There are many more Dogfish brews for me to review, but this will be the last one for a while since I got to quite a few during “Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month” and it is time to share reviews for other beers.  I do have another few breweries in mind for dedicated months on this site, but they can wait until at least January.

Their website says that this one is a blend of oak-aged English strong ale and Dogfish’s very popular 90 Minute IPA, which I somehow did not fit into the evaluations for the month.  I think this is a great blend of the two styles, which again gave me a beer that was different than anything I can remember trying previously.  The Wife didn’t make it past the first sip, but that only meant that there was more for me to enjoy!

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Burton Baton

Style: Imperial IPA (oak-aged)

ABV: 10.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in an oversized wine glass.  $3.49 for 12oz.

Aroma: Smooth, slightly citrus hop aroma.  A slight hint of vanilla with a little bit of earthy/woody nose in back.

Appearance: Medium amber with some orange tint.  Slight, cream color head with moderate retention and a heavy(ish) trail.  Quite clear with a few bubbles rising.

Flavor: Moderate hop flavor (some grapefruit-like character) with a nice background of caramel/slightly toasted maltiness.  Some bitterness and well balanced overall.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with moderate carbonation.  Very smooth and slightly creamy with an even hint of warmth in back.

Overall Impressions: Really incredible aroma (my initial impression) with the flavor falling right in line.  The oak aging did not over power either.  A very pleasant beer with a great combination of aromas and flavors.

Grade: A- (maybe higher)

Point of entry

Dogfish Head - Burton Baton

Dogfish Head - Burton Baton

A closer look

“Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month” has officially leaked into December with this evaluation and will do so even more with another to come this Friday.  It was not intentional, but I was left with a few of the more interesting beers for this week, including this one based on an ancient Turkish recipe discovered in the tomb of King Midas.  Being brewed without hops gives this one a very unique flavor profile (that The Wife enjoyed a lot) and is certainly worth a try if you have the opportunity.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Midas Touch

Style: Spice/Herb Beer

ABV: 9.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a white wine glass.  $3.99 for 12oz.

Aroma: Sweet aroma of grapes (prominent).  Clean and crisp sauvignon blanc/riesling-like nose.

Appearance: Golden color with strong orange tint (honey-like, probably influenced by the saffron).  Slight, off-white head that quickly dissipates with no trail and very slight legs.  Very clear with a few bubbles rising.

Flavor: Moderate grape flavor on a background of light maltiness and a slight bit of honey sweetness.  Some dryness at the finish that stays on the palate a bit.

Mouthfeel: Light body and pretty high carbonation with some bite (champagne-like).  Smooth and crisp with a slight warmth at finish (enough to let you know it is 9%).

Overall Impressions: Drinks like a light bodied beer, but with a lot of flavor.  Seemingly a direct midpoint between beer and champagne.  Very pleased to have tried and quite different than anything I have tasted to date (that I can recall).

Grade: B+

Point of entry

Dogfish Head - Midas Touch

Dogfish Head - Midas Touch

Since November is coming to an end I was looking for some interesting Dogfish content to close out “Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month.”  Realizing that I have yet to get my hands on some Sah’tea and will not be reviewing it right away, it seemed a good idea to showcase it a little bit.  It has been mentioned on this site before in an article linked last month.

I knew the special method they used to add unique character to this beer, but it was great to see it in action.  If I can get my hands on some sauna rocks maybe I will give this a try at home!

Prior to Thanksgiving dinner I was asked (by Jim) when I would be running out of Dogfish beers to review.  The answer is that I will be trickling “Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month” into December since I have a few more to evaluate for next week.  Not that there are no more for me to review (there are many), but that is how many I have left in the house.

Maybe it was that question that put the thought in my head, but when The Wife suggested wine after we returned home I suggested the Black & Blue as an option.  It turned out to be an appropriate substitution and a good end to the day.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Black & Blue (refers to use of black raspberry and blueberry purees)

Style: Fruit Beer (based on Belgian Golden Ale)

ABV: 10.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the wine fridge (51 degrees +/-) and served in an oversized wine glass.  $11.69 for 1pt. 9.6oz.

Aroma: Full malty sweetness and a prominent fruit nose (raspberry with an apple-like tartness/acidity).

Appearance: Medium brown color with slight red tone (coppery orange when held to light).  Slight cream color head that dissipates fairly quickly leaving some trail (legs).  Clear with very slight haze (possibly chill).

Flavor: Even berry/fruit flavor (blueberry) on a light malty, sweet background.  Some sourness/acidity towards finish.

Mouthfeel: Light body with high, champagne-like carbonation.  Smooth, but quite crisp at finish.  Some warmth on back of tongue/throat.

Overall Impressions: Drinks like a crisp, dry(ish) champagne.  Aroma suggested a bit more punch than what flavor was.  Really came close to what I expected from the label description.  The Wife didn’t love the first sip, but enjoyed it thereafter (disconnect with aroma).

Grade: B

The point of entry

Dogfish Head - Black & Blue

Unfortunately most of the fall seasonal beers are long off the shelves before Thanksgiving comes around as the winter beers seem to come out earlier and earlier every year.  This one is consistently at the top of the list for me when it is released each year and I held onto a few (along with some other pumpkin beers) to enjoy in November.  The Wife even used a Punkin Ale to make (some very good) bread with earlier this month.  Be sure to put this on your shopping list for autumn next year.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Punkin Ale

Style: Vegetable Beer (based on American Brown Ale)

ABV: 7.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $8.99 for a 4-pack.

Aroma: Pumpkin pie-like spices (definitely nutmeg and some allspice).  Full malty sweetness and seems like a real pumpkin aroma is there (in back).

Appearance: Medium brown color with copper tint.  Slight cream color head with good retention and no trail.  Mostly clear with some haze.

Flavor: Medium maltiness with slight toasted and caramel notes.  Very slight hint of pumpkin spice flavors.  Extremely low hop flavor and bitterness with a hint of dryness at the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with fairly high carbonation (has slight bite).  Smooth with a very slight warmth.

Overall Impressions: Good beer for those who don’t like pumpkin beers (or think that they don’t).  Great balance of pumpkin aroma and maltiness in flavor.  Nice beer for the season . . . at the top of pumpkin beers for me (pending further research).  Maybe slightly high alcohol for style (4.3-6.2% for Brown Ale).

Grade: A-

The entry point

Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale

Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale

Since I started the week with a Dogfish Stout, it seemed appropriate to finish the week with one as well.  World Wide Stout is more expensive (per volume) than any other Dogfish beers I have tried but, as I have said before, consider what you would pay for a drink at a bar or pub.  Actually, I didn’t realize what the cost was until after I walked out with the receipt, but it turned out to be worth the investment.  With it having limited availability, I am glad I took the opportunity to give it a try when I had the chance.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: World Wide Stout

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (Double?)

ABV: 18.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge, allowed to warm a bit and served in an oversized wine glass (snifter-like).  $8.49 for 12oz.

Aroma: Full roasted maltiness with undertones of chocolate and dark fruit sweetness (currant-like).  Big alcohol aroma that has a barleywine/port-like nose.

Appearance: Appears black, though dark brown at the edges when held to light.  Slight, light coffee color head that dissipates quickly and leaves a trail (has “legs”).  Opaque, but clear at edge when held to light.

Flavor: Intensely strong flavor of roasted grains with a hint of bittersweet chocolate.  Has a dark fruit/grapey character (port-like).  Slight bitterness and dryness at finish.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy (almost chewy in a way).  Fairly high carbonation that leaves a slight sharpness.  Prominent, but smooth warmth.

Overall Impressions: Really complex flavors.  Great for an evening where you were only having one beer (would probably be great with a cigar).  The alcohol flavors might be too prominent for some (high for style, 8%-12%).  Very happy to be able to try.

Grade: A

Perhaps a warning?

Some for me, some for The Wife

Dogfish Head - World Wide Stout

As the weather gets a bit cooler (I use cooler instead of cold since I am in Florida), a good stout becomes an even more enjoyable option when looking for a beer to sit down with.  I cannot say for sure that stout is my favorite style, but it would likely be in the conversation.  Starting as one of their earliest beer recipes (see video below), they have certainly refined it over the years into being a very good one that I enjoyed quite a lot.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Chicory Stout

Style: American Stout

ABV: 5.2%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge for a short time (not cold) and served in a pint glass.

Aroma: Prominent roasted malt aroma with a hint of coffee (almost chocolatey).

Appearance: Black in color (dark, dark, brown when held up to light).  One finger light brown head with moderate retention leaving a light trail.  Opaque, but clear with bubbles visible when held to light.

Flavor: Medium (to high) roasted malt flavor and light bitterness.  Nice notes of coffee with no burnt flavors and almost chocolate-like sweetness.  Very slight dryness at finish.

Mouthfeel: Full(ish) body and medium-high carbonation with very slight bite.  Quite smooth with some creaminess.

Overall Impressions: Very nice, smooth drinking stout.  Probably would not be nearly as enjoyable if it was ice cold.  Good mix and balance of subtle flavors.

Grade: B+ (solid)

The entry point

Dogfish Head - Chicory Stout

Dogfish Head - Chicory Stout

It is very exciting to read the label of a beer and really not know exactly what to expect when you drink it.  Ending up with flavors that you have never experienced before is even better.  I don’t always end up loving the beer, but I am never regretful for having tried it.  The Wife thought the aroma of this one was fantastic but put her sample down immediately after one sip, comparing it to a flavor of burnt plastic.  My review is much more favorable.  That is just another example of how two people who enjoy beer can have extremely different opinions on the same brew.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Immort Ale

Style: Strong Ale (American but with Belgian yeast?)

ABV: 11.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge, allowed to warm and served in an oversized wine glass (snifter-like).  $3.99 for 12oz.

Aroma: Malty sweetness with dark fruit (prunes/currants) aromas.  Smoky earthiness (woody notes from barrel aging).

Appearance: Coppery brown color (maple syrup-like).  Slight cream/light tan color head with moderate retention leaving some trail.  Clear with many tiny bubbles visible.

Flavor: Strong maltiness with molasses-like sweetness.  Smooth smokiness (similar to aroma) and a hint of vanilla.  Balance to malt (no real hop profile).  Additional complexity from barrel aging?

Mouthfeel: Medium (toward full) body with pretty high carbonation (without bite).  Slight creaminess with even warmth in back.

Overall Impressions: Interesting, complex flavors.  Not something I would have more than one (or two) of.  Probably not a beer that I would buy again, but I am very glad to have tried it (just not really a great match for my palate).

Grade: B (ish)

The entry point

Dogfish Head - Immort Ale

Dogfish Head - Immort Ale

Perhaps this video should have started off “Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month,” but it seems appropriate now since it is probably of more interest after seeing some of the other content in the last few weeks.  I have been reading about the beginnings of the brewery and found it all to be very fascinating, including the implementation of the distillery earlier this decade.  Some of their spirits are even inspired by beer recipes, like the Wit Spiced Rhum.  That is just another reason to stop by Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats when you are passing through Delaware.

Time to review a seasonal from Dogfish that clocks in with a pretty low alcohol content, especially for their brews.  If you cannot guess by the name this beer is fermented with peaches, giving it subtle notes of that flavor.  It is nice to be able to sample beers from all points in the Dogfish spectrum and this one is much different than those I have tried to this point.  I am very glad I gave it a chance, but some beers just don’t suit my palate as much as others.

Check out the video below for more about the creation of this beer.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Festina Peche

Style: Weissbier (neo-BerlinerWeisse per their description)

ABV: 4.5%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a goblet.  $7.99 for a 4-pack.

Aroma: Light aroma overall with light to medium wheat notes (somewhat bready).  Very light fruity sweetness.

Appearance: Light gold/straw color.  Slight off-white head that quickly dissipates with no trail.  Clear with some haze (few tiny bubbles visible).

Flavor: Tart fruitiness up front (prominent) with no noticeable hop character.  Slight sweetness with a light wheat character in back.  Some dryness at finish.

Mouthfeel: Light body with high carbonation that gives a champagne-like crispness.  Some creaminess (oddly considering other characteristics).

Overall Impressions: Certainly works well for warm weather and is better very cold.  Very champagne-like to drink.  OK beer, but I have no need to buy it again (simply not my preference).

Grade: C (ish)

Cap close up

Dogfich Head - Festina Peche

If you read the article that was posted about a month ago, you already have a good idea of how this beer came to be.  If reading doesn’t sound appealing today (I feel like that a lot), there is a video below that explains the process more specifically for this beer.  There are other videos out there if you are interested as well as a lot of information about the Palo Santo tree that was utilized to make the aging vessel for this beer.

This was another beer that I enjoyed quite a lot, but that had much more complexity than I was able to put into words.  Definitely give it a try if you have the opportunity.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Palo Santo Marron

Style: American Brown Ale

ABV: 12.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge, allowed to warm a bit and served in a pint glass (per Dogfish site recommendation).  $3.99 for 12oz.

Aroma: Light aroma overall (from what I expected).  Full, malty nose with some roasty/toasted notes.  Sweetness that is caramel or brown sugar-like.

Appearance: Black in color (very, very, very dark brown).  One finger, very thick, light coffee color head with great retention that leaves a trail.  Opaque, even when held to light.

Flavor: Heavy, malty sweetness with no noticeable hops.  Earthy, woodiness near finish that hangs on for a bit.  Can tell that wood vessel aging was involved.  Some dryness at finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate (to high) carbonation.  Quite creamy and somewhat smooth.  Warmth noticed at the end – back of mouth into the throat.

Overall Impressions: Really a lot going on here (more than I can pick out).  It is similar to other barrel aged beers, but very different as well.  A very good beer for sitting in front of a fireplace at the end of an evening or enjoying after dinner with a cigar.  Would have served it in an oversized wine glass and likely will for the next time.  High alcohol for style (4.3%-6.2%), if it actually belongs in this style.

Grade: A- (solid)

Pay attention to the video to see this on paper

Big sample, Little sample

If you missed out on the reasoning behind all of the Dogfish reviews to come and what “The Orbbies” are (see logo at right), check out yesterday’s post!

As I recently mentioned to The Brother-in-law, this was the first Dogfish beer that I remember having some years ago after just moving to Florida.  My memory is of this beer really opening my eyes to a whole new world of craft brews.  At the time, I was somewhat blown away by the flavor, but as I tried more and more Dogfish beers I found out that it was pretty tame by comparison.  My overall grade for the beer back then would have likely been slightly higher than today, but I still regard it as a very good beer that you should get if you are looking to try something new.

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)

Name: Raison D’Etre

Style: Belgian Dark Strong Ale

ABV: 8.0%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a goblet.  $1.99 for 12oz.

Aroma: Malty, sweet aroma that is brown sugar or molasses-like.  Strong dark fruit notes (raisins in this case)

Appearance: Deep copper to brown color.  One finger, light tan head that quickly dissipates with some trail.  Very clear with some visible rising bubbles.

Flavor: Malty with a slight sweetness underneath.  No noticeable hops, tipping the overall balance to the malt side.  Somewhat dry at finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with pretty high carbonation having a slight bite.  Some noticeable warmth.  Slightly smooth on the palate.

Overall Impressions: Flavor is similar to aroma, though not as full.  Better as it warms closer to room temperature.  Nice slow-drinking beer.

Grade: B+(ish)

The cap (sorry about the shadow)

Dogfish Head - Raison D'Etre

As mentioned previously, I have declared November to be “Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month” on “A Night With The Hops” and after purging myself of some random thoughts yesterday I am ready to kick things off.  I will be posting as much information as possible about the brewery throughout the month.  Some of it will be more current, some slightly old (like today), and some that goes back years.  The one constant will be that each Tuesday and Friday the beer review will be one from Dogfish.  Sure the information will be good, but the beer reviews will be an even more fun part for me (and hopefully you as well).

This first article, from earlier in the year, gives a brief idea of what the brewery is about and some of the reasoning behind what they do.  If you are interested in a much longer read, I posted a link to a great article from late last year that goes much more into the method behind the madness.

Sam Calagione via www.boston.com

A conversation with The Wife this morning gave me an idea of how I can celebrate the month in my own way.  I would like to try brewing with some ingredients that are not very common or typical.  Blueprint Brewing certainly does not have the resources to import rare plant species from the jungles of Indonesia, but I believe we can get some good ideas that are much more readily available here in Florida.

I am looking for some good ideas and I certainly could use some suggestions.  What would you like me to use for some slightly off the wall brewing ingredients?  Leave me a comment!

Also, for those of you interested in checking out the Orlando Sentinel, The Wife and I have been nominated for the best blogs in Central Florida in a few different categories.  You can vote for us (once a day for the next few weeks) HERE!

To celebrate the middle of the week this one will be a short, but very informative post.

Today was the last day of work for me at the architecture firm that I have worked at for the last five (plus) years.  This parting was a result of my own choices and I felt very good about the whole thing even through today when I left the building, as an employee, for the last time.  Everyone there was very supportive of my decision and I thank them all very much for the time that I had there.  It was the right moment to move on and I am very excited about what the future may hold.  Any developments will certainly be shared here with you all.

Now back to the beer (which is what I assume you are all here for).  After some thought and the beginning stages of planning, I would like to announce that November will be “Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Month” on this site!  What that means is a heavy dose of all things Dogfish Head.  The beer reviews for the month will all be Dogfish brews and other days in the week will be used to highlight stories and facts about the brewery.  The month will be a great learning experience (and a lot of fun) for me and, hopefully many of you will find it interesting as well.

That is all for now.  Stay tuned . . . on both fronts!

It has been fun to read different articles that have highlighted this year’s Great American Beer Festival that happened almost two weeks ago now.  This article is a good one that touches on a bit of everything, including how he was able to try Dogfish Head’s Chicha, which I became excited about some weeks ago.

I am attempting to keep this post short because I want you to save time to read this other article.  Jim (thank you sir) passed this one along to me yesterday and it is a great read, especially if you have any interest in Sam Calagione and Dogfish Head Brewery.  Sit down with a good beer and see for yourself.