Updated Review 05/08:
Second review under the “Sea Otter Amber”.
Light, reddish amber with some chill haze. Head fades quickly with not much lace.
STILL the astringent, over the top, West Coast American hops which unbalance the beer. My views on Rogue have changed over the years, and I now find many (if not most) of their beers, unbalanced in terms of hops. This is a classic example of that.
Original Review 02/04:
Nice hoppy aroma and initial flavor that mellows out as the bottle is emptied. It poured with a very tight creamy head that left some lacing. I was impressed with the color, a deep reddish brown. In fact the color and dryness of the beer reminded me much more of a red than I was expecting. The hops are initially quite strong in the mouth, but quickly fade to a more pleasing milder taste.
A fairly strong, bitter aftertaste that was a little over-powering for my taste, but still gives this brew a feel of a “proper” beer. Another example of the brewing art from this consistent brewery.