BleacherBum (176), Blowing Rock, North Carolina, USA Apr 5, 2008 I like this beer. It’s all about balance here. The fresh fruity nose contains notes of the spicy hops and the malt to come. Flavor from the onset is that of big pale malt and hops with a fruity kick. The bitterness shines through, maybe a bit too much though. The acidity of the fruit is also just a little overbearing and would be well complemented with more sweetness, but when considering the wine-like characteristics of this beer being in such harmony with a crisp dry finish, the 7% alcohol tells you to remember not to expect such typical things from Dogfish. A unique and refreshing beer, just one will gladly destroy your palate. Great with food, especially some italian cheese and spicier offerings. rustan (13), Asheville, North Carolina, USA Apr 4, 2008 I do not typically like ’fruity beers’ but this is a gem. Crisp, refreshing. Perfect brew to welcome spring. Smooth palate. Sweet start with pleasantly bitter apricot finish. Not overstated or syrupy/ Davinci (295), Chicago, Illinois, USA Apr 4, 2008 on tap at hopleaf. Nice clear orangey color with nice lasting white head. Nice caramally nose, with hints of citrus and candy sugars. Flavor has a great orangey character with some medium sweetness. Bitterness is pretty subdued, but present. Slight tartness, I get the grape notes that xnoxhatex pointed out. Hop bitterness is more apparent on the finish. Mouthfeel is creamy. Very easy drinking twist on a IIPA. dogfish120love (250), west hartford, Connecticut, USA Apr 2, 2008 initially bitter, you don’t realize it is an IPA until the finish. Beautiful Dried apricot color, but once again kind of an akward bitterness, boardering sour. don’t get me wrong bitter isn’t bad, but not my choice for an IPA from dogfish. xnoxhatex (1305), Grand Rapids/Chicago, Michigan, USA Apr 1, 2008 Bottle thanks to 17thfloor. Clear light amber with large creamy (long lasting) white head. Aroma is sour fruit and caramel malt. Flavor is medium sweet orange fruit with nice light, refreshing sourness, a little grape like, light dough as well with caraml malt backbone, light dirty hop presence as well. Medium creamy body. Very nice all around, I was not expecting much from this beer, but it wasn’t half bad. nimbleprop (819), SouthWest, Washington, Washington DC, USA Apr 1, 2008 Pours a nearly transparent orange, amber color with a very active, foamy white head. Poured it for my girlfriend and she said, "Oh, I licked my lips and it tastes like jam!" Good, I guess. Aroma is VERY unique, soft citrus fruits, orange, tangerine and apricot. There is also a distinct hop aroma as well that blends well with the fruit aromas. The first flavor most will notice is the fruit, but I actually got the sweet malts before the apricot, banana and orange flavors come through. Finish has a lasting bitterness that’s balanced with a lasting sweetness. For a fruit beer this was perfectly balanced from nose to finish, but beyond the aroma you lose the distinctive qualities of an IPA. hoptimus (50), Grand Island, New York, USA Mar 31, 2008 Pours a light honey color with a nice fat white head. Aroma is indicative of apricots, although I thought it had a bit of citrus notes. Nice and light on the palate with a good amount of carbonation which made it especially refreshing. Good for the warm weather on the horizon. The flavor was more bitter than I thought it would be, but had some sweetness and fruit to it also. Finished sweet in the back of the palate. I can’t wait to enjoy this outdoors when it warms up a bit more. BeerZack (116), Austin, Texas, USA Mar 31, 2008 Light shiny copper color with minimal spotty head that does leave some lace.
Smell is fruity and a bit sweet. Peach, apricot, apple maybe even some raspberry scents. Slight bit of toasted bread.
Sweet and acidic peachiness persists throughout. There are some good hops underneath but they never come close to busting up the sweetness. Nice beer up front, almost sour and begins to taste like a nice IPA in the middle, but the finish is very lacking. Sweet and sticky finish that turns me off.
This beer is not bad for a fruit beer and its pretty hopped-up, but ends up being too out-of-balance with the building sweetness on the finish.
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