Raison D'Être - Dogfish Head Brewery

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

We pour a brew of deep red brown. It holds a tan head of two fingers, which leaves little lacing as is slowly dies down. The beer is otherwise clear, with active carbonation swirling throughout. The aroma is a combination of burnt caramel notes, dark prunes, mild esters, honey, and hints of dark dry chocolate. As we sip, the front is sweet, malty, and has inclusions of dark fruits. Through the middle of the swallow we get an even heavier graininess mixed, and counterbalanced, by bitter chocolate. The taste ends with a sweeter, fruity aftertaste that is overly dominated by a coppery flavoring, likely lent by the beet sugars. There is also the slightest burn of alcohol. The mouth is left feeling surprisingly satiated by the brew's light mouth coating characteristics. The body is medium, and the carbonation is medium to high. The drinkability is fair but not outstanding, due to the use of several unique ingredients which slow you down a bit and make you think.

Overall, the best things about this beer are its rich, deep coloring, and the conservative use of some of the more outlandishly sweet ingredients. This beer certainly has the potential to be offensively sweet, but due to careful craftsmanship it remains a curious and ultimately agreeable find.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2010 23:47:10 | More by TheBrewo

JRBecks

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

06-18-2013 21:39:25 | More by JRBecks

DMB

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

06-18-2013 18:23:09 | More by DMB

jkrug5

Maryland

4/5  rDev +9%

06-17-2013 02:29:38 | More by jkrug5

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark mahogany; thick creamy beige head, long lasting, good lacing

Aroma: Malt; sweet dark fruit; citrusy hops

Taste: Creamy malt on start; dark fruit and candi sugar with light hops in the mid; finishes semi sweet with a lingering hop bite; a little syrupy, but tasty and balanced

Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 22:01:46 | More by IchLiebeBier

DerwinWentworth

Utah

5/5  rDev +36.2%

06-15-2013 04:38:35 | More by DerwinWentworth

fearfactory

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

06-15-2013 01:45:15 | More by fearfactory

nickleeye

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

06-14-2013 17:13:52 | More by nickleeye

scotorum

Massachusetts

2.8/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Poured into a tulip glass from the 12 oz. bottle.

a. Deep translucent amber forms a finger thick head which quickly dissipates to a ring of foam around the edge. Abundant bubbling. Looks more like red wine as it's consumed

s: Mild fruit.

t: Fruity, no doubt the raisins are responsible for some of the dark color and impart a wine-like taste.

m: Moderate bitterness. Rather harsh.

o: Since I prefer beer to wine, and this tastes like some kind of hybrid, it's not a favorite.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 05:54:36 | More by scotorum

doremite

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

06-13-2013 23:12:07 | More by doremite

pajonkunz

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -18.3%

06-13-2013 17:00:47 | More by pajonkunz

lobster74123

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

06-12-2013 20:58:20 | More by lobster74123

Hefeweizen

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

My rose garden (over 265 fragrant varieties) was in need of some TLC, several hours worth so I crank up the CD player drop in some relaxing jazz and venture later onto some Van Halen. During the course of five hours and some intensive work later, I drank the entire six-pack and I was very satisfied. Most likely I will purchase it again and not work as hard as I did in the garden. Later on that week I would enjoy some Bells Two-Hearted Ale as well.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 14:01:02 | More by Hefeweizen

Luweezy

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

06-11-2013 02:06:10 | More by Luweezy

agentli

New York

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

06-10-2013 22:11:43 | More by agentli

andy1701

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -25.1%

06-10-2013 21:50:59 | More by andy1701

DHS1029

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

06-10-2013 21:48:17 | More by DHS1029

broadway848

New York

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

06-10-2013 01:27:00 | More by broadway848

naturallight1

Nevada

4/5  rDev +9%

06-09-2013 20:36:54 | More by naturallight1

Evoforen

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

06-09-2013 15:05:14 | More by Evoforen

Neverwhere

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

06-09-2013 07:12:41 | More by Neverwhere

Satsuma

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

06-09-2013 02:18:47 | More by Satsuma

ObiWanKushnobi

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

06-08-2013 21:44:32 | More by ObiWanKushnobi

wac9

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

what a wonderful tasting beer it dances on your tongue makes you feel alive but itsa strong beer so be careful fig raisins dark fruit and other wonder things not too dark thats what i think but a beer that you can get lost for a while in enjoy it dont let it destory you happy drinking

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 01:46:02 | More by wac9

ACifra

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9%

06-07-2013 23:57:44 | More by ACifra