ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

BillHaverchuck

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a wonderful amber. Almost a reddish tone with a minimal foam head. Smells very fruity. Hints of apricot (obviously) as well as some pineapple crossed with flowery / piney hops. Great mouthfeel. Very smooth yet still brings a slight fruity tang to it. A nice bite of grassy hops really finishes off nicely. Tasty beer here, will drink again.

Serving type: growler

03-06-2011 03:16:17 | More by BillHaverchuck

musicforairports

New York

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

On tap at The Ruck in Troy.

Pours amber, clear and darker than I'd expect an IPA to be. Comes from the bar with a one-finger head that leaves a bunch of lacing until about halfway through.

Smells like apricots--a real fruit aroma, not sweet and syrupy--and hops.

Tastes like the above, with some noticeable malt flavors in the background. Begins with a dose of apricot, caramel backdrop and a nice pine/citrus hop bite that sits noticeable atop the other flavors well. It finishes dryer and much fruitier. I don't mind the apricot flavor here at all, and I'm not one who typically like fruit in beer. I didn't really expect to like this, and I don't always think Dogfish Head's experiments work. But this one does.

A bit sticky and creamy on the palate but a smooth drinker.

Really a good seasonable here, and without a doubt the best of the few apricot-flavored beers I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2011 05:06:41 | More by musicforairports

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

on tap at rattle n hum in nyc

Pours a clouded golden orange with copper hues. One finger high head fades into film and leaves loads of spotty lacing all over the glass while drinking.

Strong apricot and fruit scents with citrusy hops supported by toasted grain malts.

Slight sweetness with ultra juicy hops right up front. Apricot juice and citrus with orange. Toasted biscuit malt, light caramel malt sweetness. Hop bitterness, juicy fruit and tropical tones in the finish.

Lighter medium body, super smooth feel. Drinks great, super refreshing, and the alcohol is invisible. This is one of my favorites from DFH and I'm glad to see it back.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2011 17:22:56 | More by xnicknj

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

On tap at DFH poured into pint glass. Pours clear orange with a big foamy white head. Moderate lacing. Fresh apricots mixed with slightly piney hops and light caramel. Light, medium-carbonated mouthfeel. Fresh citrus and mild pine hops up front complimented nicely with the apricots which burst through in the middle. The malt is much lighter than expected, and lets the apricot taste come through without making it too sweet or sticky. Earthy, fruity finish that's not too long. Very refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2011 16:31:11 | More by CuriousMonk

munizr22

Virginia

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

I enjoyed this beer at the ApriHop release in the Dogfish Brew Pub in Falls Church.
There wasnt much head on the pour, but the carbonation was average.
The color was a nice amber color, very apricot like.
The aroma, gave off an almost mildy sweet smell, with hints of apricot. The taste was heavier than I would have thought for a spring time beer, but it drank smoothly. It definitely left a fruity taste in my mouth, that was not unpleasant.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 21:01:37 | More by munizr22

StJamesGate

New York

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

On draft at The Spotty Dog, Hudson, NY.

Pours glowing peach with a cakey head. Apricot and citrus hop nose. Toasted oat and ripe fruit malts with branch and grapefruit hops. Grapefruit pith leave. Medium, fizzy, with cling.

Balanced and drinkable, far from being either a gimmick or your average fruit beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2010 04:32:36 | More by StJamesGate

haddon

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap at The Lodge in Hilton Head

pours an amber color with nice off-white head. good lacing down glass

light pine with citrusy notes. yep, you guessed it... apricots!

nice balance of malty backbone and citrus hops. little light on the bitter finish but I think that makes this beer from being too fruity

light to medium body. nice amount of carbonation that keeps it clean and smooth going down

this is a very drinkable beer. the 7% abv is slightly noticeable and the one thing to keep this one from being too drinkable (is there such a thing?). I could definitely enjoy a couple of pints of this ipa with no problem

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2010 00:47:16 | More by haddon

zhooker

New York

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

From the tap at Whole Foods, to a 32oz growler, to a standard pint glass. Dark but very clear amber in color. Big billowy head that left some moderate lacing.

The smell is all hops. India Pale Ale indeed. Tis' all.

The taste is more complex though. The Dogfish site calls this beer "our fruit beer for hopheads!" and I can't disagree. The hoppiness you expect from the aroma is toned down by the fruit factor. A sweetness hits you up front, a mild maltiness lingers somewhere in the middle, and the hops come in late -- and strong. The hops on the backend (unfortunately?) erase the fruitiness at the beginning. And to be honest, it's really just a generic sweetness I am tasting here -- never would I have been able to peg it as apricot. I most likely would have simply thought it was a particular malt variety lending the sweet tones.

The mouthfeel is par-for-the-course IPA, with the hops tingling your tongue and leaving you a bit numbed by the end of the glass. Carbonation has kept well from tap to growler to glass.

I generally disdain fruit beers, but I like this one. A lot. That being said, I really am having trouble calling it a fruit beer. There is something sweet in there toning down the hops, but it's not distinctively fruity, much less definitively apricot. Overall recommended though.

Serving type: growler

05-24-2010 17:30:36 | More by zhooker

rootbeerman

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured from 32oz growler into pint glass

A: poured deep copper, amber. with a finger or so of off white head.
S: hops are piny slightly citrus and floral. also is sweet malt aroma
T: a slight fruitiness, im assuming is the apricots its been awhile since ive had one. the pine and citrus hops are smooth and remind me of 60 min ipa with a bit of fruit.
M: smooth, almost creamy. carbonation is good, it was the firsyt pour of the growler,
D: very easy due to it similarity to 60 min and the added slight apricot.

Serving type: growler

05-16-2010 03:58:25 | More by rootbeerman

WOTO97

California

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: nice cream head tops an amber beer with nominal lacing

S: tons of apricot with nice grapefruit and faint malt sweetness

T: huge apricot and citrus throughout that mellows to a faint malt sweetness

M: stickiness and thickness that get gets more intense on the finish

D: first sip is incredible with nice intense fresh fruit flavors but the sweetness gets a little much

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2010 19:43:18 | More by WOTO97

snpub540

California

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at The Bottle Room in Whittier. Poured a clear red hue. About a finger of off white foam made up the head but it did leave some nice clingy lacing.

Smell was fruity with a nice piney and grassy hoppiness.

Taste was very much sweet apricot flavored with a nice hoppy pine finish. In my opinion it is the perfect summer beer. Crisp and clean.

Drinkability was great. No alcohol taste and the balance between sweet and bittier was very nice. I've been wanting to try this for some time and I'm glad I got to have it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2010 01:24:25 | More by snpub540

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes taken 3/24/10

Served in a pint on tap at Al's. Pours a dark amber color that is quite clear. Minimal powers of retension displayed by the minuscule amount of white head that had appeared. Nose is a pleasant aroma of citrus hops and fruity citrus zest. Taste is citrus and fruity upfront from a blend of hops and the addition of apricots. It has a slightly spicey and warming alcohol bite. Only a minor amount of bitterness is present despite the initial hop
character that the nose led on. Light feel and low amount of carbonation. Very drinkable but the alcohol was a bit more pronounced than expected. The apricot addition is an interesting swing to the style. Regardless it blends well with a mix of alcohol and hop character which leaves an interesting mix of flavors left clinging on the tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2010 19:30:53 | More by stakem

BigDoug

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Mad Mex. Big Azz beer special. 22oz draft!

I absolutely love this beer! I had it for the first time last month out of a bottle and loved it. It's even better on tap!

Pours a very beautiful dark amber with nice clarity. Has a very rich creamy slightly off white head that stays for a bit. Leaves ok lacing.

The smell is perfect! Aprihop is the best name for this beer cuz it smells like a hop with apricot accents. Sweetness from the arpicot and an awesome aroma from the hops. Also picking up a little malt aroma in the back. It's one of the best parts of this beer.

The taste is out of this world good! I can't believe this beer is only rated a B+ overall. I had this with my Mexican food and it paired sooo good with it. The apricot and hoppy flavors went awesome with the tortilla chips and salsa. Went great with my spicey chicken burrito too! Has a big apricot flavor but not overpowering cuz the hops really make an appearance in the flavor. The flavor really gets better as it warms a bit. Great bitterness. Mild bitterness but just great with the apricot notes. I don't like fruit beers much but this is the best fruit beer hands down. Definately would call the a fruit IPA.

Mouthfeel was perfect for this one. Nice creamy medium body. As it warms, it just gets better. Carbonation was very good.

Drinkability was great considering the pretty big 7% abv. I would have gotten another 22oz draft if I wasn't so stuffed from my huge burrito! Another fantastic make from Dogfish Head!

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2010 19:41:16 | More by BigDoug

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-clear red copper colored beer with a white head and no lace or retention.

S-this is quite appricot forward, all hops and tropical fruit notes but mostly appricot. Slightly resignous in the back.

T-tons of appricot throughout, pretty straight forward and one dimension. Some notes of pine in the back with a light hop bitterness

M-smooth and creamy, very soft on the palate. Medium bodied and a little syrupy. Good carbonation with a crisp finish.

D-not creative and unique, they aren't pushing the envelope like they normally do; this is appricot in taste and a nice hoppy IPA. Smooth and easy drinking with enough bitterness to keep it an IPA and not a fruit beer

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2010 23:56:02 | More by cpetrone84

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber to copper. Nice head. Nice hop aroma. Spicy & floral notes. Tastes like a very good IPA but the apricot flavor appears to be missing. This is definitely a different recipe from last year as that batch seemed to have too much apricot and too little hops. Perhaps next year they can work on finding some middle ground? Even still, this is still a very solid IPA that I enjoy nonetheless. Could drink a bunch of these but I was expecting a lighter more fruity ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 20:47:29 | More by jwhancher

SShelly

California

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours crystal clear amber with little head and zero retention.

Aroma is light and hoppy, barely existent.

Flavor is a blend of citrus and apricot behind, light malt and and a nice crisp bitterness left in the mouth.

Leaves hops on the tongue, nice beer, apricot flavor doesn't really make it any better than a normal ipa.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 02:46:17 | More by SShelly

kahjdfh

Pennsylvania

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

I'm not a fan of fruit beers or IPA's but for some reason this works together really well. It had a nice balance with a nice crisp bite. I picked up a four pack on a whim, with the plan to try one and probably not like and give the other three away. Those other three have found a spot in my frig and I'm not sharing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 00:41:36 | More by kahjdfh

goster

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

(a) A relatively good looking brew. Probably somewhere between 4L and 9L and very clear. Had a nice head which held through the duration of the pint.

(s) Can't say enough good things about the aroma of this beer. An incredible mixture of hops and apricot. Not overwhelming but just right.

(t) Although not personally my taste I can recognize that this is indeed a well crafted brew. The amount of fruit in the flavor is about right...certainly not overpowering.

(d) Pretty good drinkability. I would recommend trying it paired with food.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 00:04:03 | More by goster

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Poured ontap, a dark copper in color with some head and lace clinging.

Smell: Fruity smell upfront, with some malt sweetness and floral hops chiming in.

Taste: Definate apricot flavors with a fair amount of piney hops. Malt sweetness blends with the fruit, and just enough hops to keep it from being a sweet mess. I like the apricot flavor in the beer, its kind of like Magic Hat #9 but with more of a hop presence.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with spritzy carbonation.

Drinkability: One went down fine and it is a good spring seasonal, but for extended drinking it may be a tad cloying.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2010 17:39:03 | More by Stinkypuss

DNICE555

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Plan B. I had this in a bottle a while ago and it was disgusting. There was no date on the bottle but I assumed it was old. I was right!!! This was awesome on tap. Super Hoppy. Just a slight hint of apricot. This is like a magic hat number 9 on hop roids. Awesome beer. Really well balanced. I destroyed this pint and didn't even notice the alcohol. What a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2010 00:16:02 | More by DNICE555

garuda

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clear dark amber with a one finger thick pinkish head with good retention that dissipates to a thin ring with good lacing.

S - Sweet malt/ apricot, with some pine resin hop aromas.

T - Apricots and sweet caramel malts up front, with a strong pine and citrus hop finish.

M - Medium to full body, medium carbonation, strong hop content makes it a bit rough across the palate.

D - Unique beer, definitely worth a try, but the apricot taste becomes a bit too strong for me towards the end of the drink. Not something that I will particularly seek out in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2010 00:59:17 | More by garuda

sublimesipping

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

so friends, I really left flat from my tastes of this beer and previous review in 04 so I never truly sought this one out again. Flash ahead six years and I am sitting in the new brew pub in my Philly neighborhood- a true new "heavweight" in the Philly beer scene- one very snowy night this past Feb for DFH night, looking forward to this for weeks and lo and behold the Aprihop is on- server who I respect strongly reccomends I give this another go so I do and damm if I swear that the tender screwed up my pour- got to be the 90 min in the glass- got to, but no I am told this is now how the Aprihop is drinking in 2010- its now retro- back to the original recipe. and lo and behold when Sam the man enters the place later in the eve he tells me just the same info- DFH changed the recipe this year and back to the original - like PUNkin hops dominates and not the fruit or veg- apricots complement this beer so well great finish to this bee... excellent and would you know the aprihop is the first of the six or seven kegs to kick that night...
tonight I drink the bottle version and it is as good- great great spring beer, love the DFH IPAs and the seasonal spins therein- for me PUNK in the fall and now Aprihop in the spring. this beer says spring to me with a bite, bitterness, and body though great effervescne and great amber color make this truly spring in a glass with a hint of summer thrown in. A true winner again from Dogfish- If your're like me and stuck in your ways give this retooled beer another round and be enjoyably suprised. Great beer

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 02:35:37 | More by sublimesipping

womencantsail

California

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On-tap at Stone

A: The pour is a clear amber color with a fluffy (slightly) off-white head.

S: The nose is not as sweet as I was expecting. There is a nice amount of citrus, but the apricots are there and do give the beer a sweet nose.

T: The apricots are more pronounced in the flavor, especially as the beer warms. They are sweet and jam-like and only partially counteracted by some resinous pine.

M: The body is medium with a crisp carbonation and given the sweetness, it's a bit dry.

D: This beer wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting. While it was too sweet, it still had a fair amount of balance.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2010 06:43:59 | More by womencantsail

rye726

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a medium brown with an average looking tan head.

Nose has apricot, grainy malts and stale hops.

No fresh hops here! Grassy malts and an artificial apricot flavor.

Not impresses. Light body is a bit syrupy. Thin finish, over carbonated.

Nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2010 19:45:09 | More by rye726

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a shaker pint glass, having been run through Randall the Enamel Animal (packed with apricots and cascade hops).

Pours a clear dark amber with a finger of foamy ecru head that leaves almost no lacing behind at all. The nose is loaded with hoppy citrus, apricots, and...well, that's pretty much it. The taste generally follows, with those hops coming through strongly, the apricots a bit more subtlely, and the addition of some greenery and peaches. The body is firmly moderate, with appropriately moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish, leading to a pretty high drinkability when all is said 'n' done.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

03-15-2010 03:27:48 | More by TMoney2591