Absolutely, 100% typically Rogue. This is an unbalanced beer with cutting, citrus hops overwhelming everything else, to the detriment of everything else.

Good looking beer, with a really nice color, lovely big fluffy head and some excellent layered lacing. The appearance is by far its best quality.

Mild hops in the nose, but this mild mannered start to the experience is quickly dispelled a thin mouthfeel, big, big hop profile and a brutally dry finish that saps the enjoyment from the beer.

(As an aside, I would MUCH prefer a beer called “Santa’s Private Reserve” to be a seasonal, winter warmer style or spiced Christmas ale, rather than just a hugely hopped amber ale. To be fair, Rogue doesn’t claim that this is anything but that, but it seems a bit silly to have such a style associated with such a name).

This unbalanced beer is SO Rogue!