Dogfish Head Namaste

Dogfish Head is one of our favorite breweries (see Sah'tea, World Wide Stout & 90 Minute.) The brewery is probably the most innovative in the industry as they constantly push the boundaries of what a beer can be. So when we saw a new brew on the shelf, we had to pick it up. Namaste is a Belgian-style white ale brewed with orange slices, lemongrass and coriander.

The unfiltered Namaste pours a cloudy light yellow color with a frothy white head. Hints of coriander and a sweet orange tint hit the nose. The beer attacks the tongue with some sweetness but nothing too overpowering given the style. Namaste is well balanced and light bodied with a slightly tart flavor at first. As the beer flows down your throat, you are reminded of a light lemongrass flavor.

Dogfish Head keeps up their consistency by producing another delicious brew. While we might not be the biggest on the style (Oz appreciates white ales more than Mike,) Namaste is well above average.

Oz Scale: 8.0

Mike Scale: 7.7

Quick Sips: August 2010

Here is our first entry of Quick Sips, a super condensed and brief synopsis of some beers that we've had in the last few weeks. This one will include thoughts from the last few months.

• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA tastes amazing fresh (less than 2 1/2 weeks old)
• Weyerbacher Tiny is incredibly delicious (on our fourth bomber)
• Dogfish Head SahTea isn't as good as last years (not enough cinnamon, clove and ginger spices)
• Southern Tier 2XIPA is amazing (but make sure it is fresh.) Blows away most IPAs.
• Bell's Hopslam wasn't as good as last years. Like most IPA's- Make sure it's fresh.
• Great Lakes Holy Moses was a great choice for a spring beer. Glad to see it back.
• Thirsty Dog has come out with three new crap beers (Barktoberfest, Whippet Wheat and Twisted Kilt) and one decent one (Cerberus)
• Some batches of Founders Devil Dancer taste like a THC producing plant.
• Heavy Seas Below Decks Cabernet Barrel Aged is probably the best fresh barleywine out there.
• Goose Island Green Line Pale Ale (Pub Exclusive) is just plain gross.
• Heavy Seas Smoke on the Water wasn't as generic as it's name. Worth the buy.
• Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale is a refreshing summer IPA.
• Great Divide Brewing has some great beers out there (Colette, 16th Anniversary, Titan, Yeti.) We're excited to try more
• Dark Horse has yet to come out with a beer I thought was above average (Crooked Tree, Sapient Trip, Scotty Karate)
• Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster was great fresh but had a tinge too much alcohol flavor.

Dogfish Head Fort

The worlds strongest fruit beer. It's a claim that only Dogfish Head can make with their 18% ABV brew, Fort. When brewed, they use over a ton of pureed raspberries in a Belgian-style base which is then fermented similar to the DFH's other 18% beers, 120 Minute IPA and World Wide Stout. Being a fan of Dogfish Head, alcohol and World Wide Stout (we have yet to get our hands on a 120,) Mike did not hesitate dropping the serious cash to get this single bottle. Once again, silly Ohio laws prevent such beverages from entering their borders, so he had to pick this one up in Pennsylvania.

Fort pours surprisingly smooth, and smells of fruit and spices- almost like a Riesling. Amber and slightly cloudy in color, the taste hits on the side of the tongue with a sweet and almost tart spiciness followed by some fruit flavors. The raspberries are in the latter half of flavor to hit the palette followed by an alcohol warmth. Being so high in alcohol, one would not believe that a brew like this could drink so smooth, but smooth it is. It's medium bodied and does not taste like it packs as much punch as it does.

Rating this beer is difficult. Do you rate by style? In that case, it would would be rated extremely high? Do you rate by taste? Originality? We are just going to rate how we normally do- how much we like it. The beer has some outstanding qualities and it's flaws are limited. It is NOT a session beer. Oz says: "It isn't a style that I would normally go for but the alcohol makes this yummy!" Dogfish Head keeps coming up with original beers and we will keep buying them. They could find a way to make ancient elephant excrement taste delicious or at least interesting.

Oz Scale: 8.7
Mike Scale: 8.5

Double Dogfish Head: Sah'tea & Theobroma

Dogfish Head takes more risks than having unprotected sex with fifty partners. Their beers, though not alway good (see Golden Elixir post,) are at least interesting and stampworthy. The company keeps pushing the boundaries of what a beer can be. Recreating ancient recipes, creating multiple ales that are 18% ABV and crafting a brew with ingredients from every continent are just some of the interesting things this brewery is doing. We know that it might seem that we review them a little more than the rest, so our last review of Dogfish Head this year is a double one: Sah'tea & Theobroma.

First released this May, Sah'tea is a "modern update on a 9th century Finnish proto-beer." It smells and looks just like a Belgian ale. Though it does have a decent amount of body and mouth feel to it, it is still easily drinkable (even at 9% ABV.) Cinnamon, clove and ginger spice up the palette and makes us miss Great Lakes Christmas Ale. This brew would best be drank on a cold winter day with a couple of good friends... or on a Monday night in September as you watch your roommate play Call of Duty 4 for hours on end. That kid is addicted, seriously.

Oz Scale: 9.0
Mike Scale: 8.9

First brewed in 2008 (our bottle dated 2009) is Theobroma. Per DFH Website: "This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions." It pours an almost amber color with a sweet smell. With all the hype about chocolate flavor, this beer has very little if any at all. A slight chili taste on the back brings together a sweet, almost nutty taste. High drinkability or as Oz puts it- "I'd pound a six-er of this. You know, just drink this to get drunk and forget feelings. Our UAV is online!" I'm sure you would get there with its high, 9% ABV. There is a lot here- but nothing seems to stand out.

Oz Scale: 6.0
Mike Scale: 6.3

Dogfish Head World Wide Stout

Hi, Mike here. Oz and I have taken back the blog from those blasted good ol' boys. However, today we have a special brew so I decide to roll solo for a one time, one night only review:

Oh, Ohio and your pointless laws! Two of my least favorite Ohio laws are the limit to what percentage of alcohol beer can not be over (12%) and the illegalization of intoxicating ducks with alcohol. Why do you have ruin all the fun? I had to put my ducks in a row and lined up a beer trade with JoeyBeerBelly on Beeradvocate.com to trade for Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. Weighing in at 18% ABV, this brew is not for the novice and definately not for the faint of heart. A single 12 oz bottle retails for more than most craft six packs and around the same price as a 30 pack of Old Milwaukee. Being a dollar an once, this is liquid gold (only if gold meant an insane amount of barley.)

The brew pours a thick black solid color with a brown foamy head. Smells of alcohol, raisins and smoke let you know you are about to be taken for a ride. First sip reminds me of a strong rum & coke with chocolate swirled in. WWS is as full bodied as expected but nowhere near as syrupy or thick as I was anticipating. The imperial stout flows surprisingly smooth down the throat as it leaves alcohol on the tongue. As I continue operation 'Move Beer from Glass to Stomach,' the brew becomes more drinkable and more sweet.

This is nowhere near a session beer and I had to clear out a night in my schedule to fully appreciate something so high in alcohol. I would not reccomend this to pregnant women or everyday Guinness drinkers. There is so much barley and an incredible completity to the brew that I would not dare share a brew with someone who would not appreciate. Dogfish Head is known for their creativity in craft beer and maybe it's the alcohol talking, but this beer is fucking sweet.

Mike Scale: 8.3

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Check video posts below:

Dogfish Head Midas Touch Golden Elixir

Midas can turn objects to gold and Dogfish Head can turn beer into wine. Midas Touch is a recreation of the actual oldest-known fermented beverage in the world. It is made with honey, saffron, papaya, melon, biscuity and succulent. Interesting. For a worldly brew, we brought in a worldly friend, Allison, to help us today in judging if Dogfish Head made this beer into gold.

There is a grape taste throughout. There isn't a strong start and the beer plateaus to the weak finish. Fruity overtones cast upon this brew with a light body tingle and a slight alcohol burn. The flavors linger like a wine but it doesn't feel like a 9% ABV.

Dogfish Head put it's own magic touch on this brew, which we are pretty sure it isn't a golden one. They have struck gold with many other brews, but Midas failed to touch our hearts. An interesting mash-up of wine, beer and mead, it should have been named it Catholic Priest Touch.

Oz Scale: 6.1

Mike Scale: 6.2

Allison Scale: 6.0

So This is the New Year: Battle of the IPA's

By now, everyone should know that we are hopheads. The rare breed of beer drinker that likes their brew more bitter than a North East Ohio winter and with more hops than the king, LeBron James. Our bitter beer faces are all smiles.

With a new year brings new challenges, you know, remembering to write an 09 instead of an 08 on the rent check. It also brings us to our first challenge of the year: The battle of the IPA's. Since we wanted to start out the new year strong, today we sample two of our favorite IPA's for yet another blind taste test: Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA and Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. Both IPA's are double hopped and have a 9%ABV but the Double Simcoe is bottle fermented. This poses a problem: How do we keep this a blind tasting when one has yeast floating in the bottle? Simple. Turn off all lights-- after all this is a blind tasting. To help keep things fair today is Mr. Johnny V.

Fist Brew: The start is not as strong as one would expect from the style but we are okay with that. It has a unique taste that somehow still adheres the the IPA formula. The brew finishes well with an obviously high ABV but not as bitter as we would have hoped. This delicious brew seems to lack something we can't put our finger on, but it sure as hell gets two thumbs up anyway.

Oz Scale: 8.0

Mike Scale: 8.3

Second Brew: This brew has an incredible hoppy aroma. With a slightly slow start that crescendos to almost an overpowering taste that leaves you with two hands in the air plummeting down to a climatic finish. Some beers have a stairway to heaven, this brew has a glass elevator to eternal bliss (at least until the 4-pack is done.)

Oz Scale: 8.8

Mike Scale: 8.7

It was later revealed to us that the Dogfish Head lead off our tasting followed by the Weyerbacher. I guess the rare simcoe hops seem to have our a-card. If you are a hop enthusiast, we recommend trying both these delectable brews on your search for the perfect IPA. In conjunction with this review, Blood of Christ Winery has added both of these brews on tap.

Dogfish Head Immort Ale

$14 for a four pack? 11% ABV Dogfish Head? Our we that big of label whores? The answer to all three of these things is "yes." The blind beer tastings only slightly disproved our whorish ways, so here we are again. Tonight's journey brings us to Immort Ale, a strong ale aged in oak barrels and bottle fermented brought to us by one of our favorite breweries, Dogfish Head.

It kicks harder than Christopher Reeve's horse from start to finish. The flavors come in waves as the initial taste sends you in a different direction than the beer ultimately leads to. It is a strong ale; so those who can not take punch need not attempt.

In no way does the hop characteristics take over the flavor. The initial smoke flavor is layered on by a slight sweetness as the beer finally balances between hops and barley. With a strong ale, you do expect a kick in the ass and it delivers that. However, we would prefer a little more hop bitterness to the finish but beggars can't be drunks. Then again, I guess they can be.

Oz Scale: 7.9
Mike Scale: 7.9

Oz 'n' Mike's Beertoberfest '08

36 delictable beverages of health and happiness overflowing two fridges kicked off our first annual Beertoberfest. Good friends shared good times, good food and good beer. Spirits rang high as we offered beer tasting of ten select brews as the rest were fair game for our guests to try on their own.

An estimated $350 was spent on the chosen varieties and our money was well worth the effort. Founders Breakfast Stout, Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, O'Hara's Celebration Stout, Stone Smoked Porter, Golden Draak Ale, Hitachino Nest Weizen and Samual Smith Taddy Porter went over the best amongst our friends. While all of these brews were shared and enjoyed, Oz and Mike found the following to be the highlights of the evening: Bells Hell Hath No Fury, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Founders Breakfast Stout, Stone Ruination IPA, Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA and Hitachino Nest Weizen.

We'd like to thank everyone who came out and helped contribute to the enlightenment of our taste buds. We hope to continue the tradition of Beertoberfest for many years to come. Who knows, maybe a Marzenfest is in our future. Expect more in depth reviews of the aforementioned beers. Many thanks again to those who helped make our Beertoberfest a success.


Our 36 Selections:

1. Founders Breakfast Stout- 8.3 ABV (Tasting)
   
2. Barbar Blonde Ale - 8.0 ABV
3. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA - 9.0 ABV
4. Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre - 8.0 ABV
5. Great Lakes Blackout Stout - 9.0 ABV
6. Great Lakes Commodore Perry - 7.5 ABV
7. Delirium Tremens - 8.5 ABV
8. O'Hara's Celebration Stout - 6.0 ABV (Tasting)
   
9. Flying Dog Dogtoberfest - 5.3 ABV
10. Bells Hell Hath No Fury Ale - 7.5 ABV
11. Kulmbocher Eisbock - 9.2 ABV
12. Victory Golden Monkey - 9.5 ABV
13. Paulaner Salvator Double Bock - 7.9 ABV
14. Northcoast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - 9.0 ABV
15. Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard - 7.2 ABV
16. Stone Smoked Porter - 5.9 ABV (Tasting)
    
17. Stone Ruination IPA - 7.7 ABV (Tasting)
    
18. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - 9.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
19. Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale - 6.0 ABV
20. Samuel Smith Taddy Porter - 5.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
21. Golden Draak - 10.5 ABV (Tasting)
    
22. Tommyknocker - Butt Head Bock - 8.2 ABV
23. Tommyknocker - Jack Whacker Wheat Ale - N/A
24. Tommyknocker - Ornery Amber Lager - N/A
25. Tommyknocker - Maple Nut Brown Ale - N/A
26. Tommyknocker - Pick Axe Pale Ale - N/A
27. Tommyknocker - Alpine Glacier Lager - N/A
28. McEwans Scotch Ale - 8.0 ABV
29. Leinenkugels Oktoberfest - 5.1 ABV
30. Sprecher Black Bavarian - 5.9 ABV
31. Hitachino Nest Weizen - 5.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
32. Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca - 4.8 ABV (Tasting)
    
33. Wittekerke Belgian Wheat - 5.0 ABV
34. Chimay Peres Trappist (Blue Cap) - 9.0 ABV
35. Warsteiner Premium - 2.9 ABV
36. Unibroue Quelque Chose - 8.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
    Here is a look at the aftermath:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    And check out our beer wall prior to the festival. 180 bottles of import and microbrew beers on the wall, 180 bottles of import and microbrew bottles of beer. You take one down and pass it around....