Cool loot we get in the mail: Rogue’s Promise Gone Aw-Rye IPA

Rogue box — It took all four members of *CBB* to jailbreak this beer outta that box.

We are not a beer review site, but we do drink beer, so we’re always quite tickled when craft businesses send us some of their tasty suds. In this reoccurring column, we will shamelessly attempt to con more breweries into sending us free beer and craft-related swaggery in exchange for the riches and fame that come with a profile post on CBB. We will also highlight the awesome packaging techniques that good PR companies and clever brewers put together for the media. The beer box above showed up at at a CBB satellite office last week, and we were most impressed by the smooth rye IPA inside and an ancient technique of correspondence called a handwritten letter.

Rogue Ales and Spirits announced the launch of Promise Gone Aw-Rye IPA a few weeks ago, and we actually enjoyed it for the first time out at Rogue Farms in early September. This brew comes with a cool backstory. Each year, longtime Rogue brewmaster John Maier creates a special, one-time only beer that is bottled and given as a holiday gift to all Rogue employees. Last year, John brewed a Red Rye IPA that was so beloved by the Rogue family that they had to break the promise to never brew the beer again and decided that this creation should be shared with beer drinkers across the globe.

Rogue Red Rye IPA — Still finding that crinkled paper in the house.

For this, we are thankful. Made with Rogue Farms Dream rye, Promise Gone Aw-Rye starts with a subtle kick of rye up front, then delivers a full malt body to the palate with plenty of Rogue Farms hops on the finish. It’s really one of the best rye beers we’ve ever had (mostly because the rye is subtle) Here’s Brett Joyce from the press release:

“Not only did it take a lot of convincing for John to finally agree to break his promise and brew more of his red rye IPA,” said Rogue President Brett Joyce, “but it’s taken a lot of dare, risk and dream to grow our own rye.”

Coming off a late summer harvest of Rogue Farms Dream Rye, Promise Gone Aw-Rye is now available on draft and in 22-ounce serigraphed bottles.