Dead Guy Ale - Rogue Brewing Review
When you get the hankering for a certain style of beer there are some prominent brews you just have to try first. If you find yourself hunting down Maibock beers in springtime, as we are, then you have to start with the American craft staple, Dead Guy Ale.
Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Brewing is an absolute stalwart in the craft beer world, and it has won more awards than we can list in this review, but what makes it so special? And can a Maibock come in an ale over the traditional lager?
We’ll find out soon enough, but first some details are in order.
Rogue Brewing starts this beer off with 2-row, caramel 15, and Munich malts, and they round it out with Perle and Sterling hops, west coast fresh water, and their own Pacman yeast strain. This fills the can with 6.8% ABV and 40 IBU, and flavors they describe as toffee, malty, bitter, nutty, and roasty.
We’ve waited long enough, now let’s dig in.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Pours golden with a red hue, and is topped with an off-white head that maintains quite well. It is slightly hazy—possibly from the use of ale yeast?
On the Nose--Malty with a definite Munich malt aroma, but it is also excellently hoppy with a floral, noble-like character. This is a very intriguing beer, and with its awards hanging before it, we’re dying for that first sip feeling.
On the Palate--Dead Guy Ale fills the mouth with a full body and a quick malt sweetness that is cut with a slightly unexpected hop bitterness for the style. The floral hop bitterness lingers through the finish but fades quickly owing to the balance of the beer. That first rush of malt sweetness comes across as buttery toffee with a peck of roasted flavor that is consistent with the Maibock style.
Final Thoughts:
Rogue’s Dead Guy is an ale and a bit hoppier than I would expect a traditional Maibock to be, but it is the right ABV and it offers that roasted toffee maltiness I would expect from a spring Maibock beer. I’m not here to question if this is really a Maibock beer or not, but I am here to assess the beer, and this is an excellent one. Rogue Dead Guy offers an old-world maltiness with a more aggressive hoppiness that Americans love. They also use a yeast strain that keeps their beer uniquely them.
This beer has an excellent mouthfeel, the right amount of complexity, and a great balance that keeps it drinkable even if you’ve already had one or two. And if you don’t believe me, check out all the awards it has won over the years. Rogue’s Dead Guy doesn’t disappoint.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew