Hazelnut Brown Nectar
I had this Nectar following a rather mediocre nut brown ale from another well-known craft brewery in the Northwest. Even so, the Rogue offering would have stood on its own even after another top-notch beer. The mahogany color and deep tan were enticing enough even before the nose absorbed the nutty maltiness of this brew. I feared that the hazelnut extract would be overpowering. Instead, it complemented the nuttiness of the malts. All around excellent, but the bitterness from Cascade and Saaz, two favorites of mine, clashed slightly from what should have been a very smooth and rich ale of the dessert kind.