Palo Santo Marron - Dogfish Head Brewery

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Short, tight creamy tan head capping a deep, dense opaque black appearing body.

Rich caramel, chocolate and coffee notes on the nose, figs and dates, a bit of blackstrap molasses and black licorice, some boozy whiskey. Some nut and faint vanilla as it nears room temperature.

Whoa Nelly, this stuff is bold and robust, and as over-the-top as it seems at first, there is definite method behind the madness, a more complex flavour profile beyond a high octane velvet-gloved bitch slap. Starts out with straight intense sweet yet dry malt, dark dry fruit and wafer in the middle, finishes with some dry nut and wood, plus some alcohol warmth. Dry dark cocoa and alcohol warmth lingers in the aftertaste, while wood and nut lingers on even longer. Resiny vanilla coats the lips.

Mouthfeel is full, yet not too thick, velvety smooth with only a minimal stickiness across the palate, very impressive for the abv%.

A brown ale that's been fed a whole lotta protein shakes and has gone through gladiator school, and comes out in the end larger than life yet refined, they must have snuck in some debutante lessons as well. Classify it as a strong dark ale or even a barleywine, I'm convinced. A Dogfish Head experiment worthy of the effort, and definitely worth the cost of the wood vats, definitely a worthwhile investment. After one of these I've had enough, although it's most certainly worth revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2009 06:05:52 | More by IronDjinn

cyrushire

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-25-2013 06:10:21 | More by cyrushire

RayUF07

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-25-2013 06:03:54 | More by RayUF07

mlefebvre7

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-25-2013 01:53:10 | More by mlefebvre7

greyghost86

Delaware

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-24-2013 23:14:20 | More by greyghost86

ellyssian

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-24-2013 01:03:42 | More by ellyssian

tzieser

Arizona

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-23-2013 23:46:00 | More by tzieser

JSouth

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-23-2013 22:01:32 | More by JSouth

ChrisKayler

Virginia

4.44/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Cool cap!

Glass: Port City "Globe" snifter.

Appearance: Pours extremely dark and looks as thick as molasses. A minuscule amount of dark tan foam appears on the surface and quickly dissipates. Several small bubbles of beer float on the surface that look like oil on water. They pop after a few seconds. Weird! When held up to the light, some dark reddish brown hue rings the very edges of the glass. This is one sexy beer.

Smell: I could smell the vanilla from several feet away before I even took a whiff. Underlying the vanilla is a bit of that brown ale "twang". A little hoppy. Perhaps some molasses and brown sugar. Maybe the tiniest bit of chocolate, but that is probably from the sweet vanilla combined with the hops that is playing tricks on me. I can't wait to take a sip.

Taste: Wow, what a great flavor! Vanilla in the forefront, with a slight hop bitterness on the tongue. A bit of a "woody" element is present as well. Alcohol is alive and well, but is nicely balanced.

Mouthfeel: Syrup! This one has low carbonation and a thick mouthfeel that leaves me ... chomping. Dry on the tongue after it goes down. A little sticky on my lips, but velvety smooth. I like this.

Overall: What a cool, unique beer. You certainly get a tiny bit of the hop characteristics of a brown ale, but with a much thicker mouthfeel and a lovely vanilla tone that lasts for ages. This is a seriously great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 02:31:58 | More by ChrisKayler

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-23-2013 01:47:18 | More by mikeincharleston

EduardoOrtega01

Panama

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-22-2013 21:12:53 | More by EduardoOrtega01

Ri0

Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured a 12oz bottle into my snifter. Bottled dated 10/22/2012, so it has 8 months of age for this review.

A - Surprised how thick this pours considering it is a brown ale and aged. A very dark coffee like brown with a thin tan foam head that quickly dissipated leaving a thin cap and lacing around the edges.

S - Aroma is very nice with sweet malt, wood, caramel, toffee, vanilla and syrup.

T - This beer really tastes great, but not like a brown ale would. Heavy malts and syrup with caramel, vanilla and wood mixed in. I don't notice much bitterness, but it isn't overly sweet. The booze is very well hidden.

M - Low carbonation as expected from the aging. Thick and chewy mouth feel from this unlike most brow ales which are much more thin.

O - Great beer than I really enjoyed. I'll have to get a hold of more some day. Do yourself a favor and pick some of this up because it is very tasty. Thanks to deadonhisfeet for sending to me.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 19:19:49 | More by Ri0

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-22-2013 02:44:55 | More by SmellsofMahagony

jl28r1

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 20:47:18 | More by jl28r1

shagal

Alberta (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -46.3%

05-21-2013 17:44:54 | More by shagal

Pookie

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 15:09:16 | More by Pookie

Angkistrodon

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-20-2013 23:59:24 | More by Angkistrodon

sevenarts

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 22:37:32 | More by sevenarts

ericwa1154

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-20-2013 20:33:37 | More by ericwa1154

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.09/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at DFH Brewpub in Falls Church, VA.

A - Poured almost black, with a dark brown top, fading quickly. A noticeable ring of lace, and residual rings lingering around the glass like sherry.

S - The nose is a bit metallic, definitely roasty and sweet, with warming alcohol present. Smells as strong as it is.

T - Very warming and pretty sweet. Alcohol forward here, but it's delicious and smooth. Bitter grains, metallic twang. Hints of charcoal and cocoa powder in the finish.

M - This one warms the mouth, and tingles the tongue, leaving a buzzing feeling on the palate and gums.

O - The 12% abv doesn't bite you or scare you off, it's tasty. It's well disguised for how high it is, but ever present. Caught me off guard when I read brown ale, as it drinks more like an Imperial brown or a Belgian strong dark ale.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 19:43:55 | More by BeerForMuscle

Kreko7

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 19:40:26 | More by Kreko7

RemyLebeu

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 18:48:01 | More by RemyLebeu

RockinRob925

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 12:51:32 | More by RockinRob925

stanowsf

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-19-2013 20:11:44 | More by stanowsf

KingSlayer

California

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-19-2013 20:09:45 | More by KingSlayer