Theobroma - Dogfish Head Brewery

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

On-tap at Prime 16.

A: Clear gold body with a finger of fine white head. Ok retention, spotty lace. Not bad.

S: Smells like a nice strong lager. Clean herbalness, mild bready malt, and only a faint hint of spice. Enjoyable, but unexpectedly boring.

T: Follows the nose. All chile is relegated to the aftertaste, with breadiness, minerality, and herbal notes being much more prominent. In any case, it's darn tasty.

M: Medium body with moderate, delicate, creamy carbonation. Nice.

O: I expected craziness, and instead got competence. Fine by me.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 12:24:17 | More by woosterbill

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

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

Dogfish Head Theobroma

Appearance: “Food of the gods” pours a pretty, hazy deep golden color with evident active carbonation and one finger of cream-colored head that does not stick around. There is that crust that this reviewer loves so much left behind, however. At 9% ABV, one would expect alcohol legs, but Theobroma is almost completely vacant of them. Also absent is any lacing. The beer is pretty, though more clarity would be nice; given the ingredients and the brewery that might be too much to ask. It looks curiously akin to the great imperial India pale ales such as Hopslam and Double Trouble.

Aroma: Faint wine aromas waft up from the glass accompanied by an equally faint hint of chocolate sweetness and breadiness. There is a stinging as well, most likely from the chilies. These combinations lead to a very complex smelling beer, but one needs a nose similar to that of a dog to pick up anything strong; unfortunately the overall aroma is just too weak.

Taste: Mouth follows the nose, as in most beers, but, in a welcome turn of events, the strength of the flavor is greater than that of the aroma, though not by much. The honey, cocoa, and malts hit right up front, while the yeast and the chili follows right behind; the chili is not noticeable right away but rather comes in more and more after each sip and never gets too overwhelming of the other flavors. The wine never really makes the transition from the nose, and, as the beer goes down, it even vacates the aroma; this is just fine because the beer is complex enough without wine character. It is an interesting and drinkable beer, but the flavors never get strong enough to really make this one something special. In a word, this beer is subtle.

Mouthfeel: Though it may not have a taste worthy of the gods, the mouthfeel may just make up for it. This is extremely drinkable and complements the rather weak taste with a lively carbonation. It is medium-bodied and goes down incredibly smoothly. This reviewer is a believer that a masterful brewer will always create a great mouthfeel; this is the mark of great beer. A beer’s taste really matters more than anything else, but what elevates a good beer to a great beer and a great beer to a legendary beer is the mouthfeel. Dogfish really crafted this beer well because the mouthfeel is spectacular.

Overall: Dogfish is easily one of my personal favorite breweries, and the Ancient Ales series is a really interesting idea, so as a result I was very disappointed in this beer. I expected a lot and had been putting off trying it for some time while it wallowed in my fridge. Perhaps I built it up too much. Be that as it may, it is an above average beer. The chili aspect is superbly done, and the chocolate is not cloying by any means. All of the flavors and aromas are just too muted. Subtlety is nice when dealing with strong flavors such as chili and chocolate, but it can be taken too far. This beer is an example of where a little more bravado would have been welcomed. Perhaps a “crazy” brewer like Three Floyds, Brew Dog, Cigar City, or Mikkeller could have taken this idea further by putting everything over the top. Perhaps Southern Tier could have emulated this ancient style better with their impossibly accurate imitations. Whatever the case, this is a beer to try if you are into the style (chocolate-chili beer) or into Dogfish Head or into, more specifically, their Ancient Ales series. Otherwise, do not waste the money on this one. 14.5/20

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 23:25:31 | More by THANAT0PSIS

BigTuna

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on-tap.

Light in color, which I thought was interesting considering it's a "cocoa" beer. Smell is nothing to write home about. It smells sweet, with a latent tingle that I'm guessing comes from the chilies.

The taste is superb. Muted, subtle, but still impressive. Just the smallest hint of chocolate makes the beer sweet. Mid-palate it I caught some orange-peel and more sweetness, and it finishes with a hotness from the chilies that I loved.

Overall: these ancient ales are hit or miss but I think Dogfish pulled it off on this one. It's a grower though; don't expect Theobroma to blow you away. Let it appreciate.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2012 20:13:18 | More by BigTuna

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured from 22 oz bomber into pint glass
A - see through, honey colouredhead dies down quickly
S - smells like chili and a little chocolatey
T - pretty bland, but the chili comes in at the end
M - pretty thin, not much there
O - decent beer, not gonna get it again though

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 23:16:38 | More by vicsju1991

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

25 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Slow pour results in moderate head, dissipates quickly leaving a small amount of lacing. Beer is a somewhat clouded amber color.

S: Cocoa and chili predominate, some honey, some roasted malt. Pretty good.

T: Chocolate and honey with a chili finish. Definite heat from the chili, some from the high ABV as well. Reasonably well balanced but it's hotter than a normal chili beer.

M: Pretty thick and syrupy and somewhat alcoholic. Not too carbonated, but it's there. Almost mead-like with the honey, but the chili takes care of that pretty quickly.

O: Recommend sharing unless you like heat, because this brings it more than a Stone offering, for example. Always like to try out whatever new idea Dogfish Head is offering.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 02:33:06 | More by IvoryFoxhole

JustinQ

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great beer.

Not neccesarily a review, more of a note

Got my hands on a bottle from 2008, Think it may be from the original bottling. Much much better then I expected it to be. Never had it fresh so I dont know the comparison.

Can only sense chili or spice slightly in the aroma. No taste or spice at all. Just a bit of a background character. Never experienced raw Annatto seeds but I think thats what Im getting in the aroma

Tastes like straight Natural cacao. Sweet, Chcoloate but not roasty. Thick and luscious. Great beer. Really enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 04:54:00 | More by JustinQ

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice deep golden/orange color to it. It has a nice thick off-white head that dies down somewhat fast and leaves next to no lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of honey, spices, chocolate along with some floral and fruity notes.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a nice sweet honey character to it with some cocoa, slight chili spiciness and some light floral/fruity notes.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas. Not quite what I expected from a Chile beer but it's my first time trying it, plus it's Dogfish so you know it wasn't brewed to standards.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 20:31:42 | More by SebD

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sounds unique. Just poured the bottle into my snifter here. The room filled with such a unique yet pleasant smell. Clear dark gold color with a craggy bright white head. Chocolate covered chili's on the nose. Spicy chili's too. Other than that there's not much else to the nose.

Initial chili taste up front followed by rich cocoa powder. Sweet honey rides underneath it all over the tongue balancing the chili heat. Full slick mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Alcohol content no where to be perceived. Tastes like you're eating an exotic dish. Drinks more like a meal than a beer. Dry finish with lingering cocoa powder drying the mouth. A beer that truly makes you salivate. Heat builds in the throat with each sip.

Good beer but something ya gotta share, it's a stomach ache waiting to happen.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 03:11:31 | More by jtierney89

Kooz

New York

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks great. Poured from a bomber into a standard pint glass. Light orange color, slightly opaque, no head. Beautiful.

Smells slightly fruity. I get the honey that I read on the label. I don't get any cacao. Not getting a lot from the smell.

Tastes slightly sweet with background hints of alcohol (but not boozy). There's a heat to this, from the ancho chilies I assume, and it's nice. It lingers on the tongue and in the back of the throat.

Good texture; not too bubbly, but still sharp. Foamy and creamy, nice.

Overall, this is a nice beer. It's a different flavor and so it's interesting, but I don't love it. It's worth drinking, and I'd drink it again,

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 01:58:08 | More by Kooz

Dope

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a medium hazy orange with a big fluffy white head. Was expecting this to be a dark brown at least but DFH is tricky, very tricky. Fades slowly but leaves only a moderate patchwork of lacing.

S: Chocolate, of course. There is some mild chile heat as well. Touch of honey in there too. I'm not sure what annatto smells like but I don't smell anything unusual to indicate it.

T: Lots of chocolate and spicy chile up front. There is a spike of heat in the middle and it fades out into the aftertaste. A hint of honey throughout. Finishes with a sort of earthy, nutty flavor - perhaps the annatto I was looking for. Honey is more noticeable in the lingering aftertaste. Zero bitterness, it's malty with chocolate and chile, period. As it warms to room temp the chile gets hotter and hotter, but never overbearing. The chocolate compliments nicely and the honey sweetens it all up.

M: Medium bodied and smooth. Decent heat.

O: This beer is pretty much exactly as described. Pretty much pure chocolate and chile heat with a hint of honey and perhaps that annatto in the finish. Don't be expecting a big roasty chocolately porter or stout. The chocolate isn't that big, it's some nice cocoa that's balanced with the chile. No real vegetal pepper flavors either, just the spicy flavor and heat. Definitely a must try if you like chocolate/chili beers. This is one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 03:02:15 | More by Dope

GRPunk

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

A- A glugging pour created a 1-finger, off-white head that dropped to a light film that left decent rings. The body was slightly hazed, though it cleared up quickly, deep golden and sported moderate-heavy carbonation. The second pour was more of a 1-1/2 finger with greater sustain and the final pour included a good deal of sediment.

S- Quite sweet initially, honey, floral, even fruity. Chocolate creeps in with further sniffs. Chilies play a bigger role as it warms toward room temperature. I really liked the bolder chocolate and chile with warmth.

S- Really pleasant balance. Lots of chocolate up front, chilies come through in the middle and pack a punch in the finish. Nice kick without a real burn. Sweetness hints at vanilla. Any ABV is masked by sweet and spicy qualities.

M- Solid warmth from chilies, 9% ABV probably does its part too. Moderate-heavy carbonation is fairly delicate. Bite is more from chile and possible ABV.

O- Nice treat. Very balanced, much like a mole sauce, though its components are a little more discernable. While I drank it on its own, it would probably be a nice accompaniment to a full/bold cheese, BBQ, or spicy dish. I would love to drink this with regularity if not for a hefty price tag (13.49) for the big bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 00:12:10 | More by GRPunk

DavidST

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter, bottled 2012. This pours a hazy orange copper color with a large off white head. The smell is a little sweet, with some chilies. The feel is medium decent carbonation. The taste is different but good, I definitely get the chili, a little sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 04:10:14 | More by DavidST

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 8/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a bright orange amber with a nice thick, long lasting head that leaves light lacing. Spicy light fruit aroma. Nice medium bodied light fruits and spices, similar to a tripel. Nutty and semi-sweet. Reminiscent of a tripel in the middle and finish with the chiles lightly making themselves noticed. I tasted more pleasant malty tones as it warmed up. I liked the flavor and spicing. Must have again.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 20:56:36 | More by LiquidAmber

kylehay2004

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, DE

A: thin head and no lacing really on a clear bright golden with slight copper hue body.

S: caramel malts, toffee and cocoa.

T: The cocoa and honey notes are excellent and mesh very well. There is a light chili spiciness throughout greatest in the finish. Sour citrus notes as well.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: a very interesting beer which changes quite a bit as it is enjoyed. One of the better ones of the series.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 17:01:27 | More by kylehay2004

EkimGram

New York

4.63/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: 24.4oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Colour is a pale, translucent orange-brown. Head is a finger thick and fades to a dense film. Slight amounts of visible carbonation.

Smell: This smells so differently than it looks. Nice round aromas of cocoa, spices, chile, and a sweet tartness that I will attribute to the annatto.

Taste: Bold flavours of bready malt, spices, chile, and a boozy sweetness are the leaders backed by a very subdued cocoa essence.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily texture with a hint of carbonation and a heat that grows as you drink.

Overall: This is the best chile beer I've had to date. It is complex, interesting, and profoundly delicious.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 03:50:26 | More by EkimGram

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ba Review #194
Served On: 07/23/2012
Glassware: Flute Glass
Labeled ABV: -
Date/ Code: -

Had this on tap last night at the DFH Brewing & Eats - Rehoboth.

Look: Was a semi-clear darker gold color. Head was a thin white film with some patches of bubbles. Carbonation bubbles were hard to detect - almost like this was from a cask.

Smell: Sweet malty nose with some alcohol notes. Not much in the way of spice or cocoa as listed in the beer's description.

Taste: The mouth feel was reflecting a medium bodied brew. A sweet honey-like beginning turned into a carbonated mix of earthy floral and a touch of peppery biscuit for an almost Belgian quality. Finish was a lingering sweetness that faded into a twang leftover from the floral sweetness.

As I'm not real familiar with this particular style, my rating is mainly based on my personal experience with the brew during my visit at the brewpub last night.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2012 15:48:27 | More by CraftBeerTastic

Greywulfken

New York

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: deep gold, slim head; very little by way of lace motes

S: cocoa amid hoppy, yeasty zest; an herbal/floral aroma I can't identify

T: definite cocoa and chili flavors, some woodsy notes, herbal/floral accents (maybe the annatto?)

M: medium bodied, chili sting complements the frisky carbonation; clean and dry finishing; fresh and refreshing

O: I love beers like this, and DFH seems to be the master: their ancient ales line is brilliant, and this beer is excellent; really interesting to get such a distinct cocoa taste in a pale ale. Categorized as a "chile beer"? Weird, but what else are you gonna do with a brew as wonderfully unique as this, other than buy it and drink it?

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 15:29:15 | More by Greywulfken

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. 750ml bottle.

Hazy copper amber with a firm finger and a half of dense, creamy off-white head. The foam is very slow to leave, and I think a good hunk of it is gonna solidify.

Semi-dry aromas of graham crackery malts, some far-off honey flair, herbal hops, and ground spices. No real trace of the cocoa or the chilies just yet.

Big Belgian yeast strain hits you first with plum esters. Malts are toasted caramel in character with a slight honeyed nectar quality. The chilies create a nice afterburn, felt more in the throat and chest than on the tongue. There's a dry dusty spice that might be the ground annato or the cocoa powder, but not much chocolate is pulling through. Big flavor for such a disguised nose. Actually, slight nutmeg/pepper element tells me the annato is here, after all. An interesting profile being that the beer is as pale as it is. I can't say for sure that these additives would work better in a stout, but that's just what I'm used to.

The chilies take the aim away from the alcohol warmth, making this beer seemingly very drinkable (if you like spice). The mouthfeel is pretty medium; not too gluggy. Carbonation is a driving force to expel the beer from the tongue down to the back of the throat on the swallow. It's almost refreshing in that way.

Another fascinating little brew from Dogfish Head. I love how blatant the chilies become in the mouth and throat. Still too leaning on fruity Belgian yeast strains. Works just fine for me, the spice-lover.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:36:58 | More by thecheapies

mjgarrett2

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Light caramel color, very transparent with no hint of fogginess.

S-Gentle coco aroma on the savory side. Don't get any honey or sweetness on the nose.

T-Fresh and light, neither bitter nor significantly sweet. I mostly taste the chilis with hints of the coco nibbs.

M-A little dry on the palate but mostly pleasant.

O-Not a heavy hitter like other DFH beers. Surprised how subtle the flavors are considering how the main ingredients have such strong flavors on their own.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 00:47:05 | More by mjgarrett2

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

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

A-cloudy amber color with a small white head and some lacing

S-faint cocoa, spices and sweetness

T-nice cocoa flavor balanced by the honey and faint pepper at the finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth feel

O-overall an interesting blend of flavors, but would have like to see more of a chile presence here to balance the cocoa and honey more

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 14:43:57 | More by MDDMD

BostonHops

Massachusetts

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

on-tap at american craft, brookline, MA.
tasted 7/22/11 (review from notes)

i'd put the color of this one at a slightly hazy orange/amber; yields a 3/4" off-white head, moderate retention, not a whole lot of lacing. interesting nose, not what i was expecting. honey, some fruitiness, maybe a touch of spice. not much in the way of chiles.

flavor is likewise interesting. there is a subtle presence of chiles but it's far from overwhelming, as was my initial fear. i actually get more of the honey and fruitiness. not bad at all. nothing amazing, mind you, but a completely drinkable, reasonably enjoyable brew. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall, i'd try this again. as i mentioned there was nothing spectacular here, no wow factor, but it was pleasing.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 22:15:39 | More by BostonHops

Barnabas

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

I tried this on my porch one august with a friend,drank it swig for swig out of the bottle, medium carbonation, nice mouthfeel, the chocolate is definetly apparent, along with the spice.I loved it , I got it in a growler some time later, and it was cold, I wouldn't reccomend drinking it cold, due to the fact that the taste went from sweet and complex, to sweet & tasty ,yet the flavor did not come through as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 20:13:01 | More by Barnabas

EricCioe

Montana

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

Had at a chili beer tasting including Mexican Cake, Chocolate Sombrero, Hunahpu's, Cocoa Mole, and Ghost Face Killah.

This pours a pale yellow with a nice head. The color surprised us all. On the nose the honey and chili compliment one another very well, which surprised me given the brewery. In the mouth the honey coats while the chili prickles just a bit, hot but balanced well. The finish and body are medium and this is quite drinkable.

Overall, this beer surprised me most and to me had the best concept of any of the chili beers that night. The combination of honey and heat is very complimentary and makes for a pretty unique beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 18:58:02 | More by EricCioe

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From 750mL bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 4/9/12
*From notes

-- Vintage 2010 --

A: Pretty clean golden in color. A slight chill haze is present. A good pour yields a minimal white head and a bubbly collar. No lacing follows.

S: Dirty earth that's soaked with rain water. Mineral. Some wet paper or cardboard is also present in the bouquet.

T: The pepper hits first, yet it's not biting or what I'd refer to as "hot." Rather it tingles my tongue as a marshmallow-like sweetness hits the mid. The back is packed with vanilla extract and amaretto.

M: Way too thin. Come on man, let's get this party started! How are you gonna sell this without any depth or body?

O: I'll bet this is better fresh. It'd have to be, as it's just ok now - about eighteen months or so in the bottle. Not enough heat, yet not easy drinking enough to put back more then a few ounces at a time. Decent, yet underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 23:00:41 | More by Rhettroactive

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance – A cloudy golden amber color with a light head.

Smell – Honey, with a bitter lager smell and a hint of spice.

Taste –Honey with some spiciness, probably from the chile. An odd combination. Also some bitterness as well.

Mouthfeel – Creamy and smooth, it hid the 9%abv quite well.

Drinkability – A funny tasting beer to me. I couldn’t taste any of the cocoa, and there was a bitterness I didn’t care much for, in spite of the honey.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 07:24:20 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03