Palo Santo Marron - Dogfish Head Brewery

brystmar

New York

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This was a very interesting drink, to say the least. Purchased this bottle from a large beer/liquor vendor out of state, and only just now noticed its "bottled on" date was 07/24/08, so this beer had a long shelf life.

A: Claims to be a brown beer, but it poured a jet black color into my pint glass. Head was brownish and pretty minimal. Low carbonation, moderate lacing.

S: Smell was the only weak point of this beer. The alcohol bites you (harshly) right off the bat, followed by a very distinct woody cognac smell with hints of vanilla and cocoa. This beer smells nothing like most others, and honestly I didn't find it very pleasant. May have something to do with its nearly 1.5-year shelf life before reaching my glass.

T: Given the smell, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this beer, but I went in with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. It's surprisingly smooth and hardly bites -- despite its ABV -- but its alcoholic nature becomes more prevalent as it warms. Tons of flavors here: cocoa, smokey wood (I'm assuming Palo Santo wood), and traces of vanilla, among others. Very complex and, again, surprisingly smooth for a 12% beverage.

M: This is a full-bodied beer with good texture overall. Not much else to say here.

D: Dangerous. Very, very dangerous. This beer is deceptively easy to drink; I had NO idea that this was 12% ABV until seeing it at the top of this page to write this review. It's labeled as such at the bottom of the bottle right next to the "12 fluid oz" marking, so I must've lumped the 12s together as standard packaging items to ignore upon reading the label. Otherwise, this beer could be quite sessionable.

A great beer; I'll be buying this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2009 06:18:31 | More by brystmar

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

Mexico

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

jakeox

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 00:55:27 | More by jakeox

iCabaLLero

Georgia

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-18-2013 21:01:35 | More by iCabaLLero

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-18-2013 20:46:49 | More by Photekut

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-18-2013 04:10:06 | More by megamass

Honus1

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-18-2013 02:51:03 | More by Honus1

themantis13

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-17-2013 20:47:34 | More by themantis13

Jsmick

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-17-2013 03:47:14 | More by Jsmick