Theobroma - Dogfish Head Brewery

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice. Bottled in 2012.

A: Clear gold with noticeable sediment.

S: Apples, yeast, and flowers. Sweet and exceedingly floral.

T: Spicy and pleasant, but disappointing. Chiles are nearly undetectable, cacao is pleasantly savory, and a touch of sweetness ends the taste in a very balanced manner.

M: Sweet, smooth, and slightly spicy.

O: Disappointing, but competent. I was hoping for more chocolate, more chile, and more flavor. Ah, well, so it goes. Would recommend, but not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 06:44:38 | More by AgentMunky

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Slightly hazy light orange with two-finger, white, foamy, creamy head that lasted a couple minutes. Okay lacing.

S: Honey, malt, and subtle chocolate.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Starts with subtle chocolate. Honey, and then the chilies kick in. Just the right amount of spice.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Smooth.

O: Mild smell and flavor overall, but just the right amount of spice. Nice mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:12:26 | More by SolipsismalCat

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

i was kind of shocked when i poured this theobroma from dogfish head- because it has cocoa powder in it i assumed it would be a dark beer, it is actually light and a cloudy gold color. the smell is unassuming and milder thank you would think- its a lot more flavorful than the taste would lead you to believe. you can chocolate which isnt sweet at all and goes really goes really good with the bitterness of the beer. there is also some honey in here which doesnt over power the flavor, just makes it a little milder, that with the light carbonation actually makes this beer very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 22:32:59 | More by mattkoon

TucsonTom

Arizona

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I'd been forewarned by bartender that this was not a dark beer. That was okay with me; I've enjoyed Sonora's White Chocolate Ale and it's also straw colored. My 4-ounce taster of Theobroma had that straw look with a bit of haze. I got no chocolate on the nose and no chocolate in the taste. But I got plenty of chile on the end in the back of my throat; I liked that part. Overall, though, it was not the most interesting thing I've had from DFH.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 04:17:55 | More by TucsonTom

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

3.46/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I had been waiting an extended time to try Theobroma. Did I set my expectations too high? For a beer with a lot of chocolate elements, I was not expecting a golden colored beer with a slight white head. Honey notes were the most prominent in the aroma, with noting else really jumping out. In the initial taste, one detects mild chocolate, grape, and a slight sweetness. After a few sips, the heat becomes a little more noticeable at the back of the throat. Ancho chilies hold a little more promise for me, but the heat was very mild. In the aftertaste, one detects a grapey taste almost like grape soda. With all of the elements of this beer, I was expecting something quite different.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 12:55:19 | More by JohnnyHopps

Boto

Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle: This one pours an almost clear, darker golden color. There was a small white head that didn’t linger long. Nice nose. A little musty to start. Some notes of honey and the cocoa. The taste is good. A bit of the cocoa on top, but not overdone. A faint amount of the peppers, but no heat or any real bite from them. A touch dry in the finish, and very smooth. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:24:49 | More by Boto

MCDuhamel

Ohio

4.8/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a crown capped large format bottle, a bit north of fridge temp, into a tulip. Liquor is medium amber, a bit hazy (maybe the bottle had been a bit disturbed), with a fairly small head that falls apart quickly. No lacing at all. Lots of very small bubbles racing to the top. The nose is a complex yet balanced amalgam of chiles, earth, and bitter chocolate, which follows through to the palate. A slight honey character comes through midway through, with a nutty roastiness showing up as well. The finish is dry, with a cocoa and dried chile note. Although this seems like it should be muddled, it somehow manages to achieve a nearly perfect balance. The chile flavor is obvious, but there is only the subtlest hint of heat. This is an outstanding, if very difficult to categorize, beer. Surprisingly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 00:25:10 | More by MCDuhamel

pcguitarwzrd

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber, poured into pint glass (not the best choice, but all I had to work with).

A: Pale gold, hazy, lots of sediment, loud soda-like carbonation that quickly fades away.

S: Grapes are the main element to the nose, as best I can tell. Maybe a little honey. This bottle may be a little past its prime (it was the last one, rescued from a midtown Texaco...?!?)

T: Very complex and sweet, grapes up front, fading into honey and just the faintest wisp of cocoa. The chile shows up as a little warming sensation in the back of the throat. Keeps you interested till the last sip.

M: Initially light, smooth and foamy but finishes with a little syrupy honey-like character.

O: So much going on with this beer. It needs to be experienced, not consumed with a meal or as part of a tasting flight; this beer demands individual attention. That being said, it is an experience like no other. Leave your preconceived notions at the door.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 19:13:56 | More by pcguitarwzrd

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.51/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured entire bottle into 34oz mug. Clear gold with fizzy carbonation and a thick white head that dissipates very quickly leaving no lacing. Smell is rather flat; some of the sour yeast smell present in its sister brew, Sah'tea, is noticeable. Bitter cocoa over the malts, and perhaps a hint of twang from the peppers. Taste is sweet malts, cocoa and the taste pinches to a close at the back of the tongue where the chilies make their muted appearance. Not sure I'd notice them if I didn't know they were there. Still an enjoyable beer; hides the alcohol well for 9%, which is a bit insidious considering it comes in a 22oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 07:18:02 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

BDMao88

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A -Has a nice golden color with a thick two finger head that lasts a short while.

S - Has a nice aroma of honey with a very small amount of cocoa.

T - You get a brief taste of cocoa followed by a honey taste. The peppers settle smoothly on your tongue and stay there along with a hint of cocoa which make it very nice.

M - Nice and creamy

O -This is a very unique beer for me and it took a few sips for me to truly appreciate it. I really love the spice of this beer and it is truly enjoyable to sip from a snifter.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 03:05:55 | More by BDMao88

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass. It has a golden color body with a 2" white head that stays in tact for a while. The smell is strictly honey to my nose. The taste has a nice sweetntess from the honey up front then a little bit from the anchos comes along to finish it off. I don't really get any chocolate from it. The mouth feel is really nice, rolls off the tongue nice with just a little bit of the pepers on the back of the tonuge. Overall i really enjoyed this beer by DFH.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:07:58 | More by chefhatt

DragonzBreath

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dogfish Head's Theobroma (translated into "food of the gods")
I had been wanting to try this beer for a while, when i received it from a client at xmas. This beer pour beautiful, bright amber with a creamy off white head. the beer entered smooth with good carbonation. citrus nose with a soft chocolate taste. I waited for the heat from the chilies, after the third taste a mild tingle filled my mouth while the sweetness of honey rendered it helpless. We will have this one again Abv. 9.0

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 14:27:24 | More by DragonzBreath

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a murky orange with a one finger slightly off white head. Leaves decent amounts of lacing.

S - I was only able to pick up the chocolate and slight honey.

T - Chocolate up front, Honey soon follows, I get the peppers on the tail end and in the back of the throat. Not very spicy though.

M - Medium creamy body with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O - Overall, This was definitely something different. It wasn't particularly great, But it was good. Only complaint is that this beer actually seems to go flat pretty fast and I really wish the flavors would have exploded instead of staying predominantly subdued.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 20:31:42 | More by SometimesIfart

Apellonious

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1 pt 9.4 fl oz bottle from Frugles.

A - Deep amber orange with brown overtones, thin head that quickly dissipates. The sound of the pour was sizzling. Was not expecting a beer with "cocoa" to be this color.

S - Cocoa, mild peppers. Some floral aspects.

T - Interesting. Starts off with the cocoa and honey, then you get the pepper bite and aftertaste on the finish (which could be mistaken for alcohol burn,which may be in mix), with some malt flavorings

M - Solid. The carbonation is on the low side, but it has enough to keep it sharp and give it some sizzle at the finish.

O - My first thought was that a beer with peppers, cocoa, and "ground annato" might be potentially disturbing. I was wrong. The cocoa is not overpowering, and with the honey, balances out the chilies and spices really well. An interesting and well done offering from Dogfish.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 02:57:39 | More by Apellonious

Topheropolis

California

4.95/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I treated myself to this for New Years Eve. Unfortunately I didn't make it due to the 3- 750ml strong ales I started with. So it's my New Years Day Ale. It has a nice chocolatey, citrus nose with a perfect balance of cocoa, chilies, and honey on the pallet. Delicious!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 21:36:52 | More by Topheropolis

merc7186

New York

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head, Mild Lacing

S: Honey, Mild Jalapenos, Mild Cocoa

T: Chili Pepper, Cocoa, Mild Honey

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Hot

Overall, a pretty nice balanced chili beer, the honey and cocoa.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 03:19:35 | More by merc7186

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a wine glass at cellar temperature.

L – Medium amber color with a 2-finger bubbly cream-colored head. Decent retention but no lacing. Clear but some floaters make their way into the glass as the pour nears the end of the bottle.

S – Caramel malt, cocoa, chili peppers, a little bit of coffee, and maybe some cinnamon.

T – Starts off sweet with caramel malt quickly followed by spicy chilies and cinnamon. It eventually mellows into bittersweet cocoa.

F – Medium-bodied with decent carbonation, a sticky mouthfeel, and a spicy finish. Some spice and sweet cocoa flavors linger and pair well with the heat from the chilies and maybe from the alcohol.

O – This is an interesting brew. Like a lot of DFH beers that I’ve had, it’s somewhat underwhelming after reading the explanation on the bottle. The cocoa is only subtly noticeable while the chilies seem to take the forefront. Even after looking at this as a chile beer, I’ve had better examples of the style. Nevertheless, it’s a tasty and drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 02:18:30 | More by BlackBelt5112203

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

How in the heck is it that I have never before reviewed this beer?!? I must be slipping ...

My initial pour netted two fingers of foamy, fizzy French Vanilla-colored head with moderate retention. Color was a deep golden-amber with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a spicy pepperiness that seemed to tickle the back of my throat. Mouthfeel was medium and the way that the spice was muted yet present and discernible was quite unexpected. I seem to remember it as much more pronounced but this was really pleasant. The chocolate seemed to get lost in the mix as I really did not perceive it until the extreme finish. The finish itself was dry, but not gaspingly so, as one might expect from the presence of chile. Good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 23:20:08 | More by woodychandler

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle is a 2010 vintage from my cellar. I drank it tonight to celebrate the world not ending and the Mayans being wrong after all. Poured into my DFH snifter. Carbonation definitely has diminished over the two years. Bright orange colored body, which was not what I expected from a beer brewed with chocolate. Smell was sweet. Taste was very interesting. The honey was really up front, followed by the hint of chili at the end. This beer is what would happen if DFH made a mead. Mouthfeel was smooth and dry. I give this beer extra points because it surprised me but I still liked it.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 04:53:54 | More by morebeergood

bensbeers

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Color is a slightly hazy amber. Pours out a creamy one inch head with a minimal amount of sediment.

Smells sweet but not from the chocolate. Honey is what gets me first, followed by rich earthy cocoa, a bit of pepper, vanilla, and some fruity/nutty undertones.

Taste begins with the cocoa - rich, bitter but creamy. Honey follows and brings a touch of sweetness. Ends with a spicy, boozy kick. For a 9% ABV beer, it's not overly-boozy, though.

MoUthfeel is interesting. Not very bubbly, but the spice makes you thing otherwise - plays on the tongue like a crisp lager. Medium bodied.

Overall, a lot going on but I love it. The taste is all over the place, but I really enjoy it. I normally like to enjoy beer with a meal or snack, but I took this none by itself - it's like a savory dessert in a bottle! Will definitely try again and recommend to anyone looking for something new and exciting. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 02:32:23 | More by bensbeers

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

one of the more interesting archeological dogfish brews. the pour is a really bright bronze color, with a lot of suspended spent yeast, looks like a snow globe. short white lace rests on top. the nose is sweet and floral from the honey, with a touch of smoke and spice from the ancho peppers, and some unique earthy character, which i can only imagine comes from those annatto tree seeds. the flavor really features the honey, theres a mild sweetness throughout, with some undertones of raw cacao, but no decadent chocolate to this at all, more of an organic bitterness like cocoa powder. the chili pepper flavor is very mild, and really only comes into play in the finish, providing just a touch of warmth, which combined with the alcohol actually produces a beautiful conclusion to this beer. the mouthfeel works, it could stand a little more carbonation i think, but the body is soft and round, plenty drinkable. definitely one of the better beers in this series of old world recreations.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 18:26:53 | More by StonedTrippin

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Somewhat cloudy orange colored body with a thin white head.

S- Honey, cocoa, citrus, spices, hint of chile.

T- Honey definitely comes through first with a strong ginger-like taste as well. A slight chile taste comes in the middle, with some chocolate powder in the finish. Surprisingly subtle flavors besides honey.

M- Medium body, medium carbonation, good sipper.

O- Nice beer, but nothing stands out. Definitely not chile-forward.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2012 18:45:26 | More by stephenjmoore

Bills453

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into my Duvel tulip glass.

I must say that this is the last beer we tried during a nights tasting, I was pretty well along into the stages of drunkeness, and I'm going to copy my notes exact because I just now reread them and they're pretty fantastic.

Appearance - ancient hefeweizen

Smell - faint honey

Taste - it tastes like the drink of the gods. Honey, cocoa, chile powder.

Mouthfeel - smooth and chunky sediment.

Overall - I very much enjoyed this beer and look forward to having it again!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 13:39:31 | More by Bills453

Caedus

California

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard tulip glass

A: A murky orange color, lots of microbubbles streaming up, no head retention.

S: Tons of honey is immediate, bits of cocoa on the back end with just a hint of chilies after the beer warmed up.

T: Well Balanced, nothing too complex but the flavors present were very nice. The honey and chilies really pull through, just a bit of spices with some bread on the palate.

M: Lots of carbonation, medium bodied feel.

D: Very nice, very smooth, well balanced, very much enjoyed.

Full review here: http://bit.ly/UJV5gP

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 09:04:26 | More by Caedus

SeamusDoyle

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The aroma contains notes of chocolate chilies, grass, and some light pale lager aromas. It pours a slightly hazy amber with lots of fine sediment and a large yellow-tinged creamy head. The flavor starts with some light chocolate and sweet lager flavors. The chilies are noticeable in the background that slightly increases in the finish and mixes with some faint grassiness. Medium-bodied with light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 22:06:33 | More by SeamusDoyle