Dead Guy alive
with rich malts, caramel
(STAFF PHOTO: J.T. WAMPLER) Dead Guy Ale from Rogue in Newport, Ore.
Wamp’s Wisdom
Dead Guy Ale from Rogue in Newport, Ore., was created in the early 1990s to celebrate the Mayan Day of the Dead.
It pours with a thick head that dissipates leaving no lacing. Aroma is piney hops with a hint of caramel. The hops don’t come through in the flavor as much as in the aroma but leave a lingering bitterness nonetheless. There is a rich blend of malt and hops that makes you want another sip, then another.
I’ve had this ale before and I seemed to remember more of a hop character. Perhaps this bottle sat on the shelf too long.
Even past its prime, this is a great ale that deserves some serious consideration by lovers of big, bold beers. This 6.4 percent alcohol ale would pair well with a hearty steak and grilled asparagus.
Rating: 4 caps
Rico’s Reaction
Dead Guy just mystifies me.
This is a beer I should not enjoy. It’s a beer that just shouldn’t work for me.
But it does.
Normally I favor a really strong hops flavor. There’s none of that here. Instead of hops, this brew is awash in roasted malts, butterscotch, caramel and toffee.
Sounds more like candy than beer, right? That’s where the mystery deepens. Dead Guy is neither candylike nor particularly sweet. How can a beer with those flavors not be sickeningly sweet?
However, they did it, Rogue really pulled off something great here.
Great with a meal or as a dessert, Dead Guy is definitely worth a taste. Or two. Or three. Or infinity.
Rating: 4.5 caps
Rating System
One Cap: Put it back in the horse!
Two Caps: Consume only if the other choice is Tijuana tap water or Coors Light.
Three Caps: Acceptable without standing out. The Tito Jackson of beer, if you will.
Four Caps: Nice beer that rises above most but may not deliver enough to be considered great.
Five Caps: Truly great beer that delivers on all counts. A credit to its style. Could only be better if served by scantily clad concubines.
Six Caps: Any five cap beer served by scantily clad concubines.
