"A Father Carries Pictures Where His Money Used To Be."


Brewery and Country of Origin: Rogue Brewery of 2320 Southeast Osu Drive, Newport, OR, 97365, USA

Date Reviewed: 12-21-12

First off, let's take a moment to celebrate the fact that although today is the beginning of the sixth world on the Mayan Long Calendar, we're still alive and well, and tonight, we're celebrating with great beer and of course, a party. Anyway. So let's get on with it. Every year, on the third sunday in June, much of the world celebrates the secular holiday of Father's Day. In 2013, Father's day happens on the 16th; mark it down now so you don't forget. Why remind you? Well, as it turns out, Father's Day (at least in America) is a relatively new holiday, becoming official in only 1972. It actually has been celebrated since June 19th, 1910, when two of Henry Jackson Smart's six children created the idea of celebrating their dad's dedication and selflessness to his children after their mother, his wife, died many years before. The idea spread quickly across the country, leading President Coolidge to declare the third Sunday in June as Father's Day, however the holiday didn't become an official national day of observance until 1972, when President Nixon made it permanent. To put that into perspective, Mother's Day was an officially recognized holiday starting in the year 1914, and people began celebrating that holiday since 1870. So many older folks will probably still remember the year when Father's Day became a real thing. Either way, another reason why we'd like to remind you (although it's a half of a year away), is because it's a very special day for a very special person in a lot of people's lives. NC State Mens College Basketball coach Jim Valvano once said "my father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me." No one is like your father, and this beer made by Rogue Brewery celebrates the courage and dedication that every good father possesses. The beer has become somewhat of a mainstay for the craft brewery, winning four silver medals at the World Beer Championships (2006, 2007, 2010, 2012), and two bronze medals at the Australian International Beer Awards (2008, 2012). A special beer then, dedicated to a special person.
Date Sampled: 12-13-12 At: 223 Summer Street, Somerville, MA, 02143, USA
Beer Style: American Black IPA
Alcohol by Volume: 7.00%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle, 16 oz Tumbler Glass
Rating: 4.11

Look

This brew pours smoothly with an average level of carbonation action producing a half inch foam head with a medium high density and moderately high retention. The color is very dark brown with a slight haze caused by a small amount of cloudy, unfiltered sediment. This beer has a dull glow, no shine, when held up to the light.

Aroma

As with most IPAs, this beer has a very strong hops dominated bitter aroma with an almost nostril clearing property. This dark IPA also features a moderate amount of roasted dark malts and a very small amount of sweetness associated with them. Though this beer has a moderately high amount of alcohol content, there is almost no hint of it in the aroma.

Feel

This is a medium high bodied beer with a medium high level of carbonation, giving this it a fair bit of crispness, but not without substance. A fairly high viscosity and equal weight makes this beer a filling one, so drink easily, because this isn't easy to drink. This beer has a bitter and dry aftertaste common for this style and a good amount of prominent lingering.

Taste

This beer is full of the typical hoppy and bitter dominating flavors which will please most IPA fans. As you would imagine, this being a darker beer, there are more roasted malty and sweeter notes as well, mostly being coffee and some toasty like notes. The sweetness begins the flavor, with the hops taking over and finishing until the lingering, strong aftertaste, completing a full, and well balanced flavor profile.

Our Take

With an IBU of 70, this is definitely a bitter beer which should satisfy most IPA fans. This beer's deep, dark, sweeter, heavier and malty presence makes it a great pair with meaty meals like pork, sausage, or beef. It would seem then, that this is the best of both worlds. You have the essential hoppy, aromatic, and bitter qualities of a crisp and refreshing IPA, but with the qualities of a darker stout or porter as we just mentioned. This, as you can tell, is a very well balanced beer which delivers an excellent beer drinking experience. This brew is full of bold flavors and strong, prominent aromas, but nothing is overpowering or out of proportion to the rest of the profile. Because of this beer's broad range of flavors and complex characteristics, we'd believe that it would cater to a very large group of beer fans compared to beer that was strictly a bitter or an imperial. This beer's relatively high alcoholic content gives off a slightly noticeable warming effect, making it a good winter time brew, too. And if you're the sort who complains about a weak presence or light body, you won't get that with this big boy. This is really, a great beer for any time of the year, and should be highly satisfying to a great deal of people. Even if you're not celebrating a father figure in your life, or you're the wife of one, please, pick one of these up for yourself at the very least. And if you owe your dad a little love, send him a bottle or two of these. He deserves it.