Rogue ‘Hazelutely Choctabulous’ Brown ale

Rating:

imageRogue have taken their chocolate stout and hazelnut brown nectar and combined the two to create Hazelutely Choctabulous – dark and decadent with a rich nutty flavour up front followed by a chocolate truffle finish.

Poured into a pint glass we see a dark brown/black colour with a massive tan head that doesn’t budge initially and reminds us of a chocolate brownie. It then very slowly compresses down onto itself. When the head eventually passes it leaves thick lacing on the glass. Aromas are delicious. Fresh hazelnuts, mild chocolate, sweet malt, light caramel, and roast. First sip is more nutty and roasted on the palate. We get hazelnut but it’s not as aromatic. We  get the chocolate sweetness. More a milk chocolate hit. We get more roasted malts, ash, and a earthy or woody complexity. We like the idea of truffles. Body is moderate and we see the Alc vol of 5.7% which sits silently behind the roasted malt and nuttiness. We are amazed at the IBU rating of 75?! We have had IPAs which are more bitter than this at 75. It’s a testament to the brewing. It all just glides down very smoothly with a nice nutty, ashy, chocolately body. Good length on the palate. Patchy lacing on the glass now that we near the bottom. We like the dominance of the hazelnut rather than the overbearing sweetness of drinking a litre of chocolate. It’s not top shelf but it’s nice and quaffable and we would have again.