Rogue Imperial India Pale Ale

Every so often, a person likes to see how the other half lives, and so it is with me.  I was in the mood for an expensive drink for two reasons.  First and foremost, I needed to spoil myself after a long day at the office.  Secondly, I wanted to see if a fancy beer was worth the price charged, in this case around $18 for a 750 ml bottle.  So, I looked through the selection at my local liquor store, Downtown Wine and Spirits in Davis Square, Somerville.  First I looked to the Belgians, but as I was perusing the Chimay selections, a gray stoneware bottle caught my eye.  There were actually several of these beers next to each other, from Rogue Ales in Newport Oregon.  I couldn’t pass up the thought of a high-end Imperial IPA, and so it goes that the Rogue Imperial India Pale Ale came home with me.

Upon closer examination of the bottle, I saw that this beer boasts “no chemicals, preservatives or additives”, and also lists the 6 ingredients, IBU, and other such information.  The beer was obviously built with a connoisseur in mind.  For the record, this beer sits at 74 IBU’s (international bittering units) and contains 100% flour malted Maris Otter pale malt, 3 different hops (Saaz, Cascade, and Golding), free range coastal water, and top-fermenting Pacman yeast.  It is 9.5% alcohol by volume.

Once poured, this ale had a thick, creamy head with staying power.  It did not lose any volume after sitting for ten minutes, like a well-made cappuccino.  Its color was a dark honey with amber hues, and the liquid was opaque and slightly clouded.  As I partook in this IIPA, the head left a thick lacing in its wake.  The nose was reminiscent of grapefruit and orange rind, with hints of pepper and sweet berries.  The body was full and round on the tongue, and flavors of red grapefruit and black pepper were recognizable up front.  Toward the middle, the bitters really came alive, and were paired with hints of juniper, but the body remained round and buttery.  A drier than expected finish boasted continuing pepper themes paired with a cooked sugary-spice that I would liken to a white, spice-flavored jelly bean.

As this beer came to room temperature, the flavors melded into a very pleasant drinking experience, becoming even smoother, and accenting the juniper tasted previously.

This beer is fantastic and was created by a true artisan.  I know it sounds expensive at $18 a bottle, but if you want to spoil yourself, look no further than this beer by Rogue Ales.