This week I joined the Rogue Nation and became a Citizen. What does all that mean? Well basically you fill out a quick form and get your picture taken them boom. They hand you over a Rogue Nation ID card which entitles you to discounts at their breweries, museum, and hotels, along with other cool stuff like the privilege to vote on stuff they do.
I visited Rogue Distillery and Public House in downtown Portland. Mostly known for their Dead Guy Ale, this company has really expanded in all directions. They are big on doing their version of a “farm to table” movement. Currently they own several farms growing their own hops, barley, rye, and pumpkins (used in their seasonal pumpkin ale). Of course they do not own enough to use 100% of their own products to brew all their own beer so they outsource the rest to local famers. Their Farm Series beers are the ones that use their freshest own grown products for. Take their pumpkin ale for example. They hand pick the ripest ones and then immediately drive them to the brewery where they are roasted and brewed into beer. That is how fresh they are making things.
The pub has 35 taps which included 2 beers from other companies, 2 ciders, a cocktail, 2 home made sodas, and a hand pumped cask ale. Their taster is a great way togo. They do not pre determine what beers you will get but instead allow you to chose any 4 beers that you want to taste. They also greet you with a welcome taste of that days featured beer for free. You are also welcome to take a small sip of any of the beers before you decide to buy a pint. I was really excited to be able to try their Wet Hoped Ale. This is the only time of the year that you can get a wet hopped beer since the hop picking season just ended. The also feature a barrel aged cocktail and several other cocktails that they make from their own distilled spirits. If you want to get a little creative, they also do some mixed beers to create a unique experience. My bartender Mike made me a Mole beer by mixing their Chipotle Ale with their Chocolate Stout.
After grabbing a bite to eat I did the tour of their original distillery which is located in the upstairs part of the pub. Make sure to check out the video below so you too can take the tour. Although it is no longer used, as all of their products are made out in Newport, Oregon, they have one of their original copper stills up there. The tour is quite informative and they have some really cool spirits they are producing.
Rogue Original Distillery Tour
They started out brewing rums but have ventured out into whiskys, gins, and vodkas. They feature a single malt Oregon vodka and whiskey as well as a gin made with spruce and aged in pinot noir barrels (and one that is not aged in the barrels). Some of their more out there products include their Dead Guy whiskey and Chipotle spirits. Both are made by brewing they Dead Guy Ale and Chipotle Ale, without hopping them, and then they distill that juice. They have even dedicated a bacon maple vodka to Voodoo Donuts, a local donut company downtown that is well known for creative donuts. Rounding out the list they also make a Rogue Farms Oregon Rye Whiskey, Dark Rum, and Hazelnut Spice Rum made with their own gown hazelnuts.
Make sure to stop at one of Rogue’s tasting rooms located in Newport, Portland, Independence, Eugene, or Astoria in Oregon or in San Francisco, California, Issaquah, Washington and Sapporo, Japan.