Dogfish Head Raison D Extra

WOw! talk about a kick in the teeth...this one was very complex and wonderful. A great late night sipping beer. Very sweet and enjoyable and got better with warmth.

Pours a small but sturdy tan head that fades to a small cap above a hazy, deep copper body. The aroma is inensely sweet and malty with notes of port, brown sugar, dried fruits, plum and grahm cracker. There is definitely raisin in the taste, along with fruity hops, dried fruits, candi sugar and a subtle nuttiness. The booze is there, but is mostly masked by the sweetness. The palate is full and oily, with medium carbonation that is suitable for the brewsky. I didn’t think I’d like it based on my opinion on the 120 minute, but this was slammin.

It has a dark amber color with nice laceing on it. It has a sweet barley and sugar beet smell to it. There is also a lot of hops in the smell as well. The initial taste is very sweet and hoppy It is also very tangy. the palate is very smooth and there are hints of fruits and mild nut flavors. there is also some roasted coffee and mild toffee.

Bottle. Aroma of sweet, sticky malt. Dried dark fruit, maple syrup, honey and a brandy-like alcohol. Pours a rich amber/brown with a big, off white, rocky head. Excellent lacing. Flavor was big, sweet, rich and boozy. Sweet malt, maple syrup, honey and dried fruits. The alcohol makes itself known, but it’s not overly assertive. Rich, full bodied and oily. I think this one was too fresh. Needs some time to mellow out and to integrate the flavors.

Mahogany with almost no head. Amazing lacing on the glass. Very still, with slight carbonation. The aroma is thick with a promise of very sweet flavors. Cloying and dense, the fluid I’m drinking almost sticks to the roof of my mouth like peanut butter. Unlike the other strong DFH beers I’ve had this one doesn’t hide its alcoholic kick at all. The raisin flavor is limited by alcohol. Not a plesant drink.

Pours a clear, but very dark ruby with a smaller tan head. Nose is heavy with raisins. I can smell them as I open the bottle, let alone taking a serious whiff. Besides that (which seems to calm down as time goes on), you get a slight yeast and a lot of alcohol. But the presence of the raisin skins seems to be sticking around a good bit. Flavor is extremely sweet...I mean way sweet. Too much so I think. Almost tastes like straight sugar water (or simple syrup for the mixologists out there) was mixed in with it. Feel is thick and syrup like. Personally I think it is a bit too far beyond what it should be. This is drinkable, yes. A very nice, different brew. But with the high alcohol combined with the very high price, I doubt I would go for it again.

12-oz. Pours deep murky brown with light amber highlights. Thick, moussy, short-lived tan head. Minimal lace. Humongous brown sugar, raisin, and cookie dough nose. It just *smells* sticky. Thick, viscous body with soft carb--at least the carb is still detectable, that’s something. Heavy, vinous, fruitbready mid-palate, with a sour burst of raisins and fruitcake at the finish. This is an interesting and well-made beer that’s really difficult for me to get in the mood for. I’m thinking it might age well but I am not sure how much I need to load up the cellar with this one. Like it but don’t love it.

This reminds me more of DFH’s 120 minute IPA than the D’Etre of which it’s based. That said, there is a very apparent raisin flavor. This one sneaks up on you, enjoy with caution and over time. Love the color and while the alcohol is apparent, it is not dominant. Overall an excellent brew to savor.