ApriHop - Dogfish Head Brewery

Jason

Massachusetts

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

Tasted like a big fat Magic Hat #9 (Magic Hat Brewing, Vermont). IPA … ? Huh? This is an experimental beer regardless of what the brewery says. An IPA with fruit added is experimental, flowing smoothness and almost reminiscent of some new Belgian upstarts that throw fruit and excessive hops into a delicate brew. Madness that I like.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2002 21:38:33 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle, "packaged in" date of 04. pours reddish copper, with an off- white head, I cant get much of a nose. Dry grainyness of hops dominate the flavor. Bottle says its an IPA but, not really a nice big punch of hops. Not too impressed with this one, seems to have an identity crisis. Fruit beer/IPA doesnt cut it for either style.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2004 00:02:29 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: nice 1.5 finger head rises up in my tulip glass which is fluffy and fades semi slowly. Its a crystal clear amber toasty orange almost reddish brown colored.

N: Some bright hops, a little pine, fresh musty hop, citrus, tangerine, grapefruit, all on the lighter side, then a little malt and touch of apricot fruit.

T: More spicy hops, some bitterness with little citrus and fresh musty hops. Quite a bit of apricot taste too. Fruit forward but not overpowering. Still somewhat refreshing. Pretty much how you would expect DFH to do a fruit beer. Juicy tasting with a slight malt.

M: Medium to lighter body with tons of carbonation.

F: A bitterness washes over that's not as pleasant as the first bitterness. Not really sure what it is, perhaps the drying fruit flavor. The fruit is there as well but not as much. Its pretty dry too that goes along with thi bitterness. The hops are a spicy and dry astringent taste, perhaps thats the unpleasant part.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2010 00:36:17 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

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

From notes. Had on tap at Galaxy Hut in Arlington, VA on 3/12/10.

a - Pours a dark amber with about an inch of white head. Nice lacing, little carbonation evident.

s - Very interesting smell. Lots of apricots and hops.

t - Tastes very strongly of apricots. Lots of hops as well, Slight bitterness to it.

m - Medium body with little carbonation. Smooth and creamy.

d - Overall this was an interesting IPA. I was eager to try it after hearing good things, even though apricots aren't one of my favorite fruits. I thought they captured the apricot smell and taste very well, but halfway through a pint I felt I had had enough. If you like apricots I would definitely check this out, but if you aren't crazy about them, I might give this a pass.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2010 18:19:46 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12ozer bottle from a 4-pack from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into a pint glass, formed a big ol' inch tall light tan head which had some staying power. An orangey amber in color, with serious foamy lacing. Slightly fruity aroma, but more dominated by hops and a tinge of malt. Flavor not really as hoppy as I would have expected for an IPA, and the fruit doesn't seem to be present in the taste at all, almost as if they cancelled each other out on my taste buds or something. The hops does seem to turn it up a notch in the latter part of the mouthfeel. For all I've said the beer remains totally drinkable, and a serious session possibility. Just would have liked the flavor to agree with its name a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2004 20:51:43 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Appears an amber red with a 1 finger white head that lasts for a moment. Scattering webs are left behind.
Smell is of light fruits and biscuits.
Taste is of sweet malt with a bit of hops in the finish with just a hint of apricots.
Mouthfeel is malty with a bit of a bitter, semi dry finish. Light to medium bodied brew with good unique flavor.
Drinks pretty good. Doesn't really knock my socks off but it works.

Finger licking good.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2005 17:13:45 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear copper colored ale with a good tan colored head.

Smell is fruity like an English Pale Ale and not strongly of apricot. Apricot scent is in this but it just isn't super strong, it is merely an additional aroma layer to what is to my nose a good English Pale Ale. Hops here are faintly herbal.

Taste is mildly sweet with the base flavor of English ale with a nice and not over the top flavor of Turkish dried apricots. Fruit flavor is finished off with a fairly strong and drying herbal bitterness.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Definitely not my favorite Dogfish Head beer to say the least. Yes I can drink this but I would rather drink anything else they make besides this one. 60 Minute IPA please!

Sampled through dnrobert24 and 2MBBIF.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2006 03:05:44 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at the Falls Church Dogfish Head Alehouse.

Pours a clear copper with a thin white head that retains around the edges and laces the glass well. The aroma is the fresh smell of apricots, oranges, some tart citrus character, hops, and some backing sweet malt.

The taste is snappy hops up front that are balanced my the prominent apricot notes and sweet malts that have a little spice character to them as well. Finishes with a dry, bitter feel. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with good carbonation.

A very well done fruity IPA with the apricots complimenting the hops, this is one tasty, easy drinking, and refreshing beer. I look forward to it's release each Spring.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2008 20:01:15 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Lexx for the pickup.

Pours a clear brown/red, thick white head, nice lacing, good retention, settles to a nice layer. Smell is sweet, very malty, caramel, lots of apricots, citrus and floral hops, some alcohol, nice integration with the fruit and hops. Taste is similar, very malty up front, bit of sour apricot, floral, some alcohol, caramel, tart finish, quite bitter. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. High bitterness doesn't work so well with the apricots for me, but still a nice drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2007 03:39:19 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear copper. Big, fluffy off-white head. Retention is excellent. The apricot tartness melds with the bitter hops on the nose nicely. Some sweet caramel malt attributes are noticeable as well. The taste is pretty mellow for an IPA. The bitterness is held in check...too in check. And the apricot skin bitterness blends with hoppiness to produce a decent flavor. Nothing spectacular though. Some toasted maltiness forms a flimsy backbone. Body is medium at best. All in all, slightly better than average for an IPA.

Thanks Ryan.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2004 03:39:45 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours a clear golden orange color with golden burnt orange hus when held to a light source and a one finger frothy white head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Not much in the way of lacing.

Slightly sweet syrupy apricot aroma with subtle light fruit notes, caramel malt backbone and earthy hops.

Crisp sweet light fruit with a caramel malt backbone and a nice bitter earthy hop balance. Pretty sweet with lots of apricot, apple and pear. Very crisp but slightly watered down with a dry piny earthy hop finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2009 08:11:39 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

The rare solid effort from DFH. You can be adventurous and still make something delicious, not weird for the sake of being weird. But I digress.

Pours a great, well, apricot color, good thick head great lacing. Noticeable aroma, just the right fruit amount in the taste and nose. Good hop profile too. So much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Mouthfeel, sticks with it down to the end of the bottle. Drinkable, but like all DFH, its pricey.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 00:33:48 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Johnny Brenda's

An early spring seasonal. A tremendous blast of fruity flavor that wasn't disgusting, and still unmistakably a beer. I think they have mellowed out on the obvious apricot taste in recent batches. Pours a slightly hazy copper with a thin head that sticks around for a while. Sweet fruit and citrus hops in the aroma. Bitter hops up front in the taste, followed by a distinct blast of apricot. Medium mouthfeel. Crisp and drinkable.

Serving type: growler

05-01-2011 19:43:29 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

Pours a delicious burnished amber colour, looks very thick in the body, lots of languous large-bubbled carbonation feeding a lightly filmy head of off-white foam. Lacing is good. Looks pretty tasty overall.

Oh man... There's something so classic about the American IPA that we just can't get in Australia. This aroma, full of sweet fruit and pepper, takes me right back to my last trip to the US. It's not as full on as some IPA aromas, a bit sweeter, and less of the pungent potency, but still very tasty.

On the palate lie those hidden apricots. Initial robust IPA character is then leavened by a sweet-sour dried apricot flavour, that adds a little bit of quirky fun. In all honesty, it fits rather nicely with the sharp hop characters. There is, however, not the level of back palate bitterness I would have expected. But again, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

A very drinkable brew. Undoubtedly odd, but assuredly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2009 01:31:29 | More by lacqueredmouse

Gusler

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer after its emancipation from the 12-ounce brown bottle pours somewhat muzzy deep amber to copper color; the head is mountainous and frothy in texture, the color a nice light tan. Nose is sweet with the malt and Apricots, also a tad of hops, crisp, fresh with the start sweet and nicely malted, top is middling in its feel to the palate, Finish has an authoritarian acidity, the hops personable in their spiciness, sweetly and dry aftertaste, a bit light weight, but drinkable none-the-less

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2004 20:59:34 | More by Gusler

DoubleJ

California

2.1/5  rDev -45.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Hops and apricots...those folks at DFH know how to draw out some crazy ideas. On to the beer:

The filtered orange color in this beer shows an array of carbonation bubbles sticking to the glass, the head is fuzzy and drops to a thin lace. There's little firepower in the nose. There's a faint sweetness that reminds me of fruit juice, and a stale grain note. Time to panic?

This is hard to rate. Sharp alcohol, bitter hops, and fruit concentrate-like sweetness. Do I like it or hate it? Eh...that alcohol sting is not pleasant, and the apricot and hop flavors don't meld well. I want to chew on the apricot flavor, it's so gummy. Mouthfeel is light and flimsy.

Take a cheap, oversweetened fruit juice concentrate, then add it to a dull, hoppy beer with an annoying alcoholic bite. A bland, poorly balanced beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 04:03:47 | More by DoubleJ

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: Poured a dark peach-amber with a 2 finger rocky dull white head capping things off.

S: mandatory fruity apricots accompanied by a rather pleasant and soft floral hopping.

T: The initial flavor started off sweet upfront with hints caramel and apricot notes. There is a light floral hoppiness lingering in the background that compliments the overall flavor while letting the apricots take center stage. There is a nice balance between the fruitiness and hopping and was not overly fruity like many others per style. The beer starts off sweet then finishes with a slight sour/tart fruitiness.

M: medium, aggressively carbonated with a semi-dry tart fade.

D: Good drinkability for what it is. A nice floral hopping and toned down apricot flavor makes this easy to enjoy like a fruity pale ale. One you could possible have a few of in one sitting on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2008 23:26:26 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

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

Very clear, orange/amber with a thin stand of dark cream coloured head. Some lacing and good retention. Plenty of aroma, with caramel malt, fruity apricots, floral and spicy hops, along with a bit of alcohol. Full, slightly viscous body with carbonation that's well integrated, leaving you with very fine bubbles and no harshness. Caramel malt sweetness throughout, with mellow apricot and moderate bitterness rounding things out at the end. Some pine hop flavour part-way through. Dryish hop finish with lingering apricot and a bit of alcohol warmth. A fruit beer that's definitely above average. I really liked how the apricots only form part of the character, rather than overpowering everything. Nicely balanced!

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2005 17:33:27 | More by DrJay

HopHead84

California

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

The beer is an apricotish orangish gold color, if you can picture that. The head is about one finger high and white with decent retention and a little lacing.

The aroma is of citrus hops with some subtle apricot. The malt is sweet and caramely. I don't
get a lot of hops or apricot here. No alcohol is detectable. The apricots are a bit more noticeable in the flavor, but they're rather dull. The caramel malt imparts some sweetness that add to that of the fruit, and the level of bitteress is low-medium.

Light bodied with good carbonation and a dry mouthfeel.

This beer isn't all that hoppy or apricoty.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2009 16:45:03 | More by HopHead84

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours with no head, a dulled and largely unappealing pear colour. Rather cloudy. A strong and pinching aroma coated in lightly bitter, nose tickling hops, which along with some light effervescence, is drowned out by an off-putting biscuit-like, bready malt profile and more than modest alcohol presence. A little deterring...
Mouthfeel equally unimpressive. Alcohol somewhat present, a thin and watery makeup. Hops resonates on the finish. The apricot can be hard to detect on some sips and again, a strong off-putting malt is too aggressive in the forefront.
Overall, quite spotty. I expected a little better.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2007 19:01:09 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average for no particular reason; I guess I'm just in the mood for an apricot beer. I forget where I acquired this.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm only slightly over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 2.5 finger head of nice cream, good thickness, and good retention. Colour is a semitransparent somewhat dark caramel. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Fresh fruit and floral hops, caramel, biscuit malt, and a nutty note. I detect no apricot whatsoever. Call me crazy. An average strength aroma.

T: Vague indistinct floral and fruit hops, with a hint of pine accompanied by caramelized malt, biscuit malt, that nutty note again, and a hint of caramelized peach - I guess you could call it apricot. Strangely balanced, but strangely well. It lacks focus but works as a sort of hodge-podge scattershot brew. It's as though for once things just fell into place for the brewers at Dogfish Head. Quite sugary and sweet to make it palatable for the masses. Overly sweet? Perhaps. Pretty decently built for an IPA; at least the hop bitterness is balanced. Not horribly complex or subtle, but I'll take from Dogfish Head what I can get.

Mf: A bit thicker than it needs to be. Smooth and wet, with slight coarsness towards the finish. Some hints of cream; I wish the cream were more developed. Good carbonation.

Dr: A drinkable little IPA, but a strangely balanced one. Apricot fans should look elsewhere for their fix (maybe even Pyramid's hefeweizen), but this is a decent offering from Dogfish Head. Of course, I'd never get it again on account of the price...

High C+

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 02:24:10 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.93/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Beer pours a light copper color with a thick, frothy head. The aroma is hoppy and full of the apricot essence. The taste gives away a wonderful hoppiness balanced with some sweetness from the apricots. It leaves a smooth mouthfeel and does not come off as too bitter or too sweet. Well balanced beer and certainly a better example than the other beer of this style that I sampled.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2007 17:02:28 | More by Brad007

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

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Clear copper, off-white head, very little retention and lace.

S: Malty, slightly fruity (apricot).

T: The flavour isn't over-powering, yet somehow it hides the alcohol content. There's a really nice bready malt flavour, some apricot, with a hint of hops. It has a clean, crisp bitterness.

M: Moderate to full body, moderate carbonation. Very nice.

D: Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2006 22:10:17 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

A very drinkable but complex brew. Has a faint but noticeable nose of apricots and hops. Pours golden with a nice but not overwhelming head. Has an intriguing taste of Apricot fruit followed by bitter almond/apricot pit that immediately transitions into a medium hop bitterness. The transition from fruit to the melded bitterness of pit and hops is what makes this beer sublime.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2006 05:33:46 | More by Georgiabeer