Rogue Brewery- Yellow Snow India Pale Ale: A Drop in the Bucket
Monday, March 29, 2010 at 5:36PM | by Chris 
Suffice it to say I am an IPA fan. The bitter goodness and high citrus notes have always pleased my palate. I love the crazy hops and the subtle undertones that make up the complex flavors. With this in mind, I was happy to search for a satisfying beverage to squash my craving. Running across Rogue Brewery’s Yellow Snow IPA did not only evoke memories of these classic flavors, but also of public urination on cold winter nights during my tenure in Wisconsin.
Upon pouring the Yellow Snow, I realized it was far from salty frozen excretions. The aroma jumped up and caught me with the characteristic citrus and hops scents of an IPA. Yellow Snow had a nice pale amber color and a great foamy head that stuck around for the party. While not as fruity in taste as in smell, this IPA has a nice medium body and an average bitterness that makes it pleasing to bitter fans. The beer did, on the other hand, lack some of the background notes that fill in many IPAs. This leaves a little watery texture and flavor in the background. This beer finishes with a classic bitter aftertaste which may or may not be the reason it is called Yellow Snow, not that I would know.
I have to say I was reasonably pleased with the Yellow Snow, especially considering I selected it based largely on its creative name. While it was not my favorite beer, or my favorite IPA, I do think this one is worth a shot. It has all of the classic components of an IPA but it does miss the mark on some of the more subtle tones that characterize the better IPAs I’ve had. This is an IPA that would serve as a great introduction for the average person looking to experience the hops and citrus of IPAs. After a taste, I would recommend moving on to other IPAs with more intense flavor.
ABV: Approximately 6.0% (based on 15º Plato)
Consumed: Pint Glass
Verdict: Buy A Six Pack (or a couple 22oz. bottles)
