Palo Santo Marron - Dogfish Head Brewery

WrathsU

Florida

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown almost black with thin light brown head. Not much lacing.

S - Really complex aromas going on in this beer. Some big hints of chocolate and roast up front. Behind that is some darker fruits and some cherry notes as well. Faint vanilla notes behind the fruits. Impressive that a 12% beer has no alcohol fuselage in the nose.

T - The taste is also incredibly complex. Dark fruit is the first big taste I get in this beer. Some milk and bittersweet chocolates help compliment the sweetness. The slight boozy taste helps cut through all that sweetness and actually balances it out nicely. Finishes just a tad too boozy for my tastes.

M - Thick and chewy bodied. Some moderate alcohol burn going on in it and a moderate level of carbonation.

O - A big and delicious beer. Complexity is outstanding in this beer and it is really quite a challenge to nail down exactly what is going on. (I think I couldn't even do it..)

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:31:32 | More by WrathsU

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

birdsellam

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-19-2013 18:11:14 | More by birdsellam

Fubar1453

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 14:18:03 | More by Fubar1453

jkane101

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 02:36:39 | More by jkane101

TXhomebrewer

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 01:22:17 | More by TXhomebrewer