broken sheet of the same with cobweb lace. Nearly murky.
S: some juniper berries. plenty of amber malts. meh.
T: Hints of juniper again, but mostly, malts. Sweet.
M: Heavy for a pale ale, low carb. Substantial slick on the finish.
O: Yeah, this is pathetic. I hate beer that is not tasty. I hate beer even more, that is not even close to it's labels indication.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 18:00:05 | More by harrymel

thekevlarkid

Maryland

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

Out of a bomber this "World Champion Pale" was hazy golden-orange color. The head was two fingers of off-white foam that displayed pretty good retention and very consistent bands of lacing. The aroma was a nice balance of citrus and herbal hops along with a notable spiciness and some sweet malt behind that. The flavors were similar, but nothing I was immediately stunned by. The balance was still excellent, but the hop profile, starting on an herbal note which was also reflecting the juniper they used, quickly gave way to more citrusy hops followed by the pale malt that was a little biscuity. It was, however, also sweet enough to offset the hops. Lightly spicy and rather dry but not too acidic. The finish was pleasantly bitter but not biting. The mouthfeel was smooth and clean, the body medium/full and the carbonation excellent. Very, very sessionable. I've got to be honest, though I could quaff this all night I found it unremarkable. It is nether a great APA nor a great Rogue beer, and the juniper berries were so understated you wouldn't know they were in there. Worth a try? Yes. Worth a repeat? No.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2009 19:16:11 | More by thekevlarkid