ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

qwert59

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a goregous amber orange, with minimal head but very active champagne like carbonation.

Smells like apricots and Dogfishhead hops. Cirtus hop smell and apricot sweetness. There is a slight, slight malt touch. I love the smell of this beer. It smells refreshing, like summer.

Taste starts with a subtle malt and quickly moves into apricots, and
finishes clean with a nice hop bitterness. The apricot is jsut right, not too sweet, not too subtle. I thought it would be easy to overdo the apricot, but its just right. The apricot stands in to highlight the hops in the IPA.

The moutfeel is typically Dogfishhead; theres a syrupy almost creamy body to it without over doing it. There's a really nice biting carbonation, which helps the beer to finish as cleanly as it does.

Overall, this is a great, highly drinkable spring/summer release. This would be perfect for relaxing on a hot muggy evening. Aprihop is what early Friday evening in summer tastes like.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2006 01:37:49 | More by qwert59

Halcyondays

California

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, procured at the Walnut Liquorette, in Walnut, CA, update 4/8/09,

A: Deep, dark amber, with a thick, white head, almost orange in appearance.

S: Fragrant fruit salad, with grapefruit, mangoes, tangerines, tropical fruits, like papaya and guava, and of course, the requisite apricots.

T: Very interesting, very sweet, the apricots are there in form, its IPA character is also prevalent, with lots of grapefruit, really no pine in this one, with lots of tropical fruit character, including some pineapple; some faint malts as well, at the end. Big apricot notes which I really like and complemented the hops well. (+.5)

M: Smooth, sweet, resiny, brisk carbonation.

D: A smooth, tasty beer, would be an excellent summer quencher, even with the high ABV, another tasty and great beer from Dogfish Head.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2007 02:10:58 | More by Halcyondays

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear dark brownish amber with not much head. Aroma has a sharp bite and a definite fruit smell, rather like a cider. Flavor is malty and fruity, and has a noticeable apricot component, as well as some hoppy bitterness. Finish is lively and has a good edgy feel.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2008 02:52:09 | More by Cyberkedi

KAVSE

California

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Thin head quickly disappears leaving faint lacing on the sides of the glass.

A: Pours a coppery brown with a slightly lighter gold towards the bottom.

S: The aroma smells of delicate fruits, floral hops, resin and malts. I was expecting to be knocked over with apricot smell and the usual DFH alcohol notes but was pleasantly surprised how subtle and balanced the smells are.

T: Tastes like a balanced IPA with fresh apricots. The apricot flavor is not overwhelming or "cheap" tasting; the fruit, malt, and hops seem in a perfect balance.

M: Not a lot of carbonation which I feel is a signature of DFH beers. It's creamy feature compliments the delicate apricot notes perfectly.

D: Insanely drinkable. Definitely a beer you could drink a few of and not feel like you'd had a meal, but substantial enough @ 7.0 ABV to give you pause. Beware: friends wanting a sip might steal it from you!

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 22:17:29 | More by KAVSE

jzm2500

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- Clear amber appearance with a beautiful two-finger head that leaves a nice lacing down the glass.

Smell- Sweet malt and a generous helping of hops, typical of IPA, and slight scent of apricot.

Taste- Sweet malty character and a nice dose of hops up front followed by a faint but complex apricot flavor (not sweet). I'm not sure that I'd be able to identify it as apricot if I didn't know what it was. This is followed by a warm malty aftertaste and lingering hop bitterness. Beautiful.

Mouthfeel- Moderate in thickness, perfect amount of fizz, extremely pleasant.

Drinkability- This is a mightly drinkable brew. For 7%, the alcohol is ambiguous. Careful!

This may be my favorite Dogfish Head offering in the IPA department. The apricot flavor is milder than expected, and I think that the warmth that it provides greatly enhances this classic IPA profile. I'm not sure that I'd be able to pinpoint the apricot flavor if I wasn't already aware of it as it complements this style so nicely.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2010 02:52:13 | More by jzm2500

vandemonian

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

DFH ApriHop looks great in the glass. It has an orange colour and a good 5 mm head that lasts for quite awhile. The smell is fresh and hoppy with a hint of sweet apricot. The flavour starts with a bang of hops and tangy apricot and fades to a smooth aftertaste. Delicous, if not overly complex. The texture is foamy and reasonably thick. Overall, a delicious fruit IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 02:40:23 | More by vandemonian

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What an awesome beer. Most apricot inspired beers I've had have either been wheat beers, or ales. This is the first apricot IPA I've had, and it's a winner through and through. The apricot doesn't dominate the scene here, and that's refreshing for a fruit inspired beer. The apricot has a fabulous smell, then disappears until after you've swallowed...allowing the hops to make their presence known. I wish this was available year round. I only bought a case, and now I won't be able to have more for almost a year. :( Can't wait until next spring.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 21:38:08 | More by Retail1LO

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Slight haze to this amber colored beer with a thick and insanely retentive head on top that leaves a ton of lacing with it as it slowly goes. A fresh citrusy bite is the first thing that hits with the aroma. Just a hint of apricot in the background as it peaks up through the amarillo hop aromas. The crystal malt definitely peaks through a bit as well, making for a well-rounded nose.

Juicy fruitiness hits the palate first, lots of citrusy juice with a really nice apricot taste that complements the hoppiness that follows. The apricot actually rears its head in the sweetness of that combines with the malts and hops to create a really great juicy citrus taste. The balancing hops have a touch of bitter grapefruit as well as tangerine, creating a perfect little pocket for the apricot to fit into the background of flavors. This beer seems to have a near perfect balance of juicy fruity sweetness to dry hoppy bitterness, making for a very enjoyable experience. The mouthfeel is spot on, with a low to medium carbonation and yet spritzy feel. It finishes long and juicy with a lingering bitterness.

I tried this beer a few years ago for the first time and remember thinking that this wasn't extreme enough for me or something along those lines. Since then, I think my palate has turned to more balanced brews with a healthy dose of hops. This one just seems to hit the spot for me, and I'm glad I gave it another shot because I'm definitely going to buy some more before the season is over.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 04:40:34 | More by chodinheaven

PintOHops

California

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Glass - Tulip

A - A nice coppery colored brew with a bit of a red hue to it. Big clarity with lots of visible carbonation. It produced a 2-finger white head that left some spots and splotches on my glass.

S - Dry with floral and citrus hop characteristics upfront. I get a mix of pine, lemon, grapefruit and a bit of herbal, tea like hop notes. I wouldn't say I pick up Apricot for sure, but maybe. Underneath the hop notes I get mild caramel and brown sugar notes. As the beer warmed I definitely got a nice apricot skin aroma.

T - Okay I definitely pick up some apricot in the flavor. Upfront I get leafy, tea like hop flavors with a pronounced apricot that's not sweet but rather dry, bitter, and citrus like. Brown sugar and grainy like flavors quickly follow. It finishes with definite apricot flavors that aren't sweet at all, a touch of alcohol, and a quick snap of low bitterness and a bit of dryness.

M - Moderately crisp with a lite-medium body.

O - I'm really surprised how they managed to not make this beer overly sweet. Anyhow I enjoy it! I like the pronounced apricot flavor and the relatively lite/crisp body that allows for some easy drinking. I thought the beer was a little too dry, and could have used a bit more brown sugar flavor without the sweetness, but otherwise I liked it.

It's definitely worth a try if you like IPA's and a refreshing snap of apricots. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 23:30:50 | More by PintOHops

Doc_Hops

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It's that time of the year again and I could not be more excited! I made the pilgrimage down to DFH on the release date, March 1st. So glad I was able to try it on tap AND buy a few cases.

A- Aprihop pours a beautifully deep amber color with lots of carbonation and a fluffy head. Completely clean and clear.

S- Lots going on in the nose. Quite a bit of fruit but also a big bouquet of citrus hops followed by some sweet crystal malts.

T- After a nice big sip, I'm getting some great hop bitterness in the front that lasts for a while. Nice apricot sweetness balances it out but it is definitely NOT a very fruity beer. I'm enjoying a sweet pulled brisket sandwich as well and it is pairing perfectly. There's some bitterness that lingers in the back with sweet fruity notes on a majority of the taste buds.

M- Incredibly smooth. I really cannot say that enough. Bright, tingly carbonation and a perfectly balanced medium body.

O- This is one of my favorite beers of all time. I like that it is not as sweet as it has been in the past. It is every bit an IPA with fruity balance. Absolutely wonderful. ...And seriously, pulled brisket/ sweet bbq really, really works well.

Serving type- 12oz bottle poured into my DFH IPA glass. Thanks for reading.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:20:52 | More by Doc_Hops

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Indeed, an interesting brew. There have already been comparisons to Magic Hat #9, and rightfully so, though this is more experimental, has more hops, and is just better. Golden orange in color, has a wonderful sweet nose of apricot, spice, and hops. The apricots are the most noticeable aroma. Flavor blends the hops and fruit very very well, with the apricot flavor adding a nice sweet touch to the bittering agent of the hops. Alcohol is hardly detectable, and at 6.6% really shouldn't be too noticeable anyway. Apricots = good, hops = good...this is a very nice beer. Bottle this one boys!

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2004 01:32:50 | More by IrishRedRock

Edwin

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thank to Jaysus (yet again) for hooking me up with this during our post-Philly/BA get-together/NCAA Tourney beer.

Appearance - A brown/amber color with a caramel head. The head disappears quickly, but leaves some lacing around.

Smell - Hoppy with a beautiful apricot scent. Some pine hints throughout as well. A very nice smell.

Taste - I was awfully surprised at the taste with this one. Hops come through, but the apricot flavor actually makes a very good addition to their already great IPAs. I was wary of this beer because fruit beers tend to be too sweet. This, however, was a very balanced flavor. Nicely done.

Mouthfeel - Like a warm blanket on a cold night, this beer just fits. Goes in silky smooth and goes down easy.

Drinkability - I would say very drinkable. This is a great back-porch-on-a-warm-spring-evening beer. I will be buying a case of this when it comes available in our area. I will enjoy them often. This is a good drinkin' brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2004 20:08:22 | More by Edwin

chugamugofsud

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I ponied up and got a four pack of the Apri-Hop figuring that it would just make me mad to see Dogfish Head IPA be abused by addition of apricots; however, this beer is really a well-crafted piece of work. It pours slightly lighter in color than the other dogfish head ipa's and immediately smells both of hops and of apricots. There is a small, lightly colored head at the top of each glass but the taste is what sells me on the beer (as it should). IPA hop-style beer apparently just blends perfectly with the apricot taste, this beers is very light on the tounge and is exceptionally smooth (with a strong hop flavor). The apricot taste doesn't overpower the beer and it seems that a balance is found between the two tastes. I love this and will get some more before it goes out of season to keep around for the fall harvest season.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2004 17:01:56 | More by chugamugofsud

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear amber in color with a thin sticky head.

S: Absolute beauty. The citrusy hop aromas match up nearly perfectly with an apricot smell that is powerful and fresh without being cloyingly sweet.

T: Hoppy flavors are bold and floral without being overly bitter. Fruity apricot flavor is just subdued enough to taste real, not like some artificially supersweet additive, and makes a superb match to the hop flavors.

M: Full bodied with a nice sharp feel on the tongue. Sweet but not a syrupy sweet that overwhelms the tastebuds. Carbonation is very nice, and the alcohol gives a very mellowing warm.

D&N: Is this a far-out fruit beer or an awesomely done freaky IPA? I don't know but this brewery did it just right. I don't know how Dogfish Head makes their hops taste the way they do, but I'm now a big fan of theirs. If you haven't tried this one yet, what are you waiting for?

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2004 07:24:20 | More by JackTheRipper

AlexJ

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Delaneys (New haven, CT), leftover from a DFH dinner. Pours hazy straw yellow with dense white head. Magnificent juicy apricot aromas mingled with soft malts, and a distinctly clean floral/pine hop note. Tastes MUCH better than its bottled counterpart. Fuzzy apricot, bready malt, and a crisp, piney, well-hopped finish. Perfect mouthfeel, too easy to drink. Someone said it reminded them of Magic Hat#9. I bitchslapped him back into the corner where he belonged!!!

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2004 21:25:05 | More by AlexJ

wingnutter

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tried this one on a whim based on my love for DFH's 60 and 90 minute IPAs.

Poured a beautiful orange/copper color, with a nice head that laces the glass as its drank.

Smell: Fruity, hoppy, malty. Smelling this one made my mouth water for a taste, and....

What taste! Hops, malt, and fruity sweetness. I didnt get a strong apricot taste, but the fruit sweetens this beer just enough to take any bite out of it. Its insanely smooth. It just flows over the tongue and dances down the throat. Fruity, hoppy, malty...balanced very nicely. The 7% is expertly hidden - I forgot I was drinking a 7% ABV beer. Its that smooth and tasty.

Mouthfeel is slick and light at the same time, although you know youre drinking a big beer. One of the smoothest beers of this strength that Ive had the pleasure to try.

Id have a hard time choosing between this and the 60 minute. I like the fact that apricots are used in making this beer, but it doesnt taste like a "fruit beer". The fruit lends just enough sweetness to soften up the taste without dominating the wonderful hop/malt balance.

DFH does it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2005 00:09:21 | More by wingnutter

swhitt

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this in a 4-pack of bottles and have had it a couple of times. Pours quite a bit darker than your standard IPA with a gigantic head. Once a few sips the head all but disappears. Apricot flavor is amazing, much better than Magic Had #9 (one of my first craft brews) and finishes with a crisp kick of hops. Even though the alcohol percentage is high at 7%, I could easily drink the entire four pack in one sitting. It's good - I'm going to miss this seasonal once the summer is over.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2006 00:11:37 | More by swhitt

demcorhip

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ill come right out and say that this is a biased review, i simply love this beer and think its one of the best "summer" beers ive had this summer. The balance between the apricot and hops is amazing, and while i taste apricot firstthen the hops the transition between the two complementary flavours is so smooth i still havent been able to tell where the one flavour ends and the othr flavour starts. Ive picked this up a couple of times this summer, and will definitely be looking for it again next year.

Appearance
This ale pours a nice amber colour with a thin off white head. It is scantly laced with fine carbonation.

Aroma
Theres alot to smell in this beer. Fruity esters, caramelly malts, apricot, grapefruit, and piney scents are all there to please the nose.

Taste
This is a bold, tasty, incredibly well balanced brew. The apricot and hop flavours wonderfully complement each other. The slight sweet and sour contributions from the apricots, caramel from the malt, and the resiny grapefruit/pine from the hops are all there to be tasted and appreciated.

Mouthfeel
This slightly carbonated beer has alot of substance and alot going on. I can almost feel a fuzziness in my mouth from the apricot, which along with the malt sweetness nicely balances the resiny hops.

Drinkability
This is a very refreshing drink on a hot summer day, and a very tasty treat. This would make a good session beer on a hot and humid summer day or night. Ill be drinking many more of these if i get my way.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2006 23:36:35 | More by demcorhip

mynie

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Solid IPA pour. Light orange at the glass' bottom growing steadily darker and bloodier to the top, where the beers only visible, tiny bubbles can be found joining a small head that quickly fades away.

Smells great. A really rich, fruity and floral hop against a sticky fruit malt background resonant of a fresh Rogue.

And the Rogue similarities continue wonderfully on into the flavor! The hops are big and present upfront along with a breaddough malt that's so chewy and yeasty you think you're drinking a Double IPA, for a second, until it disolves into a delightful malt profile combining apricot fruits, citrusy hops, and a strong, caramel malt. It ends on a dryer, roasted malt and a hop.

Remarkably balanced and thirst-quencing! This is a fantastic beer, probably my favorite regular offering from Dogfish Head.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2006 00:49:43 | More by mynie

BBM

New York

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one on tap. It pours a cloudy light orange with a creamy white head and nice lacing around the glass. There were mainly sweet fruits in the nose, with a hoppy bite and slight alcohol smell to round out the beer. Interesting.

Wow, what a tasty beer. Up front there is a sweet taste of apples, citrus, and (of course) apricots. Then citrus and pine hop notes make their way onto the palate, creating a nice dichotomy of bitterness and sweet. It's all rounded out by a very subtle alcoholic finish. This is a fruit beer with balls. Mouthfeel is phenomenal; I've never had such a smooth, rich, creamy beer from a tap in my life; it's almost like it was poured from a cask. Low carbonation, and a silky smooth finish make this one of the more drinkable beers I've had in a while, too.

Overall this is an outstanding beer from DFH, and even though it is a bit 'fruity' and out of the ordinary, I'd recommend it to anyone. Unique and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2007 11:31:51 | More by BBM

abedenbaugh

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A:The beer has an amber color to it with a nice thick white head that stays. The carbonation is very fine and there is a significant amount of effervesce.
S:This beer smells really great. The hop aroma is dominating. It smells of citrus. The apricot smell in it seems a little on the tart side, but gives a fresh feeling to the beer.
T:For an IPA there is only a touch of bitterness in it. Yet it might be covered up some by the apricot because once you start tasting any bitterness the apricot comes in right after it and cancels it out. The malt profile is a little bit of caramel and toastiness.
MF:The mouth feel is around medium. With as much effervesces as the beer has, it doesn't seem to be high in carbonation.
D:While I'm not sure if calling this beer an IPA is the most correct label, I do think that it is incredibly good. The apricot tastes great in it and the bitterness compliments it very well. I would love to buy it again and could drink them very easily.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 00:17:24 | More by abedenbaugh

erosier

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a golden amber color with a short and medium bodied white colored head that laces the glass a little on the way down. The aroma is of spicey citrisy hops and apricot flavoring. The taste is really good as the apricot flavor and the hoppy flavor actually mix very well together for a very interestingly fruity beer. The mouthfeel is also very good with a crisp and clean feel that is really enjoyable and makes the beer very drinkable. Well worth a try even if fruity beers and hoppy beers aren't your thing.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2008 17:08:00 | More by erosier

slvrmon82

Delaware

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very excited to review this beer. It is one of my absolute favorites. Picked it up at dogfish the other day.

Wow. The appearance is nice, Gold copper. Nice and clear. Not a lot of head but very carbonated.

Smell is very fruity with apricots up front and maybe peach at the end.

The taste is right there. You can taste the real apricots versus the imitation extract that most brewers use.

Mouthfeel is nice and light. Surprisingly light.

Drinkability is extremely high. A great seasonal and a great beer all around. Perfect for the ladies as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2008 03:38:00 | More by slvrmon82

kbnooshay

New York

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured a slightly hazy orange gold with a short lived white head. Aroma is sweet and fruity. The apricot flavor isn't overpowering so you can smell the hops in there. Wow! This is like number 9 but without the light wheat flavor and more hops. Flavor is slightly bready and light on the malt. Feel is kinda tingly from the carbonation but is light. I could drink these all night. Forget number #9, this could be a real gateway beer for good beer newbies.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2009 02:07:04 | More by kbnooshay

Seanibus

California

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is by far my favorite Dogfish Head beer (of course, I am admittedly not a big DFH fan in general, but this really is good).

I really didn't want to like this beer, but it is delicious. Pours a handsome copper with a decent fluffy head. The aroma is rich and fruity, musky and hoppy. The flavor is fruity but not sweet - musky, apricoty, with strong piny hops. There is a satisfying deep bitterness with a ripe fruit finish and a slight burn down the throat, like a good liqueur or brandy. The mouthfeel is smooth.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2010 14:52:10 | More by Seanibus