ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

dirtylou

Washington

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz single, Rileys $2.19

appearance: pours a glowing bright orange-amber, light foamy beige head that dissipates rather quickly leaving a slight beige rim on the snifter

smell: dry apricot, dimmed fruity nature, slight floral...a little metallic perhaps. After tasting this one, the aroma clearly does not match favorable with the flavour...something got lost in the translation

taste: an explosion of juicy apricot hits right away...sweet and floral, somewhat similar to an amber. not particularly hoppy, regardless of whether dfh calls it an ipa. slight raisin, heavy malt sweetness...this is a fruit bomb and was definitely worth the try

mouthfeel: smooth, medium body, very sweet tongue

drinkability: very drinkable, abv well disguised

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2006 23:15:27 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Rusty orange under a sticking bonnet of bone-hued cream.
The nose showcases loads of woody herbal and piney hops. Backed by buttered grain and brown sugar. And apricots too.
Begins sweet, and hints directly at 120Minute. Caramelized apricots are predominant, but this isn't overly fruity. More of a generalized caramel sweetness, touched with tropical fruit, and layered upon a toasted grain mat. Diacetyl shows up midway, with its trademark butteriness. Ends forcefully hopped, with leafy shrubs and lemon rinds and pine sap. Still, there is sweetness that lingers.
The body leans close to full with a stunted carbonation. It feels as though it was pulled from a cask, even though I'm staring at the bottle I poured it from.
Drinkable, though in small doses, I'd guess.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2004 03:03:56 | More by cokes

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this bottle also as an extra in a trade with JDV. Thanks again, Deniz!

This pours from 12oz bottle a cloudy rusty brown with a small but stubborn head of foam.

The smell is of apricots, caramel malt, and a touch of hops in the background. Smells nice.

The taste is well, tasty. Apricots are the first thing I noticed followed by some caramel malt and a nice big heaping helping of hops. Wow. I didn't think the different flavours would work all that well together but hey, they do!

The mouthfeel is medium, the carbonation is fairly low, and it finishes with a good mix of bitter hops and apricot tartness. Very nice indeed!

Thanks again, Deniz, for throwing this one in. DFH has again defied the odds. ;^)

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 01:09:35 | More by Bitterbill

beertunes

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a very pretty, clear copper color with 3/4 inch of off-white head that had very good retention and nice lacing.

The apricot scent was just barely noticeable on the nose. More typical grain and hop scents were more noticeable. Pretty much the same in the mouth, this just comes across as a fairly average IPA with a slight fruity taste to it.

The body was also average for the style and drinkability will depend on how much you like the faint apricot taste.

Overall, nothing special or terrible about this brew. It won't kill you to try it, but it won't thrill you either.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2010 19:42:50 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

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

Two finger head with good retention on a clear nice amber body. Little lacing. Aroma is fairly hoppy with mostly orange peel. Apricot is tough to draw out. Flavor is fairly complex with a nice malt profile and mix of hops including musty, grapefruit and floral notes. Again the apricot is tough to draw out. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Overall a good beer but the apricot was well hidden from my senses.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2012 00:22:42 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bought a single bottle because I wasn't sure of this beer, and it turned out to be a wise decision. This beer was an interesting experiment (fruit into an IPA) but not something I enjoyed too much. At first glance it looks like a normal IPA, clear and light golden orange colored, but the aroma packs some apricot-peachy foulness on top of the hops. The taste was not very complementary to the hops in my opinion. That said, DFH has great brewing skills and creativity. I appreciate the thought behind the beer, it's just not a creation I enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 12:16:33 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

12oz bottle, bottled on 27th Feb 08

A: Crystal clear amber with a thin off-white head.

S: Hops and apricots with the hops being grassy, herbal and spicy with almost a thyme-like component. The fruit component is fairly subtle, enjoyable and more pronounced as the beer warms up. There's also a mild dose of caramel sweetness here

T: Starts off a pleasant blend mild tartness, earthy hops and sweetness. This is followed by a mild citrusy hop note, honey sweetness and a soft, dry, mildly tart finish

M: A beautiful soft feel that's a little undercarbonated but the dry finish is pleasant

D: Glad I got to try this reasonably fresh. This one's nice!

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2008 01:12:35 | More by DefenCorps

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a mostly clear light amber color with a decent sized tan head. Ok retention and fairly good lacing.

Smell is like opening a fresh pouch of dried apricots, kind of a musty fruit pithy nose. It must have taken quite a bit of hops to even make them detectable over the apricots, but they managed to do that here with some grassy and citrus aroma.

I dont mind fruit in my beer at all, but apricots seem a bit of an odd choice...not to mention pairing them with an IPA! I get some, but not an overload of hoppy bitterness as the semi-sour nature of apricots provide most of the flavor. Malts seem to be kept to a bare minimum and the body is pretty light. To me, this beer seems like it is as good of an apricot beer as one would ever find, but I dont really think apricot flavors are well suited for beer...for my palate anyway.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 03:47:23 | More by twiggamortis420

francisweizen

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another good one from DFH. A dark golden/orange brew with a tight head of white foam. Aromas are apricot essence, metallic/herbal hops, citrus notes, and some pine. The taste is hoppy up front with a big fruity blast in the middle and a nice piney/herbal finish that lasts, giving you fruity hop burps. The mouthfeel is a bit on the thin side, but that is good for a summer refresher like this, and the drinkability is damn good as well....nice stuff

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2004 22:17:41 | More by francisweizen

nickfl

Florida

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - One finger of white head, settles down quickly and leaves thin rings of lace. The body is a perfectly clear, ruby-brown color.

S - Blended aroma of hops and moderately dark malt. Caramel, brown sugar, and some grapefruit/ pine notes.

T - Pungent and tart. Distinct apricot flavor up front with light caramel and brown sugar notes. Moderate toasty malt in the middle. The finish is dominated by the fruit with moderate spicy hop flavor and bitterness that allows it to balance nicely.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet but tart finish.

D - Quite refreshing and drinkable. Despite the strong fruit character and the significant sweetness, the hops keep the beer balanced and drinkable. As one would expect the apricot flavors blend nicely with the hops and the fruit lingers on the palate in a very pleasing manner. Not a daily drinker, but well balanced and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2009 05:14:45 | More by nickfl

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle in a Triple Karmeliet Tulip Glass. Bottled on 2/3/09.

A - Nice red-orange amber color with a small head. Less than one finger. Better with agitation.

S - Deliciously fruity smelling with abounding apricots. A good sweet smell with white grape and honey aromas. Lightly hopped aroma with some light malts too. Malts a little more prevalent than hops.

T - Complex flavors. Subtle apricot flavor as opposed to abundant aroma. It comes out in the tart and sweet aspects. Citrusy and champagne like bite followed by a dry finish across the palate. A bit with the malts but hops are almost absent. Lots of subdued light fruit flavors.

M - Dry and bubble like champagne. Very crisp. While its bubbly, its still smooth too. Good here.

D - While nothing about this beer resembles and IPA, it sure is good. Almost no hops. Its bewildering and complex flavors are a treat that is very well offset bu its tart and dryness.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 16:47:23 | More by BeerFMAndy

tpd975

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Another beer I had enjoyed in the bottle that I found on tap today.

A: Pours a nice amber color with a nice rocky foamy head. Lots of bubbles rise to the top. Sheet after sheet of lacing is left behind.

S: Holy Apricots batman. This one smells like you just tore open a bag of dried apricots. Tons of apricot aroma with hints of sweet honey. It almost has the aroma of a fruit juice. There are no hops to speak of.

T: In the bottle this one was mostly about apricots but on tap it is even more so. From the first gulp your mouth is greeted by fresh juicy apricots. They are so fruity and sweet on the tongue. In the middle there is just a dash of citrus hops. The citrus barely comes out though. The only way you know they are there is just a touch of hop bitterness.

M: Fairly lite, with a good deal of carbonation.

D: Too sweet, Liked it better in the bottle.

Overall: If you like true fruit beers this could be passed off as one. This is billed as apri (HOP) and the hops have all but been lost in this one. A card on the bar noted that this one was big on hips and small on fruit. I have to disagree. A bit too sweet, a load of hops could save it though.

Darn right drinkable in a bottle not so much on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2008 21:07:10 | More by tpd975

smakawhat

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a Nonick pint glass. Bottled date 20112C.

Straight down the middle pour leaves of course a big head. Smell comes out already. Head is a nice cream brown color with some good tightness but also a little soapy, gets to three/four fingers when well rested. Body is a gorgeous orange amber color, and clear with much visible carbonation from the bottom rising, and stuck bubbles on the glass.

Bouquet is musty and dank, with some faint fruit. Yup it's apricot alright small detection, but there's a cellar must and borderline manure smell behind all of this too which is kind of off putting at least on an IPA. No hops or malt to speak of. Apricot rind comes through after quaffing a bit more but not very noticeable and particularly not sweet.

Taste is a strange bitter but also strangely not fruity. Some decent hop that comes through that isn't on the nose, faint bread shows up at first but then gets taken over by hop profile. Finish is fast and leaves me, there is not much taste upon the swalllow or aromatics that stick around. Surprisingly all my taste sensations with this drink are in the very front of my palate.

I've had this before in the past many times and I still can not get into it. It's neither noticeably fruity, or particularly a fond IPA that I would want to have. Glad to review it again, but like always I will pass on this every-time it comes out. Not liking apricots to begin with probably explains part of it as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 16:44:25 | More by smakawhat

FosterJM

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

317th review on BA
bottle to pint
2011 bottle

App- Much darker than I thought. A nice lighter brown color with 1 1/2 finger head.

Smell- It's a soft aromatic beer. Malts are there but the fruit is as well just soft and delicate. Nice hoppy balance.

Taste- It's different with the fruit in it but very tasty. The flavors are quite a gamut of eb and flow. Malty/sweet/fruity/hoppy. I liked the ride.

Mouth- Medium body bordering on a med/full carb level. Was a bit heavier than I was expecting.

Drink- New tradition for the coming years. Grab an aprihop to compare. This was my 1st year to be able to buy a single bottle and not have a sixer go to waste if I didn't like it.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 06:02:04 | More by FosterJM

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 5/23/08. Had on tap at the WIllimantic Brewpub. Pours a clear light brown with a small white head. Aroma is not very strong, slightly fruity. Flavor is dominated by sweet apricot (though not in a bad way), light citrusy fruits, with a tart finish. Not much of a hop presence, despite it being classified as an IPA (fruit beer is probably more accurate). Sweet, light, and refreshing! Very good.
6/4/7/4/15 (3.6/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2008 21:18:36 | More by LilBeerDoctor

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The Aprihop pours a copper color, very clear with about a 1/2 inch off-white head. A decent amount of lace remains on the glass after drinking it. The smell is mainly of apricots, with some bread, malt and hops in there too. A lot of flavor hit me at once with this beer. There was the initial apricot taste, then a sour/bitter grapefruit hoppy taste soon after, with a bit of sweetness after the bitterness. Very surprising, in a good way. The mouthfeel is creamy, light/medium and slightly oily. It goes down relatively easy, it's a well balanced beer. In my opinion it's another good beer from DFH. I'd recommend it to others, and I would drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2006 23:28:03 | More by bluejacket74

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.74/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

not as hoppy as its billed, but a nice fruit beer that's not an immediate write off for me. the pour is a nice brassy color with an orange tint, and a finger or two of fading white head. the nose is hoppy, but its more oily and sweet than bitter, more like a 90 minute than a 60, if you follow. the fruit doesn't manifest itself too boldly in the nose, maybe a little jammy sweetness, but in the taste they really come out. its almost like they take the place of the sweetness that usually comes from the malt, its juicy and a little tart too. then the hops kick in, robust and fresh, and give this beer a particular crispness hard to find in fruit beers. overall this leans more toward an ipa than a fruit beer, which makes it a winner for me, but its not as well refined as some of the other dogfish brews. could also stand a little more carbonation to brighten up the feel, it comes across a little heavy to me. still, an interesting and delicious beer that's just right in early spring. drink this cold though, it gets weird as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 21:14:24 | More by StonedTrippin

Brent

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I did not review this beer on my first bottle, since I was disappointed and wanted to have a second sample to be more objective in my expectations. Not that the first bottle was bad, but when the label made a big deal about being brewed with apricots, I was ready for an apricot-infused flavor, like Pyramid's apricot ale. On the first bottle, I really did not get any apricot notes, other than a general, fruity hops profile. Unusually malty and dense for the style, and the big abv is surpising. On the second sample, I was able to pick out some apricot flavor from the rather loaded hops profile. Overall, this did not strike me as a fruit flavored beer - it is more like an old ale or strong ale that happens to have some fruit flavors. It was not bad at all, just not what I had in mind.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2004 13:57:58 | More by Brent

blackie

Virginia

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

appearance: The pour creates a thin, light tan head that steadily disappears, leaving a ring around the glass. The beer is an ultra clear orange-copper color.

smell: Pretty good balance in the aroma. The spicy green hop aroma and the light sweetness of the caramel malt are well done. Most of the apricot character is found on the nose, though it is not overdone at all. Also some hints of citrus, pear, and spice.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is just a tad over medium, and the body medium with a slight slickness.

taste: The flavor is malt balanced, with a nice caramel malt flavor, and a light hint of apricot. Some hop flavor, but most of the hop presence is found in the moderate bitterness.

drinkability: A good beer, easily drinkable

Bottled on 2/20/06, as printed on the neck

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2006 03:30:36 | More by blackie

champ103

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Queen Vic in Houston, TX

A: Pours a clear orange/dark red color. A two finger white head forms at first, and recedes in a second. Not much lace is left behind.
S: Plenty of hops up front. Light citrus. with some pine Mostly soapy and oily hops. Some sweetness as well.
T: Follows the nose. Citrus like hops up front. Though much more of a soapy and oily character that I am not a fan of. I can't tell if that is the hops or the fruit? Some sugary and grainy sweetness as well.
M/D: A medium body with that prevailing soapy/oily character. A bit thing and watery as well. Not hard to drink though. I finished the pint without a problem.

Pretty much average for me. Nothing really stands out besides the soapy/oily character. I can't say it is an IPA, and I can't say it is a fruit beer because nothing wants to stand out. Overall, decent. Nothing more or less.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2011 00:42:48 | More by champ103

GClarkage

California

4.53/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

04/22/05- Received via trade with Connecticuitpoet and Steinlifter.

Presentation- 12oz bottle with an drink by August 2005 notch on the label. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Orange-rust colored pour with a creamy 3/4 inch head and above average lacing.

Smell- Very sweet and fruity scent. Can't tell if it's apricot or not, but it is some kind of fruit. A bit of alcohol scent as well. Nice hops output in the aroma.

Taste- Bitter hop taste with a fruit flavor hint in the background. Apricot is very subdued, but you can detect it. Nice malty background as well. Dare I say a small nutty flavor in the aftertaste (walnut?)

Mouthfeel- Higher than avergae carbonation. Sugary sweet mouthfeel.

Drinkability- This one hit the spot on the hottest day of the yeart so far. My computer room is roasting and this does the trick to keep the sweat at bay. Good deal. Yummy brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2005 19:01:11 | More by GClarkage

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Clear deep orange-amber body with an inch of eggshell head; decent retention and some light lace. Pretty good.

S: Slightly dull, earthy, piney hops are foremost, followed by some distinct sweetness - the crystal malt lends a bit of candied aspect to the apricots. For what it's trying to do, it works.

T: The apricot isn't nearly as apparent here, and the malt sweetness gets overwhelmed in the end with some nondescript hops bitterness. The fruit does assert itself a bit on the aftertaste, but in a slightly cloying way. It's not bad by any stretch, but it's pretty boring.

M: Slick medium body with some sharp, late-arriving carbonation. Mediocre.

D: There's something about the way the strong bitterness and slight cloyingness go together that keeps me from getting thirsty for more. Still, not terrible for 7%.

Notes: Not much to say here. It's fairly tasty, fairly strong, and fairly forgettable.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 01:30:37 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is without question the best apricot beer I've ever had. World class beer. DFH have found the perfect complimentary balance between the hops, malts, yeasts, and apricots. Poured with a good sized light tan foamy frothy head and good lace. Color is medium amber. Aroma is this crazy mix of hop and apricot that unify into a synthesis of a perfect flavor meld. Shazzam. Cant believe I said that. anyway, Flavor's the same but much larger. Body's great, ditto carbonation. Finish is medium in length with just a nod to the alcohol. Kudos to the maestro.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 04:59:23 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, ruby amber with a big mountain of dense, foamy, off white head that has great retention. The nose reveals some earthy, piny, floral hop aromas and some very faint apricot notes. The flavor is sweet and fruity with apricots taking center stage, but then changes speeds and finishes with a clean, piny, bitter hop character. The mouthfeel is a bit syrupy and thick but ultimately medium bodied. It's smooth and well carbonated.

This is a decent beer. It's a very nicely balanced take on a fruit beer and an IPA. It has just enough of both to keep fans of both styles happy. I also appreciate how DFH doesn't go with a lighter, wheat-based beer for the spring. It's unique and intriguing. It's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 23:12:40 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

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

4oz sample on tap at a DFH tasting.

L - murky (the bottled version is clear?) orange color with a good sized white head.

S - sour smelling, citrus & apricot.

T - taste is sweeter than the aroma would lead one to believe, apricot flavor busts out midway finishing dry and bitter.

F - medium bodied with good carbonation feel.

D - it went down very easy but it was a small sample. I think I could handle a pint or two.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2009 01:34:57 | More by JoeyBeerBelly