Palo Santo Marron - Dogfish Head Brewery

mjl21

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter. No bottling date is given. Comes in at 12%.

A-Pours black with a very thin tan head that leaves fast and all that is left is a miniscule ring.

S-Vanilla is the first smell that jumps out. At first it smells a lot like an Imperial Stout. Sweetness hits the nose and smokiness from the wood is definitely detected. As it warms banana comes into play.

T-Caramel, vanilla, roast malt, toasted wood, marshmallow all come out. Has a nice bitterness from the hops and booze hits on the back of the mouth.

M-Full bodied with a nice level of carbonation. Nicely balanced and goes down smooth.

D-Does not feel like a 12% beer. One to enjoy on a cold night by the fire.

This is my favorite of the 3 DFH offerings that we get in Northern California. Price for a four pack ($14.99) puts a damper on how often I will revisit this beer, although to me, one is enough in a night.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2009 06:21:11 | More by mjl21

SonOfKyuss

Virginia

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-25-2013 21:34:20 | More by SonOfKyuss

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