Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale
With the 'green' movement in full swing, Rogue contiues to challenge themselves with this OREgasmic Ale derived from home grown ingredients. OREgasmic pours with the classic Rogue look of burnish amber which carries a medium-heavy haze. Malty-rich froathiness provides an eggshell colored head that forms, retains, and laces extremely well. All sorts of decorative patterns remain on the glass, long after the beer falls. Balanced aromas of malt and hops sing the praises of a well made pale ale, however the character seem as much English as American. Caramel rich with the depth of English malts but without the biscuity scent. Pine and citrus give an earthy, spicy note rather than the strict citrus notes of American ales. Still, the beer's true malt aroma shines with the balance of noble aromatic hops, and a burst of fruity esters for a measure of complexity. Medium caramel sweetness carries the early taste while the follow of hops deliver flavors of pine, fresh cut grass, and mint before leaving with a leafy bitterness that's slightly resiny. Medium attenuation leaves just enough sweetness to keep the brunt of 40 IBU's in check. Estery-hoppy with appricots, over-rippened red apples, tangerine, and white grapefruit leads to a fruity and sharp finish. OREgasmic carries a heafty malty weight early and resides to only a semi-dry finish late. While never reaching complete dryness, there's a closure that makes the beer appealing in a more rustic and grassy way. Minty-cool evaporation occurs as the alcohol teases the palate while the grassy bite of hops create a dull spicy ending. While the beer straddles the fence of what's expected from English and American pale ales, this is what Rogue does with nearly all their beers. It keeps them in the conversation of both but prevents them from acclaim for either. And, that signature pacman yeast has such an influence that all their beers taste nearly the same. Though this was a fine beer, no orgasm was ever reached, induced, encoraged, or denied in this review.