Dead Guy changed? Or is it my pallate?

[Germelli1]

With my last two sixers of Rouge Dead Guy Ale I picked up I have noticed a different taste. Now I'm not aiming for an expense arguement, just trying to see if my pallate has changed, or if they changed the recipe.

This is what I have noticed: There seems to be a strong raisin-like taste, VERY prevelent on the first sip, but still there throughout the whole glass. It reminds me of a beer I once make when I was beginning with Caramel-120 instead of C-60 (used it because it was the only one LHBS had and I didn't know enough to realize how drastically it changes the profile).

I never noticed this before and I mentioned it to the beer experts at total wine and one commented that he thought Dead Guy Ale was the best beer around when he first entered the craft beer market, but has since lost his excitment for it...and I am starting to agree.

This may be a flavor some love dead guy for, and I am hoping people with more drinking experience can tell me if it is something I am imagining, or flat-out missed before.

Don't get me wrong, I am still going to brew Yooper's clone since it is one of my favorites, but I think I will spend my money on other Rouge Beers for the most part.

 

[SankePankey]

I bought a growler of DGA and noticed the same thing but thought it was just cause it was sitting in the light next to the register. Didn't like the beer.

Yoopers was my very first brew and it was much better. Reminded me of earlier DGA.

Rogue did change their brewhouse...so

 

[Burgs]

Interesting, I just had a bomber with a friend the other day and it didn't taste like I remembered it either. I didn't notice raisin, I don't think... I just figured I had grown out of the taste of it. I noticed a similar flavor in the oatmeal stout I had a few days later. I felt like it was the yeast in both beers that I was tasting more than anything. I'm not nay-naying all Rogue beers though, by any means - we had the Irish Lager later and it's fantastic, and I still love almost all the XS series that I've tried.

 

[Burgs]

Oh, and the two places that have it on tap around here... God only knows what I'm tasting there. I don't think there's a bar in town that cleans their beer lines properly. **** tastes like Blue Moon if you get it on draft.

 

[Germelli1]

Thanks for the input everyone. I still like the beer, just not enough to justify the price.

I find the money better spent on their other brews to replenish my pacman supply with first (well I guess second) generation yeast!

 

[SankePankey]

Or third or seventh. I'm sure Rogue repitches with the best of them.

(personally, I would think the best way to replenish a pacman supply is to buy a kit and use the grains for starter or another brew, or a DGA clone)

 

[Synovia]

I never noticed this before and I mentioned it to the beer experts at total wine and one commented that he thought Dead Guy Ale was the best beer around when he first entered the craft beer market, but has since lost his excitment for it...and I am starting to agree.

The competition in the craft market has gotten significantly better in the last 10 years.

 

[starrfish]

I had one recently, and experienced the same thing, a well that isn't as good as I remember reaction.

 

[509inc]

I haven't noticed the Dead Guy taste had changed.

Although after reading this thread further analysis is needed.

 

[Germelli1]

Or third or seventh. I'm sure Rogue repitches with the best of them.

Touche!

The competition in the craft market has gotten significantly better in the last 10 years.

Another great point!

I haven't noticed the Dead Guy taste had changed.

Although after reading this thread further analysis is needed.

Yup! I still enjoy the beer, this taste is just not something that enhances the brew to my tastes

 

[Coff]

Based on opinions on these forums both Racer 5 and Dead Guy have changed for the worse? This does not please me.

 

[Germelli1]

Based on opinions on these forums both Racer 5 and Dead Guy have changed for the worse? This does not please me.

In my case, since I turned 21 in May it is very likely that my pallette is just developing more fully due to more exposure to craft beer.

I recommend that you do not take our word for it and try it our for yourself. I don't want to be accused of unfounded bad publicity for Rouge's Dead Guy Ale, but on the other side I just encouraged purchase of their product I feel is losing its quality haha

 

[Coff]

Oh I plan on picking up a mix a six comprised of them both on the way home from work today.

 

[android]

the last time i had a DG, it tasted like chlorine was in the beer... wasn't pleased at all.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Dead Guys do break down a bit over time.

 

[loapathy]

I noticed this, too. It used to be one of my favorite beers, but the last 4 or 5 six packs I've gotten have had this weird, sugary medicinal thing having over them.

Friend of mine said it tasted like they brewed DGA in an uncleaned Rasion de etre kettle, and that's exactly correct, for me, from what I'm tasting.

 

[impur]

I have noticed this as well. DGA was one of my top 3 favs. My first brew was a Brewmaster Warehouse DGA clone i bought direct from the brewery. But the flavor has changed i'm sure of it. More malty, sweeter. Its too bad too. Guess i'll have to stick to the Brutal Bitter IPA <----good shiz.

 

[starrfish]

had 2 tonight... raisin flavor there like a belgian! things have changed! I kind of liked it. last one i had 6 months back was a bit bland, It's not the dead guy of old, but better than 6 months back

 

[Germelli1]

For what it is worth, I was bored at work one night and emailed them. This is their response:

Hi Dan, thanks for writing and for your support! We haven't changed the
recipe but maybe some malt batches had slight variances that you must
have picked up? Great palate you must have and let us know if we can
help with anything else.

 

[OldManHouston]

Interesting. I was just having a conversation with a buddy of mine recently about how we both used to really like Dead Guy and have lost interest in it because it doesn't seem to taste the way we remember. In their defense, I feel my palate could have changed from all the beer "research" I've done.

 

[lotbfan]

I had 12 of them yesterday, the last one definitely did not taste the first one, but how the first tasted like one from 5 years ago... that is some sort of freaky time warp my sessions black altered mind can't quite comprehend.

I have one in the closet from about 2003, I could taste that, but age in the bottle probably affected it just as much as the passage of time on my own memory.

I shall sally forth to the brewhouse and see if the beermeister there can shed some light on the situation this weekend... I was going to visit Deschutes, but a trip to the beach seems just as grand.