Brewer Q & A (Issue 20)

96 Rating – Mocha Porter – Rogue Ales and Spirits

Responses from Rogue brewmaster John Maier.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
John: I did. I wanted to make a robust Porter that wasn't a brown Porter. 25 years ago the great porters were Anchor Porter, Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter and Sierra Nevada Porter. The funny thing is that I messed up on the recipe for probably about five years before I got it to where it is today, which happened purely by happenstance. We received a pallet of chocolate malt that we were milling when we discovered that a couple odd bags that were in the mix got milled up by mistake, so I decided to brew with the new ‘blend,’ and it was just what I was aiming for after all those years of trial and error! The recipe has remained the same for the last 20 years.
 
BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
John: The surprisingly light and refreshing taste. 
 
BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
John: Originally named New Porter, after the town of Newport where Rogue's brewery is located, and also because it was a new style of Porter. It was later renamed to better describe the product: Mocha Porter for its ruddy brown color.
 
BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
John: Ruddy brown, bittersweet balance of malt & hops, light cream finish. 

96 Rating – Brewery Ommegang – Hennepin

Responses from Ommegang brewmaster Phil Leinhart.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?  
Phil: I’m not sure, but I’d guess it was Bert DeWit [Belgian brewer at Affligem] and/or Don Feinberg [Brewery Ommegang founder].

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?  
Phil: Its crisp finish.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
Phil: This beer is named after Father Hennepin, the Belgian Missionary. He was supposedly the first European to see Niagara Falls.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”  
Phil: It's definitely one of them!

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Phil: Bright, crisp, slightly fruity, digestible, moreish.