Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
As my loyal readers know, pilsners are one of my favorite styles of beer. I was quite excited to see that Dogfish Head, one of my favorite breweries, recently released the My Antonia pilsner. It is not often that Dogfish Head produces a lager, so I was really interested in trying this out. The My Antonia pours up yellow-gold with a faint haze and a massive, white, clumpy foam head. The nose is almost all hops with citrus being the dominant note along with some herbal and floral aromas.
At first taste the hops really coat the tongue. There is a balance between citrusy West Coast hops and the herbal fruitiness of European noble hops, with some bitter resin at the end. The malt definitely takes a back seat to the hops. There are some lager notes here, but they are barely discernible. There is a slight sweetness that does pair well with the hoppiness. The mouthfeel is medium-heavy with clinging, syrupy hops. The finish has a complex balance of hops notes that linger with fading sweetness.
My overall impression of the Dogfish Head My Antonia is that it is fairly 1-dimensional. It would be nice if a bit more of the malt peeked through. This beer is a great display of hops, but it needs a little more Pils character from the malt. This is a good beer by anyone's standards, but we're all a bit spoiled by the folks from Dogfish Head. I was hoping for greatness and this falls a bit short for me.
The fruity citrus character of this beer makes it a natural pair for Madagascan chocolate. My choice was the Amano Madagascar and that worked well. Other good pairs would be the Michel Cluizel Mangaro Noir, the Patric Signature Blend, or for the real daring the Pralus Le 100%.
Showing posts with label Dogfish Head. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dogfish Head. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2011
Friday, November 12, 2010
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for review today is Dogfish Head's Raison D'Etre. This is a Belgian-style dark ale brewed with raisins. The Raison D'Etre pours dark brown with a hint of ruby. A thick, brownish-tan, foamy head slowly rises. The nose detects juicy and winy notes along with some sweet cereal.
On the palate both wininess and a slightly sweet cereal note come to the forefront. There are notes of brown bread and burnt toast here. The hops take on an herbal character with a touch of bitterness. Oaky/woody notes sit in the background along with raisins. The Raison d'Etre has a moderate-heavy mouthfeel that is nearly syrupy. The finish is off-dry with dark wheat toast being the dominant flavor.
Dogfish Head has a really good beer on their hands with the Raison D'Etre. It drinks similar to an aged barleywine with a bit more burnt/raisin notes and not quite as winy. The raisins here seem to emulate the great raisiny flavor that develops with time on a vintage barleywine (see Thomas Hardy). Similar to aging wine or scotch in small barrels or over oak chips, you get a sneak peek at an aged beverage, but some of the complexity that can only be produced by time is missing. I am very curious to see how this beer ages.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for review today is Dogfish Head's Raison D'Etre. This is a Belgian-style dark ale brewed with raisins. The Raison D'Etre pours dark brown with a hint of ruby. A thick, brownish-tan, foamy head slowly rises. The nose detects juicy and winy notes along with some sweet cereal.
On the palate both wininess and a slightly sweet cereal note come to the forefront. There are notes of brown bread and burnt toast here. The hops take on an herbal character with a touch of bitterness. Oaky/woody notes sit in the background along with raisins. The Raison d'Etre has a moderate-heavy mouthfeel that is nearly syrupy. The finish is off-dry with dark wheat toast being the dominant flavor.
Dogfish Head has a really good beer on their hands with the Raison D'Etre. It drinks similar to an aged barleywine with a bit more burnt/raisin notes and not quite as winy. The raisins here seem to emulate the great raisiny flavor that develops with time on a vintage barleywine (see Thomas Hardy). Similar to aging wine or scotch in small barrels or over oak chips, you get a sneak peek at an aged beverage, but some of the complexity that can only be produced by time is missing. I am very curious to see how this beer ages.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
We're saving the best for last for our IPA Extravaganza on Critical Tastings. The 90-Minute IPA from Dogfish Head is the big brother of their 60 Minute IPA, and is brewed with 90 minutes of continuous additions of hops during the boil. The 90 Minute IPA is golden amber-red in color. It pours with a huge, golden, foamy head. The nose is dominated by a big, fruity hop-citrus aroma, along with a hint of sweet, bready malt.
The 90-Minute IPA has bitter hops up front on the palate along with a sweet cereal note from the malt. The hops flavors are led by citrus (orange peel being the most notable citrus flavor), along with some floral and herbal hops notes. While the hops steals the show in this beer, the sweet malt plays a nice counterpoint and helps open up a variety of complex flavors. There are flavors of caramel and whiskey. In addition there are notes of wine, oak, earth, and salt along with a faint minerality. There is a long, hoppy finish with citrus and bitter hops over a background of sweet maltiness. The 90 Minute IPA has a medium body that stands up to its big, complex flavor.
Dogfish Head has another winner on their hands with their 90-Minute IPA. There is a powerful hops flavor that is assertive without being overpowering. The malt and alcohol are present in just the right balance to open up a higher level of complexity without detracting from the hops. The Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is everything I want in an IPA and then some.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
We're saving the best for last for our IPA Extravaganza on Critical Tastings. The 90-Minute IPA from Dogfish Head is the big brother of their 60 Minute IPA, and is brewed with 90 minutes of continuous additions of hops during the boil. The 90 Minute IPA is golden amber-red in color. It pours with a huge, golden, foamy head. The nose is dominated by a big, fruity hop-citrus aroma, along with a hint of sweet, bready malt.
The 90-Minute IPA has bitter hops up front on the palate along with a sweet cereal note from the malt. The hops flavors are led by citrus (orange peel being the most notable citrus flavor), along with some floral and herbal hops notes. While the hops steals the show in this beer, the sweet malt plays a nice counterpoint and helps open up a variety of complex flavors. There are flavors of caramel and whiskey. In addition there are notes of wine, oak, earth, and salt along with a faint minerality. There is a long, hoppy finish with citrus and bitter hops over a background of sweet maltiness. The 90 Minute IPA has a medium body that stands up to its big, complex flavor.
Dogfish Head has another winner on their hands with their 90-Minute IPA. There is a powerful hops flavor that is assertive without being overpowering. The malt and alcohol are present in just the right balance to open up a higher level of complexity without detracting from the hops. The Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is everything I want in an IPA and then some.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is one of several IPA's in Dogfish Head's series of continuously-hopped IPA's. This means that hops are continuously added during the boil in the brewing process (in this case over the course of 60 minutes). The 60-Minute IPA is golden in color with a hint of amber. It pours with 1-finger of bubbly white head. The nose has hop flowers, pine and a fruity/citrus aroma from the hops. There are also some malt notes in the back along with a bit of earthiness and some toasted aromas.
On the palate, the 60 Minute IPA initially presents malt and floral hops notes. Bitter and piny hops notes then begin to show up, in balance with the malt and floral hops. There are winy alcohol and mineral notes present as well. The finish has herbal and fruity hops along with some bitterness over some sweet malt notes. The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is medium bodied with some crisp fizziness.
The Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA is crisp and refreshing with some great hop flavor. It may not have the intensity of its bigger cousins, but it is rather reminiscent of a good, hoppy amber. Fans of Red Seal Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should check this one out.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is one of several IPA's in Dogfish Head's series of continuously-hopped IPA's. This means that hops are continuously added during the boil in the brewing process (in this case over the course of 60 minutes). The 60-Minute IPA is golden in color with a hint of amber. It pours with 1-finger of bubbly white head. The nose has hop flowers, pine and a fruity/citrus aroma from the hops. There are also some malt notes in the back along with a bit of earthiness and some toasted aromas.
On the palate, the 60 Minute IPA initially presents malt and floral hops notes. Bitter and piny hops notes then begin to show up, in balance with the malt and floral hops. There are winy alcohol and mineral notes present as well. The finish has herbal and fruity hops along with some bitterness over some sweet malt notes. The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is medium bodied with some crisp fizziness.
The Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA is crisp and refreshing with some great hop flavor. It may not have the intensity of its bigger cousins, but it is rather reminiscent of a good, hoppy amber. Fans of Red Seal Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should check this one out.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Stout
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
Dogfish Head frequently takes chances and ends up producing a multitude of very unique beers. There are both hits and misses along the way, but generally there are more hits than misses. The World Wide Stout is one of the big hits. At 18% ABV (yes, that says eighteen), this is nothing like your typical Guinness/Murphy's style stout. This is a big beer that is not for the faint of heart.
The World Wide Stout is opaque black in color. The head pours fairly short. The tan head fades fast as is expected of a beer with such a high alcohol content. The nose is aromatic with notes of raisins, soy sauce, oatmeal, wood and smoke. The aroma is reminiscent of a port or a cream sherry.
On the palate, the World Wide Stout continues its resemblance to sherry/port with sweet malt giving rise to a familiar burnt raisin character similar to those fortified wines. There is a bitter espresso flavor, as well as nuts, earthiness, leather, oak and plums. The finish has a bitter roasted flavor and some black coffee. There is just a touch of acidity, as well as a warming, lip-tingling alcohol component. The mouthfeel is heavy with some juiciness and some syrupiness as well.
The Dogfish Head World Wide Stout is rather reminiscent of the Thomas Hardy's Ale in it's resemblance more to a fine port or sherry than a typical beer. Keep that in mind if you're new to this style of beer. This isn't up everyone's alley, but it's well worth the try if you're into extreme beer (or ports and sherries for that matter), as this beer is one of a kind. Keep in mind that the World Wide Stout is a whopping 18% alcohol, and plan your consumption accordingly. The first time I tried this beer I was unaware of its potency. When I got up off the couch I nearly fell over!
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Stout
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
Dogfish Head frequently takes chances and ends up producing a multitude of very unique beers. There are both hits and misses along the way, but generally there are more hits than misses. The World Wide Stout is one of the big hits. At 18% ABV (yes, that says eighteen), this is nothing like your typical Guinness/Murphy's style stout. This is a big beer that is not for the faint of heart.
The World Wide Stout is opaque black in color. The head pours fairly short. The tan head fades fast as is expected of a beer with such a high alcohol content. The nose is aromatic with notes of raisins, soy sauce, oatmeal, wood and smoke. The aroma is reminiscent of a port or a cream sherry.
On the palate, the World Wide Stout continues its resemblance to sherry/port with sweet malt giving rise to a familiar burnt raisin character similar to those fortified wines. There is a bitter espresso flavor, as well as nuts, earthiness, leather, oak and plums. The finish has a bitter roasted flavor and some black coffee. There is just a touch of acidity, as well as a warming, lip-tingling alcohol component. The mouthfeel is heavy with some juiciness and some syrupiness as well.
The Dogfish Head World Wide Stout is rather reminiscent of the Thomas Hardy's Ale in it's resemblance more to a fine port or sherry than a typical beer. Keep that in mind if you're new to this style of beer. This isn't up everyone's alley, but it's well worth the try if you're into extreme beer (or ports and sherries for that matter), as this beer is one of a kind. Keep in mind that the World Wide Stout is a whopping 18% alcohol, and plan your consumption accordingly. The first time I tried this beer I was unaware of its potency. When I got up off the couch I nearly fell over!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Brown Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
Dogfish Head is one of my all-time favorite breweries. Today's tasting is their Indian Brown Ale, which is one of my all-time favorite beers. The Indian Brown Ale is deep brown with some red. It is nearly opaque in the glass. The head pours rather short and is a light golden-brown in color. The head quickly fades to something reminiscent of cappucino froth. On the nose there is a sweet coffee aroma, with supporting notes of nuts and wine.
On the palate, the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale has a distinctive flavor akin to coffee with cream and sugar. There is a nice bitter kick and a sweet maltiness that are well-balanced. There is a fantastic complexity in the flavor, with notes of peanut butter, tobacco, nuts, leather, cherries and pepper-spice all being detectable along with a hint of smokiness. The finish is more of that coffee and cream flavor with some earthiness and a touch of hops. The Indian Brown Ale is medium bodied with some mouth-coating creaminess.
Dogfish Head is well known for producing big beers with big flavor, and the Indian Brown Ale is no exception. The Indian Brown Ale has plenty of that big maltiness that brown ales are known for, but there is also some great complimentary hops to round it out. This one has it all.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Brown Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
Dogfish Head is one of my all-time favorite breweries. Today's tasting is their Indian Brown Ale, which is one of my all-time favorite beers. The Indian Brown Ale is deep brown with some red. It is nearly opaque in the glass. The head pours rather short and is a light golden-brown in color. The head quickly fades to something reminiscent of cappucino froth. On the nose there is a sweet coffee aroma, with supporting notes of nuts and wine.
On the palate, the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale has a distinctive flavor akin to coffee with cream and sugar. There is a nice bitter kick and a sweet maltiness that are well-balanced. There is a fantastic complexity in the flavor, with notes of peanut butter, tobacco, nuts, leather, cherries and pepper-spice all being detectable along with a hint of smokiness. The finish is more of that coffee and cream flavor with some earthiness and a touch of hops. The Indian Brown Ale is medium bodied with some mouth-coating creaminess.
Dogfish Head is well known for producing big beers with big flavor, and the Indian Brown Ale is no exception. The Indian Brown Ale has plenty of that big maltiness that brown ales are known for, but there is also some great complimentary hops to round it out. This one has it all.
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