ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

teromous

Virginia

2.85/5  rDev -26%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: It has a dark copper color, with a slow release of carbonation. The head takes a bit to build and is very thin, and is not long standing. It's a bit below average, judging from other American style IPAs including DFH.

S: It has a very strong citrus smell, very grapefruit like and tangy apricot. The hops can be picked up and compliment the citrus from the apricot very well!

T: It surprisingly does not have a strong apricot or fruit flavor. It is bitter and is lacking in malt balance. The hop flavor is there but it seems more bitter than flavorful. Fortunately they've tamed the bitterness to the point where it's not overbearing...it just seems that there should be more malt character, especially for a beer of this color. The alcohol flavor is there which surprises me for a beer at 7%.

M: It has a pleasant bubbly mouthfeel with enough sharpness from the apricots. The problem is that the alcohol is not buried beneath it and makes it a little unpleasant to hold in the mouth.

O: Overall I would say that it's a bit below average. It seems to be unbalanced in favor of hops (even for an IPA) and the alcohol flavor needs to be under control. I've had other standard IPAs that are better, and really the apricot doesn't stand out as much as I'd expect. I give it a 2.5 here because it's not as good as the average IPA (even from DFH) but it's better than a 2.0. I wouldn't drink it again given the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 23:35:42 | More by teromous

Samuel906

California

2.85/5  rDev -26%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Hmm... I gotta say right off the bat this is a dissapointment, BUT, I find it hard to blame on Dogfish Head. They try some wacky stuff, and it's simply the odds that they aren't all going to be home runs. Pours clear, medium high carbonation. Smell is pretty good, and the apricot really compliments the piney hops. If only the flavor could have matched... Taste is reminiscent of the 60 minute IPA but surprisingly small amounts of apricot flavor. Light to medium bodied. Here's how I feel about it: If your're going to do something off the norm like making an Apricot American IPA, then go for it full bore with all aspects of the beer. Dogfish Head knows how to do this and they have pulled off some bizzare combinations on multiple occasions. People are going to buying "APRIHOP" because they are wanting something different and unique and are expecting APRICOTS and HOPS. Don't be subtle with crazy brews.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 10:08:03 | More by Samuel906

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked this up as an impulse buy recently. I like Dogfish Head's offerings - their IPA's and Punkin' Head were excellent and I like what they've done for craft brewing. That being said, I had high hopes for this beer when I saw it. After having a few samples of this, I was disappointed in the finished product, only because of the lofty expectations I had for it.

Beer poured a nice orange-amber with a decent head to boot. Almost no lacing could be seen, and the aroma wasn't that memorable or distinctive either. The bottle said that this was an IPA with apricots in it, but if I was given this blindfolded, I wouldn't guess either of those traits if I was asked what this beer was. It was thinner, heavier, and much more bitter than what I thought it would be. Almost had the taste of sourly fermented apricots in this, without the lightness of that fruit, nor the presence of hops that are indicitive of an IPA. The aftertaste was that of a much stronger beer too, it's hard to believe that this is only 7% ABV.

This was worth a try once, but I would certainly not let anyone unaccustomed to a fruit beer start off with this. I think apricot would go better with a wheat ale/hefeweizen style of beer if I had to put the two characteristics together. I'll still try Dogfish Head's other offerings in the future, but sadly, they missed the mark with this one...

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2006 07:03:56 | More by JerzDevl2000

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Served on tap at Union Jacks Pub in a pint glass.

A- Aprihop had a nice color to it with a copper/bronze mix. Some orange as well. Fresh off the tap this did not have any head to speak of which was surprising. Not much activity within the 16oz either.

S- Not getting any hop presense whatsoever in this American IPA?? Where are they at? What I am getting is a sweet burnt sugar aroma with decent apricot musk. Some malts are there but don't have enough depth to have a prominent smell.

T- Not much improvement here. There is just to much of an off putting sweetness to this and not enough hop envelope. I mean the hops are there in spirit but the apricot drowns them out in a bad way. Some bready malts in the distance but overall fruity.

M- Not quite medium bodied not quite thin but quite off kilter. The carb just was not there and the lack of hops make for a sweet fruity ride. The apricot sticks around while while the liquid goes down smooth but not in a good way.

D- I managed to finish my glass but I won't be going for this again. I can see this being a hit with the ladies though with the fruity essence. Need to try in a bottle to compare though. I remember this being better in the past.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2009 04:10:38 | More by onix1agr

UDbeernut

New York

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

on tap poured into pint glass

a: clear redish color, slight head that reuces to lacing rings

s: strong fruitiness, followed by citrusy hops

t: carmelized fruit/apricot. hops are clean and balance well. Finishes slightly tart

m&d: this is were the beer loses me, I find it to be a bit syrupy/medicinal. Ok drinkablility, but not my cup of tea.

Cheers!!!

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2009 23:56:28 | More by UDbeernut

Mrmarmot

New York

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The name sums up the smell of this beer a strong apricot and hops. Taste is lacking, you can taste the hops and apricot like you would expect but they are not outstanding or explosive. Mouthfeel was clean and smooth. Overall i do not regret buying a 4 pack and i will drink them all but i will not buy again. This is the first Dogfish that i did not really care for.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 02:13:43 | More by Mrmarmot

jondeelee

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

As the bottle flaunts the fact that real apricots have been used in this beer's brewing, it's an odd surprise that the nose is almost entirely lacking in that scent. Instead, what comes across is a caramelized brown sugar smell with hints of toasted grains, and perhaps a slightly funky skunkiness.

On the tongue, however, the apricots do come across large, mixing oddly with the hops to form a strange sweet/bitter fusion that, to be honest, can be slightly off-putting at first. To put this in perspective, imagine drinking a glass of orange juice immediate after biting into a grapefruit wedge--the sourness doesn't quite match up with the sugars. The combination does grow slightly after a while--helped by a nice toasted grain backing--but, at least for me, it never quite reached that "wow" factor that I consider a hallmark of Dogfish Head beers.

For me, then, this is a rare miss from the brewery--in fact, the first of their brews I've ever had that I probably won't purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 15:40:25 | More by jondeelee

roan22

New Jersey

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

I loved this beer last year; last year's batch seemed slightly thicker, hoppier and way lighter in color. This year's batch tastes really bad to me. Its darker and way too sweet, like maple syrup sweet. It appeared more watery too. The apricot taste is still there but the sickly sweetness of the maple flavor overpowers the slight tart taste of the apricot, and overpowers the hops, which are barely noticable. I will try it again out of a bottle, maybe it was a bad keg.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2006 23:08:39 | More by roan22

BattleRoadBrewer

Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served cool in a 10 oz nonick.

Pours like a typical hazy yellow-orange IPA.

Hint of pungent nose with some hops thrown in.

Flavor was a surprise--puckering, tart, woody.

Mouthfeel was average, well carbonated.

Cute novelty, not one I'd buy more of.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 04:47:43 | More by BattleRoadBrewer

ccrida

Oregon

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle (bottled on 3/18/08) poured into my meantime snifter, Aprihop is a clear copper with a small white head that quickly settles, leaving light lace. Served at fridge temp.

Smell is apricot syrup and crystal malt, fairly soft at first, with the fruit gaining prominence as it warms, as do the boozy vapors. While alluring for a fruit beer, the label might have one expecting complimentary hop aroma, which I cannot for the life of me find. It smells like a cheap fruit wine.

Taste is grassy hops, light apricot and grainy, with a bitter finish. Alcohol is prevalent, at first it seemed fairly clean but not to well hidden, but as I worked my way through it, the fusels dominated the aftertaste in an distasteful manner.

Mouthfeel is sharp and crisp, drier, but with a thicker, viscous body.

Drinkability is OK, more bad then good, definitely not as exciting as the fruited IPA experiment sounds, though not a total dud either. It goes down pretty easily at first, but the booze tires, and by the end, I'm pretty much sick of it. I've only had this once before, and it's been at least 2-3 years...I liked it more then, although at the time I was expecting it to be overly fruity, which it's not. I recall more hops though...perhaps my tastes have changed living on the west coast, perhaps it's just a function of this bottle being 3 months old. Either way, I don't see myself ever buying another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 00:23:41 | More by ccrida

pinotboy007

Virginia

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Poured a light copper-amber with some off-white head that dissipates quickly; no lace.

S - Some faint apricot, hops and malt.

T/M - Sour with a hint of apricot, salt, rosemary/herbs; mildly bitter malt and leather. Almost zero carbonation, but the mouthfeel has some creaminess/weight to it. Nothing exceptional.

D - An interesting style but I'm unlikely to seek this out again, unless it's on tap at a DFH pub. Guess I'm just not a fan of this style.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 21:00:49 | More by pinotboy007

williamherbert

New York

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bright, clear orange. Slowly upfloating bubbles. Big ole puffy head with staying power. Awesome.

Overwhelming apricot aroma. Sweet and flowery. Hops are an accent -- may have softened. Some bready yeast and ale malt.

The taste is mostly sweet, pungent apricot (naturally). Hops bring up the rear in a flowery way, but fade quickly leaving apricot & peach aftertaste. Way too cloying and sweet, like Smirnoff Ice.

Creamy and bold feel. A little gruff and ashy. Substantial. It's #9 with an extra hop character. A noble failure.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2009 16:17:56 | More by williamherbert

SaintPeter

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A deep sunset orange-reddish color with a slightly frothy white head. A nice deep color--looks like more than just an IPA. No cling or lacing, just a thin white foam layer on the surface.

Creamy, malty aroma with hints of peaches and apricots. A smell that strikingly reminds me of peaches and cream instant oatmeal.

Hop in the up front, then it disappears to a watered down fruit taste, some staleness in the finish. The apricot does not come through as fruit, more like a spice or herb. It's not sweet, it is just there. The taste is very mild, expecting more hops and a different fruit flavor. Similar apricot flavor to a Magic Hat #9, just more of it. Apricot must dull the taste of beer. The alcohol is in there--it tastes more like a 5% ABV rather than a 7%. It sneaks up on you, like a ninja! This is one of those ninja beer. Clean finish.

Average to medium body, on the creamy side. Very drinkable, just an odd flavor. I would wish for more hops if it's an IPA, as it says it is. I don't think I'd want more, however, it might be good ice cold on a hot day.

Overall very unimpressed. It may be just that it's old-bottled 2/27/08, a year ago. I'll have to give a fresh one a go.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2009 17:04:33 | More by SaintPeter

lynchmob9

California

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Didn't get it. Too complex for me? Probably b/c this just didn't add up. Appearance - nice amber, copper color. Head dies a bit quickly but still strings of carbonation piercing through. Like the looks going in. Smell - smells great...wow! Caramel, brown sugar, granny smith apples, raisins, maybe a bit of lemon...all over the place...interesting. Taste - wow was right...buzz kill. Fast taste then vanishes. Bitter crab apple aftertaste. None of the richness that thought would get from the nose is there. Sorry, but dissappointing.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2009 05:29:08 | More by lynchmob9

scooter231

New York

2.93/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Randallized, this was not my favorite beer ever. It was a pretty rusty color with nice head and lacing, reminding me of the bottled version. However, the nose and taste were... bland. Now, I know there were apricots in with the beer, so maybe they sucked in all the flavor and left the beer kind of boring? I don't know, but it was definitely lacking, and not that apricot-y! There was a bit of a biscuity thing and fruity thing going on, but it was dull. Mouthfeel was watery and felt pretty flat. All that being said, I could have a couple of these, but not too many- it's just not what the bottle is.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2006 07:55:49 | More by scooter231

Anthony1

Colorado

2.93/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

The beer is a light golden brown color, with a dense medium-sized white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass. The aroma is of just what the name implies, hops and apricots, along with some caramelized malts. The tart flavor of apricots hits hard up front followed by a quick burst of hops bitterness. The two together seem rather harsh. There's a hearty malt character and a touch of caramel sweetness, but they're not enough to provide the balance that is sorely needed in this beer; although it does get a little better as it warms. The after-taste is bitter. Crisp but not too smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean. It's flavorful but I didn't find it too tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, good kick, Unlike many fruit beers, this one doesn't use the fruit flavor to try covering up the fact that it is still a beer, but this is definitely not a beer that I would want to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 17:16:31 | More by Anthony1

LeRose

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Twelve oz bottle, no date on bottle or four pack sleeve. Purchased for $9.95 on 1/16/12. Poured into Sam's perfect pint.

Appearance: Golden bronze, about a half inch of foamy head, decent retention and lacing. Great clarity.

Aroma: Nice hit of apricot and a resinous hops. Seemed conflicted to me, not a good pairing.

Taste: The hops hit first, a little underlying sweetness, quite metallic, syrupy apricot on the finish. Bitterness seemed way overbalanced. Found the hops flavors undetectable other than bitter.

MF: nothing remarkable. Nicely carbonated, not overly sticky or thick. Metallic "tang" hangs around for a bit, not much aftertaste even with the late apricot flavor hit.

Overall, I thought this was kind of a mess. Overly bitter hops arguing with the syrupy sweetness of the apricot, and the apricot shows up very late in the profile. The taste seems almost segmented. To my taste buds, it was exactly the opposite of the description - way overly hoppy first, then apricot heavy afterwards. Think it could benefit from a less is more approach.I would not purchase this again, and can't say I would recommend it. Disappointing offering from DFH in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 00:38:06 | More by LeRose

brianjay

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

It had been maybe two years since I had had my last Aprihop and I had high expectations (as I often do with Dogfish Head). Different than what I remember: not bad, but not great.
Pours a crisp, clear light yellow-brown you can see through. The thin white head disappeared shortly after the pour except some of it sticking to the sides of the glass.
The intial aroma is interesting: a complex mix of the sweetness of the apricot competing with the subtle bitterness of the hops. On the tongue the fruity sweetness overpowers with a slight pine flavor on top. The finish is an intense sour (citrus) and alcohol taste which refuses to leave your mouth, leaving a lot of tongue smacking. Thin but smoothe body making it quite drinkable on a nice spring day (if you are looking for fruity and sour).

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 19:45:42 | More by brianjay

Taverner420

California

2.95/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The aroma on this one is a slight stank from the hops and the fruityness of apricots. The flavor is not very bitter, but bitter enough to be an IPA. The mouthfeel is nice and creamy. The finish is clean. Very carbonated, very foamy. But not horrible.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 21:56:04 | More by Taverner420

batty

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: looks like yuengling lager. toffee, not bad head that dissipates quickly. no lace.

S: apricot.. maybe a little grass.. hint of caramel malt

T: apricot overpowers for my taste. don't get much hop at all. just a touch sweet at the beginning, but mostly don't have much malt body nor hop to balance the apricot

M: pretty thin overall,

D: strong apricot takes away from drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2009 23:41:10 | More by batty

Rhynes2

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

When I first cracked this fine brew open I noticed it poured a slightly darker color than an average IPA. Not much of a head and no lacing down the sides at all. As far as taste goes, it's a little no heavy on the apricots. I realize it is an apricot beer but the taste was syrupy. Really sweet and it kinda keeps the hops hidden. I appreciate Dogfish Heads ventures into the new and unexplored but this one just wasn't for me. Very glad i got to try it though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 23:40:36 | More by Rhynes2

Chico1985

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

"An Indie Pale Ale brewed with real apricots." reads the label. Oh Dogfish Head, you so crazy.

Pours translucent dark orange, off-white head retains at about a half-finger and leaves a bit of lacing.

A bit of apricots in the scent, but this smells like a pretty average IPA otherwise. Mostly citrus, pine and caramel, decent strength.

Unlike the smell, apricots are very strong in the taste covering up most of the other flavors, it's like overpowering apricot extract (think Magic Hat #9 x4), astringent and unpleasant. As it warms, light citrus and pine show through with a big caramel/toasty malt backbone. Hop presence is really weak overall. Mouthfeel is pretty full and nice creaminess to it, other than a slight boozy astringent feel it's fine.

Not the worst thing I've ever had but I would hesitate to call it 'good'. The apricot takeover does subside a bit with warmth, but this beer feels weak and messy, especially in the hop department.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 18:16:58 | More by Chico1985

kmeves

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber with a thin film white head. Aroma is lightly sweet fruit with just a hint of grain and some dough. Flavor is initially acidic then light malt and hops and then more acid only with a fruit undertone this time. Light to medium body, somewhat thin texture. Finishes bitter and fruity.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 18:11:53 | More by kmeves

marvin213

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This Dogfish beer in my Dogfish glass looks oh-so-good (particularly on this hot spring day). It's like the perfect translucent brown--not amber like a red or yellow like your traditional macro-brew, but dark enough to offer substance yet light enough to appear refreshing on a day like today. The full inch of head settles to a thin layer of foam that covers the top.

The smell is confusing. I don't know if it's the apricots or what, but the beer doesn't smell too good. Believe it or not, it reminds me of a warm, half-full Miller Lite. I've got to hold the glass up and look at it to convince myself that's not what it is. The bottom line is that I don't like the smell.

Well, the taste is better than the smell, but not as good as the look. It's kinda weird--the sweet apricots occasionally make me squint my eyes and pucker my mouth like I just bit into a lemon. I think of lemons, take another sip, and the beer's reminiscent of sweet tea. It's like the beer equivalent of sweet tea vodka. As I try to embrace the hop taste...I don't really taste any. I guess it's what makes this drink taste like a beer, but it's certainly not like most IPAs I've had. In my experience, adding fruit to an IPA (or even DIPA) really disguises the hops. This is no different.

Mouthfeel is average. It's not real hoppy so I miss the enamel-pulling characteristic of hop monsters, and the apricots offer a weird (but unique) sweetness. Oddly, though, the mouthfeel is thin and lacking significant substance. That seems unusual for a DFH production.

Drinkability is okay. The beer is fairly refreshing, but it yearns for identity--is it an IPA or a fruit beer? I've read about the recent recipe change (and talk of going back to the original), so this is literally a beverage without a definite identity. This one's fresh--bottled in 2/09--but I'd agree that this recipe needs some tweaking.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 23:53:40 | More by marvin213

br3wmeister

Colorado

3/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A- Small off white head with okay retention and weak lacing.

S- Mild malt aroma, caramel and bread. Some nice hop and fruity aromas I am guessing apricot.

T- Sweet fruity flavors with mild tartness. Light malt and dry bitterness in th end.

M- Nice light oily feeling. With a wave of tart and dryness in the end.

Yet another beer with fruit added to it that I do not enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 02:43:53 | More by br3wmeister