Rogue Brewery Chatoe Rogue First Growth Creek Ale

It was a long work day, so I'm rewarded myself with one of my more expensive and exotic beers waiting on hand... one of the many specialty brews from Rogue Brewery.  Rogue Brewery has always been an interesting brewery to me because it started right here in Southern Oregon (Ashland, to be precise) but has since grown up and moved to Newport. with an offshoot in Portland.  In a market saturated by IPAs, Rogue stands out through it's signature Rogue Dead Guy, a Maibock style ale, and a myriad of left field winners to challenge beer drinkers looking for something different.

If you every get the chance, visit either the Newport or Portland brewery and pub house and enjoy the amazing food (Kobe Bleu Ball sliders will blow your mind), intimidating beer menu, and quirky character they each bring.  This is a beer blog, so I won't go into detail, but if you enjoy fine spirits and you haven't tried their Rogue Spirits line of whiskey, gin, and rum you are missing out on one of the finest boutique hard alcohol experiences I've found for a reasonable price.

All this brings us to the Chatoe Rogue First Growth Creek Ale...

Although beer, like art, should be able to stand on it's own merit without context, the story behind the First Growth Creek Ale is too good to pass over.  Part of Rogue Brewing's GYO (Grow Your Own) series, this beer is brewed using Rogue's own hops and barley (they proudly list the eight ingredients used to make the ale as Wheat, Rogue Barley from their Dare and Risk malts, Rogue Hopyard Revolution hops, Montmorency cherries, Pacman and Belgian yeast, and free range coastal water).  And yes... that's cherries in the list of ingredients. 

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Creek Ale poured into the glass a cloudy red-brown with a small but creamy head that slowly pulled away to reveal a wine-like separation where the beer met the edge of the glass.  The nose was pleasant and smelled like a subtly smoked lambic.  Although not too dark in color, the beer was thick enough that the bubbles seemed to be rising to the top in slow motion.

The first impression in the mouth certainly mirrored the lambic nose, momentarily slightly sour and only subtly hopped.  Left to sit for a few seconds, the beer seemed to almost expand and foam in my mouth through chemical reaction.  It wasn't until I swallowed that a finely balanced, medium bodied malt ale came through, very refreshing and leaving just a hint of cherry at the end with without sweetness, the bitterness of the hops, or the smokiness of the malts lingering.

I'm not a fan of most fruit enhanced beer, but I put this in a different category... this ale isn't about being a cherry ale, it's about being a great malty ale with cherry accentuating it's best features.  This is one of those beers (like several of theirs, including the Rogue Chipotle Ale and Rogue Chocolate Stout) that are too quirky and rich to be consumed regularly but are the beer drinker's equivalent of ambrosia when consumed only a few times a year. Find a bottle, pour, and get ready to slide into the weekend...

ABV 7.7
IBU 25
OG N/A
TG 1.015

Rogue Distillery & Public House Tasting (Portland, OR)

Rogue Brewing’s downtown Portland Portland Rogue Distillery & Public House is a must visit every time I am in Portland, and this time was no expection.  The Kobe burgers alone are worth the price of admission, and bartending stalwart Corey always keeps things entertaining (and thankfully enforces the “No Cellphone Use at the Bar” policy.  In addition to a few Rogue rarities, they were featuring exotic offerings from their newest sister-brewery, Buckman Brewery.

Rogue John John Juniper Ale

The ale opened with an extremely creamy, smooth malt profile spiced by fruity hops.  A persistent but slight bitterness came through after the ale settled, and once the juniper came through it gained prominence and lingered in the fade.  The gin-barrel aging certainly added layers of dimension to the ale.

Rogue XS I2PA Imperial IPA

The Imperial IPA opened with a Pliny-like in fruitiness.  The sweet malt profile was somewhat marred by the taste of pine tar, ultimately keeping the beer from being more than “good”.

Buckman Black Saison

The flavor of this ale was rather light in the typical saison aspects (not much banana, pepper, clove, or horse blanket) but had a pleasant roasted malt core to it.  This ale was much more like a black lager with a dusty finish than a saison.

Rogue Double Chocolate Stout

Huge milk chocolate flavor… that’s about all there is to say.  A little thick, semi-sweet.

Buckman Jasmine Mead

This mead was floral, perfumey, and big on honey.  It was also light, crisp, and dry in the fade.

Buckman Chamellow Pale Ale

This ale, a standard pale with chamomile added, exhibited a combination of bubblegum and barny yeast on the front and a dusty, slightly funky fade.

Rogue Brutal IPA

I believe this ale was originally called a “Bitter”, which is a more fitting description than IPA, but I suppose the hopping was just aggressive enough to turn off dedicated bitter drinkers. 

Rogue Mole

My bartended chose a beer cocktail for my last taster, the Rogue Mole.  The Rogue Mole is about 90% Rogue Chipotle Ale and 10% Rogue Chocolate Stout, and is amazing.  I enjoy both the beers used on their own, but they were SO much more when combined.  A highlight of the tasting.

Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale

Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale, a dry hopped red ale Rogue dedicates to the Japanese Wagyu bull Fuku (who’s offspring supposedly make up a large share of the American Kobe Beef Rogue serves), poured a chill-hazed crimson into the glass, topped with an orange head fed by mild carbonation.  The nose carried sweet, mildly roasted malts complimented by a commiserate amount of piney, citrus hops.

Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Ale opened moderately sweet, with a balance of bitterness that brought out flavors of toffee and dark berries.  The middle of the ale centered around the malt, with caramel and sweet pastry notes coming through.  As the ale faded, the hops turned from grapefruit rind to pine needles, leaving a lingering, resinous bitterness.

Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale is fairly restrained for the style. For my tastes, the dry hopping didn’t add enough aromatics (unless the bottle I tried is older than I think), and the hop flavors, while well balanced with the malt and yeast, could have used more definition.  

Rogue John John Juniper Pale Ale and Rogue Pink Spruce Whiskey

Another John John pairing from Rogue Brewing, I poured Rogue John John Juniper Ale, pale ale brewed with juniper berries and aged in oak barrels used for aging gin, alongside their Rogue Spirits Pink Spruce Gin.  


Rogue Spirits Pink Spruce Gin poured a dull, pink-tinged golden hue into the glass, with a strong nose of juniper, grapefruit, lime, and a sharp alcohol bite.  Drank, Rogue Pink Spruce Gin tasted like a sweet greyhound, with grapefruit leading aver juniper and a noticeable pink lemonade flavor.  


Rogue Brewing John John Spruce Ale poured a clear golden color with subtle pink highlights into the glass with heavy carbonation feeding a tight, white head.  The nose carried forward notes of juniper and hops, but they were pretty subdued.  John John Spruce Ale drank like a more resinous, light bodied IPA than a pale ale, and the juniper only showed up in the lingering, slightly bitter end.


The ale and gin certainly shared common territory, but there was a softness and creaminess to the John John Juniper Ale (likely from the oaking) that made it not sit beside the Rogue Pink Spruce Gin as well as I hoped. Both are excellent on their own, however.

Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale and Rogue Spirits Hazelnut Spice Rum

A final pairing for the year of ales and spirits from Rogue Brewing; Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale, their Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale aged in the barrel used to condition their Rogue Spirits Hazelnut Spice Rum, which I poured alongside it.  


Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale (pictured above), poured a dark, hazed brown into the glass and led with a distinct Pacman yeast tartness over toasted, dry malts, some citric hops, and subtle hazelnut undertones.  Drank, the Pacman yeast zing was thankfully more subdued, letting dry cereal and a touch of sweet nuttiness lead the charge.  The ale ended on a long, dusty linger where the hazelnut most stood out alongside a touch of oak.


Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale (pictured below), poured similar to the John John version, with a bit more tartness at the front of the tongue, more milk chocolate flavors in the middle, and significantly stronger hazelnut flavors accompanying the sweet fade.


Rogue Spirits Hazelnut Spice Rum carried forward a wonderfully dry hazelnut aroma, with bakers chocolate and just a hint of banana in the background.  The rum drank sweet and smooth, with banana opening the experience but quickly offset by a distinct hazelnut dryness.  I'm not a fan of spiced rums as a rule, but this was outstanding.

Of the two beers, I found myself liking (and disliking) them each for different reasons.  The John John Hazelnut Ale was softer and seemed primed for more hazelnut than it brought to the table, whereas the standard Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale was sweeter and more lively, but carried forward more yeast twang.  For me, the star of the show was the Hazelnut Spice Rum, which I plan to occasionally revisit as a warm winter sipper.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager

Another Cascadian Dark Ale, this time from Rogue and their new Chatoe Rogue GYO (Grow Your Own) line, Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager.  The philosophy is simple... grow your own ingredient, let the people taste the difference in the ale.

Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager poured a thick, lumpy head the color of chocolate mousse over a chalky, black body that didn't pass any light though.  The nose was predominately coffee, with hints of hazelnut and oregano.

Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager opened clean and crisp, with lemongrass and some floral notes, but quickly thickened into a dark chocolate center that sweetened and became more milky as the ale lingered in my mouth.  The ale ended either the creamy taste of milk chocolate and espresso.

Another stellar Cascadian Dark Ale, Rogue's Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager comes off a bit cleaner and lighter than others in the same style, being possibly a bit more thirst quenching than its thicker counter parts.

Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale

It's Christmas, baby!  Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale, a double hopped red ale brewed by Rogue Brewing for the Holiday season, poured a hazy red in the glass with highlights of burnt orange and brick in the densest parts of the glass topped with a short lived, sticky head.  The nose carried forward a light malt sweetness that complimented the Chinook hops' spicy spruce aroma.


Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale opened with the signature Rogue Pacman yeast crispness over a malty body that tasted like a breadier version of their Dead Guy Ale.  The crispness gave way to a biscuit and pizza dough middle and revealed a subtle rind bitterness in the background.  The ale dried and cleaned up significantly in the fade.


Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale was likely selected as the Rogue X-mas ale because of the rich, holiday inferring red hue of the ale, but that doesn't stop it from being a delicious showing of Rogue malts and yeast.

Rogue Mom Hefeweizen

Today was brew day, with five groups of people brewing six batches of beer under the shelter of a (closed for the season) Haunted House!  I brewed a Cascadian Dark Ale and a Hefeweizen with a tiny bit of orange rind thrown in for good measure.  Both were fermenting fantastically a few hours after they were put into primary, fingers crossed.

One of the best things about collaborative brew days is getting to drink all the different home (and commercial) brews folks bring.  It’s hard to pick one to highlight as the taste of the day, but I am going to default to Rogue Brewery and their Rogue Mom Hefeweizen, a hefeweizen brewed with ginger and coriander. 

Rogue Mom Hefeweizen poured an almost transparent yellow-amber into the glass, its sticky white head fed by a fair amount of carbonation streaming from the bottom of the glass.  The nose was bright and citrusy, with some ginger possibly making it through, and was surprisingly light on wheat presence. 

Rogue Mom Hefeweizen opened really light, carbonated with lemon and honey notes.  The body of the ale settled into a slightly more earthy tone, both the ginger and coriander beings surprisingly understated for a Rogue beer, and none of the cloying, yeast-wheat combo many hefeweizens bring to the table.  The ale ended on a slightly spicy note; smooth and dry.

Rogue Mom Hefeweizen is an interesting divergence from the traditional hefeweizen; it is chewier and heavier than many of the traditional American-style hefeweizens and drier and less fruity than a traditional Euro-style hefeweizen.  Rogue Mom is more likely to please causal fans of hefeweizen (such as myself) than a hefeweizen purist, but at the end of the day it is an enjoyable, lighter option for a warm day (or some spicy food).

And for those that know the brew crew-

Rogue Juniper Pale Ale

Another offering from Rogue Brewing, I'm rebelling against an Irish Stout for St. Patrick's day, but I'll settle for the green-blue of juniper and start my celebration of "Amateur Drinking Night" with Rogue Juniper Pale Ale.

Rogue Juniper Pale Ale poured a saffron-gold into the glass, topped by a thing, sticky white head and invigorated with significant carbonation. The nose was strong and piny and hinted at gin (undoubtedly the juniper), with an underlying sweetness of candied fruit.

Rogue Juniper Pale Ale hit the palette clean and crisp... no real sweetness the thicken in the mouth.  Pine, juniper, and a slightly sweet bread  backbone.  The middle of the ale was a little dusty, dry and evergreen-centric.  Juniper Pale Ale has an uniquely interesting "second wind", where after each drink there is an unexpected swell of juniper and pine.  Rogue uses the word "spicy" to describe the finish, and I can't argue... the ale ended on a spice-filled, but not aggressive, note.

I wouldn't say Rogue Juniper Pale Ale is a complex beer... in fact, it isn't.  What it is is a fantastic twist on a classic style.  The juniper is more felt than tasted, and the ale drinks amazingly smooth and easy.

Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale Whiskey Barrel-Aged

Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale, a collaboration between Rogue Brewmaster John Maier and Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot, poured a hazy light copper into the glass with little carbonation and not much head to speak of.  The nose carried through malt sweetness (something like an Imperial Maibock), some fruit, and just a hint of oak.

Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale opened slightly heavy on the sweet malt with notes of Rogue’s signature yeast, and settled into a chewy body with more carbonation that expected.  The oak and whiskey were surprisingly light (lighter than in previous batches I’ve tried), and subtle to the point of barely being detected.  The ale ended on a sweet malt and dry whiskey fade.

Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale is, like most of their brews, a great beer.  That said, I would have preferred they used the Double Dead Guy as the base beer for something a little bigger and more aggressive, especially considering the high price tag. 

Rogue Brewing Mogul Madness Winter Ale

The finish-line is near as I power through the last of my more treasured and held-onto winter seasonals.  Today’s subject; Rogue Brewery’s Rogue Mogul Madness Ale.

Rogue Mogul Madness Ale, Rogue’s winter seasonal offering, poured a murky brown-orange topped by an off-yellow, creamy head.  The nose was flowery pine, brown sugar, and some smoke buried way in the background. 

Rogue Mogul Madness hit my palette thick but refreshing, invigorated enough by carbonation to add dimension to a body of candied walnuts, dried berries, and chewy campfire smoke.  The earthier flavors seems to stand out the further the beer lingered, and the ale ended with a brown sugar and raisin fade with a bit of rind bitterness on the close. 

Rogue Mogul Madness touches on many beer varietals (hop profile of a pale ale, dark malt profile of a porter,   some of the earthier characteristics of an English ale), but is best enjoyed for what it is… a well balanced and complex winter offering from one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier breweries.  

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale, the newest addition toe Rogue's rapidly expanding GYO (Grow Your Own) Chatoe Rogue series,  poured a deep orange with a thin, beige-orange head.  The nose presented a nicely balanced and understated pumpkin pie spice over a sweet but toasty and dry malt aroma.  


Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale opened earthy and dry in the mouth, with a semi-sweet pumpkin flesh and malt flavor leading the charge.  Cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, cloves, and nutmegs come through well balanced but delicately added; never taking over the malts.  The ale faded slightly dusty and spicy, drying out completely by the end.


Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale is a tasty, fun way to celebrate the Fall season, and Rogue should be commended; both for growing their own pumpkins and for the tasteful addition of spices to the ale. Crack one open with me... it's Halloween!

Rogue American Amber Ale

Rogue Brewery made their name through unique takes on beers, so today I’m challenging them to peak my interest with a style I’m somewhat lukewarm towards… the amber ale.  With guarded optimism I’m opening a bottle of Rogue American Amber Ale and settling in for the evening.

 Rogue American Amber Ale was a pleasant rosewood color in the glass; medium carbonation feeding to a thin, off-white head.  The nose was surprisingly floral for an amber, indicative of the emphasis on hops Rogue brought when crafting the ale, with faint roasted coffee notes.

Rogue American Amber Ale drank with a carbonated citrus front.  The floral notes in the nose made a brief appearance as the carbonation mellowed into a dry, toast finish.  Simple and sweet (well… not the flavor!).

If my tasting notes seem brief, it’s not a reflection of quality.  Rogue Brewery Amber Ale is supremely drinkable and will please typical amber drinkers and coax hop-heads like myself over to the malt side.

Rogue Brewing Jazz Guy Ale 2010 Edition

Rogue Brewing has been providing support to the Portland jazz scene for years with it's Rogue Jazz Guy Ale.  Apparently, the actual ale changes from year to year... usually just a re-branding of one of their regular offerings, so I took up the challenge to try to guess what the 2010 edition of their charitable-beer is.

Rogue Brewing Jazz Guy Ale (2010) poured a well carbonated and slightly cloudy orange into the glass under a lumpy, thick off-white head.  The nose was very "Rogue", with their signature Dare malt and Pacman yeast, and there was an undertone of candied fruit.

Rogue Brewing Jazz Guy Ale, true to appearances, had a well-carbonated front the slid into a somewhat smeary body with lots of competing bread flavors falling somewhere between a golden ale and a brown ale (citrus and coriander notes as well).  Jazz Guy Ale was dry throughout.  The ale ended with an aftertaste of popcorn and pizza dough.

Tasting Rogue Brewing Jazz Guy Ale was a fun experiment in walking into a tasting with blinders on.  I'm pretty sure it falls in line with a golden ale style, but can find nothing on their website or ingredient lists to corroborate this.  As a golden ale, it maintains complexity while being incredibly easy to drink.  Not my favorite style, but certainly a great entry.

Rogue Chipotle Ale

Beer and spicy food… pretty much describes some of my favorite eating experiences.  Is spicy beer the logical next step?  Rogue Brewery apparently thought so, and it’s my duty to take the challenge with Rogue Chipotle Ale.

Rogue Chipotle Ale was a clear, dark orange hue in the glass with ample carbonation capped with a thin, lumpy head.  The nose had the smoky, metallic earthiness I associate with chipotle peppers, which was distinct enough to mask any other fragrances I would typically associate with an ale. 

The brief citrus hopped opening of Rogue Chipotle Ale, reminiscent of a good pale ale, quickly was overtaken by smoky chipotle.  The earthier qualities of the chipotle came through the smoke and the ale settled into a bready flavor.  As the ale faded, the heat from the chipotle came through and ended the experience on a dry, earthy note.

Rogue Chipotle Ale isn’t about heat, it’s about the earthy flavor.  The heat is barely there (you’d be hard pressed to find someone who considers it too spicy), but the chipotle flavor is prominent throughout.  The combination of implied richness from the chiles and crisp lightness of the ale make for an interesting pint, but are a little fatiguing by 22oz.  Chalk this one up to another “special occasion” beer.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale

Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale, yet another offering from the always prolific Rogue team, lefy some sediment at the bottom of the bottle as I poured it into the glass and settled into a hazy iced-tea color topped with a thin, cream, sticky head.  Flowery hops with hints of tropical fruit led the nose.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale opened big and flowery up front, with a mild, grapefruit peel bitterness that crept in as the ale settled in the mouth.   The ale carried less of Rogues eponymous Pacman yeast flavor than most of their offerings, and there was autumnal cider spiciness to it before fading into a sustained finish of bitterness.

 Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale is very IPA-like, and the hops tasted seem slightly higher than the 40 IBU would have led me to believe.  Despite the bitterness being a bit out-of-place with the flowery nose, this in an enjoyable ale worth checking out.  Kudos to Rogue for another homegrown, all Oregon offering.  

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Single Malt Ale

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Single Malt Ale, the newest offering from their Grow Your Own series, pouted a well carbonated, clear pale yellow topped with a big, foamy white head. The nose held spicy hop notes with some dark orange flavors and grassiness supporting.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Single Malt Ale opened with a surprisingly light start, almost pilsner-like, with slight pepper notes.  A bone-dry, toasted middle took hold for the duration of the ale with some rind bitterness in the fade.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Single Malt Ale is an interesting addition to the Rogue line-up… it had many Irish Ale characteristics, being dry and toasty, and seemed to be one of the few Rogue offerings that didn’t fit clearly within a single style.  Certainly a beer worth checking out while it is still available.  

Rogue Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA

Rouge Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA, another 22oz. offering from Rogue Brewing, poured a cloudy black-brown with a thick, creamy head.  The nose carried forward notes of citrus, slight pine, and reasted malts, as well as a subtle undertone of peach. 

Rogue Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA opened with a medium-bodied, heavily roasted malt under a sharp bite of slightly less-aggressive-than-usual citric hops.  The hops carried the bitterness through as the ale settled, but the malts never ceded their place as the highlight of the show.  The ale ended on an earthy, almost ashy note as the bitterness subsided.

Rogue Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA is an interesting take (especially for Rogue) on the Black IPA.  Rather  than embracing the Pacific Northwest hop bigness, it falls into a fairly middle of the road, medium bodied beer.  Probably one of the more sessionable beers I have tried from Rogue.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Good Chit Pilsner

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Good Chit Pilsner, the sixth Chatoe Rogue GYO offering I have found this year from Rogue Brewing, poured a pale straw color, with mild carbonation cutting through the crystal clear body and feeding a foamy, bright white head.  The nose carried a bready, sticky rice malt over a soft but prickly grass and mineral undertone.

Rogue Good Chit Pilsner opened very faithfully to the nose, with the sweet, sticky rice at least equal with the dry grain flavors, lending a thickness to the mouthfeel and sweetness that seemed out of style and dirtier than the typical pilsner.  As the minerals and grassy notes (I’m assuming from the hops) came through and cut through the sweetness they carried a slight metallic twang to them.  The ale ended sweet, with a somewhat medicinal bitterness.

Chatoe Rogue Good Chit Pilsner isn’t as bad as I read the above description of above when taken as a whole, but it doesn’t really stick the landing. 

Rogue XS Imperial YSB Younger’s Special Bitter Ale

Rogue XS Imperial Younger’s Special Bitter Ale, a limited offering from Rogue Brewing, had obvious residual yeast from bottle conditioning (I suspect this ale was likely brewed to go straight to keg), so I left a little in the bottle as I poured the bitter into the glass.   YSB settled an Iced Tea color with a thin, yellow head that would have disappeared if it weren't for a steady supply of carbonation supplementing it.  The nose led with dry yeast and malts with the slightest hint of fruity hops.

Rogue XS YSB opened bitter but buttery on the palette, with a dry malt front and undertones of herbal notes and even a bit of mint.  There was a subtle sweetness that came through as the ale settled, and it ended on an extended yeast note with a bit of pine. 

Rogue XS Imperial YSB Younger’s Special Bitter Ale is a good ale, easily a session beer despite the “Imperial” in the title, and is a nice change from the Imperial aesthetic in that it brought the delicate subtleness of a bitter to match the raised malt profile.