I am going to reserve the right to revisit this beer at anytime and change my review. Now, I don't need to even say that it's my blog I can change anything i want anytime I want I suppose. But, as the poor shot to the right is to be entered as evidence item A. it is a bit fuzzy and my background is slipping of the rail. That's because this was beer six of the may 16th beer-a-thon and I was starting to to get a bit wrecked.
So the thing about Rogue that makes me always give them the benefit of the doubt is Dead Guy is really good. Many of the craft and micro brewed beers have an easy drinking boring beer up front. New Belgium for example has half a dozen somewhat available beers that are rather good to great, but the number one that every bar carries and even jewel and Dominick's (supplant big chain grocery here depending on region) always carry is fat tire which is mediocre at best. Rogue goes the other way dead guy has a great rye character and complex aroma, it is not for the masses. So I gave rogue's chipotle a shot even though hot pepper beer is something i have yet to be really excited about. I love spicy food, seriously love it. I had a local Indian restaurant remember me by name since i told them the vindaloo was not hot enough. The cook tells the waitress oh no that man does not get the white man spicy he has the tongue oh a Indian for sure. But, i don't understand the want for hot and spicy beer, I keep the beer there for when the spicy gets to me that's is how they go together, when the beer is the spicy i enter the vicious cycle of burn, sip, relieve, burn worse, sip. A real joker of a friend ordered me some very spicy habanero beer one night with out mentioning what it was after I was largely into some fairly spicy Texas chili. so i thought "this chili's got some kick to it great, a sip of beer will cool me for a second." and the vicious cycle begins with me confused as to how the second half of my chili is so much freaking hotter than the first. I may look smart kids but don't be fooled there is a pic of my face next to gullible in the dictionary.
The problem with any pepper beer and chipotle is no exception is the pepper can't really exist in the beer in your mouth. you don't get the salty tang a pepper provides, malt and alcohol the acid in hops all neutralize the heats qualities. But capsaicin hangs out in the mouth way better than those things. so what the beer doesn't beat is left to heat you up. to me this is like a parlor trick "here cool refreshing beer yay! what's that feel like you've been eating Mexican food? haha that's because there is magic spice in them thar beers!" OK so I've made my point time to stop beating the horse he's dead, simply the flavors don't play with each other the exist only in opposing forces like Hatfield's and McCoys. Beer is about Harmony and balance not competition. Rogue chipotle has a medium mouth feel, fairly malty but not so much as to be sweet, and pretty low in hops. a fine beer if nothing special, classic and enjoyable. but of course the aftertaste is dominated by this uninvited heat from out of the blue. In Rogues defense they tried to bring the heat down to a pretty reasonable level making it a interesting additional flavor not a searing heat that overpowers the whole experience. I recognize the attempt and think they succeeded, but it still doesn't work for me the flavor doesn't make much sense. It's like this I love Italian beef sandwiches. (those of you who live far enough from Chicago you don't know what this is you're missing out for real! and it is nothing like a Philly I don't care what people say) and there is no better drink to go with one, and I'm aware I'm departing from what I generally think to be the best drink, than lemonade. But if anyone ever starts making a beef and garlic flavored lemonade I'm not interested.
Now in there attempt to dial it down they also lost the one thing that attracts me to spicy pepper beers, the burn. I have yet to find one I like, but I find them intriguing and continue to try them because I'm a spice lover. My face hurts from the heat that's what I'm talking about! but chipotle ale doesn't get anywhere near it it's hot like medium buffalo wings or Tabasco on eggs, yeah heat but nothing powerful. Then why do such a wacky thing and not really go on a limb? I think a good choice for a pepper beer would be a sweet dark stout with real chocolaty finish, like Mexican hot cocoa. Now that is a beer I'll be excited to try.
All in all Rogue took a shot at something it wasn't a big success, but it doesn't suck. It is still clearly a quality beer brewed by knowledgeable and skilled people, but they failed this time. That said you may have noticed some red text, it is my visual review, this like pepper in the beer is the part that really doesn't belong in the beer review. so I'll finish up completely of topic and just let everyone know this past week i got stock on a motorcycle that i was trying to drive through a doorway. My small person on a giant bike stuck face and fairing in the door but and taillights on the sidewalk, legs pinned to the engine and nobody around to help me. I was quite a laugh for passers by. For your info I am safe as is the bike not so much the door. so feel free to laugh at the mental image as much as you like.
and for my next trick a beer that tastes like pickles
dan
No comments:
Post a Comment