Namaste - Dogfish Head Brewery

JayReq

North Carolina

2.79/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I had this out of a bottle I was given for my birthday, and for the most part I am glad I got it as a gift (you will hear why in a minute.) This is the Namaste "white ale", a product of the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware. Using MY HOLY CRYSTAL MUG +5, I submit my reivew.

It's an average beer in general--easy to drink, not the most flavorful in the world, but good enough that you won't be disappointed.

Color: Very pretty honey-gold with enough haze to let you know there's some wheat in it. It pours a nice head. Doesn't leave a lattice on the glass.

Nose: I got mostly the lemongrass and a slight hint of the orange peel, which is nice for a springtime brew. It is a bit hard to pick up anything else.

Taste: A lot like the nose, you get the lemongrass and a little bit of orange peel behind it, but the coriander is barely there UNLESS you roll it around the tongue, and it doesn't have the texture that wheat beers usually have aka it is a little too watery for my taste. Very drinkable, I think this would have been better on a very hot day. At 5% ABV there is not real kick to it. Sometimes I felt like I was drinking a lager rather than an ale. There is a enough carbonation for it not to be flat.

Finish: It goes down well, but there's nothing special about the aftertaste beyond the lemongrass. If I could sum this beer up in one word, that would be it: LEMONGRASS.

I am pretty happy I got this for my birthday, as I did like it. It came nowhere close to wowing me, but sometimes that is okay. At the price point I am pretty sure I won't purchase another, but I am glad I got to try it. Gorgeous packaging, but that is Dogfish Head for you.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:07:44 | More by JayReq

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a nice golden hue, with a bubbly thin white head that had no cling. Large amounts of carbonation rose from the bottom. Aroma was a bit of wheat, mellowed nicely by orange citrus. Taste was clean, a bit of citrus up front, became herbal in the middle, with a bit of hoppy grain in the backend. Coated nicely, seemed a tad thin, but not bad. Overall, not bad. Well balanced flavor with a nice twist.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:48:42 | More by mountdew1

dar482

New York

3.48/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

It pours in a slight hazy yellow color.

The flavor is lemony and wheaty and quite refreshing. Hits mouth with slight flavor and then goes away and goes down really easily.

Lacks flavor, but makes it up as one of the most addictive beers I have had. Maybe that's a bad thing though. It lacks complexities from the German and Belgian wheat beers. It tastes almost like watered down lemon drink at times.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 03:23:16 | More by dar482

rcmooney

Arkansas

2.54/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.75

Hazy yellow in color. Pours a very large head that disappeared almost immediately.

Smell- Scents of Lemmon citrus and slight herbal notes.

Taste- taste was Just a weaker version of the smell, very crisp, highly carbonated, bits of Lemmon. Refreshing and very drinkable beer, but tastes like a light lager with Lemmon and herbal notes.

Overall- Refreshing and drinkable, perhaps a nice warmer seasonal, but there are far better and more enjoyable wit biers out there at a far better price. Disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 23:41:33 | More by rcmooney

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.94/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

light yellow color- slightly cloudy with a ton of white head. smells sour, lemony. the taste is tart and flowery. namaste is sweeter than the smell leads on, but i almost wish it was even sweeter than it is. there are some really nice flavors at work here. over all this beer is light and very drinkable and the bottle conditioning helps with the smoothness. this would be a good one to have on hand when the weather warms up.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 01:42:04 | More by mattkoon

lsummers

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured a bright yellow with cloudy floaties. Subtle white fluffy head.

Smells of citrus and slight lemongrass herbal notes. Not to complex just pleasant.

Taste is light and crisp. Hits with a bounce on the tongue with lemon and orange, the more citrusy herbal notes come through towards the end. The middle does taste a Little watery. It's very refreshing.

Mouthfeel is sharp and crisp. Light enough without feeling overly carbonated.

Overall, this is the second time I have tried this beer and I intend to seek it out again. A great example of an American wit.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 06:04:56 | More by lsummers

nimrod979

Maryland

3.51/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Hazy yellow in color with lots of sediment. One finger white head that doesn't stick around for long. Some lacing here and there.

Aroma: Assortment of citrus fruits. Orange. Spices, coriander, green tea. Wheaty and floral.

Taste: Wheat, lemon grass. oranges, coriander, white pepper, spices, honeysuckle. Plenty of flavors and well-rounded.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body with soft carbonation. Quick drying wheaty finish, a trait i like in this style. Flavorful witbier but nothing truly outstanding. Just a solid beer.

Perhaps one of the most "traditional" beers I've had from DFH.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:26:21 | More by nimrod979

DragonzBreath

Michigan

3.41/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

The Packaging was better than the beer, web site is pretty cool too. We will be trying other beers from this brewery. Pleasant enough nothing bold here. a seemingly average ale. We paired it with dinner, Thai chicken peanut salad, a good compliment... flavors then melded nicely. 5.0 abv

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 16:28:17 | More by DragonzBreath

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

One finger of head. A cloudy banana colored body.
Smell of orange, honey, lemon and coriander. Nice and balanced.
Taste is mild overall. Some sweetness with a good lemon bitterness. Good, but mild.
Smooth texture, low carbonation and light body.
Tasty and interesting, but not really a daily (or monthly) drinker for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 02:52:17 | More by Fatehunter

colts9016

Idaho

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass at 40 degrees.

Appearance: A one finger head that is billowy, fluffy, and creamy. The head is white in color with fair retention. The color of beer a pale yellow with some really light yellow hues. The clarity of the beer is cloudy, probably from yeast.

Nose: The grain notes are pushing past the lemon, orange, and grass notes. Other aromas in the beer is honey, vanilla, coriander, herbal, pepper, and floral esters.

Taste: The beer grain note is lightly toasted, and grassy. The flavors in the beer is lemon, orange, honey, vanilla, coriander, herbal, peppers and floral esters. The lemon grass pops out at the very end, letting you know it is in the beer.

Mouth feel of the beer is carbonated, slightly astringent, and crisp.

Overall: The body of the beer is medium light and the finish is medium. This beer has lots of flavor, but to me, seems as if the beer is discombobulated in taste. Flavors are here and there, lacking uniformity. Solid beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 03:32:53 | More by colts9016

LeRose

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice citrus aromas, lemongrass, coriander, pleasant grassy/green like good olive oil. A little yeasty, nicely carbonated, refreshing, and totally enjoyable. A little hazy consistent with the style, pours with a little neat white head on it. Just enough carbonation to be lively. Love the concept also - unearthing truly historic brews, science and art combined. Really just a fun brew to drink, IMHO.

This was the first craft beer beyond Blue Moon that I got my wife to try and her response as much simpler - "oooo...I like this". A rare and cherished response - victory is ours say the craft beer fans!

Review from notes

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 15:02:44 | More by LeRose

merc7186

New York

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber into a bell jar (classy).

A: Hazy Yellow Hue, Passes Lots of Light, White Head, Some Lacing

S: Lemon, Wheatgrass

T: Lemon, Wheat, Light Pepper

M: Decent Carbonation, Light Bodied, Lightly Drying

Overall, a nice mild wheat beer with a balanced lemon flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 01:36:48 | More by merc7186

tkelley

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I just split a bottle of this with my sister. I poured mine into a snifter glass.

It was pale, opaque, yellow with a light head that faded very quickly.

Smell was of citrus and coriander with a light banana background.

Tasted was very good, very complex. Spicy notes combined with citrus and wheat to produce a pleasant taste indeed. It was really subtle and very good.

Mouthfeel was average, not too bubbly or flat. Not thick but not watery.

I liked it. Good example of the style. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 23:48:33 | More by tkelley

SHODriver

California

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

A: poured into a pilsner glass to a light and slightly cloudy yellow with a finger of bright white head that fades to a small mat
S: smells of wheat, corriander, lemon and a bit of orangey sweetness
T: wheat and pale malt up front with lemongrass, corriander and other spices, some orange flavor and some spicy yeast character. swallow brings nice wheatyness and a clean finish with a bit of lemon and orange
M: light with soft carbonation and very refrshing
O: a very tasty and refreshing witbier. good flavors and fairly true to style. DFH rarely disappoints and this beer is a winner.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 00:25:07 | More by SHODriver

ljthockey7

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Strong smell of lemon-orange. Mouth feel was a bit too carbonated. But taste of the lemongrass and orange peel were definitely present and added some interesting flavor. A little too yeasty also but overall I enjoyed this. Not typically a fan of this style but a very intriguing offer from Dogfish. Wouldn't buy the bottle again but would have it if it was on tap somewhere.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 15:41:08 | More by ljthockey7

AdamMY

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance is a nice foggy blonde color, with a pure white and thick and foamy head.

Smell is everything a wheat beer should smell like, oranges, a hint of spices, some lemon, and a hint of fresh baked bread.

The taste is a little weak. Coriander is the flavor that dominates, but besides that it is water, and weak. So lots of coriander, and a hint of lemon and orange juice, but besides that not a whole lot going on.

Mouthfeel though is decently thick and creamy, and seems to coat well.

Overall its an easy drinking beer, nothing to write home about though.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:49:26 | More by AdamMY

gtermi

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This beer pours a very cloudy yellow body with a thin white head that quickly fades to nothing.

S: I am getting a nice strong scent of sweet fruitiness, some wheat and a bit of funky yeast. The coriander also sticks out too.

T: Like the smell, I get a strong fruity flavor that seems to linger a long time. I also get a little bit of a yeast flavor and a bit of wheat. I love the coriander flavor that gives it a great summer type beer feel to it.

M: This beer goes down with ease and doesnt disappoint with a nice semi-full body. There is a nice bit of crispness on the tip of the tongue and as the beer goes down my throat.

O: This is a very solid beer from Dogfish Head and would be perfect on a hot day during the summer. Easy to drink, low alcohol and very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 04:18:03 | More by gtermi

KajII

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

[Suggested Glassware: Weizen Glass]

The pour was a cloudy medium yellow with a large (2-3 finger) white pillowy head that had great retention and excellent sheets of lacing.

The aroma was of a light hay malt and a skunky yeast with notes of citrus (orange), lemon grass and a bit of coriander.

The taste was light with a strong wheat presence and a touch of lemon grass throughout, with a light note of citrus and a mild spiciness towards the finish. The flavor lasted only a short while with a nice citrus yeasty taste left to linger on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a solid medium carbonation.

Overall this brew was a pretty basic Witbier. Tasty, refreshing and easy to drink, most definitely worth having a few...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 21:37:28 | More by KajII

impending

California

2.78/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

C

750ml into a tulip. Pours a fully hazed pale milky yellow, minor head lasted briefly, little lacing.

Aroma is sharp, citrus although not obvious orange and a hint of something from the medicine cabinet.

The flavor is muted. Dominant taste spike is of potpourri. Zero bitter. The aftertaste of what there is flees the mouth leaving a nondescript sensation rather than a flavor. Thin watery mouthfeel.

my grandmother's house was large, many closets across many bedrooms, none were sliders. Hiding in some, in the dark, I could taste a smell. When I encounter this now, in a wit, it doesn't appeal although the memory is pleasant.
jd

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 06:32:57 | More by impending

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

25 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

A) moderate power results in 3 finger head, fades slowly leaving some lacing and a little cap. Beer is a pale golden, somewhat cloudy.

S) Picking up some of the key witbier scent - some orange, some coriander, and it wouldn't be Dogfish Head if they didn't throw a curveball with some lemongrass.

T) First taste is the wheat, then the citrus flavors, which the lemongrass seems to win a bit. Very little bitterness, as with most witbiers the hops don't seem to play.

M) Thin and pretty carbonated, a refreshing summer beer. A little bit of a dry finish, but not too much.

O) A nice summer beer - I like slightly bolder flavors, but that's not what a witbier is about and this plays nicely to the style, with the classic Dogfish Head friskiness.

Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 23:14:32 | More by IvoryFoxhole

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

"Namaste, the word kinds sorta means the spirit in me recognizes and celebrates the spirit in you. Namaste the beer kinda sorta means white ale as in wheat and coriander but also means dried orange slices and lemongrass. A refreshing summer thing. Namaste."

Glug, glug, glug goes the beer out of the bottle and into the glass.

Light apricot, pale peach appearance, bountiful head on it, billowy snow drift holding fast atop, bubbly, lace leaving. Mostly clear, with small particles at the bottom, some twisting around throughout the glass. Is this typical of this one, or do I have an older bottle?

Aroma: ah! Zesty, airy, uplifting, sweet, and slightly tart, with the coriander very vivid, and the orange just a little behind. Lemongrass, I don't have a handle on, though I've had my share of Town Hall's various lemongrass brews. I lean into the glass further and plunge my nose straight in …lightly fruity and spicy, and very pretty.

Taste: soft on the palate, with a distinct grassiness. Light bodied, with a constant delivery of light fruit and spice. Slides down and back with minimal effort.

Soft, breezy, and beautiful. Mmmmm. Nice. Namaste.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 09:45:59 | More by feloniousmonk

StoutHunter

Michigan

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

I picked up a bottle of Dogfish Head's Namaste a couple days ago for $9.89 at The Lager Mill. I was looking for a new Witbier to try with some family members who like the style, so lets see how it goes. 2012 vintage. Poured from a brown 750ml bottle into a tulip.

A- The label looks nice and it's pretty eye catching, it poured a nice hazy straw color that took on a slight gold color when held to the light and it had three fingers worth of white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and left come nice rings of lacing. This was a very nice looking Witbier,.

S- The aroma starts off with a little bit of grainy wheat that doesn't smell that sweet and is followed by a nice earthy and grassy aroma. Next comes citrus aromas like oranges and lemons with the lemons seeming to stick out the most with a lemongrass like aroma and there was also a really slight banana aroma. Towards the end comes the spices which are mainly clove but there was also some peppery, herbal and coriander like aromas. I liked the aroma of this beer, it was nice and pretty complex.

T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma and it starts of with some slightly sweet malted wheat flavors followed by some bread like flavors that quickly give way to a good amount of citrus flavors like lemon rind, orange zest, lemon grass, and a very slight bit of banana. After that comes a slight earthy and grassy flavors that's followed by a good amount of spice that aren't overpowering and impart all those nice spices that I picked up in the aroma. There's hardly any bitterness on the finish, with some nice citrus, wheat, and spices on the aftertaste. I liked the flavor of this beer, it was good and it had some nice complexity to it.

M- Very smooth, crisp, refreshing, on the light side of being medium bodied with a higher amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel was good and the slightly higher carbonation worked well with this beer, it was pretty refreshing.

Overall I liked this beer and I thought that it was a good and true example of the style, it pretty much had everything that I look for in the style so I wasn't left wanting more, everyone I shared it with liked it. This beer had great drinkability, it was really smooth and refreshing, I could see myself having no problem drinking the whole bottle, a great choice for a warm summer afternoon. What I liked most about this beer was how true to style and complex it was, it wasn't overdone by any means and it had great balance. What I liked least about this beer is that Dogfish Head doesn't put this in 12oz bottles, it seems like the perfect beer for that format, almost $10 dollars for 750ml of a 5% Witbier isn't a great deal. I don't think I would buy this beer again, maybe for a special occasion, but for the price I couldn't justify buying it often. All in all I was impressed with this beer, I was expecting something a little odd and different with this beer, instead I just got a really good tasting Witbier and that's just what I needed, good work guys, this is one solid and good tasting Witbier.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 03:54:07 | More by StoutHunter

mooseo

Pennsylvania

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

750ml bottle poured into tulip. 2012.

A - Light hazy golden yellow with a large creamy head.

S - Very earthy and grassy with lemon, herbal spice, and oranges.

T - Subtle but pleasant flavor of sweet bready malt, lemon citrus, orange peel, and Belgian yeast. Slight hints of clove, coriander, and pepper.

M - Extremely light bodied, crisp, and refreshing. Silky with lots of carbonation.

O - One of the most sessionable witbiers I've had. Taste is subtle and delicate but enjoyable. Just a touch of Belgian yeast. Decent brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 02:50:08 | More by mooseo

buschbeer

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1 pint 9.4oz bottle
Served in a pilsner glass

A - The body is a hazy straw color. Three fingers of white head leave some decent lacing down the side of the glass.

S - I get citrus on the nose, lemons and oranges.

T - The taste seems to have more of a lemon influence. I get some sourness the more I drink.

M - Medium with a lot of carbonation.

O - I would not say this is my favorite of this style and would not buy a bottle of this again. It's not bad. I just don't think it's worth the dough.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 17:49:16 | More by buschbeer

brotherloco

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle. Bottled in 2012. Served in a tulip.

Pours a hazy pale honey-gold with a finger of bright white foam. Settles to a thin pillowy covering. Some nice lacing left in the glass.

Aroma of slightly-sour fruit, lemony citrus, peppery spices. Seems right for a wit style.

Flavor begins with the slight sourness that was picked up in the nose. Followed by some citrus acidity. Finishes with some lemon citrus and bitterness. Overall a very light flavor.

Fairly light bodied with medium, slightly-spritzy carbonation. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 21:10:34 | More by brotherloco