Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Ben Brown-Steiner Three popular beers from Dogfish Head Brewery can be seen above: Indian Brown Ale, Aprihop, and Raison D'Etre respectively. Each is more unique than the last.

After last week's disappointing and relatively bland beers, I've returned to the opposite end of the spectrum. I'd like to discuss one of my favorite breweries, Dogfish Head. I've written about their stunning IPAs (60, 90, 120 minute); this week covers their three other major sellers, Aprihop, Indian Brown Ale, and Raison D'etre.

Dogfish Head Brewery, located in Delaware, is most famous for their willingness to go to extremes. They create new beers on regular intervals. They also produce an experimental line of spirits at their Brewpub in Delaware. Rums, Vodkas, Jin, and a Ta-kee-la (their versions of gin and tequila) are as experimental as their beers, but for the most part are not widely distributed.

Their experimentation is what makes them famous. Their motto is "Off-centered stuff for off-centered people." They have several successful beers as a result of this experimentation. Their beers are always exiting, even though they occasionally overshoot the boundaries of beer. When I compared their three IPAs, the 60 Minute was good, but not great, I was really fond of their 90 Minute IPA, and their 120 Minute IPA was just too much. It's around 21% ABV, approximately twelve dollars a bottle, and has almost (I can't believe I'm saying this) too much of a hoppy flavor.

However, I'm not discrediting their abilities. It took courage to push the limits of dry-hopping, and even if I really only enjoy one of their results, that's still good enough for me. Their process works.

The same is true with their Aprihop. This brew is their attempt at a fruit beer. Their goal was to combine the classic IPA style with an offbeat fruit. I don't know why they picked apricots, especially considering Magic Hat already created an apricot fruit beer, the Magic Hat #9.

Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of apricots. Maybe it's because my parents didn't feed me apricots while I was growing up, or maybe it's simply because apricots taste bad. Either way, my palate and the apricot flavor didn't get along. The beer's aroma has hops and apricots as the major players. It has a pleasant smoothness and mouth-feel. If you are a fan of apricots, odds are you'll enjoy this beer.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools