Double Dead Guy
Style: American Strong Pale Ale
ABV: 9%
Presentation: Single 750 ml brown bottle coated with red enamel
Brewery: Rogue Ales Brewery
Country: Newport, Oregon, U.S.A.
KANPAI! w/ Jeff Werstiuk
For those of you already familiar with Rogue’s best selling and most widely reviewed Maibock, Dead Guy Ale, here is a souped up version that will knock your socks off. Regarding the rest of you who are unfamiliar with either, please save yourself the hassle and remain barefooted, and perhaps best return to a seated position as well. Don’t anticipate to be completely overwhelmed, but please be forewarned that you are about to enter Flavour Country here.
As mentioned above, while its predecessor of Dead Guy Ale is more of a Maibock style that is a rich fuller-bodied lager, Double Dead Guy seems to fall through the cracks a bit. While the most logical step would be to categorize it as a Doppelbock, a double strength Bock, it fails to fit into any semblance of what that particular style traditionally is. We enter a bit a grey zone that is simply a stronger, more intense version of Dead Guy that seems to go off in its own direction and heads off the map. I like that, it helps the Rogue brewery live up to its namesake and delve into new territory without any apology. So come on pilgrim, let’s explore!
First of all this mysterious ale comes in an attractive red enamel-coated bottle, a pair of skull and crossbones up near the shoulder of it. There’s no true proper glassware to prescribe for this wayward style, although I’d recommend something with a wider rim, be it stemware or a mug. I would suggest allowing it to warm a bit however, there’s a fair share of bounty to discover that would be otherwise muted by serving it chilled. This stuff is a bit of an investment so there’s no point in cutting yourself short of the full experience. Now it’s time to check out what lies inside…..
Springing from the bottle will be a rich hazed rustic copper beer, capped by a dense chunky off-white head, with an aromatic symphony starting with chewy caramel, then toasty, bready, honey malt sweetness, faint alcohol, and earthy, spicy, citrusy hops. There’s definitely a lot going on here, and we’re just getting started. The flavour rolls in like waves, something new surfacing and crashing on the shores of the palate almost with every sip. Malty billows of thick chewy caramel, bready toasted notes, oats and honey sweetness, equally blended with floral, herbal, spicy and citrus hops, almost more going on than can be easily broken down into a linear description. As strong of a backbone that the malt provides, it seems the hops tend to overwhelm it at times in a friendly, tasty tug-of-war, which in the end leaves you the real winner every single time. Delivering this whole epic adventure is a full, yet smooth and creamy mouthfeel; a bit sticky and oily near the finish as the malt and hops still battle for the upper hand even in the texture, although in the end the finish remains dry.
The Rogue brewery recommends pairing this robust ale with pork or hot and spicy dishes, and I can’t argue that. I must admit that this particular beer has stumped me a bit for matching with food. It’s intense and diverse enough in flavour that it almost puts the drinker into a position of trying to decide by process of elimination what it won’t overwhelm or create a cacophony of extreme contrasts. So think intense when matching with foods such as chili based dishes, robust lamb or game, barbecue that is slathered in sauce such as ribs, or even pesto or garlic focused pasta dishes. When it comes to comfort food forget burgers or pizza, this Double Dead Guy Ale is chomping at the bit to go head to head with a plate of Buffalo wings. After taking the journey that this bottle has to offer, it might not be such a bad idea to grab a bite with it, or at least pack a lunch, as you never know where it’ll lead you or where you may end up.
The next steps in the cooler:
Other Rogue Double Ales:
XS Imperial Porter
XS Imperial IPA
XS Imperial Red
XS Imperial Stout
XS Old Crustacean Barleywine
XS Younger’s Special Bitter
Lateral Steps:
Lagunitas Imperial Red
Hitachino Nest XH
He’Brew Rejewvenator
Palo Santo Marron - Dogfish Head
For The Adventurous:
St. Bernardus Abt 12
La Trappe Quadrupel - Koningshoeven
Old Fisherman’s Ale - Pannepot
Rogue Chipotle Ale