Ok beer fans,
its time once again to celebrate yet another brewery birthday. This time,
it’s for Rogue, one of America’s most, well, roguish breweries. Rogue does
things their own way, without respect to convention. Which is exactly what
makes them Rogues in the first place.
As of 2004, Rogue turns 15. To celebrate, the brewery has planned a series
of special brews for beer geeks to enjoy. The first of these is Integrity
IPA. This is a special beer indeed, hopped to the max and a treat for
the many fans of Rogue who have supported the brewery over the years.
Here in Georgia, Rogue has always had a special relationship with
Summits Wayside Tavern
. You can’t walk into a Summits location without finding several Rogue
beers on tap. And, to help celebrate Rogue’s fifteenth birthday, Summits is
featuring a regular lineup of special Rogue brews on the fifteenth of each
month. They’re available for that day and that day only, so local beer
lovers should be sure to mark their calendars.
The first of these is the Integrity. Integrity ale is created from
Beeston Stout, Chariot Pils, Melanoiden, Cara
foam malts, Amarillo Hops, Free Range Coastal Water, and Top Fermenting
Pacman Yeast. according to Summits. It’s available at only a few select
locations around the country. I haven’t seen it in bottles yet, though I
understand it is being sold that way too.
Rogue Integrity IPA pours to a bright orange color with a thick
creamy head formation and a fruity hop nose. Summits served my pint at a bit
below room temperature, not too cold since that is an impediment to the full
appreciation of all the beers wonderful flavors. As soon as you sip, this
beer smacks you in the face with a huge does of hops. If you’re hop shy,
this is not a beer for you.
But hops are not the only thing going on. A firm, chewy caramel malt base
struggles to make its presence known. And it does, though it can never quite
overcome the hops. The hop bitterness permeates the beer with a huge
grapefruit citric intensity right on in into the finish. There, the
bitterness intensifies incredibly until it leaves a massive lingering buzz
on the tongue.
I have a predilection for hoppy beers with spicy foods, and so I ordered
some hot wings to go with my Integrity. Along with some spicy jalapeno Cole
slaw I was in heaven indeed, with the intense bitterness of the beer
complementing the fiery wings and slaw perfectly. A true symphony of
sensations to dance across the tongue indeed.
This is a beer that comes along once in , oh, about 15 Years. Truly not to
be missed.
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.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft