Arms Akimbo - Dogfish Head Brewery

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A nice dark beer, light lacing with retention til the end! Licorice nose, which is so unusual, who'd a thunk a licorice beer but Sam...This one is a slow sipper, with full flavour of roasted coffee and licorice. I don't think I'd be able to drink this on a regular basis, but it's always a treat to taste a new brew from Dogfish Head. Mouthfeel a little chewy, and drinkability is a sipper.

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

05-29-2009 01:21:05 | More by thequeen711

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cask @ BTAH.

Pours opaque black, with a one finger, big bubbled head.

Nose is licorice, some espresso and baker's chocolate.

Taste is full - roasty espresso and a bunch of licorice up front, bit of acidic astringency around the edges, but smooth and full overall, with hints of cocoa complementing the espresso. An almost herbal, slightly bitter finish. Quite an interesting beer. The licorice may have been a bit on the high side for me, but I'd certainly order this again from cask.

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

02-17-2009 14:30:04 | More by JohnQVegas

bgjohnston

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I tried this at their pub while I was in the area shortly before New Year's. While I am not normally a fan of anise, I wanted to try something different.

The beer is very dark, similar to various stouts I have tried, and while the glass that came to my table did not have much of a head, what little was there did not disappear until the glass was almost empty.

I mentioned that I am not normally a fan of anise because, despite that, I still enjoyed this beer. The anise flavor was held in check by a smooth maltiness; a really neat experience.

I don't feel that I would want to drink this beer very often, nor would I ever want more than a glass of it at any one time, but it was interesting and fun, nonetheless.

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

01-15-2009 17:58:06 | More by bgjohnston

udrick

Delaware

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an interesting brew--not for the faint of heart.

A--Deep, black porter. Had about a one-finger head with great retention.

S--Sweet, probably from the molasses. Otherwise, crisp and clean.

T--The star anise and fir add a spice and a bite that you will either love or hate.

M--Rich like a porter should be, but goes down easy.

D--This is a great seasonal. It is a change from the norm--quite frankly, a change from anything you'll have anywhere else. I hope this one comes back every year.

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

12-18-2008 22:46:52 | More by udrick

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats in Rehoboth, DE.
Appearance: A deep black body with a small thin tan head, good retention but not lacing.
Smell: Sweet dates and figs.
Taste: Dark fruits, a bit boozy (not off putting), maybe winey.
Mouthfeel: Smooth down the throat but crisp up-front.
Drinkability: Very good.
Don't drink and review.

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

12-10-2008 16:39:23 | More by treehugger02010

Nutleybeer

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Was able to give this a shot while at the pub in Delaware. Wow, a unique beer. Not your traditional holiday beer offering. Poured like your average porter, with a moderate head.

DFH describes it as flavored with star anise, molasses and a hint balsam fir. The smell is interesting, different. Spicy, perhaps. The first sip is a mix of sweetness and the licorice spiciness.

Like a lot of DFH beers, it is well made and quite interesting. Deep, rich flavors. How many of these could I drink in a given night? One maybe two. Strong, potent flavors. A+ for something beyond the run of the mill winter beer.

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

12-01-2008 01:09:29 | More by Nutleybeer

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Average brown color with what looks like a low carbonation level. Moderate aroma of spruce and licorice. Great, complex flavors swirl together-decent roast flavor balanced against a licorice/anise sort of thing. Once that is in the backround the spruce flavor comes through. Moderate amount of bitterness. Halfway down the glass and the licorice seems to make it's presence known again. I think I have had 2 other spruce flavored beers in my life-this blows them away. Very even handed in the blend of flavors. Nice body-great drying in the finish. Very drinkable. A great, great beer. Sam, make this your annual Xmas beer I say!

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

11-21-2008 21:21:24 | More by lackenhauser