Back on St.
Patrick’s Day, I was hanging out at my local pub, Summits Wayside Tavern,
drinking a few pints of Guinness and generally having a very good time. Of
course, beer enthusiast are always looking to the next interesting brew, and
when I saw that on April 15th Summits would be featuring, for one day only,
Rogue Frosty Frog Ale, I knew I would have to be here for a pint.
You’ll forgive the pun, but April 15th can be a taxing day indeed. A
refreshing pint would seem to be just the thing in which to drown your
sorrows after tallying your annual homage to Uncle Sam. Be that as it may,
Rogue has been celebrating the 15th for more than a year now as their
anniversary, and at Summit’s here in Atlanta. A special Rogue beer is
released each month on that date.
And as I said previously, this month it was the Frosty Frog. I just love the
name, and spent a good part of my day telling my kids I was off to have a
Frosty Frog. With much bewilderment, they regarded me as one slightly
insane, and had not a clue what a Frosty frog was.
We know better, of course. It’s a beer, and as I found out, a rather
exceptional one. Rogue originally released it on draft at their alehouse in
Issaquah, Washington. Their flyer at Summits describes the beer as follows:
A strong but well-balanced winter warmer, this ale has extreme complexity
made for a holiday feast. The addition of raisins and molasses in the
brewing process produces unusual spiced rum like flavors to go along with
the well-balanced malt (two row, brown, crystal 40) and hops (bittering
Palisades, aroma Centennial).
I was pretty excited about this beer, and when my glass was brought out and
set before me I was well pleased indeed. This was the first beer of the
night, and so my palate was clear and uncluttered by food. All the better
for a beer such as this, which is best enjoyed either before or after a
meal. You won’t find Frosty Frog in bottles, but of you do see it on tap,
waste no time and order it.
Rogue Frosty Frog pours to a cloudy amber brown color with a light
and creamy head formation and a nose that hinted strongly at gingerbread and
fruit. I could tell this was going to be an exceedingly complex beer right
from the first whiff.
Sipping confirmed my suspicions. Right away, my palate was assaulted (and
happily so) with notes of chocolate and fruit, rich rum raisin, gingersnaps
and spice cake, sweet dark malt, and licorice. A fine layer of Brussels lace
coated the sides of my glass as I enthusiastically sipped this delicious
brew.
And then there are the hops. Grassy and intense, they wonderfully balance
the dark malt throughout, but especially in the finish, where they emerge to
deposit a long and lingering dry bitter buzz on the tongue. (65 IBUs here).
A warm alcohol presence should not surprise as this beer is about 9% by
volume.
What a wonderful and delightfully complex beer. I’m not sure when I’ll have
the chance to try it again, but when I do, I’ll jump on it. Like a frog on a
lily pad.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For
reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.