Rogue Brutal Bitter

Ralphus · Post by **Ralphus** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:10 pm

These should be in many of the LCBO's right now if they have landed in the west end of Ottawa. What does everyone think?

Personally, I'm loving it. A great looking beer with lots of flavour and a lovely dose of piney hops towards the end. The texture and carbonation are nice as well.. reminds me of something from my late teens / early twenties that I can't put my finger on. Smithwicks on tap perhaps? I'm not sure.. but I do know that at a touch colder than room temperature, it goes down in gulps.

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:53 pm

I picked up a case last week.
I've already gone through 5.

It's better with each time I try it. I love the grapefruit pith like flavour and bitterness. The nose is pure hops and flroal goodness. I've always been a hop kinda guy so this is right up my alley for sessions, despite the 6.5%.

robinvboyer · Post by **robinvboyer** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:27 pm

what do you guys think of ratebeer describing it as an ESB? I also LOVE it, but i think it's way too hoppy to be an ESB. Maybe a new style, and American ESB?!

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:47 pm

Haven't picked any up yet...but will soon. Last year I couldn't stop drinking this, every time I saw it I grabbed 2 or 3....am very happy to see it return this year!

$ · Post by $ » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:54 am

This is the beer that really got me into American craft brews, and pissed me off that we didn't have any good Americans in the LCBO.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:34 pm

robinvboyer wrote:what do you guys think of ratebeer describing it as an ESB? I also LOVE it, but i think it's way too hoppy to be an ESB.

I dunno, I'm no expert on British styles but of Ordinary, Best, Special, and Extra Special Bitter, I'd expect ESB to not too bad in the hop character. We can't say Rogue Brutal Bitter under-qualifies!!

It kicks the ass of some IPA's though doesn't it. I mean there's some relationship of Brit styles rather than absolute borders (beer style quantifiers notwithstanding.) Yeah, who cares so long as it's great! Rogue beer that acts a bit like and ESB and an IPA?

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:10 am

A great beer from a great brewer. Haven't had one from this release yet, but I remember wonderful citrus flavours and great balance. Think I'll crack one open tonight! I found their Kells lager more than a little disappointing.

carguy · Post by **carguy** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:31 pm

I agree Bytowner, the Kells was a bit of a dissapointment for me too. I had the Brutal Bitter last night, and it was even more hoppy than I remember! Great stuff!

RyanWright · Post by **RyanWright** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:48 pm

I really like this beer as it seems like a tasty cross between an american ipa and an esb. If my memory serves, Rogue refers to this as an "Imperial ESB" on the side of the bottle. I think that desciption fits.

Ralphus · Post by **Ralphus** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:23 pm

Agreed.. the Kells, while it may be representative of the style, wasn't a good fit for me either.

$ · Post by $ » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:13 pm

I was surprisingly happy with the Kell's Lager I had the other day, and it made me think of what I read here. I thought I saw a complaint about the Hazelnut Brown in another posting as well, but I have had a couple now and enjoy it. The two aren't over the top for sure, but still quite enjoyable.
I mentioned somewhere else the Younger's Special Bitter I found quite good as well. (not in LCBO)
I'm going to have to try Dead Guy Ale again, as I wasn't happy with it first time.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:54 am

$ wrote: I'm going to have to try Dead Guy Ale again, as I wasn't happy with it first time.

The Dead Guy seems a bit similar in yeast character to the Brutal Bitter, but the balance is reversed.

I like thie DG fairly cold, and to enjoy it when I have a good 'edge' of thirst and preferably a slight 'appetite' (on a fuller stomach the fruity-honey-malt character might seem a bit much.) Just my 2¢. Dead Guy is a good source of calories while doing yard work!

boney · Post by **boney** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:51 am

I recently cracked open 1 of the 4 bottles of the BB I had left over from last years LCBO offering. I hoarded a few of these last year becase who knows if it will be the last time you will ever see a certain beer at the LCBO based on their bizarre labeling/packaging/niche fitting requirements (ie Orval.....get em' while you can!).

For a hoppy beer, it stood up increadibly well over the year, even just stored in a box at room temp. Now in the older bottle I get a little more of a floral aroma compared to the big citrus aroma I get off of fresh bottles. The same bitterness in the flavour is still there, however. If anything, I thought the sitcky caramel malt backbone became a little more subdued and rounded, possibly contributing to a drier finish.

Matty D · Post by **Matty D** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:03 pm

Well first post, here goes.

I have been happy with the other Rogue products I have tried over the past while. The BB, though very enjoyable, was nothing to get overly excited about IMO.

I say that because Mill St. Tankhouse is my session beer of choice of late. As such I didn't find the BB offered much of a difference in flavor but costs more. I did only try one bottle so I do need to give it another chance to evaluate the flavor. So based solely on the price I would pick the Mill St. but considering I really enjoy Mill St. and find the BB to be very similar, by default I like the BB but wouldn't buy it based on price/ml.

Wow, a convaluted first post

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:28 pm

Matty D wrote:Well first post, here goes.

I have been happy with the other Rogue products I have tried over the past while. The BB, though very enjoyable, was nothing to get overly excited about IMO.

I say that because Mill St. Tankhouse is my session beer of choice of late. As such I didn't find the BB offered much of a difference in flavor but costs more. I did only try one bottle so I do need to give it another chance to evaluate the flavor. So based solely on the price I would pick the Mill St. but considering I really enjoy Mill St. and find the BB to be very similar, by default I like the BB but wouldn't buy it based on price/ml.

Wow, a convaluted first post

Tankhouse is an awesome session beer, and has the added benefit of being a local, so your money is supporting Canadian jobs and the environment. The Rogue's are very good beers, but the price does make me hesitate (in fact I've not bought a single one this year). If you're ever in the States check out their XS series - its ridiculously expensive.

Oh... and welcome to the forum!