Rogue - Santa's Private Reserve Ale

Jolly Dead Elf

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Santa's Private Reserve Ale
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brown color on pour with red tones.
Pine scent of hops with some malt in the aroma.
Tan/caramel  head with some retention.
Light carbonation with balanced malt and hops taste.
Medium  to heavy bodied, fairly complex flavors.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Not spiced at all as most winter and Christmas brews. The malt and hops play well together.  There is something else going on in the background that I can seem to identify.  But good to be sure.  A nice one for the holidays and a nicer one to share with some of your elves.  It does have a heaviness and I found it might be tough to session.  Well, thank goodness Christmas only comes once a year.

The malt/caramel/toffee taste comes out after a bright splash of hops when you first sip.  A bit unusual, but I liked it.  Also, this ale takes a different tack from most of the dryer and spiced beverages we find at Christmas time. It's still on the dry side, and a bit more malt sweetness would have worked  better for my tastes.

I must have been a good boy as Santa brought this early, this year.