Rogue Combat Wombat 4Pk

Rogue Combat Wombat 4Pk is a sour Northeast-style IPA from Rogue Ales & Spirits, packaged as a 4-pack at 6.7% ABV. Scoring an 89 on BeerAdvocate, this hybrid brew fuses kettle-sour tartness with the juicy, haze-forward character of a New England IPA — a style Rogue dubbed "weird & wonderful." With Rogue Ales having ceased all operations and filed for bankruptcy in November 2025, remaining stock represents one of the final releases from the iconic Oregon brewery.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.7%  |  Origin: Newport, Oregon, USA  |  Style: Sour Northeast-Style IPA  |  Brewery: Rogue Ales & Spirits (est. 1988)

Production & Heritage

Rogue Ales & Spirits was founded in 1988 in Ashland, Oregon, later establishing its main production facility in Newport along the Oregon coast. Combat Wombat was produced using a blending technique common to modern sour IPAs: a standard hazy IPA and a fruited, lactose-enriched kettle sour were brewed separately and then combined until the desired pH and flavor balance was achieved. The grain bill features 2-row and acidulated malts alongside wheat, oats, and lactose, while grapefruit and blood orange provide the fruit backbone. Dry-hopping with Australian and Southern Hemisphere varieties — Citra, BRU-1, Vic Secret, and Galaxy — adds layers of tropical aromatics, all fermented with Rogue's proprietary Imperial Barbarian yeast strain.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pale gold and translucent in the glass, Combat Wombat floods the nose with tangy pink grapefruit and blood orange immediately. Behind the citrus, herbal tea-like qualities mingle with perfumy tropical fruit — passionfruit, papaya, and a whisper of pine resin from the hop blend.

Taste: The entry is bright and juicy, led by a burst of grapefruit and under-ripened orange that gives way to lime zest at the mid-palate. Tropical mango and passionfruit layer over a soft, wheaty malt base rounded by the lactose, while gooseberry and white wine-like acidity keep the sweetness in check. A moderate bitterness builds late, adding structure without overwhelming the fruit-forward character.

Finish: Crisp and snappy, with a tea-like herbal bite and hemp-like hop edge that lingers alongside the sour citrus. The finish is refreshing and dry enough to invite another sip, with residual grapefruit and tropical fruit slowly fading.

How to Drink Combat Wombat

Pour cold into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint glass to let the aromatic hop and citrus character bloom. Combat Wombat drinks well on its own straight from the can, but opening it up in glassware rewards you with a fuller nose.

• Shandy riff: Blend half a can with fresh lemonade and a squeeze of blood orange for a low-effort summer cooler that plays into the beer's existing citrus profile.
• Michelada variation: The sour backbone and grapefruit notes pair naturally with lime, hot sauce, and Tajín for a fruit-forward take on the classic.
• Beer cocktail float: Pour over a scoop of mango sorbet — the lactose body and tropical hops complement frozen fruit desserts without clashing.

Best For

• Collectors seeking a final release from Rogue Ales before the brewery's 2025 closure
• Sour IPA fans exploring the hybrid kettle-sour-meets-hazy-IPA category
• Warm-weather backyard sessions where fruit-forward refreshment matters
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to IPAs through an approachable, citrus-driven gateway

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Combat Wombat taste like? Combat Wombat leads with tangy grapefruit and blood orange, layered over tropical mango and passionfruit, finishing with a crisp, tea-like herbal bitterness. The lactose and wheat lend a soft, rounded mouthfeel that balances the pronounced sour character.

How does Combat Wombat compare to Red Brick Airbrush Daydream? Both occupy the sour IPA space, but Combat Wombat runs noticeably more tart and fruit-forward than Airbrush Daydream, with its dedicated grapefruit and blood orange additions pushing the sourness further. Airbrush Daydream leans slightly more toward a traditional hazy IPA balance with gentler acidity.

Is Combat Wombat good for sipping on its own? Yes — the blend of citrus fruit, moderate 6.7% ABV, and refreshing sour finish makes it sessionable enough to drink on its own while still offering enough complexity to hold attention across a full pour.

Where is Combat Wombat made? Combat Wombat was brewed at the Rogue Ales & Spirits facility in Newport, Oregon, the coastal town that served as the brewery's headquarters since the early 1990s. Rogue was originally founded in Ashland, Oregon, in 1988.

What foods pair well with Combat Wombat? Fish tacos with citrus slaw complement the grapefruit and lime notes directly. Thai green papaya salad mirrors the tropical and tart character. Soft goat cheese tempers the acidity with creamy richness. Grilled shrimp with mango salsa echoes the tropical hop profile. Lemon bars or citrus tarts create a harmonious dessert pairing.

What sizes does Combat Wombat come in? Combat Wombat was available in a 4-pack can format, which was the standard retail configuration for this release.

Is Combat Wombat worth the price? Combat Wombat positioned as a mid-range craft IPA during its production run, competitive with other sour or hazy IPAs from established craft breweries. With Rogue Ales now permanently closed, any remaining stock may carry additional collectibility value beyond its original price tier.

Why Combat Wombat?

Combat Wombat stood apart in a crowded IPA landscape by committing fully to the sour-hazy hybrid format, blending a kettle sour and a hazy IPA rather than simply adding fruit to a finished beer. The combination of Australian and Southern Hemisphere hops — BRU-1, Vic Secret, Galaxy — alongside Citra gave it a hop signature distinct from the Mosaic-and-Simcoe defaults flooding the category. An 89 on BeerAdvocate confirmed its quality among experienced drinkers. As one of the final releases from a brewery with a 37-year legacy, Combat Wombat now carries historical significance for anyone documenting the Oregon craft beer movement.