Chateau Jiahu - Dogfish Head Brewery

obywan59

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Jiahu is an archaelogical site in the Yellow river basin in central China. It was settled between 7000 BC and 5800 BC when it was flooded and abandoned.

Pours a crystal clear golden to orange color with a 3 finger head that dissipates rather quickly. Moderate carbonation bubbles. No lacing.

Nice aroma. Sweet honey, fruity grape, and some moderate spiciness with toasted malt. Occasionally a bare hint of hawthorne.

Maybe my sweetest beer ever. The taste seemed a bit over the top and cloying at first, but it mellowed out. Huge on the honey. Very fruity. Grape is evident again, and the hawthorne is more assertive here than in the aroma. Toasted malt and the taste of alcohol balancing well against the other ingredients.

Rather thick; call it medium-full. A bit too thick for my taste considering the sweetness. Light peppery carbonation. Warming.

Overall an enjoyable brew. Tasty and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 03:46:37 | More by obywan59

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dogfish Head : Chateau Jiahu

Pours a light amber color, with short livid head. Aroma is sweet, with floral notes, mild fruityness, and sugary. In the taste, honey and malt are upfront, with dark sugary flavor. Flowery notes are mild and lay low with the sweetness. Fruity and sweet, with alot of dark honey hanging around. Mouthfeel is slick with a medium-low carbonation. Alcohol remains well hidden. Overall, an interesting and tasty brew, worth the purchase.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 04:16:46 | More by Stinkypuss

Gobzilla

California

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: poured an orangish yellowin color with yellow highlights and a finger of white fluffy head leaving a little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: lots of grape and honey character upfront on the nose with hawthorne fruit notes, slight spice, but had some herbal notes as well.

T: the grapes were more potent on the palate alongside honey, hawthorne fruit, mild herbal, and slight apple flavor.

M: the brew was medium on body with low amount of carbonation which had a sweet, fruity, spice, herbal, and sticky finish.

D: it was pretty easy to drink and was damn tasty too. It was still good after sitting around for a year.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 19:20:04 | More by Gobzilla

gestyr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a goblet.

A: A nice clear orange with a small head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing.

S: Flowery, citrusy, sweet.

T: Fruity, winelike. You can taste the grapes. You also get the sweetness from the honey. Some citrus notes. Slight alcohol aftertaste. Well balanced.

M: Medium bodied with no carbonation burn

O: I liked it. Very balanced, a good beer to sip slowly on a chilly evening.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 23:30:56 | More by gestyr

socon67

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours light orange with a thin white foam. Cloudy, and minimal lacing.

S - Smells sweet with plenty of spicy notes. Scents of grape and pear.

T - Filled with spices right from the start. Noticeable taste of white grape; like a decent chardonnay. Very earthy.

M - Medium bodied, minimal carbonation, and medium bodied. The spices make this raspy. Need to contrast this with bland food.

O - Of the ancient styles by DogFish, I like this better than Midas Touch, but not as much as Sah'Tea. For people who like spiced beers, this is a must try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 00:05:41 | More by socon67

mdvatab

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled in 2011.
Poured from 750ml bottle into a Bordeaux glass.

Aroma: Pear, peach, spices, orange juice, honeysuckle, and apricot. A sweet, citrusy, floral aroma.

Appearance: Hazy golden-orange. 1/2 finger off-white soda-like head disappears quickly. Leaves nearly no lacing on the inside of the glass.

Flavor: Very sweet--almost cloying--peach nectar and honey with very minimal bitterness. Sweetness hangs around through the end.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full fairly viscuous body. Medium-low carbonation.

Overall: A very interesting brew, especially considering the recipe. The glass actually felt heavy for the amount of liquid in this one, which pointed to a fairly dense beer. My wife often tastes some of the beers that I review, and she loved this one. I enjoyed it for a while, but, it was honestly a bit on the fruity/sweet side for my liking. Not bad, and one that you should try for yourself.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 02:49:16 | More by mdvatab

TechTriumph

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes on 10/29/11:
Bottled: 2011 1071; Poured in a snifter.

A - Light caramel and orange color; Cloudy with one inch white head that recedes pretty quickly; No lacing at all

S - Fresh honey, grape, plum, and berry notes; Very pleasant and sweet; Definitely reminds me of wine and I get a hint of perfume in there as well (in a good way)

T - Get a grape, wine-like taste at first; Subtle honey flavor follows; More sweet, pleasant grapes and berries in the aftertaste; Slight alcohol in the taste that warms my breath

M - Good carbonated feel; Light to medium bodied; Semi-dry, but finishes pretty clean

O - This brew is not overpowering in flavor, but it has a nice complexity to it. I enjoy the depth in its flavors and overall smooth feel. This isn't the type of beer I could drink too often, but as unique as it is, I could see having this again down the road.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 11:52:29 | More by TechTriumph

Lillie1128

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a very pale yellow with a small white head

S - This smells awesome. It smells like a Belgian with maybe some spices and currants/strawberries

T - It's hard to put my finger on what this tastes like. It's sweet but not cloying with a mellow fruitiness and an alcoholic aftertaste.

M - Pretty thick with a little bit of carbonation

This is a very unique beer. It's my 3rd ancient ale from dfh and while this one is tasty, I definitely enjoyed the theobroma and the sahtea more. This kind of tastes like champagne and strawberries.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 23:43:04 | More by Lillie1128

rlee1390

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear orange, half a finger head that is gone almost instantly.

S-Spices and some wheat.

T-Very spicy, orangepeel, clove, not much malt or hops.

M-Light but very little carbonation.

O-An interesting beer, very spice forward and the alcohol is deceiving as it sneaks up on you.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 16:38:17 | More by rlee1390

Phelps

Arizona

3.65/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed in a small snifter at Tops.

Dark gold with soft haze. One finger of wispy white head fizzles away after a minute, leaving nothing, in the way of lace.

Maybe it’s due to similar ingredients and brewing processes, but I get a very similar aroma in all the ancient ales. Like the others, this one’s sweet and a little spicy. Coriander, clove and flowers before a base of honey and fresh Apple. It’s like white wine, smoothed out.

In the flavor: sweet breadiness, peppercorns, white raisins and a slap of dough at the swallow. Slightly drying, with a hefty finishing note of grain alcohol.

Gentle, massaging carbonation in a viscous, sugar-packed medium body. The slightly tongue-numbing booze warms my cockles.

Like its Ancient Ale brethren, Chateau Jiahu is okay, but not terribly complex for all its unique ingredients. It’s also a bit boozy. Worth trying, but not worth paying for again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2011 23:05:09 | More by Phelps

Valmor88

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shared a bomber of this with a friend when he came to visit.

A: Clear light gold color with some oranges. Three fingers of white head that dissipates quickly.

S: Overall mild aroma - honey and spices. Sweet smell that lingers in the nose.

T: Very complex flavor. Honey, spices and earthy flavors come in all at once. The finish is very wine-like and warming. The grape flavor comes in at the finish as well.

M: Milky mouthfeel. Medium both in carbonation and body.

O: Very interesting beer - and a very enjoyable one at that. Wasn't sure what to expect, since it's Dogfish Head. It's very unique, and that's something I always look for in a beer. I highly recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 19:52:53 | More by Valmor88

alohaspicoli

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip.

A: Gold/orange. Thick head that doesn't hang around. Some lacing.

S: Slight sweetness. More honey than grape.

T: Subtle and well-balanced. Nothing was over the top IMO. I expected this to be more wine-like based on the label description, but it wasn't. A pleasant, very drinkable beer. I did get a bit of grape but had to look for it. Honey, herbs and maybe some botanicals were more up front for me (again, so subtle that I'm having a hard time figuring out what they are). Definitely has some earthiness to it as well that worked w/the flavor profile.

M: Great, sticky mouthfeel. Average carbonation. Super smooth... almost no alcohol in the finish.

O: I would definitely try this again. One of those beers that I had a tough time figuring out, but in the end was enjoyable, which is what counts.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 12:57:16 | More by alohaspicoli

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Good clarity in a bright orange colored beer, soft carbonation blurring the clarity slightly. Not much of a head, but what is there dissapates to a thin swirling sheet. Muscat grapes and white wine surely come to mind, hints of booze and a sweet flowery scent follow. Very aromatic and nice to sniff.

Big full flavors, sweet but spicy and a healthy hint of alcohol that sets the whole beer off. A sweetness from honey adds a layer to the beer, just underneath a big and swirling floral spiciness. Definitely some fruity esters that play off all the other flavors. The alcohol taste is a big part of the flavor profile here, adding to the spiciness but never goes over the top to affect the drinkability. For 10%, you don't taste much of it at all. It takes on a white wine quality somewhere in there but the layers of complexity outshine most wines. The sweetness is counterbalanced by a small hop bitterness, nearly perfectly. This beer is light to medium in body with a nice lingering dry finish. Both of these things make this beer pop, despite its lack for a true style. Really solid beer from DFH, but what else is new.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 05:37:55 | More by chodinheaven

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled in: 2011 107 1

A: Pours a clear golden yellow color with a nice big head that lasts for a bit

S: Rice-like yeast with some fruit and sweetness. Some vinous grape notes as well. A little odd for a beer, but that's what you can expect from Dogfish

T: Same as the smell. Herby, fruity, and sweet with some definite wine notes from the grapes. Definite booze presence, but it blends nicely with the herbs and fruits and doesn't persist into the aftertaste

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A nice herb/fruit beer that mixes the fruit, herbs, sweetness, and alcohol well. A definite sipper though, and one that could be shared with people with many different tastes

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 03:08:10 | More by BEERMILER12

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

2.42/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into a tulip

A: Pours a very light but pleasant golden yellow with a small amount of white head and large bubbles.

S: Aroma is very subtle with sweet, light fruits and some citrus, a bit of nutmeg spiciness, and an extremely pleasant tropical pomegranate.

T/M: Taste is a little more strange; honey sweetness is apparent along with more tropical fruitiness, some white grape and a low amount of carbonation, but there's a little bit of something mildewy in the finish. I can't tell where it's coming from, but I'm starting to feel like this bottle is going to end up in the drain.

In reality, the beer as a whole is just unusual. Dogfish likes to blur the lines of beer brewing convention so I totally expected something strange, but I'm starting to wish they'd come out with something more conventional and I refuse to give a beer a high rating just because everyone else does. I've never wanted a Miller Lite so bad. What the f***.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 23:31:03 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Demer

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours pale hazy yellow with almost no head.

Smell of Muscat grapes, apples and bubblegum and tons of sugar and sweetness.

All I get in the taste of this is honey sweetness and bubblegum. It is not pleasant and its a little tough to get through. Too sweet for me. I felt like I was drinking liquid bubblegum.

While I can respect what Dogfish is doing and I see the craftsmanship that went into making a beer like this. It is really not my thing. I am glad to have tried it but I probably would never drink it ever again. I respect it but not its just not my cup of tea.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2011 14:21:46 | More by Demer

Doshkin

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

i want to start by saying that i highly recommend trying this beer. reviewing it is a process well enjoyed!

a - golden orange yellow. not much head but lots of constant bubbles make the beer a spectacle. small amount of thick head that dissipates relatively quickly

s - more flowery than fruity. a little floral sweetness and bready, yeasty aroma. mostly mild smells. light mustiness.

t - extremely well balanced. flavors are kind of dull and earthy. some initial sourness, mild tinge the middle of the mouth, and then finishes with sort of a sweet tea flavor. all of it is very mellow and soothing. this is a beer to enjoy slowly while relaxing.

m - thick for how light it looks. almost more of a dessert beer thickness/sweetness

o - this beer falls towards the wine spectrum a bit. it's got a mild sweetness and light carbonation. i honestly wrote my review down on paper before reading the full description of the brew process for this beer. once i read that, however, all of the hidden flavors that i couldnt QUITE describe finally became very apparent. the honey, the rice, the sake style - all are the backbones to this brew. as i stated to begin with, i really recommend this beer because it is so complex! even if you don't like it, i'm sure you will have a good time trying to pick out all of the flavors

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 00:36:09 | More by Doshkin

hopking311

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow.. appears golden, light, little to no head.. not very lacey..

Smells, slight citrus.. earthy, winey..

good carbonation.. light bodied

Tastes moderate sweetness, bitterness of lemon, grassy, earthy.

Overall very complex.. I can tell Im blown away when drinking a beer Im a loss for words..
I cant wait to age a bottle for next year.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 03:06:58 | More by hopking311

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Very intriguing approach in making beer, but that is part of why we all love Dogfish Brewery!
This beer poured a hazy light gold and produced very little head, which disappeared immediately. It left no lacing.
The smell is very complex. Honey, flowery scents, fruit like peach ,lemon ,lime, plum and grape.
Tasting the beer, this abundance of flavors hits you like a wall.
As the beer lingers on your gum and tongue, one flavor after the other leaves the palette leaving a nice and mellow grape flavor, mixed with some kind of hop in the back. Quite unique!
Good carbonation makes this also a refreshing experience.
This was a great tasting and I am glad I bought this beer!!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 02:32:45 | More by Hopfenpeter

phichifiji00

California

3.3/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Golden, clear, decent white head, fair amount of lacing.

Smell: Honey, spices, and something I can only assume is hawthorn fruit (having never tasted or smelled hawthorn fruit).

Taste: Sweet, honey, spicy in the middle then is muted towards the end by a hint of white grape juice.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, slightly boozy.

Overall: A interesting beer. Fairly complex. Drinkable. Well worth the experience.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 22:26:20 | More by phichifiji00

ferrari29

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer poured from bottle into a Tulip shaped glass

A - Hazy orange colored body; soapy bubbly white colored head; one finger in size and didn't hold very well; not much visible carbonation; mild amount of lacing

S - Floral; nutty and lots of sweet honey; spices; grains of paradise; sweet grass and slightly herbal; very good; rose water

T - Very floral; super, super sweet, almost like cotton candy; bubblicious bubble gum flavor; smooth nutty malt taste on the back-end; herbs and spices, dry grains of paradise taste; touch of dark fruit flavor, like figs; honey, baby!; rose water

M - Creamy and smooth; almost milky; not much effervescence; sweet tangy dark fruit taste; figs

D - Very good drink, mainly do to its uniqueness; I could definetly have a few more of these; great blend of herbal, floral (rose water) and honey flavors

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 00:45:57 | More by ferrari29

forcedlaughter

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this about a year ago and wanted to try this newest batch to see if I liked it as much now as I did then.

Looks like a white wine with tons of carbonation. The head is purely based on the pour and consists of big bubbles that fade.

Smells like tangy fruits, alcohol, grapes, something else I can't quite place like an earthy or leathery scent.

Tastes great. A little on the sweet side, but my wife, who does not like beer, really enjoyed this. It's more of an alcoholic beverage than a beer. I get the same earthy, fruity, alcoholic taste as I smelled.

Great mouthfeel. Feels like it would be perfect on New Year's or something. I will definitely grab a bottle each time it's released. Something that will become a tradition with my wife and I.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 16:44:00 | More by forcedlaughter

Jules11788

California

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very slight head, no lacing; light straw color

S: Tart, dry, earthy, fruity

T: Very sweet, cloyingly so; lots of fruity toffee notes, little bit of a yeasty flavor

M: Medium thickness, medium carbonation, finishes slightly dry; hides the alcohol very well

O: Very interesting beer, but I think I would have preferred a fresh one. It was a little too sugary-sweet for my liking

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 18:03:15 | More by Jules11788

tdm168

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale gold with 1/2 of fizzing, bubbly head that fades pretty quickly. Carbonation bubbles can be seen rising to the top. Rice, grapes, and honey notes in the nose. Grapes, honey, fruit, alcohol and yeast all present up front in this one, with an alcohol warmth in the finish. Full bodied and potent, this one is closer to wine than beer.

I love the effort DFH puts into keeping with traditional styles, but this one is a little on the wine side with all the grapes and a little on the potent side with a big ABV. With all that said, it's not all around bad. Worth checking into.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 23:51:44 | More by tdm168

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Close to three fingers worth of fluffy airy slightly creamy pure white colored head... Audibly fizzy... Slight retention gives way to a an thin uneven lacing and thin collar... Some subtle slow paced carbonation rises within... The color is a pale amber that shows a straw hue when back lit...

S - Honey... Passion fruit... A vague touch of spiciness... Some grassy notes... Green grapes... Faint crisp wheat... Golden raisins... Some candied sugars...

T - Honey... Candied sugars... White grape juice... Golden raisins... Crisp wheat... Some coriander and assorted other spices... Some orange zest... Perhaps some over ripened peach...

M - Light to medium bodied... Sleek... Smooth... A bit sticky... Very light carbonation... A touch of alcoholic warmth on the finish...

D - A very interesting brew which isn't a surprise from Dogfish Head... Sweet, but not in the traditional malty sense... Different from almost all other brews... Lots to explore in all facets... Interesting all around...

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 01:53:56 | More by philbe311