New Crustacean Barleywineish Imperial IPA Sorta 11.6% ABV
(uhh given the name, you tell me)
Rogue Ales
If I had to do a blind taste test on this beer to decipher what it was, I would be at a complete loss. Hell, I’m staring right at the bottle while smelling and tasting it, and I’m still having trouble figuring out exactly what it is that I’m drinking. It’s good, that much I do know.
The color of the beer without prior knowledge would lead me to believe it an IPA; but the Barley wine part of the beer, gives it a unique hue, similar to a cloudy Hefeweizen but not quite.
The nose starts off having a hoppy IPA scent, but then the Barley wine aroma intermingles making it sweet smelling. Again confusion on all levels.
Then the taste. I was expecting a potent unpredictableness that I assumed would be too much. I was worried it would be overly bitter, reminiscent of the Stone Old Guardian.
I was shocked. They managed to perfectly balance this beer. There are hints of IPA but it melds with the sweeter Barley wine flavor, making it a beer unique unto itself. Though a very pricey bottle I’m very glad I bought it. This may turn into a yearly purchase for me.
This beer could be dangerous, as for a Barley wine it is quite light and for an Imperial IPA it is not overly bitter. The mixture makes it almost too easy to drink. Not to say that it is an easy drinking beer but for what it is, at 11.6% ABV, it goes down on the same level of a 7% ABV Ale.
I can’t get over the coloration. It seems normal but when held up to the light there is an almost orange tint.
I must say that if you consider yourself a beer snob and have any affinity for Imperial IPAs and Barley wines you should buy a bottle. Even if you are a fan of only one category it is worth trying this out just to see what an incredibly unique style defying beer can taste like.
What I have now spent hundreds of words trying to explain Rogue has succinctly summed up in their 5 word motto for this beer: “Just drink it and Enjoy!”
365 Brew 