Maierfest
Rogue is a brewery that might be easily taken for granted. Their beer is seemingly as scopic and regnant as the common dandelion (Though I suspect the beer will show up on Antarctica sooner than the pesky yellow-flowered weed). Here is Beervana, we can forget that Rogue, despite a hard-nosed and avaricious marketing philosophy parceled in a contumacious attitude, has one of the sickest brewmeisters on the planet.
John Maier, Rogue’s mastermind brewer was gettin’ his learn on at Seibels and his brew on at Alaskan Brewery while most of today’s “brewmasters” were poopin’ in their leiderhosen and swillin’ forties of the cheap schwagbier.
Maier, a man of German ancestry, tasted several traditional German lager styles on many trips to his fatherland, and has concocted enough great ones, to entice Coors drinkers away from their roots.
According to a recent Rogue press release:
John’s Maierfest Lager is dark gold in color with a solid off-white foam stand, a rich German malt aroma and a very distinct and complex maltness with a dry finish.
Staying true to the German style, this new Rogue is brewed using a yeast which is a blend of lager strains designed to produce a rich, malty, complex and full bodied beer which provides plenty of malt character and mouth feel.
Kudos to John Maier for all he’s done for Oregon craft beer. Some of the best brews to cross our palates have included the Rogue Chocolate Stout, the Hazelnut Brown, and Dead Guy.
Maierfest Lager will be available nationwide in serigraphed 22oz bottles and on draft starting in August, 2009. It is brewed using 7 ingredients; Durst Pilsner, Durst Munich and Weyermann Acidulated Malts; Oregon Perle and Rogue Farm Willamette Hops, Free Range Coastal Water and Oktoberfest 2633 yeast. Rogue’s ales, lagers, porters and stouts are brewed using no chemicals, additives or preservatives. Maierfest Lager’s brewing specifications are: 14o Plato, 77 AA, 29 IBU, 4.2o Lovibond.
Prost, Mr. Maier!
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About The Author
Angelo
Angelo grew up in Maine and is proud to call New England his original home. Cascadia is now his home. He fell in love with great beer in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. He has been a correspondent for the Portland Tribune's Guest on Tap column, LivePDX.com, and has been featured in publications such as Beer Northwest and PDX Magazine. Angelo also has a great interest in independent music, and has been a booker and organizer for shows around the Portland under the name Pop Tomorrow! Angelo garnered much knowledge regarding beer from his experiences homebrewing, working at Belmont Station, Pyramid Brewing, Upright Brewing, By the Bottle, Beer Revolution, Olde Depot Public House, Falling Sky Brewing, Cascade Brewing, and from many many knowledgeable, passionate, and loving people along the way. It is Angelo's mission to bring "infotainment" and "edumation" to the readers of this website. If you have any questions or comments, or would like to contribute, please contact me at angelo@brewpublic.com
Yeah, I agree. Rogue’s shtick is obnoxious and their pub food is no good, but they really do put out some good beers, and a wide variety of them. I can’t wait to try this one.
–JT
A good example of a somewhat sweet, slightly hoppy amber beer. Rogue marketing may not appeal to all, but their beer is indeed varied with styles (not compared esp. to AHA styles). Very drinkable based on the first 22oz bottle. Very clear, glad to hear that rogue doesn’t use any additives– I hope this mean “No finings.”