Rogue Dead Guy Ale

First Brewed: 1988
Brewery Location: Newport, Oregon, United States
ABV: 6.4%

History & Availability: Founded in 1988, Rogue Ales have won dozens of awards in international beer competitions for their brewing prowess. Dead Guy is their most popular ale, in the Maibock style, a helles lager that is brewed to be as strong as a bock (a German strong, dark lager heavy on malt flavor) with less of a malt dominance and more room to play with the flavor of hops and others. Rogue exports to all fifty states and to a number of countries in the Americas and Europe, so if you search a few local importers you may have luck in finding this one.

Appearance: Pours slowly and leaves a large amber-tinted head. The beer itself is a deep mahogany color and very opaque; I can't even call it hazy because it's well beyond that. Not much carbonation is apparent, probably because it's so cloudy. All in all this beer looks delicious. Definitely the best-looking of the beers I've rated so far (although that's not really saying much).

Smell: Dead Guy has a really nice, multifaceted aroma. First and foremost is the scent of fresh-cut maple, which evokes a whole range of responses in me relating to nature, and probably appeals to me personally because I grew up in Maine where spending time in the forest isn't a vacation but rather daily life - although if you've ever spent time out in the woods this will be evocative nevertheless. Hidden beneath that delicious smell are undertones of hops, a little bit of citrus, and a hint of a sweeter additive like honey or molasses.

Taste: Such a rich taste, there are again a number of distinct angles that come to the surface as you let it wash around your tongue. I can pick out from among them a slight woody taste at the front, but it is light enough to not be overpowering; instead of the other tastes being masked behind it they are almost brought through it to dance around the mouth. There is an infusion of what feels like molasses filtering through - not strong enough to be syrupy which is definitely for the better, and a noticeable hoppy bitterness counteracts this well. The aftertaste is dry and bitter which leaves you craving another sip.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, Oh My God is this beer smooth. Dead Guy is on the heavier end of the weight scale if you consider it objectively, but it feels like it's floating around your mouth. There is just barely enough carbonation to properly circulate the flavors while still keeping the smooth character of the beer intact.

Drinkability: Although Dead Guy is, again, on the heavier end of the spectrum, this is much more drinkable than an average stout or quad due to its multifaceted taste, which keeps you more focused on the changing flavor than, say, Magic Hat #9 which was overloaded with a single flavor. Dead Guy generally comes in a 22oz bottle, which should be plenty for most drinkers.

Overall verdict: A, one of the best beers I've tasted.