From Dead Guy to Maierbock to Dead Guy
Written: Jul 09 '01 (Updated Jul 15 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Refreshing and characterful
Cons: May be too sweet for some
The Bottom Line: Maibock with a Rogue twist. Sweet, sugary, with some hop bite in finish. Easy drinking for beginners and fascinating to veterans. Love it or hate it, it's worth a try.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Rogue Maierbock |
For fans of microbrewing, there are few more interesting breweries in the USA than Rogue. Ever inventive, the company brews a very impressive range covering about 30 beers. Their stout, amusingly named Shakespeare, is instantly recognized by beer lovers as one of the best of its breed.
The brewery, based in Newport, Oregon, was founded in 1988. Although the name Rogue can be attributed to its role as non-conformist in the brewing industry, it was actually taken from the name of the Oregon river. The company’s slogan is, “Dedicated to the Rogue in all of us.” If you want to know more about the campaign for the smaller guys in the brewing industry, check out Rogue’s website.
Maierbock or should I say Dead Guy?
Dead Guy Ale was created as a private tap sticker in the early 1990’s to celebrate the Mayan Day of the Dead (November 1st, All Souls Day). It became a bottled product a few years later under the name Maierbock, named after the head brewer John Maier. You’ll now find it bottled under the Dead Guy label.
For the Technically Minded
Style: German Maibock (note that this style is usually bottom-fermented i.e. a lager, but Rogue’s version is an ale)
Yeast: PacMan (there’s a name you won’t forget)
Malts: Northwest Harrington, Klages, Maier Munich and Carastan
Hops: Perle and Saaz
No preservatives, additives or chemicals
Unpasteurized
IBU: 30
Strength: 6.6% ABV, 16.5 degrees Plato
Availability: 22oz bottles, 12oz 6-pack, and draft.
Tasting Notes
This is only a dead guy in name, as it pours out impressively. A clear-bodied reddish-amber, almost honey-like color contains plenty of carbonation and a confidently pronounced beige silky foam, that laces the glass throughout. Except for the foam, which was certainly ale-like, it looks pretty much like the usual bottom-fermented versions of this style.
The nose is deep and malty, pretty much what you’d expect from a bock, with some raisin-like character. It also throws in a berry fruitiness and hints of sugar. I didn’t get any apparent hoppiness.
The carbonation gives this a slightly spritzy touch, but it pretty much runs smoothly across the palate, with a medium weighted body.
It’s very rich in flavor, and upon tasting starts to differ a little from other bocks I’ve tasted. There’s an initial sharpness at the front, but it quickly becomes sweet and syrupy. It’s almost like cotton candy, with some toasted malt, honey and toffee thrown in. The finish rounds out with a little bitterness and brief tang but also throws in something of a light berry or cherry flavor to the aftertaste. The aftertaste is a little sugary, a little tangy but disappears pretty quickly.
Verdict
This is not a “big beer”, but is very easy drinking and quaffable, while providing a great heartiness that has plenty of flavor to offer. The sweetness may be a little too much for some, by that I mean sugary not malty. The hop bitterness could be a little stronger but that’s not the intention of a bock and it does provide enough hops to impart a little balance. Regular bock drinker may expect something a little heavier in body.
This is truly a unique concoction from Rogue, and certainly typifies their style. It’s an interesting beer that might disappoint some, but is worth a try nonetheless. I would also see at as a very easy introduction to bocks, as the sweetness will surely be a welcome taste to less adventurous drinkers.
As the ever-adventurous beer researcher it might be a while before I buy this beer again, and like I said in a previous review there’s not enough room in my fridge to stock everything I enjoy. However I would recommend it to most people, more to see their reaction and introduce them to Rogue than to educate them in a new beer style (it’s not particularly typical of one style).
Availability
I checked out the website, and Rogue beers are available in some 40 states and 5 countries, but there’s little more. They don’t have a locator but welcome you to email or call them for availability. I did see this one at totalbeer.com..
Serving Suggestions
As with most bocks and other spring brews, this one should be served at around 48F (9C), which will help keep its refreshing quality while displaying its full character.
If you’re looking for food
This beer is pretty much screaming out for pizza (or is that my subliminal conscience); I could just imagine something topped with mushrooms, peppers, sweet (caramelized) onions and probably pepperoni. I used to eat a lot of sweet and sour chicken when I was in England and that would also be a great match.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: The Desert, So Cal
Reviews written: 219
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