Beer Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale
Brewery Rogue Ales
Location Newport, Or
Type/Style Smoked
ABV 5.6%
Day 3 of American Craft Beer Week!
A little preamble: Despite growing up in Seattle, I actually rarely made it down to Portland, OR. One of the first times I did, I was probably 19 or 20. A friend took us to this funky little doughnut shop that evidently had quite a following. They were open all night, and were a perfect stop in the early morning hours after a night out. I was captivated by the creations they had there, including Captain Crunch donuts, some covered in M+Ms and one shaped like… well a man’s genitalia. But none interested me more than the Bacon Maple Bar. Simple, and delicious, I remember returning to school out east that fall and telling everyone about the best doughnut in the world. Years later, when one of my favorite breweries teamed up with Voodoo (yes, this is a collaboration brew) to create an oddball beer, I knew I’d need to try it.
To The Eye: Orange/amber in color with a 1/2 inch of creamy head atop.
To The Nose: Smells like breakfast and a diner. Smokey bacon and sweet maple strongly.
On The Lips: A salty and smoked start, which quickly gives to the powerful maple sweetness. It’s actually a fairly simple beer, which delivers what it promises. It tastes like that last bite of bacon you’ve used to soak up all the leftover maple syrup on your plate.
On The Tongue: Medium bodied with a slightly sticky finish, but not as syrupy as other sweet beers. Smooth drink, with very light carbonation.
Okay… this is a unique beer. To be honest, it’s really a novelty, and I’m glad to have tried it. I split the 1 pnt 9.4 oz bottle with my girlfriend (who was lovely enough to find this specialty for me) and we both had had enough by the end. It’s a powerful and delicious beer for the first few sips, but all its complexity eventually is overpowered by the two primary flavors: smoke and maple. It’s exactly what it is. If you’re curious and can still find one, go for it. You won’t regret it, but it’s not a repeat drinker in my opinion. The novelty is its strong point.
C.K.
Ps. Rouge and Voodoo have come up with another collaboration since this guy, a Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana ale (in homage to Elvis’s favorite sandwich). I may look into trying that one… eventually.