ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

IPA or fruit beer? Enjoyed at Beer Bistro. Hoppy aroma. Cloudy grapefruit with a small yet significant thick layer, maybe 1/4 inch of off-white head. Pleasant lace left afterwards in my glass. The mouthfeel is a tad above average, and a drying finish. I am getting some fruity essence in the beer, but closer to an IPA in taste, significantly hoppy. Drinkability is average.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 23:02:37 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Lucent orange-amber that, yes, resembles apricots. As far as I'm concerned, it looks identical to many other IPAs. The ecru-colored head is large and dense with miniscule bubbles along the side where foam meets glass. Whispy chunks of lace remain in the aftermath. It smells of citrusy hops with an obvious, but not overpowering, aroma of fresh apricots. The nose strikes a great balance. I hope that the apricot flavor is similarly in the background on the palate.

It seems that DFH has achieved the proper proportion of apricot flavor to hop flavor; at least the proportion that I prefer. Aprihop is first and foremost an IPA, and that's as it should be. I realize that brewing with fruit or fruit juice automatically earns a beer a 'fruit/vegetable beer' classification, but I think that's inaccurate in this case.

The sweet, cake-like malt bottom and the solid, citrus hoppy, nicely bitter middle is faintly kissed by subtle top notes of apricot that do not get in the way at all. The body is smooth and full, almost viscous, although it dissipates a little on the finish. The 7% ABV is noticeable and keeps this from being a 'summer slammer'.

As one who doesn't particularly like apricots, I wasn't sure how well I would like Aprihop. DFH has come up with a good beer though by keeping the hops up front and the apricot in a supporting role. I'll stick to my unadulterated IPAs, but this was good for something different. Nice effort.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2004 23:46:47 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A very intresting beer we have here. I had a bunch of these about a few months back and just found reviewing notes last week, and then found a bottle in the back of my fridge this week, so bonus. Served cold and poured into a pint glass.

The pour was nice, classic light IPA with a medium amber color and a nice light carbonation profile bubbling up from the bottom. Light head of maybe an inch creeping up the sides and settling down lightly.

The aroma was classic light, fruity IPA. Intresting mix here of light floral hops, hints of orange, lemon, and touches of apricots. The flavor carried over very well. Nice balance here between the light fruit notes and classic hop character. Smooth mellow flavor with a light to medium body that was very sessionable.

Overall a very solid little beer that definitely does not come close to the seven percent that was advertised. Still, an awesome beer I would love to get ahold of again this spring.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 03:05:33 | More by mikesgroove

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

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

G: Poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

A: Pours a medium amber color with lots of carbonation. Strangely, the cabonation seems settled at the bottom of the glass and is not rising as much as is typical. The head poured quite large, almost two fingers, and is a silky ivory with lots of bubbles.

S: Grasses and grains. A little bit of the apricot, followed by some of the hops.

T: Initial sweetness quickly becomes tart on the tongue and cheeks. Mild hops--more than #9, but not as much as the typical IPA.

M: Decent amount of carbonation. Any alcohol presence is masked by the apricot sourness.

D: Drinkable for a glass only. I don't believe that I could have more than one of these in a sitting, even in the summer. The fruit flavor is a little overpowering, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2009 01:46:10 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.8/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a bright orangey-copper color with a profusive, fizzy white head.

Smell: Floral, sprucey aroma with a light, thin apricot fruitiness to it.

Taste: Light toasted caramel sweetness. Mild sour apricot juiciness devlops in the middle. Dull grassy hop flavor. Slightly metallic. Finishes quite dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a very tingly, spritzy carbonation.

Drinkability: Creative idea, but this one didn't really grab me. I simply found it to be a bit wanting in both categories: IPA bitterness and apricots.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2006 03:45:11 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a massive head that drapes squiggly lace

Smell: Floral aroma with fresh apricots

Taste: Starts out biscuity and then you get a nice hop kick mixed with fresh apricots; after the swallow, the apricot fruit lifts to another level and is joined with a sweet citrusy flavor into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation; slight warming after the swallow from the alcohol

Drinkability: Pleasantly drinkable, particularly in the warmer weather

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2005 20:53:57 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

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

A - Pours a clear amber/copper color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that fades to a small cap. Lacing is pretty good.

S - Smells like nice citrus hops and a slight apricot fruitiness.

T - Has a nice crisp citrus hop taste up front and a subdued but noticable apricot aftertaste.

M - Beer is slightly coating in the mouth but it is fresh and crisp.

D - Very tasty take on an IPA. Good beer for the Spring/Summer months.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 01:12:43 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

Bottle (Obtained from my Knoxville SS December 2004): Poured an amber color ale with a huge thick bubbly head with better then average retention. Aroma is quite hoppy with some subtle traces of sweetness. Taste is very similar to an IPA but with added sweetness which really balanced the whole thing out. I wonder if my bottle was aged a bit since the apricot taste was quite subtle as opposed to some description of past rating. Anyway, I still very much enjoyed this beer and very much appreciate all the beers that I’m discovering from this fine brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2004 19:24:59 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

A fabulous beer, fruit beer or not. Dogfish just does it right. This beer promises greatness leaping from the bottle, sparkling and a copper orange. Good head retention and lacing. It smell boldly of an IPA and that subtle apricot fruit smell. I get more pears and peaches out of this than expected. It' s as spicy and hoppy in flavor and bitter as you'd expect from an IPA with a thin delicate sweetness from the fruits. A slight metalic mouthfeel keeps this beer from perfection. A terrific blend of agressivness in the hops and a delicacy from the fruits. I could drink this all day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2005 19:18:31 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep orange with a nice big fluffy head that leaves a nice amount of lace behind,aromas of sweet apricot and zesty,piney hop very nice mingling of aromas.Apricot notes hit the taste buds up front but a dry,piney hop presence makes it self known pretty quickly but once again stays well balanced with apricot flavor.I really like the concept and flavors of this beer and its dangerously drinkable at 7% I will get again for sure sometime.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2005 23:15:10 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Who would've ever thought apricots and an IPA could work together? But they do! The Aprihop pours a clear orange-copper body beneath a frothy head of off-white foam that holds quite well and leaves thin craggy rings about the glass. The nose is lightly malty with a delicate touch of pine and some unclear fruitiness (guess that's from the apricots, huh?). It's slightly elevated carbonation bristles the tongue at first, but it becomes much more airy as it warms and its dextrinous medium body becomes clear. The flavor is a bit sweeter than the maltiness found in the nose might suggest, and it actually does have an apricot flavor to it! It's not as bitter as might be expected, but it's absolutely balanced; and the hop flavors blend in quite well with their leafy, woody, citrusy (? - and that might just be from the apricots as well), and mildly pine-like flavors. It finishes dry with a kick of bitterness and some residual dried-apricot flavor that sticks in the mouth. It's surprisingly good; well-balanced; not overly fruity; very enjoyable; and drinkable to boot (except that it's 7%abv.)!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2005 20:55:13 | More by NeroFiddled

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

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Color's a clear, amber tint, and the head is a blessed thing, rich, thick, lush, creamy...aroma, deep, heady, hoppy, there's the pine-sap and the pineapple, the soft apricots.Taste: ah, happily boards the palate, spilling some hops, but with nearly no bitterness to speak of, very bright and fruity, with a great dose of malt to stand behind and hold it all up, toasty and crisp. There's a warmth here, too, and a caramely essence in the taste. Gonna be honest with you all, I like this one, it's a bit mild from the makers of over-the-top IPAs, but the apricot flavor matches really well with this English-style IPA that stands as the base, and makes for one tasty, easily drunk brew. Alcohol creeps in a bit, and only adds to the pleasure. Very nice!
Thank you, ngandhi for this deliciousness.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

04-06-2004 08:18:33 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

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

The beer pours a reddish/amber color with a thin off-white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is great. It has a really nice balance between malts, hops, and fruit. It has a slight caramel scent that is blended with a slight apricot smell and hop aroma. The taste is good. It has a fine malt complex along side a mild apricot and hop flavor; very nice. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a really cool concept brew. It drinks well.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

04-05-2004 21:52:35 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on February 26, 2010. I guess that's a little old but it looks and smells fine.

Beer is dark amber and clear. Forms a nice off white head of medium and small bubbles that leaves lacing on the glass. Served in a shaker pint. Carbonation is moderate to high and steady. Looks great.

Kind of piny and fruity in the nose. Aroma is a little subdued but it smells good.

Beer is medium body and has an odd sweetness on the front palate. its interesting for sure. There is some nice pine flavors in the midpalate and then some mlid bitterness at the back. Drinkability is good and mouthfeel is fine. Its not too carbonated on the tongue. Overall its pretty good. I would make it slightly less sweet and more dry. May bring out the fruit better.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

07-02-2010 01:14:57 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

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

The beer pours a dark orange color with a white head. The aroma is full of apricots, bready malt and some catty hops. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of bitter apricots with some grass and bready malt. A very hoppy, apricot-heavy fruit beer. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Very nice and a beer I look forward too each year.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

05-08-2011 20:48:25 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: It poured clear copper-amber in color with a thin white head that has good retention properties and leaves nice lacing. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible.
S: There is a light aroma of citrusy and piney hops as well as apricots in the nose.
T: The initial taste has a good balance between flavors of apricots and mild bitterness from the hops; the flavors in the finish are mostly of the citrusy and piney hops.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate.
D: The alcohol is well hidden, making the beer very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

06-09-2010 23:02:19 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

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

Pours a deep copper color, and is quite clear. Topped by an cream colored head that is quite thick. Aromas of apricot, citrus, hops, fruit, and perhaps a hint of mustiness. A silky smooth body up front, but finishes with a sharp hop bitterness and a hint of alcohol. As expected this beer is quite fruity, with the apricot coming into play in the middle of this beer. There is a dry wine like finish to this beer that kicks in after the bitterness. The apricot flavor is not dominating, but adds to the character of this beer, in an aromatic way. Even while I sip this beer the aroma of the apricots is noticeable in the taste, if that makes sense.

This has always been a beer that I have wanted to homebrew since I heard about this beer. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to taste it, and this beer has renewed my interest in brewing an example of my own. I especially like the idea to throw norms to the wind & use an extra hoppy style as the base for a fruit beer. Props to Dogfish Head for another creative/ innovative beer.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

03-17-2004 22:37:13 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.03/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: 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.

S: The aroma is of just what the name implies, hops and apricots, along with some caramelized malts.

T: 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.

M: Crisp but not too smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

O: 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
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

01-13-2008 01:58:40 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

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

Based on notes; Pours amber with 4 fingers of off-white head. Really good lacing & head retention

S: Apricots & honey

T: Dryness. a[ricots, & the hop bite this sucker starts to warm. Hoppyness increases as this warms; plus a some jammy notes. finishes with citrus hops & fruittyness

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation

Drank alright, started to grow on me, once thehops asserted themselves. Nota great IPA, but a damn good fruit beer!

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

04-15-2007 05:12:53 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a bottle this brew isn't as good as it is from the tap. Got a sample of this at the brewery last summer and it was far better than what the bottle had offered. This is most definitely an IPA from the great hoppy aroma it gives off. The flavors it gives off are quite good too, Big time hops mixed with a wonderful hint of Apricot. It's a really nice combo here. The bitterness of the hops go really well with the slight tartness of the Apricots. Also the Sweetness in the beer compliments the sweetness of the fruit. I feel that this beer is really nice when on tap. The really good flavors it has kind of disappear once it's bottled. Not sure why, but if you see it on tap, try it!

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

04-02-2011 07:21:59 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle neck reads: bottled on 2/21/08

Pours into a pint glass a copper tone with a good level of clarity. Carbonation sticks to the walls like soda, and appears well carbonated. A compact head of foam results, and leaves a thin sheet across the top. A thick ring of lacing is left on the glass.

Musty wheat aroma, sort of metallic. Zero fruit presence, even when swirling. Just a funky, grainy smell, not much better than malt liquor. For being a month old bottle, it's pretty weak.

Flavor is also weak, considering it's billed as an IPA, and has no hop flavor. There is a slight tang of citrus in the back after swallowing, that barely suggests fruit, but not really apricots. I've eaten fresh and dried apricots, and there's not much reseblance in flavor. Mainly a dull barley/cereal grain aftertaste with faint florals.

Drinks and feels ok, but nothing sets it apart from the ordinary. Will pass in the future.

$2.75 single from Lush on Halsted in Chicago.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

03-22-2008 00:48:09 | More by emerge077

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
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

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

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Pours a beautiful clear copper color with a nice 1" head. Spotted lacing developed through the drink. The aroma is strong and you can definitely pick out the malt, apricots, and a floral tone. The flavor follows suit as the malt and bitterness are nicely balanced with a mild apricot flavor. This is no way overbearing or overpowering as some other fruity beers go.

The mouthfeel is smooth. Medium bodied. This is a quite nice drinking beer for a fruit flavored beer. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

03-12-2004 23:03:45 | More by Gavage