Dogfish Head Raison D Extra

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Milton, Delaware USA

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.

Pours a clear mahogany with a reddish glow and an off white head. Aroma is sweet and loaded with raisins, prunes and malt though it also has light, fresh hoppiness to it hidden well behind the sweeter aromatic notes. I do sense the alcohol though. Oh, how sweet and potent flavour! Filled my mouth with an overdose of sweetness. Lots of caramel and some dark, ripe fruits, but also with traces of alcohol though it’s hard to tell, that this is 18.5%. It finishes slightly bitter and leaves traces of alcohol in my mouth, which disturbes the whole mouthfeel resulting in a lower score, than it would have gotten had it been more mellow. Actually this beer lacks the complexity in flavour that I expected form the aroma and the description. I guess I pictured more port notes as one would find in the more complex barley wines. Still a very nice experience but not something I feel the need for trying anytime again soon.

11/11/05 12oz. Mahogany with minimal head. Very vinous malty thick aroma. Pleasant sweet taste fairly viscous.

Strong alcohol taste complimented by the raisins used in the brew. Nice dark red color, with a small slightly reddish head. 12 oz. bottle.

Date: June 19, 2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
sweet malty alcoholic flavor, tons of fruity character burned out by alcohol

Date: January 27, 2006
ditto

Date: March 24, 2006
Mode: bottle
Score: i to ii+
Appearance: clear dark red, thin off white head
Aroma: rich ripe fruit aroma with lots of sweet alcoholic plum
Flavor: hot sweet plum flavor, rich fruit, alcohol, no bitterness

Date: February 06, 2009
Mode: bottle
Vintage: 2002
sweet caramel and brown sugar, mellowed out very nicely,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+/4

*****BEER # 850*****Pours a reddish brown. Though when held to light, a satin cranberry color, smooth. Look closer and you will see small trails of bubbles arising from the sides of the glass into a soapy white head; not too thick, but lasts forever. Aroma is caramel, yeast, fresh baked donuts, raisins and plums. From looks and smell alone, I’m thinking a fig-heavy barleywine. Taste in mouth is silky, smooth: exotic, but not heavy, something like a dessert beer. Flavors are like a sherry, carbonated with cherries, raisins, yeast and brown sugar. This is really a mouthful, tons of sugar, sweet. I do not notice the alcohol as much as everyone else. Yes, it is strong like a barley wine or belgian quad, but on taste alone I would think this beer has half the ABV advertised (9-12% range). That is around 20 is unbelievable. Except that I’m starting to feel quite warm after only drinking about a 1/3. Fun beer. Laces extremely well, great looking beer.

Fruity malt taste apples and grapes. Amber color with no head. Initaily sweet then finishing bitter. Alcohol noticable throughout. Very creamy palate.