Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.2%

From: Newport, Oregon, United States of America

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney, United Kingdom

http://rogue.com/

It rarely snows here in the UK, so when it does everyone will be out making snowmen or sledging. Once the melt begins to start, strange yellow snow begins to appear. Being a playful little scamp, I would often enjoyed winding my mum up by pretending to eat the yellow snow. Once, the snow got rather to close for comfort and ended up with a small, gritty chunk in my mouth. Quite frankly, it tasted disgusting and I finally understood why my mum was so freaked out every time I tested her. So forever scarred from this memory, I really hope this beer does not taste like the real thing.

Rogue Ales is an American craft brewery founded in 1988 in Ashland, Oregon. The following year the company opened their second brewpub in Newport, Oregon where they are now headquartered. They operate brewpubs in Oregon, Washington, and California. Rogue exports throughout the US and internationally. Rogue Ales have been described as "invariably fun and full flavored". The company's offerings are popular with critics and craft beer aficionados and have been major award winners in worldwide competitions.

Colour: pours a bright straw yellow complete with a brilliant, snow bite head. It really looks like yellow snow has been melted down and bottled (let's hope it does not taste like it!). As I drunk this beer straight from the fridge, a slight bit of chill hazing in, is also present in the glass.

Aroma: The nose is Full of tart gooseberries and juicy clementines notes to start. As the drink warms these fruity note being to dwindle to slowly reveal notes of slightly burnt sugar or caramel. Certainly a nose of two halves.

Body: Surprisingly dense for an IPA. This beer will flood your taste buds and clog the back of the throat. The surprising level of bitterness ensures that this clogging sensation endures during your entire drinking experience.

Taste: The nose translates into the taste. The aforementioned juicy clementines and tart gooseberries dominate the palate. The dryness of the gooseberries are complemented by the hop acid to help produce an unbelievably dry, slightly herbal finish. It feels as if a shot of Jagermeister has been added to this beer. As this IPA warms, the characteristics change dramatically. The caramel notes from the nose being to appear along with a subtle hits of wood. Delicious! For me this is another case of ensuring you drink a beer at the correct temperature. Take this beer out of the fridge and leave it on the side for fifteen minutes. This will ensure all the flavours are present in every sip, helping to increase your enjoyment.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/kona-brewing-company-castaway-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/anchor-brewing-old-foghorn.html

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Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn

Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn

Style: Barley Wine

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: San Francisco, California, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney, United Kingdom
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

A while back, me and Kevin decided to spend a lazy afternoon "researching" at one of our favourite pubs, The White Horse  in Parsons Green. After a few opening beers, he tried a cracking Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and I indulged in a warming Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn Barleywine. Now there are not many beers that stick out in my mind that day (due to the quantity!), but this was one of them. Since that day, we have scoured each and every beer shop we've visited for it but to no avail, until last wednesday when Kev surprised me with a lovely bunch of flowers and- you've guessed it- the highly coveted Old Foghorn Barleywine. What a guy!

Upon researching this beauty, it transpires that Anchor Brewing comes from San Francisco and is apparently Old Foghorn is handmade in small batches, following a Ye Old English recipe. This was the very first Barleywine style beer to be brewed in the US which helps to make it a pretty appealing. According to their website, all three malt-mashes are needed to make just one barley wine brew, and they only use the "first wort" which is the 'first runnings' of said mash. I am intrigued to see if this beer still stands up to my fond first impressions of it- so lets have a try!

Colour: This beer pours a murky mahogany colour with a tan head. The head disappears quickly to the sides of the glass, and the cloudiness clears to a reveal a rich, ruby red depth.

Aroma: This beer smells like autumn and it takes me a few seconds to work why. It reminds me of Halloween Toffee Apples and the slight smokiness of Bonfire Night. Notes of spices, orange and rum soaked raisins emanate from its surface.

Body: It has a gentle level of carbonation which washes the flavours from the front to the back of the tongue pleasingly. You can feel it coat the roof of your mouth and warm your insides. The alcohol is not overwhelming despite its high content, and blends perfectly with the dry finish to this beer.

Taste: Spicy, sweet notes of cinnamon, toffee and rum-soaked raisins dominate the palate. This is a great after-dinner beer, or perhaps even a mid-afternoon beer, as I can see it going very well with a slice of carrot cake. The malty sweetness cuts through its dry edge and culminates in a beer thats very easy to drink indeed. The taste of the alcohol is still there, but just serves to give it an extra 'kick' in my opinion. By the end of the bottle I am smiling and remembering just why this beer has been on my wish list for some time now. If I was giving out gold stars then this would get one for sure!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/nogne-o-100.html
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/redchurch-brewery-soreditch-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery