A few weeks ago, I had a Stone Mocha IPA at Taco Mac. Everybody seems to rave about that beer, an IPA made with coffee and chocolate, but while I enjoyed it, I didn’t find it as bombastic as others seem to. Then, maybe a week and a half later, I was in Taco Mac again and enjoyed a Rogue Cold Brew IPA, which I’m here to tell you about today.
Now, it’s true the two beers are a little different as the Rogue beer has no chocolate (only coffee), but they are both IPAs with coffee anyway, and hey, a mocha is a chocolate coffee that’s more coffee than chocolate, no? So, I’m comparing the two, and you can take that or leave it. First off, the Rogue brew was much more attractive in appearance, it simply radiated a beautiful amber hue, while the Stone beer was, well, kind of muddy looking. I had to mention that because I spent a good deal of time staring at the beauty of my Rogue Cold Brew IPA, and wanted you to know that.
Rogue says:
Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Cold Brew Coffee is blended with an IPA made using Rogue Farms hops for a unique interplay of hops and coffee flavors. Opening with a huge hit of rich coffee aroma that is balanced by a not-so-subtle hop punch, the transition is seamless from one bold flavor to the next.
Ingredients: 2-Row, Rogue Farms Dare™ & Risk™, C-40, White Wheat, Rolled Oats and Kiln Coffee Malts; Rogue Farms Liberty, Rebel and Freedom Hops, and Simcoe Hops; Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee, Free-Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast
Rogue Cold Brew IPA has an alcohol content of 7.5% by volume with 82 IBUs. I paid $5.75 for an 11-ounce glass at Taco Mac, and it runs $7.99 for a 22-ounce bomber, $11.99 for a 6-pack of cans at Total Wine.
My glass of Rogue Cold Brew IPA arrived a beautiful amber color with a subtle dark tint. Coffee grinds abound in the nose and the palate, indeed they dominate it in the latter, permeating and adding their delightful roastiness, only in the finish relenting to allow grassy hops to poke through. This is an advantage over the Stone beer which was, surprisingly, not all that hoppy to me.
Rogue beers are way underrated in my estimation, and this one is one you just should not miss.
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