ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

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

12oz. bottle poured into special DFH pint glass on 12/2/07. Bottled on date: 3/2/07.

A - Hard pour yielded hazy, deep amber/orange, almost copper colored body with mammoth three-finger soapy off-white head and lots of bubbly particles. Small head stuck with me until the very end, and left some fantastic lacing all over the glass.

S - Obvious ripe apricot aroma with some fruity esters and light flowery hops. Very mild sweet malt in the nose reminiscent of caramel and light bread.

T - Sweet fruity apricot flavor up front with a lightly bitter finish that ends quite malty for an IPA, with hints of caramel and biscuits. Hops are predominantly citrus and floral.

M - Medium bodied with oily texture and lively carbonation. Mild bitter burn in the finish. Overall, very pleasant mouthfeel for an IPA.

D - The apricot flavor works quite well with the fruity/flowery hops and sweet, bready malts. Looked great in the glass. Nose was a little lacking, but still some nice, fruity aroma was present. Very tasty with a good balance of hops, malts and the apricots. I think beer drinkers who are typically not into IPAs can even appreciate this brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2007 22:57:30 | More by ffejherb

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was so excited to pick up this single at the Gateway Grill Monroeville yesterday. Been looking to try this since last fall!

A - A nice clear amber with an inch of fluffy white head. Pretty solid rep of a standard IPA so far!

S - I get some strong pine hops with a very faint bread base and apricots but fresh this beer seems to be more hop forward.

T- A very balanced hop experience. I really don't get too much bitter but wasn't expecting it and also didn't get too much fruit if anything a slight dryness from the apricots. The bread malt is also there to blend the two perfectly. It is mighty tasty!

M - Light to medium. Not as hoppy or dry as expected.

D - I like it as a fan of both fruit beers and hops this beer is amazing. As most tired boring apricot based fruit beers get over looked (Magic Hat #9) this one seems to achieve the yin of hops and yang of fruit in harmony. Easy drinking and only 47 dollars a case make this beer a must to try. I really want to wait a few more months until the hops fade a bit and fruit comes through more to compare since I hear that's when it hits its prime.

Drinking great now though!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 01:27:52 | More by DrDemento456

merlin48

Kentucky

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

Pours a hazed, bright orange body with a very minimal offwhite head that leaves sparse patchy lace on the glass.

Hops greet the nose first, with a powerful aroma of pine resin and citrus. The citrus is grapefruit, and the apricot aroma is remotely in the background.

Mouthfeel reveals prickly carbonation and a moderate hops bite.

The taste is aggressively hopped, as with other Dogfish Head IPAs, with a pine sap dominance and citrusy grapefruit just underneath. Apricots are barely picked up, regardless of the sampling temperature. Alcohol is hidden very well in this one.

I have a blossoming love affair with the occasionally rough hops used in Dogfish Head IPA's, and this ale is another fine example of their well constructed IPA's. For some reason, my bottle simply was lacking the apricot presence, in taste and aroma, that I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2004 10:10:03 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Well, my first no-go for a DFH. This blend of apricots and IPA just didn’t match or balance worth a damn.

Right from the start, a nice well carbed and clear amber pour – but a meaky little white head that died like a candle in the wind.

A citrusy and of course, apricot aroma. Tastes of apricots, obviously. Smooth and a bit oily, just way to soda pop sweet for any real drinkablity. Seems to be too much of a gimic brew. I wouldn’t turn one down if offered for free, but I’m not buying anymore, either.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2006 12:46:03 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a medium amber color with modater white puffy head.

Smell shows a distinct apricot presence with some hops in the background.

The fruitiness is modest, and does not detract from the enojoyment of the beer, but I also don't think it adds to it either.

Some dryness at the end, along with some of the apricot flavor.

A good beer to try once, but not something I will revisit.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2008 22:38:33 | More by tgbljb

Mebuzzard

Colorado

2.68/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

So anything from DFH I'm gonna try, no doubt. This beer won't be tried again, though. Poured a flat light brown, hazelnut color with very small head. Perhaps a hint of apricot in this, but very light. A sweet PA, I couldn't detect much in the way of hops in here. More like a brown ale. Perhaps up the hops or up apricot, something.
Still, I commend them on the try. It's good to see different things.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2009 02:38:15 | More by Mebuzzard

flagmantho

Washington

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

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: dark rich amber-orange with a crystal-clear body. Head is one finger of rapidly dissipating ivory foam. Not bad.

Smell: aroma is driven by the hops, mostly of the funky, floral and citrus varieties. The apricot is definitely there, but plays a supporting role to the hops (and does so quite well, I daresay).

Taste: the backbone is actually a fairly rich malt flavor with a certain amount of caramel to it. On top of that are funky and citrusy hops; a classic combination if ever there was one. Lastly, the apricot comes in as just a bit of fresh, fruity, sweet & sour character which really complements this type of IPA.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent level of carbonation for the style. Nothing to write home about, but it works.

Drinkability: the apricot addition does indeed help here. It keeps the beer interesting, and helps prevent the hop flavor onslaught from wearing the palate. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 03:10:01 | More by flagmantho

Jwale73

Rhode Island

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

Served in a standard pint. Poured a translucent amber with a half inch tight off-white cap; excellent retention, but no lacing. Light nose-apricot, citrus and hops. Characteristics of the nose are amplified in the mouth, with the addition of a slightly floral character. Mouthfeel is light-bodied and effervescent with a pleasant tingle and a mild citrus pucker towards the middle. Easy drinking brew. Alcohol is well-hidden and apricot flavors are not overly intense (like in another well-know apricot beer). Very balanced and refreshing and even better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2008 00:55:52 | More by Jwale73

Gmann

New York

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

Pours a crystal clear golden amber color with an average head that dissapates into a slight ring. The aroma is of sweet, tart, and tangy apricots; not much in the way of hops detected. The taste starts off with a sweet apricot flavor which is followed by a slightly bready malt. Again, not much in the way hops detected. The feel is light but not watery, has very fizzy carbonation; finishes with a twangy apricot flavor. An average fruit beer and from what I remember; very similar to Magic Hat #9. Still not sure why the call it ApriHOP. I don't really detect a strong (or slight) hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2008 05:39:14 | More by Gmann

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

tone77

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of apricots and hops. Taste is good, hops are present up front, a good bit of apricot without being sweet. Very flavorful throughout. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 14:40:26 | More by tone77

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

Durge

Connecticut

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

A beautiful golden amber color with a decent white head and similar lacing. The aroma is a brisk citrus hop with a sweet bread support. Very nice. The flavor is a strong citrus orange with an apricot-pear sweetness and thick biscuit. It's solidly mid-bodied with modest carbonation. It's near syrupy in feel but plenty drinkable. This is a quality hop beer with the added enjoyment of the fruit theme. A high quality concoction that I recommend to any hop lover or curious fruit fan.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2011 05:42:04 | More by Durge

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

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

The beer poured light amber. The head was off white and lasting to lace the glass.

The aroma was grassy and hoppy, and very floral. Malty aromas resided in the background.

The flavor was malty and hoppy with good bitterness. The flavor of apricots is not readily apparent, but is hidden in the background behind the hoppiness and adds complexity to the maltiness.

The finish was just slightly off dry and bitter. The body was medium.

12 ounce bottle. 7% ABV

I really enjoyed the beer, but the apricots should shine through...this could be marketed as an IPA and be rated just as good.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2004 23:35:09 | More by GCBrewingCo

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Hadn'een this before, so I guess it's a seasonal release. I guess it's worth a try if you've never had it, but not a beer I'd take seriously. It's an orange color with a small head. It has a sweet, fruity (yes, apricot) odor, and a fruity (apricot again) taste. There's also a fair amount of hoppiness. It's somewhat robust, although not in a pleasant way. Try it, but don't make it a steady date.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 00:34:11 | More by lordofthewiens

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.74/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crystal clear medium copper in color wit some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation as well as some orange and amber highlights. The beer has a finger tall light beige head that slowly reduces to a couple of small medium thick patches that include medium sized bubbles as well as a very thin film covering about two thirds of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit and pine hops with lighter aromas of apricots. Underneath there is a light amount of caramel malt sweetness.

T: Upfront there are light to moderate amounts of malts with a light amount of caramel sweetness. This is quickly taken over by light flavors of apricots and then the moderate flavors of hops - citrus/grapefruit and pine. Moderate amounts of bitterness which fade rather quickly.

M: Medium bodied with slightly more than moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This beer is easy to drink with the pleasant apricot notes in addition to the more traditional IPA flavors and the well hidden ABV. This is a very appropriate spring seasonal and is a refreshing drink on a very warm spring afternoon/evening while waiting to watch the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 19:53:51 | More by dbrauneis

Metalmonk

North Carolina

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

Pours a very thin head atop a radiant rust colored body. No lace anywhere.

I can definitely smell the apricot here, riding on top of a well-balanced hops/malt foundation.

At the beginning of the sip, an immediate succulence hits that, yeah, reminds of apricot, followed by a grapefruit sourness brought on by the hops. This beer seems to achieve a better balance and more agreeable flavor profile as it warms...the needed maltiness comes through much better. Apricot flavor lingers long after the sip, which is really nice.

A creamy mouthfeel helps bring this sweet, fruity, unsual IPA on home. It's not the kind of left-of-center I usually appreciate from DFH, but it's different enough to drink when the regular IPAs, no matter how good, start tasting the same.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2006 02:55:23 | More by Metalmonk

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Okay, I'm not generally keen on fruit beers (save your occasional lambic). This beer is an exception. It's forceful, full of flavor, genuine, and not at all artificial tasting. Perhaps most of all, it's interesting AND drinkable. It pours a clear, deep coper ocolor with an impressive head. The smell is like a dominated by floral, piney hops. There is, mingled with the hops, the aroma of apricot. The taste is an excellent balance of maltiness, hops, and a touch of apricot. The fruit doesn't seem at all misplaced or off-center. Instead, it fits right into the sweet fortaste, and provides an evenness to a wonderful hop finish. This beer won over a critic. If all fruit beers tasted like this, I'd be a huge fan.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2004 01:53:39 | More by Suds

ngeunit1

California

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

A - Pours a cloudy copper-orange color with a finger of frothy off-white head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of lots of citrus and tropical fruits including apricots, grapefruit, pineapple, with some piney hops and a bit of caramel and biscuit malt.

T - Starts off some apricot flavor with some tropical hop flavor with some grapefruit, pineapple, and bitterness with some sweet caramel and bready malts. Through the middle, some resiny pine hops come through with some stronger bitterness and a bit more apricot flavor alongside a bit stronger malt flavor. The finish is a mix of topical and pine hop with some bitterness and a bit of sweet malt.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a resiny, bitter, and dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. The apricot flavor really works nicely alongside the tropical hops, and the beer has a great balance overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 03:51:14 | More by ngeunit1

GbVDave

Illinois

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

Served in a 16oz pint glass at Hopleaf 5/21/07. Thanks to HeatherAnn for handling the review.

A: Nice caramel color with a small head that leaves a minimal amount of lace on the glass.

S: Citrus hops dominate the nose (lemon, orange, pineapple). Also present is a small, earthy apricot aroma.

T: Pretty much as above. Citrus hops, a slight apricot flavor, with the addition of a sweet caramel malt undercurrent.

M: A smooth, round start that turns bitter and astringent near the finish.

D: This is a decent summer beer that we found to be quite refreshing. Not convinced to return to it for further testing, though.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2007 16:22:47 | More by GbVDave

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

2.8/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - slightly hazy but luminescent orange. A frothy off-white head holds at a creamy covering, some light lacing left behind.

Aroma - I couldn't smell much of anything. Letting it warm a bit, with a pre-emptive swirl, I can just barely detect the faintest malt and non-descript fruitiness. There is eventually a citric hop influence to the nose. For the most part, though, this is non-aromatic.

Taste - a solid malt start, rather average, turns a little sweet, and then very thick with alcohol flavor. Some hops finally show up in this IPA, but they stay somewhat bottled up. Some bitterness is present, but without any fruit or citrus component. No apricots anywhere that I could taste. Not all that distinctive, IMO. If tasted blind, this would get a lot of mis-classifications for a Belgian, I think.

Mouthfeel - hefty carbonation, smooth feeling beer. Boozy, vapory residue in the mouth, Fairly pleasant.

Drinkability - tastes fine, but given the abv and cost, and my overall disappointment/missed expectation, ApriHop doesn't measure up.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2004 15:49:30 | More by brewdlyhooked13

oline73

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with two fingers of off white head that dissipates leaving a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: I'm picking up a sweetness from the apricots and malt along with some herbal and citrus hops. Sweetness dominates.

Taste: As in the smell, I'm picking up quite a bit of apricot. There is also sweetness from the malt. The hop bitterness mostly shows up in the finish. I would describe the bitterness as citrus peel.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with carbonation on the mild side. The finish is quite dry.

Overall: This beer is good but not great. I would like a bit more hoppy bitterness to balance out the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 00:29:09 | More by oline73

billab914

Virginia

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into my Dogfish shaped pint glass. poured a dark amber color with a half inch white fluffy head. It had some very nice head retention as I drank it.

The aroma has the fruity apricot mixed with some floral citrus and pine from the hops. There is a little sweet malt coming through as well. The apricots give it a very nice appealing smell and they meld together very well with the hops.

The taste has a nice amount of hoppiness to it with citrus and pine being the most present flavors. It has a little peppery bite to it in the finish. The malt is also gives it a nice solid base for the beer, but the hops and apricots are the main attraction.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's a very nice hoppy easy drinking beer with a twist. It was the perfect beer to sit outside with and enjoy the warm spring weather.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 17:56:20 | More by billab914

emmasdad

Colorado

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

Picked up a couple of bottles of this one the other day on a whim. Poured into a stemmed glass. Nice medium copper with a finger of white foam. Nice hoppy aromas lead to a medium bodied beer. Good hoppy flavors, orange, citrus and caramel. Not a whole lot of apricot on either the nose or palate, but still an enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 02:54:26 | More by emmasdad

Floydster

California

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 ounce bottle purchased from Beverage Warehouse in Marina Del Rey for two dollars and some change, drank last night, poured into my Dogfish Head snifter

A-Golden orange that is on the darker side for its style, one inch of soapy white head that lasts about five minutes, some lacing at first
S-Cascade hops, apricots, pears, citrus, grassy accents, lightly toasted malt, caramel, and bread
T-Starts off very fruity with apricot and is almost tart, bready malt in the middle that is pretty chewy, finishes with a light hop flavor but the apricot overshadows it, warms up with even more sweet fruit, hard to even tell this is an India pale ale, needs some more hop character to provide some balance
M-Sweet, only slightly dry, and tangy mouthfeel, medium bodied, decent level of carbonation, taste lingers too long for the style, not crisp like this style should be, too sweet and fruity
D-Could barely finish the bottle, alcohol is hidden well but that is probably because the apricots hide most other flavors, not smooth, needs balance

I was really looking forward to this one and was let down a bit, not much of an IPA, too much apricot presence, 60 or 90 Minute and this cannot even be mentioned in the same sentence in my opinion, might drink again but I am in no hurry, still worth trying for its uniqueness

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

04-05-2009 16:01:02 | More by Floydster