Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale - Rogue Ales

Lothar280

1.35/5  rDev -54.1%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

I knew it was gimmicky going into it, but wow. The appearance was nice and the mouthfeel was fair, but the smell and taste were, in all honesty, awful. It's like drinking two parts watered down maple syrup and one part liquid smoke. I couldn't even finish the bottle. And that never happens. Opt for a Zima with a Jolly Rancher, you'll be glad you did.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 14:23:55 | More by Lothar280

djdetar

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +36.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is most definitely a novelty beer. It is quite unique and worth a try.

A - a medium tan, slightly cloudy. It is cloudy in appearance, but not visible trub in the drink

S - smells more like bacon than anything else. I love bacon, so i'll take it :-)

T - the taste is pretty awesome, but not consistent. I had a bottle several weeks ago, and now i'm currently on my second. The first time, I sensed the strong bacon, smoked bacon, flavoring with not maple. This time there is a strong maple presence while the bacon flavor is still there as well. The bacon is still the dominant flavor. I like, but I don't think I could have more than one.

M - a pretty strong, acidic beer. Not overwhelming but it's a beer for sure. You can feel the bacon in the aftertaste in your mouth as well.

Overall I would definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a novelty drink, if you like bacon, and you just want to try something new. I'd have it again, but probably one 1 per sitting. It's no session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 03:56:03 | More by djdetar

falloutsnow

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From: Somewhere in IA, thanks PM for gifting this one
Date: None on bottle
Glass: Standard US pint glass

Rogue's "maple bacon" smoked beer makes substantial use of smoked malts and attendant sweetness to generate an overly sweet beer that hints at the bacon and added maple flavoring used in the brewing/fermenting process. With an overly sweet aftertaste that serves to be quite cloying, this is a smoked beer I don't see myself returning to.

Pours a 1.5cm head of foam, slightly off-white in color, with average retention. Head falls to a thin ring around the perimeter of the glass, leaving small flecks of lacing on its way down. Body is a moderately light brownish-orange color, hazy, with light bringing out paler orange tones. Carbonation is visible, appearing fairly active.

Aroma primarily of smoked malts (moreso than bacon, though this is there, too) and fairly heavy sweetness. The sweetness could be derived from well-chosen malts rather than the artificial maple flavoring Rogue used (does artificial flavoring even impart an aroma?), and I wouldn't have guessed "maple" as a flavor, unless it was listed in the name of the beer. Generally: doughnut-sweet smoky scents. Interesting, not unappealing, but not particularly complex enough (to me) to warrant a rating that's slightly above average.

Beer opens in tasting with fairly high sweetness mixed with emerging smoke flavors. Smoke becomes prominent in mid-palate, bacon is there, but mild, comes across more as an afterthought. Maple may appear, or it may not, it's difficult to decide if I'm searching too much for it or not. Back of palate continues the smoked malt flavors, along with a creeping, somewhat cloying malt sweetness. Long-lingering aftertaste of sweetness and lighter smokiness that becomes cloying after a few moments. The aftertaste continues to hang around for far longer than is welcome.

Beer is medium in body, lighter/thinner than anticipated. Carbonation is of medium intensity, resulting in a slightly fizzy mouthfeel with modest foaming and creaminess. Finish is not dry, but there is substantial stickiness across the palate. This is not particularly different from any other smoked beer, and the thinness did not impress me.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 06:34:44 | More by falloutsnow

NilocRellim

Minnesota

2.65/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle.

The beer looked great coming out of the bottle. Average light, orange look that was very cloudy. The white head also lingered a lot longer than most beers. The maple smell was very dominant, with a slight sweetness and little bacon and smokiness. Despite the delicious smell, the beer was not so great. The maple flavour overpowered most everything else. The "bacon" flavour had a very fake taste to it and was not enjoyable. The smokiness was a lot more natural in the taste and lingered in the aftertaste. All-in-all: not a very balanced flavour mixture... they didn't compliment themselves as much as I had hoped for.

Would I buy it again? No. Not good.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 05:50:00 | More by NilocRellim

ryanonline

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Looks quite nice, sweet, orangey amber with a huge white head that lingers quite a while. Very cloudy with heavy lacing.

Smells super sexy, Smokey maple syrup nose with a hint of sweet potato. Also a super sugary backbone comes into play. In a word: "heavenly."

Aaaand it's gone. The smoke and syrup and sweet potato and sugar; all gone. In it's stead, a very bland pale straw flavor, more accompanied by char than smoke. No real hop flavor, not even a bit of malt that isn't pale. Does not taste as it smells.

Mouthfeel is very prickly, thin bodied and dry.

Drinkability is so so but I wouldnt want to.

I waited a long time for this one, I am disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 00:49:14 | More by ryanonline

ianjsullivan

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

ST: 750 into a pint glass.

A: Clear amber with a LOT of carbonation and a thin, slightly off-white head (leaves spotty lacing).

S:No denying its name sake, bacon and maple dominate. It has the dry burning wood aroma that you find in some German beers (I am blanking on the type right now, I think rauchbier). But behind the bacon is the maple and, actually, the smell of doughy sweet donuts. The aroma of this beer is unique.

T: Very boozy and hoppy up front kills most of the flavor except for a bit of burnt bacon. The burnt bacon flavor with some maple sweetness shows up in the finish along with some spiciness and alcohol. It is an interesting flavor, and the finish is better than the start.

M: Heavy

O: I am glad I tried this beer. It is not balanced well, and many of the unique flavors are pushed to the back, but the aroma is amazing and the fatty bacon flavor in the finish is enjoyable. It is something I was very interested in trying. I have to give thanks to one of my good friends who got this for me as a groomsmen gift.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 22:38:17 | More by ianjsullivan

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +37.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

We pop the top and pour a brew of glowing sunset orange. It holds a creamy, cakey tan head, showing nice retention. Whips of spidery lacing skate down the glass. There is a moderate haze throughout, with flecks of sediment noted. Carbonation appears active. The nose smells just as advertised. There is huge smokiness of malts, and a char-burned bacon meatiness that burns through the nasal epithelium. The maple mixes beautifully, with nice sweetness to cut, giving a cloying sensation streaking through such a heavy base. Little else is noted as this smells truly of bacon, maple, and smoky ale. Our first impression is that there is a dizzying level of baconness to the flavoring, with maple holding off until the finish. As we sip, soured grain and massively robust smoked woodiness hit hard. Pale malts and lightly citric hops contribute, along with plastic phenols that sit high against the smokiness. The peak comes with enhanced sourness, and strong bittering bite of that warming smoke and woodiness. The hops add more, which is surprising, and add to the general sourness of the flavoring. The finish finally breaks, with sweetness of maple, and syrup-drenched bacon washing the palate. These do have to compete with that persistent smokiness, but the blend is definite and purposeful. The aftertaste breathes of heavy and warming smoke, charred applewood bacon, authentic maple woodiness, cedar, salt water taffy, and mineral water. The body is medium to full, and the carbonation is medium, with a nice prickle to the hard palate. There is decent slurp and pop, with okay cream and froth. The mouth is coated and oily, with stickiness and cooling to the end. No real dryness is noted, but the drinker feels warmed all around. The abv is easy, and the beer is more of a sipper.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was how ambitious it was. Everyone seems to enjoy hating all over this beer, but the truth of the matter is that it is EXACTLY what is advertised. The flavoring is smoky from the numerous, and varied, grain bill, while the bacon and maple flavors are authentic and insanely robust. These all blend for a unique, warming mix of bold aromatics and flavors. Give it a fair, open-minded assessment with this in mind, and you might be surprised with the results. This is a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 03:14:31 | More by TheBrewo

clayrock81

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a clearish, reddish brown with two finger head that left lace. I pretty much just get this strong maple syrup like aroma, not much smokiness or anything else; the maple overpowers everything. Smooth passing for a rauchbier, I enjoyed drinking this beer because (to me, at least) the balance is there and there is a light, sugary sweetness along with a strong, meaty, "bacony" taste. It is not going to equal or surpass any German rauchbier, but I did not mind drinking this as much as others seem to.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 13:41:36 | More by clayrock81

BillyCannon

Massachusetts

1.6/5  rDev -45.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Was really excited to try this one...

A - Pours orange-ish, fairly limited head.

S - Confusing in a word, some sweetness and carmel, but also strange smoke-like scent

T - Sweetness up front, pretty pleasant, then it goes to hell. The best way we could think to describe it was like eating a campfire that you threw plastic into.

M - Medium body, nothing too terrible, but the ending is pretty miserable.

I'm just happy my friend brought this over, I would have hated to spend money on it. I'm hoping their next experimental doesn't involve any bacon/smoke flavor. I'd rather drink a bottle of "Liquid Smoke".

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 13:38:18 | More by BillyCannon

teromous

Virginia

2.68/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Dark copper colored beer, with a thin light-tan creamy looking head. Mild lacing. Lots of tiny carbonation bubbles. The beer is slightly hazy.

S: Haha well there definitely is maple in this. With the first whiff I am slammed with the scent of maple syrup. I also get a vanilla bean flavor very strongly. If you ever open a fresh bag of vanilla beans and it has this slightly off-scent from the beans, that's what this smells like. No roasted scents.

T: The flavor closely mimics the scent. Tons and tons of vanilla and maple flavor to this. I don't know if they actually use vanilla beans but it tastes very strongly of vanilla beans. The grains, hops, and any smoked flavor are not present. I'm not really sure why they consider it a smoked beer because I get zero smoky flavor. I also don't get any bacon flavor.

M: It's bordering between light and medium in mouthfeel. It's pretty highly carbonated. The beer is a bit hard to drink because of the strong flavors. It doesn't really have enough bitterness for a smoked beer, in my opinion.

O: Overall I thought it was a pretty tasty beer, but it's something you'd probably want to sip and share with friends instead of drinking a bottle on my own. It has a large maple syrup sweetness. It would be a great breakfast beer with pancakes, but at the end of the day this would be hard to drink unless you're feeling like a waffle house meal at 10pm. If you're a fan of Rauch beers, you probably won't be too fond of this. It is a beer for everyone to try, but I wouldn't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 17:45:17 | More by teromous

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a short off-white head over a clear, dark amber body with a touch of carbonation. Some trace lacing. Film remains on top for long time.

Aromas are interesting/unique. Caramel and vanilla are prominent along with smoke. Cloyingly sweet aroma ... a little over the top. Slight chemical / plastic / rubber quality in there as well.

Fairly thin mouthfeel. Good carbonation to cut the heavy flavors. Some maple, English hops, light smoke (relative to other smoked beers), light bacon quality. I can see where people are turned off by this, as the aromas are not terribly pleasant, and tend to affect an otherwise decent (interesting) flavor profile.

I dig experimental beers - no matter how off-centered they may be. I suspect that if DFH made this exact same beer, it would get higher marks. Nice job pushing the envelope Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:19:07 | More by BeerImmediately

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

1.43/5  rDev -51.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

Split a a 22oz with Hopswagger.

A - Pours a hazy orange/rubyred with an offshore head.

S - artificial smoke, hints of caramel, this smells like fake beef jerky.

T - Heavy smoke mixed with faux caramel. Lots of artificial flavors.

M - Medium body, carbonation but the finish is a nightmare.

This beer had great potential but is clearly a nightmare. The artificial smoke flavor could cause divorces. It's atrocious. I'm pissed that I spent $15 on this crap.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 03:28:58 | More by StaveHooks

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

1.53/5  rDev -48%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

P: Reddish copper body adorned by a bubbly froth of off white head.

S: Smells like WaffleHouse. Smoky, brown sugared bacon, maple syrup, and pancake batter. Heavy artificial smoke.

T/M: Follows the nose but is watered down. Again with the heavy artificial smoke and a dash of hops. Mouthfeel is medium and subtly carbonated. Don't even care to describe the finish.

O: Terribly awful. The artificial smoke kills anything that could have even been presented as a reputable beer. Can you say "Drain Pourer?"

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 03:28:54 | More by Hopswagger

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

75cl

Pours a amber brown, yellowish fine head half an inch, dissipates slowly and looks pillowy.

Smells smokey with hints of mild bacon and slight sweet maple.

Tastes of mildly bitter hops, average caramel malts, and roasted coffee. Maple notable in the aftertaste. No real bacon element to the taste.

Medium to thin body with tingly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

I wish there was more maple and bacon in the flavor on this one. It comes across as a bit bland in the taste despite good appearance and aroma. Body is a little underwhelming. It's not a bad beer, but it feels like it would have benefited from being a bit stronger, maybe around 8 or 9 abv. I understand it was originally supposed to be a porter as well; that would have been a better style for this. Ultimately, I'm enjoying this beer and I'm glad I bought it, but given that maple and bacon feature more prominently on the label than in the flavor and the fact that this was fairly pricey, I can only classify this as a bit of a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 23:02:51 | More by Cylinsier

sukwonee

Washington

3.55/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Ok, so this is not as bad as what some folks mentioned below (imo) but it is certainly not my favorite type of beer... In short, it tastes like eating campfire smoke.

A: Medium brown color body with 2 finger frothy white head that retains.

S: It smells like campfire...

T: It starts off with a little bit of malt and slight hops taste and then all smoke... It's not actually very complex as the name suggests. It tastes little bit like beer at first and finishes off with campfire wood taste, burnt char...

M: Good amount of carbonation, dry finish.

O: Interesting, but I won't be having this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 01:42:28 | More by sukwonee

JackieTH

Minnesota

2.38/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Voodoo doughnut. Pink bottle. Claims of maple bacon and such. In reality it's cigarettes and pancakes. It's like eating breakfast in a blue haze, then rinsing the plates, the ashtrays, and drinking the dishwater. Yuck. The smell is passably good however my advice is to avoid this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 22:47:06 | More by JackieTH

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Voodoo Donut Maple Bacon Ale
Rogue Ales

LOOK: Unassuming enough, clear brownish ale with an off white head. Leaves some lace on the glass. Surprising that the beer had any head at all claiming that oily bacon was used in the brewing process, which is not conducive to good head retention, but hey, they made it work here.

SMELL: Sweet baked maple, some smoke, more from roasted, smokey malts giving off a meaty aroma, possibly some bacon. Sweet, a touch of coffee, some maple, and more sweet.

TASTE: Upfront maple sweetness, giving way to an earthy smoke, some meat elements, and then finishing with a vanilla maple sweetness. Herbal, mildly citric and somewhat bitter hops kind of lost here. Sweet maple with a touch of smoke and coffee. Medium bodied ale with a strong carbonation. The maple/vanilla sweetness sticks with you. This is what your breath should smell like on the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 05:18:24 | More by Stinkypuss

kcopelan002

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This was an extremely different beer. There was lots of wood taste and almost to overbearing. It ws hard to try to get passed the wood. I could taste faint hints of maple. Over all this beer is a bit desieving and was a disappointment. I was expecting something sweet and got something completly different

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 03:31:51 | More by kcopelan002

far333

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Slightly hazed and honey amber colored with a frothy, fluffy eggshell-colored head that lingers long. Strong aroma of maple syrup, faint smoke. Interesting range of flavors starting with maple syrup, phenolic smoke, woody notes. A tad sweet, mild bitterness mostly contributed by the smoke. Full mouthfeel, moderate carbonation, a bit tannic. Interesting sipper.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:19:10 | More by far333

bergdj

Colorado

1.4/5  rDev -52.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

I wasn't sure about this when I bought it but figured i had to try it as a bacon lover. Strong smoke and maple on the nose. Being a Rogue beer it tastes well made, the smokey flavor is overwhelming though. I think with A LOT less of the smoke it may be an interesting beer. I found the smoke to really overpower the other flavors. I don't let much beer go to waste but I'm not sure I can finish this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:06:08 | More by bergdj

williamjbauer

West Virginia

2.38/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Bottled served in a Sam Adams glass, tasting with EC and Z.

A - clear copper amber with 1 finger khaki head with moderate retention and poor lacing, bubbly.

S - maple syrup, bacon, smoke.

T - really neat maple and smokey noted into funky menthol cigarettes, fading quickly, with some mint, smoked sausage, oaky, birch, smoked woods to finish with moderate booze.

M - light body, moderate carbonation.

O - one of my least favorite beers in a while, though ambitious, I will stick to the voodoo dounuts and pass on this grotesque monstrosity.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 12:04:46 | More by williamjbauer

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an Arrogant Bastard Ale Pint glass. Pours a hazy coppery amber with a one finger off-white head with good retention and lots of lacing. Active carbonation. The aroma is almost exactly like a pancake with bacon and maple syrup on top (I've never seen or smelled a bacon donut, but I expect it's similar). Uncanny. So, to be technical, bready malt, bacon and maple syrup with sweet smoke aroma. Flavor is smoke, sweet malt with smoked meat, finishing somewhat starkly with a long smoke house aftertaste. Medium bodied, seems a little thin. The flavor combination is actually interesting, but I don't think the malt and ABV support the concept. I'm not sure if a bomber of a higher alcohol version of this would even be drinkable, but I think it would be a better beer. On the other hand, I bought this with a lot of trepidation and it was certainly fun and drinkable. I found the aftertaste, where the maple flavor became more distinct and really is reminiscent of stepping into to an old, long used and aged smoke house, to be the best part. I'm glad I tried this, but I hope they try a small format, stronger one next time.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 04:43:12 | More by LiquidAmber

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a very artsy 22-oz. bomber into a plain, tumbler pint glass.

A: Poured a bright, copper color with ample carbonation beneath a fizzy, one-finger head of bubbly foam which left pretty weak lacing.

S: Enough liquid smoke and meaty sweetness that I can only akin to a ham steak smothered in maple syrup. Aggravating the head with a swirl makes the sweetness more pronounced. Intriguing at least.

T: Smoky and sweet at first, the brew takes on a bit of an acrid quality, as I don't think there's much besides the smoke and meat flavors to hold up the flavor. Smoked, woody, bacon and Maypo flavors collide and was down with a bitter aftertaste that lingers with the smoked meat flavor.

M: Medium bodied and slightly metallic, the malt profile lets down a bit in the overall feel and flavor of this beer.

O: As interesting as this beer sounds, I would likely never have it again. You really have to think if its mostly a marketing ploy behind this ale that's the driving force, and not a true desire to craft something distinct and sustainably flavorful. The 5.6% ABV and one-dimensional, albeit unconventional, nature of this lumberjack-pleasing brew make it an amusing beer to sample.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 22:11:41 | More by Gambrinus1184

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.83/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a balloon glass.

The beer pours a hazy amber-burnt orange. A cream colored head recedes to a fine film. Initially, thick foamy lacing sticks to the glass.

The smell, as can only be described, is smokey bacon. Lots of bacon. And some fried bacon after that. Traces of sweet maple syrup pierce through, faintly.

The taste starts out with a faint sweetness,almost undetectable. After that, a woody, smokey burnt firewood body comes through, leading into a real smokey, bacon finish. This beer really does taste like it's advertised, although the maple is not in there enough to add balance.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with an almost watery finish?

Overall, not enough balance, but kudos on allowing me to drink bacon. That was kind of cool, actually.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 02:14:57 | More by JuicesFlowing

soughtbygod

California

1/5  rDev -66%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Drain poor,

I really wanted to enjoy this beer, and smoked beers are not that bad IMHO, but this beer was just no pleasant at all, I really had a hard time getting past the wierd combo of sweet and smoke, anyway no big deal, not a fan of Rouge anyhow.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 23:12:18 | More by soughtbygod