Is the West the Best? Although it’s true that the East Coast
has NYC, and more hockey than you can shake an illegally curved stick at…I do
believe that what the West has to offer is by far the best. You have the ocean,
the mountains, the trees, vibrant cities, the music…and fantastic Breweries
like Rogue. Now don’t get me wrong, the East Coast also has some great
breweries, but in the end, they pale in comparison to the likes of Breweries
such as Rogue, Stone, and Pike Place. The best of these fine breweries calls Oregon home, and this
is where I am tonight.
Oregon is the kind of place that people just gravitate
towards. The music scene is incredibly alive. There are too many bands to
mention here, but how about Modest Mouse? Although originally from the Seattle
area, these guys decided to settle down in Oregon, for the music, the food, and
of course…the beer.
Tonight, I’m feeling a little homesick. So with that in
mind, I’m hitting up the Rogue Brewery and their Chatoe Rogue series.
Specifically, I’m sampling their OREgasmic Ale, and it’s true Western Spirit.
With every ingredient hailing from Oregon…this is as local as you can get
without waiting for someone to pump your gas for you. Let’s see what the
website has to say:
THE BEER:
Style: Pale Ale
Food Pairing: Seafood, Hot & Spicy
Tasting Notes: Orange-amber in color, malty aroma, spicy
fruity hop flavor with solid malt background and lingering finish.
6 Ingredients:
Brewed using 100% OREGON Ingredients. Micro Barley Farm
Dare™ & Risk™ Malts; First Growth Micro Hopyard Revolution &
Independent Hops, Pacman Yeast and Free Range Coastal Water.
Specs:
15º PLATO
40 IBU
76 AA
6º Lovibond
World Class Package:
22oz Bottle
THE BREWERY:
Jack Joyce, Bob Woodell (past U of O fraternity brothers),
and another friend, Rob Strasser, were approached by Jeff Schultz, Bob's
accountant, and an avid home brewer.
Construction began in June of 1988 in Ashland along a very
scenic little stream called Lithia Creek. The 10 bbl brew system was set up in
a basement with a 60 seat Pub above. The first brews were Amber and Gold. The
Brewery and Pub opened in October 1988.
While the Brew Pub was located in a very pretty and scenic
location, had a beautiful deck and enjoyed moderate success and the beer was
great, Ashland was not to be Rogue's only adventure. Ashland was basically land
locked, and frankly we were losing our butts in Ashland, trying to sell our
hand-crafted ales. Rogue needed room to grow and grow we did. So Jack set off
in search of greener pastures.
In early February of 1989, Jack wandered to Newport in
search of the perfect place for another Rogue Pub. Legend has it that a
terrible and unusual snow storm struck and Jack found himself stranded on the
Historic Bay Front, with no way up the hill. He was forced to walk the streets
until he met up with Mohave Niemi, founder of the famous Mo's Clam Chowder. She
took him to the original Mo's restaurant, gave him a bowl of hot clam chowder
and told him about her dream of living above a Bar and how she might just have
the perfect spot for the next Rogue Brew Pub. The large building sported 3 full
time apartments upstairs, a sweater shop, an Art Gallery and 1,100 sq. ft. of
empty store front and an 800 sq. ft. garage that was currently being used to
store antique cars. Mo offered the vacant space and the garage to Jack at a
very generous price, under two stipulations: that a picture of Mo herself,
naked in a bath tub, be forever displayed at the Pub (it's still there today
just to the left of the Bar) and that Rogue "feed the fisherman",
meaning that we give back to the local community. This building was known as
the Front & Case Bldg.
In Feb of 1989, construction began on the Bay Front Brew
Pub. Making this a step up in the world by going from a basement in Ashland to
a garage in Newport. The front of the house also was being readied. The back bar
was originally from the old Elk Tavern.
In May of 1989, John Maier joins Rogue after a stint with
Alaska Brewing. John is a former Senior Technician with Hughes Aircraft Co. in
El Segundo, CA from 1975 to 1986 and Seibel Institute graduate.
The Pub opened in May of 1989, with a small but enthusiastic
customer base, made up of curious locals who dropped by to see what was going
on and never left. Many joined in and helped with the construction and other
projects as needed. The names of many of these early customers have been
immortalized with brass plaques that grace the bar today. One of the most
notable of these future customers was Chuck Linquist. He was retired, was a
home brewer, and had an interest in microbrews. He was also bored and wanted to
do something useful. We consider him one of our first employees. His handiwork
is still visible at the Pub, the shelves that line the bar area, the light
sconces, as well as the memorabilia on the shelf above Mo's picture, that Chuck
brought back from Europe.
So begins the story of Rogue Ales, enjoy!
THEIR CREED:
Rogue is a small revolution, which expresses itself through
handcrafted Ales, Porters, Stouts, Lagers and Spirits, and this is the way we
conduct our business. The spirit of the Rogue brand, even the name, suggests
doing things differently, a desire and a willingness to change the status quo.
A Rogue Ale, Porter, Stout, Lager or Spirit is crafted to give it unique
character, innovative in its makeup and brewing, a process that has not
compromised quality. We believe if a Rogue Ale, Porter, Stout, Lager or Spirit
cannot be all of these things, it should not be made at all.
We do what we do to become a meaningful industry leader
through the products we create and by building an organization that is successful
without being big, bureaucratic, or common. To be a leader doesn't mean you
have to be the biggest.
The best leaders lead by example and by doing things the
right way, even if it means going against the grain. Rogue will stand up to the
big guy trying to bully his way into whatever business or territory he wants.
Rogue will be David, only this David doesn't really care if the stone hits the
giant or not. Just the idea of throwing the stone is exciting. We make products
for the connoisseur, the entrepreneur, and the revolutionist.
Over time Rogue has developed principles to guide what it
considers to be a revolution in fermentation. The principles start with six
statements known as Rogue's "Fundamental Agreement."
The way ahead is clear.
Be honest about the battlefield.
Throw out the old rules that don't make sense.
Get out of the comfort zone.
Go to the front of the fight and stay there.
And most important, cut out all the B.S.
Behavior principles based on the Fundamental Agreement were
developed and dubbed "The Rogue Way."
Listen generously.
Speak straight.
Be there for each other.
Honor commitments.
Give acknowledgement/appreciation.
Utilizing the above principles and behaviors is what allows
innovation and precision in every aspect of Rogue's operations. It requires
working with the best, whether it's hops, malts, yeast, water, or people.
THEIR MISSION:
-
To brew the finest varietal ales in the world
with an uncompromising devotion to Quality and the Art of Brewing.
-
To present the finished work with a touch of
educational, entertaining mischief.
-
To be dedicated to the Rogue in each of us.
-
To remember it is not simply a matter of profit
but a highly personal work of art.
-
To build relationships, not just ales.
-
To be like great friends and remember it's
what's inside that counts.
THE BREWEING
PROCESS:
Rogue's love good beer. In fact, we're so serious about our
award winning ales, porters, stouts, and lagers that our production manager
could only be pulled away long enough to scribble this on a napkin at the pub.
This is how we flow:
THE REVIEW:
What can I say? From the moment I started to pour, I knew
that I was in for an incredible experience. The pour was thick and bursting
with the fresh scent of unadulterated hops. The head was thick, with an aroma
bursting from it like volcanic explosions. A little fruit…a little malt, and
the distinctive lack of bitter aftertaste, makes this a brew that all can
enjoy. This was one fantastic brew from start to finish. I will definitely be
back for more.
RATING:
9/10 - Orgasmic
