Rogue Dad's Little Helper Malt Liquor

By JASON + TODD ALSTRÖM

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Henry Jackson Smart had to raise six young children on his own after his wife passed away. His only daughter, Sonora Smart Dodd, organized the first Father's Day on June 19, 1910, to celebrate her dad's courage, love, selflessness and dedication to the task as a single parent times six. Fourteen years later, President Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day, and in 1972 President Nixon established permanent national observance of the day.

Father's Day is nearly upon us and there's nothing better than celebrating the day with beer—fuck all of that cheesy Hallmark holiday bullshit. And Rogue Ales out of Oregon has the juice to get the celebration started.

"This ain't your Dad's malt liquor." -- Rogue Brewmaster John Maier

No, it ain't. Unlike traditional malt liquors that come in 40s, lacking depth of flavor and focusing on bang for your buck (i.e. how quickly it gets you buzzed), Dad's Little Helper proves that you can have a malt liquor with kick and flavor. It's brewed with Harrington and Klages malt, flaked corn, Crystal hops, free-range coastal water and a Czech Pils (lager) yeast. It also weighs in at roughly 7 percent alcohol by volume—relatively on par for the style.

The Taste 

Pours a crystal-clear golden yellow brew, topped with a respectable white foam lacing. Aroma is fairly clean with notes of sweet corn, a hint of sulfur from the lager yeast, clean cracker-like grain and a faint herbal hop note. Smooth on the palate; creamy and light. Nice bite up front that's a combo of clean solvent-like alcohol, pepper and a quick smacking of hop bitterness that makes you beg for more. Some fruity fusels in the middle with a moment of candy sweetness. Hop character is distinctly herbal—a little lemony, too—along with cereal corn flavors that conjure notes of creamed corn and a sweetness that lingers well past the finish. Which, by the way, is quite clean with some watery floral flavors.

Final Thoughts

Simply put, this is a great example of the style, especially as most are pretty damn offensive. Available now in 22-ounce bottle format.

Sonora Smart Dodd probably didn't have this in mind back in 1910, but let's all pour a glass of Dad's Little Helper this Father's Day and drop a little to the earth for all dads past.

FOR MORE INFO: ROGUE.COM

FOR MORE BEER EDUCATION: BEERADVOCATE.COM

RESPECT BEER.