On a recent trip to visit family in Newport, Oregon, we stopped in at the Rogue Ales Public House (http://www NULL.rogue NULL.com/locations/locations NULL.php) on Bay Boulevard in Newport to do a tasting or two of the Rogue ales selection.  I don’t usually fawn over small little excursions like this, but we were treated so well (no, not because we’re in the industry…they didn’t know us from Adam) that I have to recommend that on your next trip to the Oregon Coast, you stop and give them a try.

Our server, Ronnie, was so extremely gracious and knowledgeable, I have to say it was some of the best service I’ve been shown in a restaurant of any level, particularly good for a pub.  My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, neither particularly big beer drinkers, were just as impressed as we were at the level of knowledge shown by the server.  (These are the kind of servers all restaurant owners/hospitality managers would like to clone…someone who truly loves the place they work for and is a cheerleader and an advocate for the establishment.)

Between the four of us, we must have tried at least eight ales and two of the distilled spirits that Rogue is now making. We were also lucky enough to get to try Charlie ’81, a special commemorative brew we were told was made in honor of the homebrewer that inspired the Rogue founders to start their enterprise.

The Hazelnut Rum we tried is so amazingly good it can be had straight or on the rocks, and I don’t like straight alcohol as a rule.  But the goods were so very, very good that even I could enjoy them that way.  Any of you who have ever been out partaking with me know what a sissy drinker I am.  They also make a Pink Gin that I would be proud to put in anyone’s gin and tonic.

The ales we tried were all very good as well, but the standout among them of the ones I hadn’t already tried (and carry here at Twilight) was the Hazelnut Brown.  Browns don’t generally ellicit excitement in me, as I usually like something stronger and punchier, like an Imperial IPA or an American Strong, but Rogue’s Hazelnut Brown had sexy nuances of flavor that most browns don’t even try to embody.  So very good, you’ll be seeing it on our shelves in the immediate future.

We didn’t eat at the Ale House, as we had some lively and large fresh crabs on the menu for that evening, but everything we saw come by our table looked to be pretty superior as far as your everyday pub food goes.

So next time you’re on the coast, stop in and say hello at the Rogue Ales Public House.  We hope you have as good a time there as we did.