Dogfish Head ApriHop

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: Fruit Beer
Milton, Delaware USA

I’m starting to think that all DFH brews smell virtually alike. There is no apricot in the nose whatsoever, no matter how much I try to twist my tiny little mind. Basically, I smell a malty DFH brew, and it’s quite pleasant I must tell you. Relatively clear amber body, with some off-white head and lace. Excellent lace. Very attractive. Ok, I am confused. The label says, " an india pale ale brewed with real apricots." I taste no apricot and relatively mild hops. The style listed by RB is "Fruit Beer." DFH won a gold medal at the ’04 World Beer cup for this brew in the specialty beer category. Should the style be changed to an IPA? I don’t think so, because it doesn’t taste like one. A nice session brew. Wish it was just a smidgeon sweeter.

Bottle at Church Key, North Beach, San Francisco, with Phyllis, 26th Mar 09. Clear dark amber. The one beer on my trip that I simply did not get along with. Smells of wet dog and old laundry with a bit of apricot air freshener sprayed on top. Sickly, sourish taste. Really not up my street.

Golden, orange, light fruit aromas not fully discernible as apricot, some mineral and diatomaceous earth aromas, a bit soft on the tongue, foaming gently

bottled 2004. pours out a dark red orange color with a thick white head that goes away quickly. smells like apricots and hops. magic hat #9 was pretty good if i remember, so we will see how this stacks up. strong hoppy taste and fruity apricot tasting. im not so sure all the hops mesh well with an apricot. its a pretty good offering from DFH, but not my favorite one of theirs.

Interesting beer, clear orange body with a large head that quickly diminishes. Aroma is hoppy with apricot and peach note. Starts a little sweet with apricot and then moves to a dryer bitterness before leaving a sweet sticky flavour in the mouth. A little to sweet for my liking.

12oz Bottle Pours out a copper topped with a very small white head. Aroma of HOPS and maybe some apricot. Tast is more of an IPA than a fruit beer I would have to say. Over not bad. thanks Schutzenliesel for this one.

Draft - shaker pint glass at Beavers in Houston, TX. Pour is clear orange golden with not much off white head. Aroma of floral hops and very fresh apricots. Flavor was more IPA initially, with the floral hoppiness and nice sweet malt, with the apricots reappearing mid palate, through to the finish. The apricots really accented the IPA, rather than distracting. The palate is full for an IPA with the fruit sweetness very much coating the mouth. This was really drinkable and satisfying, fun to drink.

Pours a three-fingered off-white head that fades slowly leaving a ton of lace. Cloudy amber color. Hoppy nose with hints of apricot. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Starts and finishes with a different hoppy/apricot flavor. The hops are much less than Dogfish’s 60 minute IPA. $2.00 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, Ma.