Dead Guy Ale

Review Date 10/2/1997  Last Updated  5/9/2022 By John Staradumsky

           

It's no secret that getting fresh Rogue can be a challenge in some parts of the country. This can probably be said of many craft brews, but I suspect that it is more troubling in the case of Rogue because the beer is so damn good in the first place. Having once sipped from the holy grail, it is frustrating to be denied on the next draught. I have enjoyed Dead Guy in the past, but it has been a while since I've been able to obtain it fresh.

Things seem to be getting a bit better. Last week I bought a delicious bottle of Shakespeare Stout, and this week's purchase of 1997 Dead Guy Ale (I'm not sure why the bottle has a year on it) is equally impressive. Like most Rogue ales, Dead Guy is bottle conditioned, and when I popped the top the foam began to rise and gush from the bottle. Acting quickly, I managed to get the bottle in my mouth and prevent any loss of this great beer. I poured the rest of this hazy orange brew into my glass. Wow. Both in the nose and the palate, a thick, rich, chewy caramel-candy like sweet maltiness dominates the beer. It struck me as a sort of Crusty Light, as I've found those traits in Old Crustacean as well, albeit at much more intense levels. A balancing hop finish rounds out this classic, and leaves a slight bittering on the tongue. Excellent!

Update 5/9/2022: Rogue Dead Guy Ale pours to a deep caramel color with a medium sized head of creamy, fluffy foam and a nose of soft caramel malt. Taking a sip, there's more of that chewy caramel and toffee and as usual this does not really strike me as a bock. It is, however, bursting with malt, like chewing a handful of fresh crunchy malt. It's a bit nutty to go with the caramel notes but finishes balanced with a kiss of grassy hops. A wonderful beer, as much today as it ever has been, and a great bargain at $10.99 a six-pack.

On their website Rogue says:

In the style of a German Maibock, using our proprietary Pacman yeast, Dead Guy is deep honey in color with a malty aroma and a rich, hearty flavor.

Ingredients: 2-Row, C15 & Munich Malts; Perle & Sterling Hops; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.

In 2021, Rogue launched a "Paint The Can Dead" contest. Special six-packs of cans included two "blank" cans upon which contestants could paint their own Dead Guy label. Over 700 entries were received and a winner was announced after the contest ended on Halloween, 2021. Rogue hints that it may do this again in 2022.

When I originally wrote my review of Dead Guy Ale in 1997 I recorded an alcohol content of 6.6% by volume, but Rogue on their website now lists it as 6.8% with 40 IBUs. My latest cans are stamped WANNA CHAT? TEXT US 541-819-0449 CANNED 07/01/21.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??

 

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, Canned

(D)=Draft





 

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