Rogue Chipotle Ale

I’ve had the Rogue Chipotle Ale about four other times before this one, but it’s one of my favorites, and pepper beers are pretty interesting to me. Some just go for the heat, like Twisted Pine Brewing’s Ghost Face Killah, while some just add the peppers for character and some flavor. Rogue’s Chipotle Ale falls in the latter category.

The beer has a nice amber color with a tinge of red. I love when beer comes out this color. I’m not sure why, but I’m a fan. It had light foam on the head, but it was a nice caramel color, more so than I expected from an amber. It had a very distinct aroma of peppers, sort of like when you smell freshly cut peppers.

On the front, the flavor definitely had some bite. It was definitely the peppers, but it wasn’t a heat thing. It was pleasant but obvious. The finish is a tasty, malty ale which is noticeable on your tongue in the smooth texture. The peppers linger in the back of your throat for a couple of seconds after swallowing. This was my favorite part, to be honest. I love spicy foods, even though I can’t handle the hardcore stuff. This was perfect for me.

At first, I drank it pretty much straight from the fridge and it was still a great beer. However, after it warmed up, like maybe in the mid-50s, that’s when the beer really shined. The warmer temperature displayed the peppers really well and this was when I finally got some hints of the Rogue Farms hops. I recommend pouring it into a glass and letting it sit before drinking if it’s been in the fridge for a while.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I’m a big fan of this beer. I’d recommend it to anyone, even those who aren’t big on peppers or spicy flavors. The flavor is so robust and rich that it could easily be enjoyed by anyone, though, if you absolutely dislike chipotle, you may not be a big fan as these are the stars of the show.

I picked this bottle up locally in New Orleans from Rouse’s.