New Brew Thursday - Doubleheader . . . Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Lagunita Wilco Tango Foxtrot

Various and strangethe long-winded tale;

And halls, andknights, and feats of arms, display'd;

Or merry swains, whoquaff the nut-brown ale,

And sing, enamour'd ofthe nut-brown maid;

                                       James Beattie, The Minstrel (1771)

 . . . and so I sing the praises of Rogue's Hazelnut Brown Nectar.  My first sip of this beer was reminiscent of the first home-brew my husband endeavored to make.  The likeness was remarkable . . . and that's a good thing.  

This Rogue brew is, as the name would suggest, a brown ale.  It poured with a light, fluffy head that quickly dissipated.  I was immediately stuck by wonderful nutty aroma and its inviting warm brown color.  The taste was rich and flavorful; hazelnut dominates this malty ale that finishes with a hint of sweetness.

Unlike lighter tasting beers that beg to be guzzled, this is a nice beer to sit back and relax with.  Wonderful after a meal to be sipped, savored and simply enjoyed.   Quite delicious.  6.2% alcohol by volume.

Rogue, located in Oregon, is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries; with its amazing variety of craft beers.  

Visit Rogue at their website  or on Facebook 

Lagunita Wilco Tango Foxtrot  . . . a malty, robust, jobless recovery ale . . . WTF indeed.  

What’s in a name?  If youknow your military letter call signs, then you’ll know.  If not, well, I’m not going to spell it outfor you.

And the subtitle?  Abeer the jests about the current economy and the policies that have put uswhere we are . . . you know, $4 for a gallon of gasoline? 

A beer with a sense of humor; well, that only adds to the appeal.

It pours a rich reddish brown color with small head.  It has a malty aroma with mild hoppy undertones.  It’s slightly bitter upfront but notover powering and then finishes with almost chocolaty.  WTF is medium bodied, full flavored brownale. It goes down smooth and easy . . . and that’s pretty dangerous for a beerthat is nearly 8% alcohol by volume. 

The Lagunitas Brewing Company is a brewery located near Lagunitas, California.  They are known as much for their unorthodox approachto traditional beer styles as for their unique packaging.

Visit Rogue at their website  or on Facebook