Dogfish Head Black and Blue

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

This is a GORGEOUS beer. The blackberries impart a purpley red to the body and even tinges the head a very subtle shade of pink. I’m assuming it’s the blackberries, although the blueberries stain red as well, just not as vividly as blackberries. The beer is fairly dry, and a tad overcarbonate. There’s a bit of woody maltiness in there. The fruit flavors actually aren’t overpowering and more along the lines of subtle.

So I gave in to another over priced gimmick beer from DFH - so sue me! - red/amber pour with a purple-ish tint - minimal head - sweet, malty aroma, with very apparent raspberries and blueberries (quite inviting actually) wrapping around the malt base, making the aroma remind me of fruit-filled pastries or blueberry muffins - quite light, semi-tart, and crisp, lacking the boozy sweetness I was bracing myself for (as is so often the case with these high gravity DFH brews) - soft carbonation - the berry flavors are quite earthy and natural, and they combine pretty well with the light spiciness imparted by the yeast - some touches of wilflowers (lavender mostly) arrive late - the alcohol comes through in the finish a bit, giving the beer some unwelcome warmth considering that it is nice and airy up until that point - as with the red and white, they should have made the abv lower, but up until the alcohol burn in the finish, this is one of the more enjoyable DFH brews I’ve had in quite some time.

Draft at Max’s. Dark clear red and purple body with a white head. Light sourness, very light in fact, but it tastes of actual blueberry and grape sourness, not sour yeast. Lightly creamy and frothy, with a good, solid use of fruit, not candy-like, although it still lacks a little something. More red grapes and blueberries in the nose, and the slightest hint of yogurt as well. Better than average, much better than the Red and White.

The aroma and flavor have light blueberry, but it is definitely a real fruit flavor rather than a syrup. Aroma also has sweet malt, and this is a very sweet beer overall with delicate fruit and hop flavors. Orange in color.

Pours a deep amber / nearly crimson body and a bountiful ivory / lightly tinted pink cap of head. The aroma is sweet with, Belgian sugars and caramel malts. Very fruity in all aspects, red apple, plum, papaya, cherries, but most subdued are the black raspberries and blueberries. Although distinctly in attendance, one does have to search a bit for the Black & Blue portion. I pick up on a very Belgian character to this beer… the yeast and the sugars I suppose? The palate is sticky and sometimes cloyingly sweet, which takes away from the overall drink-ability… so I’ll stick to making this only a special occasion beer.

750 ml bottle, from slob - thanks dude! Brilliant scarlet amber color with a small off-white head. Fruity malt aroma, slightly savory, tart berries along with spices, some alcohol and stone fruits. Sweet and fruity flavors, nice forward spiciness, with warming alcohol, wheaty notes and a little salty savoriness. Light to medium body with gentle carbonation.

2008-05-01. Red tinged amber body witha good sized foamy off white head. Odd aroma of something, strange dusty fruit notes. After taking a sip of the beer the aroma takes on more of an identifiable fruit character. (6+) Flavour has a fairly generic sweet malt foundation, modest raspberry and berry fruits. Touch jammy in the finish. (6+) Palate is slightly more full bodied than average. Pleasant, bit ho-hum especially by DFH standards, but its not bad. 7/4/7/3/13-14 - 3.5 At least its consistent! Bottle shared by HogTownHarry <P>July 2007. Bottle. Ruby body with a frothy pink tinted head. (3+) Sweet fruity aroma is muted, lightly yeasty and has some moderate alcohol notes. Similar flavour is pleasant with notes of raspberry and ambiguous fruit, but is similarly muted. Light bitterness and tart fruit. Average to thin palate. Alcohol is surprisingly restrained considering how strong it is, but the flavour as a whole is a bit too light for my liking. Pleasant, but underwhelming. 7/3+/7/3/14 - 3.5

Aroma is very berryish,with someone kind of soapy off yeast backing, taste is slightly sour blackberry,with a bitter drying finish,slightly astringent,alcohol only subtlely hinted at,with definite warming of the tummy. I’m drinking on a warm humid night where a perky tart fruit beer is hitting the spot,doesn’t leave that thickish afterfeel on the tongue,so its even refreshing in its own way. Enjoyable is certain circumstances