Chateau Jiahu - Dogfish Head Brewery

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

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

A - A clear orange body with no visible head.

S - Zesty citrus and fruit notes. Not sure what a Hawthorn fruit is. Maybe a peachy, apricot-like fruit? Tangy, semi-bitter notes with a good dose of fruit juice and sweet grains.

T - Super grainy body with sweet and fruity twang to it. Warm honey alcohol, faintly remeniscent of the alcohol in mead. Some bitter hops thrown in with fruit skin and citrus as well.

M - Warming, tingly carbonation and alcohol. Semi dry wine finish, clean.

O - An original brew, complex and balanced profile. A good example of DFH's motto.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 23:44:00 | More by BeerForMuscle

rtepiak

Poland

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

had several years ago in bottle...

notes from brewpub visit at rehoboth beach

would have to say that with all the ingredients use, its really hard to distinguish all those different qualities as the beer just seems to come out rather sweet and strong. pour is like a lighter colored barley wine. a finger of head. nose of grapeskins and honey... the sort of malty bit o honey candy you get with some beligian. the rice is pretty much a silky feel to the addition to the beer. the yeast is something of a sake finish to it. but all the wonderful details like the chrysanthemum is lost. the hawthorn berries have a similar note of sourness as the grape. big beer with a lot to offer... to boldly sweet... too strong that the malt characteristic overpowers.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 05:19:55 | More by rtepiak

DovaliHops

California

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

Pours a slightly hazy, bright-golden color with a small-medium white head that diminishes quickly. Scent reminds me of another beer I've had...but I can't think of it right now...is it Stone's 10/10/10...or is it Lips of Faith Super Cru. It may be Super Cru. Either way, although it reminds of that beer, I feel this one has more balance to it and more depth. Scent is SO strong with sweet herbs and spices. Some tropical fruit aromas and booze as well. Taste is initially sweet honey and palate-tingling spices. The herbal notes seem to dance around through each sip, gradually changing from sweet to earthy. Alcohol is not well-hidden in this beer, although I don't think it is meant to be. The grapes dont really come through until this beer warms a bit...but still subtle. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a somewhat syrupy finish. Drinkability is fair to fairly high. Overall, this is a damn tasty beer, but I can't see myself drinking too much of this. Very rich with a lot going on.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 07:45:40 | More by DovaliHops

trixdout

New Jersey

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

When I first saw the bottle and with what is was brewed, I became intrigued. And this feeling continued when I smelled it and everything up until I tasted it...
The grapes used for fermenting are clearly noticed in the aroma. Sweetness in the beginning from the fruit and honey is noticed as well. There are also spice notes throughout the aroma.
Now the taste reminded me of a semi sweet champagne. Honey sweetness right in the beginning and then a wine like grape note right in the end. there is a maltiness in the middle with a banana type mellowness with a sharp lively sweetness, something similar to a pear or apple.
The only thing distinguishing this beer from a champagne is the slight hoppiness in the end and the lingering finish.
The mouthfeel reminds me sooo much of a semi-sweet to sweet tasting champagne.
Overall this beer is unique in the sense that it reminds me of a champagne and is highly carbonated (which is kinda expected due to all the sugars from the fruits and ingredients and the yeast).

Definitely out of the ordinary and its guaranteed that is what Dogfish intended.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 02:05:44 | More by trixdout

CuttDeez

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bomber into a pint glass

A - A nice semi clear golden body with no head at all.

S - Tons of spice notes in the nose with a big honey sweet and tropical fruit background. The honey and the bannanas and apple dominate.

T & M & D - The beer starts with some decent spice profiles up front and some fruits but then an overwhelming honey comes in and starts to dominate the palate. The beer finishes with a little bit of spice and fruit cleaness but overall the palate feels overpowered. The beer is very light and fresh.

O - It is a very drinkable beer and an interesting style but I find that it was too sweet and some of the more intricate flavors I was looking for were overwhelmed. Very interesting beer.

-Cheers

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 12:26:44 | More by CuttDeez

Spcoly

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ive always like Dog Fish's desire to recreate old receipes and thank them for taking the time to go back 9000 years. This is a different (in a very good way) beer, that has temendous flavor.

A: Honey golden with a small head

S: Sweet Honey....

T: Flavor explosion....honey, grape, mango, any sweet fruit...

M: Medium syrup, low carbonation...very drinkable for a higher ABV.

O: Great, interesting, different beer. Would definitely buy agaid....

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 00:30:33 | More by Spcoly

aerozeppl

New York

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

A: Clear golden honey color. A touch of white head that quickly retreated even into my Dogfish super glass. Visible carbonation.

S: Honey right up front. Nice earthy sweetness. There is something that I am picking up as floral but I cannot describe it for the life of me. The sake yeast I am picking up and I find it enjoyable in this beer.

T: The taste really reminds me of midas touch but without the saffron. Makes sense though right? Or is that the archaeologist in me. Super sweet but the sake yeast and the dryness kind of balance it out. It is an out there beer for sure and it is hard to compare it to anything else. Also some of the stuff in here is not in any other beer which I dig.

M: Super dry. A firm syrupy mouthfeel.

O: Really enjoying this. Just a totally different beer. The only thing that really comes close to this for me is the Nomisugi that cambridge Brewing made. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 22:36:08 | More by aerozeppl

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

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

Bought this one from Trenton road takeout. Poured into a tulip left a very nice white heading. Very little globbage sticks around the edging of the glass.

Smell was much like a saison to me a little fruity,a little spicey and a nice soft touch of grain.

Taste started out like a fine wine very juicy at first and then a heavier, hotter alcohol takes over which warms the belly and soothes the senses. After this a nice spicey kick comes into play to make this bad boy linger a little while in the mouth.

Very thin,and a nice light body but in no way watery or flat. This is actually beautifully carbonated.

Another score from dogfish head.The flavor that comes out of this beer is absolutely amazing. I would love to see if they would try to age this in wine barrels just to see if they can add another wrinkle of flavor in to this.

This is the last beer I will be reviewing as a Pennsylvanian and before the big move to Clearwater Florida.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 18:50:04 | More by TheFightfan1

jondeelee

Massachusetts

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

From the bottle: "Malt beverage brewed with honey & hawthorn fruit & fermented with grape concentrate." The brew smells light and, in fact, slightly weedy. The honey definitely comes across in the nose, but the hawthorn fruit brings strange aromas that more reminded me of a greenhouse in summer: flowery, but also loamy.

On the tongue, this reminded me far more of a sparkling champagne or a sweet chardonnay than a beer, having huge and effervescent sparkly fruit notes, with hints of apple, white grape, and even berry. There is little to no bitterness to the brew (due to the lack of hops), and what is there seems due to the Sake yeast that was used to ferment the sugars, which has left slight rice-wine hints of that beverage.

Personally, I think this is a great brew, though obviously so far off from being a beer that I'm not sure it qualifies in any meaningful sense of the word. Still, it will probably appeal to any wine drinker, and even to the more adventurous beer lover. Well worth a try, even if not for the novelty of drinking from a 9,000-year-old recipe.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 15:48:58 | More by jondeelee

jgreenearrow

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a translucent, light tan color with some peach colored hues. A thin 1/4' head appeared at the top of the pour and diminished quickly. No lacing on the sides of the glass.

S: The nose of this beer is complex and unusual. Malts are present along with some fruits such as grape, apricot, and maybe some plum scents. There are other notes there that I can't decipher.

T: The beer is sweet, but not too sweet. Tastes of grape and apricot are present at the onset. Some honey enters in the middle accompanied by a malt presence. Some slight bitterness and warmth in the finish.

M: This is a light to medium bodied beer. The beer goes down easily with some prickly carbonation.

Overall, this is another good, yet interesting offering from Dogfish Head. Being a recreation of a 9,000 year-old recipe from the far east, it is unlike anything I have tasted before. It is complex and well balanced, full of new flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 01:49:01 | More by jgreenearrow

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.13/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The pour , a nice golden tan was perfect. Nice creamy frothy head, ahhh, the start of a super beginning.

Now, the bouquet., all right not the best, but it still held my nose somewhat captive.
The first taste.... Somewhat overwhelming, a big nose with so many different flavors. To me, the fruit was over the top in relationship to the body and maltiness of the brew.

I still tip my hat to DogFish Head brewmaster for coming up with so many different and interesting beers

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 23:14:44 | More by rdilauro

pigc

Nebraska

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

A - Pours light copper color with thin head that fades quickly.

S - Sweet. Honey, grape, molasses.

T - Starts out very sweet with a complex tastes of figs, honey, sweet apples and candied fruit. Some wood overtones in there as well. Hard to put my finger on it.

M - Medium with a syrupy feel that coats the mouth.

O - Very interesting brew from Dogfish. I like the fact that is made based on one of the oldest recipes for beer, some 9000 years ago. Not my favorite from DFH but very interesting to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 00:02:47 | More by pigc

negroobserver

New York

3.38/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

It pours a bright deep yellow color with about an inch of off white colored head. Leaves behind a moderate amount of lacing. Smells malty and sweet with hints of warm spices. Tastes very sweet. Reminds me of a sweet Reisling wine. Very little hoppy scent or character. Doesn't taste like a beer to me. Mouthfeel is not exceptional in any way. The alcohol and spices are muted and the carbonation is pretty low. Overall not an exceptional beer. It's good, but it doesn't appeal to my particular tastes.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 02:05:09 | More by negroobserver

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in 2009.

Half finger whitish head that wandered around and dissipated rather quickly.

Nose is honey and a ton of pear, with a hint of apricot. Some light mushroom.

Taste has much more of the honey with malt and more of that pear. Quite nice and really represents what New Holland Envious was supposed to be.

Mouthfeel is a bit fizzy, but very nice and refreshing and not at all undercutting the flavor.

Unlike Midas and Theobroma (which were quite similar), this one is a real difference. Light, easy drinking, probably well pairing, and so pear-y. Quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 01:54:15 | More by zaphodchak

ckollias

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this 750ml bottle out of a German weiss glass.

A: Light hazy orange ale with a frothy 2-finger white head after a violent pour, that leaves a nice trail down the side of the glass and quickly dissipates in a wispy lace.

S: Very sweet and fruity aroma with hints of grapes and honey. Lots of fruit and sweet grain like smells.

T: Very fruity and sour at first and then mellows out with honey and banana flavors.

M: Medium body and carbonation

O: Unique experience drinking this beer – with an interesting blend of ingredients. That being said – it was more like a one time experience and probably not something that I would grab again.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 02:41:01 | More by ckollias

ianjsullivan

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

ST: 750ml poured into a snifter.

A; Dark honey orange and hazy, Jiahu has a thin head that mists over the top and settles against the edge of the glass. It leaves slight spot lacing.

S: A very interesting and complex aroma. Honey leaps out of the glass, followed by grape, banana, mango, and spice.

T: Starts with heavy grape and honey, some mango and kiwi come in during the middle. The finish has some spice, floral notes, and a thicker grape flavor with a hint of orange. The warmth of alcohol kicks in during the finish and lingers for a while after.

M: Heavy body and syrupy.

Overall: To give this a comparison to the wine world, it would have to be Sauternes. It has tropical fruit, heavy body, sweetness, and slight syrup (though a lot of the best Sauternes avoid syrupy mouthfeel). This is a dessert beer that should be enjoyed in sips (and a glass at a time). It is unfortunate that this beer cannot be re-capped and saved for another time (it can be a bit much drinking a whole 750ml by yourself at one time). This is a very enjoyable beer to have as dessert or with dessert.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 02:32:36 | More by ianjsullivan

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This beer poured out as an orange color, expected red for some reason. The head fizzled away pretty quickly just leaving a white ring. The smell is sweet and has a good herbal aroma to it. The taste gives off a wine like flavor, along with some floral and fruity flavors. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side here and it's pretty smooth also. I'd like to try this one again sometime because it's been a while. This deserves another taste for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 02:19:49 | More by Knapp85

Krakistophales

Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours light orange with a finger of white head that recedes into a halo.

S: White grape, honey, spices, tropical fruit, banana

T: Starts with white grape and honey, the middle filled with assorted tropical fruits, and the end finishing with a touch of spice and floral notes. Amazing flavor.

M: Light, spritzy, great carbonation, refreshing

O: One of my favorite beers, period. I would buy this weekly if it was available everywhere.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 05:35:16 | More by Krakistophales

vandemonian

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu is a sweet beer with some banana flavour. You'll like it if you like sweet beers.

A: Orange colour with a 4 mm head that fades and leaves almost no lacing. 3

S: Grainy with some banana smell too. 4

T: Taste is quite sweet with hints of banana. The banana flavour remains but there is also some honey and woody notes toward the end. 4.

M: Thick but a little flat. 3.5

O: This is a really nice, simple, sweet beer. 4

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 01:36:36 | More by vandemonian

vrushing88

Pennsylvania

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

Poured this beer into a snifter. It poured a sharp golden color with a very light head. The aroma is of a sweet rice wine. Honey and rice fill your mouth and lay a small burn on your tongue and palate. This beer drinks more like a wine, than a beer, but still very much a beer. It is potent in every aspect.

If you are a fan of non-traditional beers, or honey beers, this is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 18:05:00 | More by vrushing88

stewfnrocker

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

it came out an unfiltered light tan orangeish color. a slight head. The nose I caught a very sweet smell of honey, lighter fruits like grapes, apples, and pears. The taste was pretty much spot on, very sweet to the palette. Lots of honey and fruits, a slight alcohol flavor underneath which was expected with a beer that has 10% abv. The mouth feel is a bit full to medium body. I guess having such a sweet taste, but sort of balanced out by the carbonation. Overall, I like what Dogfish Head does, but this wasn't one for me. A bit to sweet for me, almost like a mead. To say the least it wasn't a bad beer, If you like sweeter beers in the style of a mead you will like this, no you probably will love this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 16:05:58 | More by stewfnrocker

lazjuarez

Florida

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

Bottle dated: 2010E

I had tried Chateau Jiahu at the pub before, but I'm excited to see/taste how it's evolved over a year.

A: Pours a lite amber, almost like an apple juice in color. Almost no head that settles to a ring composed of tight small bubbles. Lacing is also small with some carbonation coming off the glass.

S: Nose is sweet I assume its the honey, also white grapes. It has some champagne qualities that have me very intrigued. Apple skin, just big light fruit notes.

T: Taste is sweet, I get white grapes, pear, lots of vinous qualities. Almost like a Pinot grigio, but better....because it's beer.

M: Medium-bodied, some carbonation that cleanses the palate getting it ready for another sip. The 10% ABV is not noticeable at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 23:29:55 | More by lazjuarez

ToAzwethinkweizm

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Date: 30 April 2011
Glass: Standard 10oz snifter
Type: 750ml, capped

Beer flight, taken from notes:

Appearance: Clear gold with touch of amber, no head, runny lacing

Smell: Hot muscat grapes, something tropical like starfruit

Taste: HOT muscat grapes, sweet malts are faint, but sour/sweet starfruit is there, touch of kiwi

Mouthfeel: Heavy hot fruits and grapes, faint of spice?

Overall: Give this to wine lovers to get them interested in craft beer

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 20:06:13 | More by ToAzwethinkweizm

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: bottle at Ginger Man, Dallas, TX

Had this in a 750ml bottle. Good stuff. Not quite a Midas Touch, but still awesome. Kind of similar to a tripel in some ways, I'd say, but with it's own flair. Poured honey-golden with some haziness, and a very thin head; some carbonation. Aroma is honey sweet with light fruits coming through. Taste is similar, honey, sweet wine, yeast, breadiness, light fruits...very complex. Mouthfeel is pretty light with a bit of syrupy film left behind, and an alcohol bite. Enjoyable and quaffable, but definitely an every-once-in-a-while beer. Extra points overall for innovation.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 13:12:13 | More by Rifugium

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle code 2010H

A- Honey orange color with a creamy colored head, that fades quickly. Nice lacing.

S- Smells of grapes and spices. Pretty mild scents.

T- Grape and white wine. Tastes like a sweet white wine.

D- Mild and smooth, very easy to drink at first, but gets a bit sweet at the end. A very sweet finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 03:54:40 | More by HuskyinPDX