Dank citric floral aroma abruptly interrupted by rye-pumpernickel-tobacco assertion until lemony overture infiltrates dry sour bread finish for extent joyride. Brewery defunct: 2005.
All posts by John Fortunato
DOGWOOD BREAKDOWN INDIA PALE ALE
Incipient honeyed malts embittered by dry hop char. Toasted barley and cracked wheat create sweet spine but citrus-y orange-apricot-pineapple-mango medley could be more pronounced. Brewery defunct: 2005.
DOGWOOD BOCK LAGER
Golden red bock nearly as colorful as its snazzy label. Soured raisin persistence impels sweet cedar influence, bruised cherry tang, red grape tartness, and grassy hay smidgen. Almond nuttiness brackets meager rye sentiment. Brewery defunct: 2005.
DOGFISH HEAD WORLD WIDE STOUT
Intriguingly bold blackish stout boasting “ridiculous amount of dark-roasted barley” complements aromatic bourbon-port-sherry-barleywine perk and lusty cherry jubilee sweetness with frighteningly elevated honey-syrupy 18.8% alcohol warmth. Fluctuant raisin-fig dryness, pithy cognac influence and sticky licorice-liqueur soothe retained to creamy chocolate brownie finish of excellent sipping beer perfect for fireplace dessert.
DOGFISH HEAD 60 MINUTE INDIA PALE ALE
Acute bottle conditioned golden-bronzed East Coast IPA directly counters floral perfumed brandy wine nose, dry-spiced citric zest and pine-needled hop resin against peach-honeyed apricot-tangerine-melon tang. Sharp grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering contrasts ancillary orange-candied pineapple-mango-guava tropicalia. Slim burnt cedar edge buttresses sticky pale malt sinew, enhancing the massive fruity nature. Its robust assertiveness and rich flavor profile expanded the palates of many future zymurgists.
DOGFISH HEAD SHELTER PALE ALE
Luxurious honeyed malts and resinous citric-floral hops hit the tongue running and sharp carbolic fizz never overwhelms amber-clouded off-dry ale. Musty wet grass earthiness conceals soapy finish after pleasant sugared grapefruit-apricot sweetness and temperate almond nuttiness pay dividends.
DOGFISH HEAD RED & WHITE
Imaginative soft-watered pinkish amber 10% alcohol ‘malt beverage’ made with pinot noir juice and Belgian yeast, then aged in oak barrels, keeps revealing sundry complexities. Strangely, advertised coriander and orange peel components are well hidden, working as conduits for chewy honeyed malt-stricken sherry, bourbon, and brandy illusions as well as cane-sugared cherry jubilee, honeydew, cantaloupe, and mango fruiting. Studies prove mixing wine and beer is dangerous, but Dogfish puts ’em together in one bottle.
DOGFISH HEAD RAISON D’EXTRA
Magnificent adjunct ‘Raison D’Etre’ illuminated by deeper mocha-malted penetration and loud bruised orange waft. Ripe raisin burst and overripe prune thickness of ‘bulbous brown flavored ale’ settles to sensational creamy cognac finish. Moreover, incredible brandy luster consumes deep alcohol-ridden backdrop while tempting candied butterscotch expanse increases density of ridiculously strong slow sipping majesty.
DOGFISH HEAD RAISON D’ETRE
Heady mahogany ale with dry stout characteristics such as cocoa-powdered bitterness, dehydrated prune essence, and mild burgundy boozing. Billowy bubbles form sharp beige head for dirty-grained ‘raison’ (raisin) brew. Malt-lacquered yeast-soured green raisin finish gain depth with each sip. On tap, pinpoint fruited malting increases beet sugared raisin-fig depth, bruised orange souring, and sarsaparilla tease.
DOGFISH HEAD PUNKIN ALE
Gourd-styled “full-bodied brown ale” spices up-front pumpkin pie pungency with sharply-hopped cinnamon-allspice-nutmeg enhancement as pleasing buttery mouthfeel swells, staying richer than most autumnal ‘punkin’ competition.
DOGFISH HEAD PANGAEA AMBER ALE
Coppery turbid Belgian-styled strong pale ale rushes crystallized ginger initiation across mouthwash-y eucalyptus-spearmint follow-up, allowing honeyed yeast sinew to embellish sour candy center and delicate peach caress. Sullen banana-pear-green apple combo invades oaken earthy mustiness as white pepper, black currant, and floral notes speckle flatly carbonated dried-fruit moldiness to citric-hop embittered finish almost sabotaged by oncoming astringency.
DOGFISH HEAD PALO SANTO MARRON MALT BEVERAGE
Closer to a heavy porter and just a tad coarse (though never astringently so), this 12% alcohol-strengthened brown ale disguises its heady ambitions well. Brewed inside Palo Santo wood, the dry-bodied cola-hued ‘malt beverage’ invites thickened brown-sugared black chocolate malting, maple-sapped molasses-cocoa influence, and oaken vanilla tinge to port-brandy wining. Charcoal-stained bitter end picks up black cherry sweetness and minor grape-date-fig souring.