My Antonia - Dogfish Head Brewery

Wasatch

Utah

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to Hojaminbag for this brew.

750ml
Bottled In: 2010 2B

Poured into a DFH glass a very nice hazy golden yellow color, nice carbonation, very nice two-finger creamy white head, with some very nice sticky lacing to follow. The nose is malty, with some nice hop notes, slight citrus note. The taste is slightly sweet, bitter, malty, hoppy, with some citrus notes. Medium Body, nice dry/bitter finish. Drinkable, a very nice brew, glad I've gotten a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 21:14:48 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with a three finger white head that fades very slowly leaving a good lace. Hazy amber color. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Floral hop nose and flavor is good balance of caramel and hops, lingering hop aftertaste. $10.99 for a 750ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 23:46:59 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

(Served in a stemmed strange)

A- This beer pours a slightly dense but clear golden yellow body with huge deluge of microbubbles racing toward the surface. There is a thick antique white head that pulls away from the glass but last as a cloud sitting on the beer.

S- The green herbal hops are mellow with a pine note that grows in the finish with some woody note coming through. As the beer opens up there are flowery qualities to the hops.

T- There is just a touch of sweetness to the fresh pale malt note then it is on to the pungent green hops that are full on flavor but soft on bitterness. Some caramel malt notes come through as it opens up but they stay soft. The bitterness seems to less as the hop flavor seems to grow when the beer warms.

M- The light mouthfeel has a crisp fizz finish that compliments the hops and no real alcohol heat.

O- This beer stays clean, dry and crisp with having just a touch of sweetness to the pale malt and a full hops flavor that is nice and pungent with very little bitterness. This drinks like a beer half its ABV.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 22:02:18 | More by rhoadsrage

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crazy huge head fluffy, fades at a medium pace over slight hazy orange yellow wheat color. The fading head leaves a nice Belgian messy lacing.

Nose is light sweet malts, pilsner, light almost Belgian malts, light fruit, light grassy hops with little herbal tones. Light lager drug and pilsner crispness.

Taste is very Belgian tripel mixed with pilsner. Some light malts and wheat. Some light lager fruits. Lots of noble hops, grassy and light herbal, fruity hops, juicy and little soft pine. Quite a not of bitterness too. Slight sweetness and crispness. Finishes drier with lingering hops, decent bitterness, some heavy malts and sweetness lingering. Slightly syrupy.

Mouth is medium bodied with good carbonation.

Drinkability is ok. Low abc but sticky sweetness and a little astringency.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 22:38:21 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at a small tasting...thanks Jonathan.

a - Pours a somewhat transparent golden color with one inch of white head and light carbonation.

s - Smells of citrus, lemon, wheat, and caramel malts.

t - Tastes of lemon and citrus hops, grain, wheat, bready malts, and caramel malts.

m - Light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

d - A pretty nice pilsner. Easy to drink and would try again.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 01:53:22 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle purchased as a single from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" light blonde head over the clear golden brew. Head lasts beautifully, with sporadic chunky lacing. Aroma is sweet with floral hops character.

Taste begins sweet, goes lightly fruity in the middle, and closes with moderate bitterness and delicate floral flavors. Mouthfeel is very smooth, and drinkability is nice as well. Interesting brew that exhibits artful use of hopping.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 00:17:55 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml capped bottle into a couple of Pilsner glasses.

Pours a crystal clear copper, with 2 ½ fingers of foamy bright-white head. This retains with a big dollop of froth in the middle of the glass that stays very rich and coats the sides of the glass with heavy sticky lacing. Just a great look to this. The aroma is grassy, spicy, and citric with some tight malty grains underneath. The zesty fruit and bread character here just drive this.

The taste is earthy bitterness and fruit, which is undercut by a nice soft biscuit-like sweetness from those Pils malts. The finish is dry and very pithy feeling with a lingering spiciness. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied, with a pleasant easy carbonation in the mouth. Maybe just a touch of alcohol creeps out underneath but this is relatively silky smooth overall and yet still manages to have a bit of a snap to it as well.

VERY well done take on the Imperial Pilsner style here, with a flavorful and nicely balanced character that is driven home by the ridiculously smooth body on this. I initially split this because I thought that it was going to be a warm and overly sweet affair but was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite. Heck, I could have drunk this whole bottle my self! An excellent job by Dogfish Head keeping this one accessible despite the higher ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 20:13:42 | More by Kegatron

Zorro

California

4.11/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Slightly chill hazed gold colored beer with a puffy white head.

Smell is floral and yeasty with a herbal hop aroma. Subtle aromas, very faint apricot. Slight amounts of grass and lemon.

Starts out mild with a passing taste of strawberry and cream. Mildly bitter and tame for a Double Pilsner. Grassy with a taste I can't quite nail down. Best description would be mushroom tea.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall tasty and interesting, a good choice for introduction to this beer style.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:26:09 | More by Zorro

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark golden banana yellow color with a frothy, pillowy 2.5 finger white head with excellent retention, only slowly fading to a lasting cap that streaks the glass with rings and splotches of soapy lacing.

Earthy, floral aroma with some piny and citrus hop character as well as hints of sweet alcohol, pilsner malt, biscuit, lemon grass and crisp light fruit. Slight bready yeast in the nose with hints of lemon, apple and pear.

Medium body with lots of tight carbonation up front along with some earthy bitter hops, crisp light fruit, alcohol heat, bread and crisp light fruit. Pretty bitter with lots of earthy piny hop character which is countered by the pilsner malt, sweet alcohol, grass, straw and light fruit notes. Slight dry finish.

This beer is interesting because it is an extremely hoppy interpretation of a style that isn't usually so. There is also a bit too much of an alcohol presence that hurts the drinkability. Not quite balanced enough and the ABV is not well masked. I like both of these breweries so I was excited to try this but it was only average.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 07:13:38 | More by corby112

glid02

Georgia

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

On-tap at the Brick Store. I had the Birra del Borgo version while in Rome and was not impressed.

Pours a clear golden-copper color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of crisp pilsner malts with good amounts of light citrus and floral hops. Also present are slight amounts of grassiness.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Slightly grainy pilsner malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by earthy hops. Midway through the sip the hops open up more with the addition of slight citrus flavors. The citrus fades out quickly, allowing earthy hops and pilsner malt flavors to carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass quickly and could have another.

Overall I remain unsure as to what constitutes a "traditional" imperial pilsner. In any event, this beer seems to fit the bill and is a nicely done beer. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2011 23:51:27 | More by glid02

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from Tribeca Whole Foods. 750ml bottle explodes when opened. At least it's lively.

Pours a pleasantly hazed bright golden colour, just tinged with a burnished orange colour in the deepest parts. Head is frothy and full, forming from some ecstatic but fine carbonation, although it's pocked with large bubbles as well. Slight suds on the edges of the glass.

Nose is peppery and hoppy, with a touch of sulphur. Hop characters are more the leafy, organic characters of European varieties, although there's a twang of citrus flittering around as well. Decent pilsener nose, although not all that robust, especially given it's an imperial pils, supposedly "continuously hopped".

Taste is really good for the style. Bigger and fuller in most respects, but staying true to the crisp, hoppy character of a pilsener. Some glossy sweetness around the edges sets the crisp bitterness through the centre, which is bright, but almost silky in its cocoon. There's a hint of the booze, but it just accentuates the big characters of the beer, without forcing itself upon you.

Feel still has a crispness to it, despite the size of the brew. Een though you can feel the extra body and flavour, it stays true to its stylistic roots.

Great beer. I have something of a love/hate relationship with Dogfish Head; I love their experimentation, and their boundary pushing, but I often find their beers a little misguided and sometimes undrinkable. This is not one of those—this is a big beer, no doubt, but one which has been put together with style and balance in mind. Great work.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 17:37:28 | More by lacqueredmouse

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A towering white spongey structure quickly evolves in the glass with dominance and full occupancy. From the bottle a light maize coloring sits with some orange hues in the glass. The head is sturdy, lapsing at glacier speed, while leaving a medium dense spotty lacing behind for a lacing. The head turns to a whipped, almost shaving cream foam centerpiece left behind to admire and sits well into the drink. Visible carbonation is light and lazy while macro sized sediment matter slowly sinks to the bottom of the glass.

S: Gotta say I was expecting a bit more aromatic wise from an imperial, continuously hopped beer by DFH. Slightly dry grains with some orange grind and light lemon weed hints of reserved nature is the best I could muster even after several swirls and moments of agitation.

T: Spicy hops with a dry glazed sweetness first emerges upon the initial sip. The hops start to emerge mid-palate, spicy with a citric bite reminding me of warrior. There is a bit of grassiness mixed in with some dry barley grains and dry flowery hops. A bit of grainy and glazed sweetness re-emerges on the finishing fade with lingering grassy after-thoughts. Dry and grainy as well grassy with a nice complexity of hop contribution comes compliments of the continous hop intervals which delivers a broad range of spectrum here. Reminds me a bit of their 60min ipa with a pilsner base.

M: A bit of carbonation, especially along the edges and tip of the tongue. Light bodied with a slippery feel and texture.

D: Drinks bigger then its 7.5%abv would indicate. Warming, spicy with generous amounts of hops and dry grainy palate gives this a definite chance of repeatability.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 23:00:17 | More by beerthulhu

kojevergas

California

2.75/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served on-draught into a generic beer glass in Trastavere, Rome. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a two finger head of soft cream, decent thickness, and good retention. Colour is a transparent yellow.

Sm: Musty hops, fringe esters, and light amber hops. Aroma is of moderate strength.

T: Cream, amber hops, and unwelcome bittering hops. I hate the IPA-ish bittering hops, but leave it to Dogfish Head to throw them in there. It's alright, but the balance is off and the build is awful for a pils.

Mf: Coarse, fairly dry, and a bit too thick. Wretchedly done for the style.

Dr: This is an outright perversion of the style. The price is high (this was in Rome), and the quality is rather limited. I'll try it in bottle form back in the states, but it's far from high on me list.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 23:34:32 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

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

Pours a bright yellow/gold color with a thin head into my glass. Very much appropriate for the style.

Lots of grassy hops followed by buttery malt. Much like a standard pilsner ramped up.

Tongue is greeted by grassy hops followed by rich, buttery malt. Mmmm. Slightly crisp as well with some booziness.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering buttery malt/grassy hops that have a great dynamic. Carbonation is a bit high though.

The only gripe is carbonation. Regardless, this is an interesting take on an uniquely Americanized version of the standard pilsner. Worth it if you like SA Imperial Pilsner and others.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 03:55:13 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml brown bottle poured into a DFH snifter. My Antonia appears a very clear light golden color with a solid 2 fingers of creamy offwhite head. Bubbles continuously rise off the etching on the bottom of the glass in support of the head which slowly dissolves. As the cap of offwhite foam receeds, it leaves patches of lacing all over the glass.

The aroma of this brew is quite hoppy. A nose full of different hop character awaits smelling spicey with individual scents that come across grassy, herbal and piney. A faint grainy backing is there offsetting all the hoppiness with a sweet scent of fresh bready grains. Some very minor buttery notes fill the gaps between the scent of hops and grain.

The taste of My Antonia matches what the aroma would lead you to expect. Upfront there is a hoppy herbal character that is moderately bitter. Other hop flavors come into play that taste grassy with a touch of pine. A decent amount of grainy flavor and minor bready sweetness is evident laying a solid foundation for this brew. The alcohol is quite apparent for 7.5% with some heat in the back of the throat and a mildly solvent flavor that really accents the hop flavors.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. Not only is the carbonation visible from bubbles continuously rising from the bottom of the glass, but it is prickly on the tongue. Overall quite drinkable, about the only complaint is that the alcohol creeps up with this offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 00:56:32 | More by stakem

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not my favorite style, but usually because tangy lager yeast takes over. There are some notable exceptions that are quite pleasant, and I'd add this one to that list. Crisp and dry, with just a touch of tanginess, and lots of floral and some earthy hops. Pours a pale amber/golden with a somewhat thin head, but some lacing as well. More tanginess in the nose, more hops in the flavor. Quite smooth,very dry, and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 04:11:26 | More by Georgiabeer

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served from bottle into a Dogfish Head snifter (proper!). Poured a golden yellow-orange with a three finger white head that subsided to a half finger very slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wheat, grain, spice, pepper, bubblegum, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, bubblegum, grain, wheat, floral, spice, pepper, and alcohol. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty average brew. Nothing really stood out on this one for with the exception of the alcohol if I am honest. This made the enjoyable aspects of this one really lost in the booze going on. This was a bottle with some decent age on it so I would have expected the alcohol to be completely gone, but alas, there it was glaring back at me. Glad I got to try this one finally and get it out of my cellar, but I doubt I would do so again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 13:12:04 | More by thagr81us

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Comes out of the tap a clear amber with a respectable, if not persistent, white head. Fairly strong aroma is malty and fruity with just a hint of hops. Flavor is malty and has a firm fruity undertone that is mainly pear, along with more than a hint of hops and touches of both sweetness and bitterness. Texture is almost silky smooth with a subtle fizz. I know that I tend to be unfair to pilsners, but I hope I gave this one a fair shake.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2011 02:39:05 | More by Cyberkedi

avalon07

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pilsner glass. Had a golden yellow color and a cloudy consistency. There was a big, bright white, creamy head. Excellent lacing.

S: A nice malty, slightly hoppy smell, with traces of citrus.

T: Tasted of grainy malt, some hops, and a touch of lemon. Not as dynamic or flavorful as other Imperial Pilsners I've tried, but a decent flavor.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a dry finish. Light-bodied.

D: A good, solid, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 13:11:31 | More by avalon07

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dogfish Head My Antonia

Pours a clear straw in color, soapy head and a bit fizzy at that. Bright and clarity is good. Retention is decent and some lace is noted. Suggestions of lemon, grass and green hop in the nose and taste. Very smooth on the palate, crisp and also belgianesque in its carbonation. A touch of hop, this ale tastes like a big clean pils, does not taste like a euro style pils, distinctly American despite the origins and name. Good feel and overall interesting and well made. A successful beer and would love to have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 02:08:48 | More by Stinkypuss

gford217

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle.

Pours a deep hazy golden yellow with a huge frothy white head that recedes very quickly to a clumpy cap and leaves spots of lacing.

The aroma is very sweet with caramelized sugar and citrus hops with a spiciness in the nose as well.

The taste has the same sweetness but with lots of toasted grains, herbal and citrus hops and a spicy sweet finish. There is an overall grassy character to things.

The mouthfeel is full bodied and sweet for the style, spicy and slightly dry.

I've had quite a few impy pilsners this season and this one is decent but not one of the best. Still good.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 23:44:11 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice golden sushine color with a soft bronze tint and good bubbling. The head is about one finger thick and lingers or about half of the 750 ml. bottle.

The hops are evidently present in the nose of this beer. But they don't dominate as I expected. This smells like a traditionally grassy smelling ilsner hop aroma, but with more orange and more earth. But the crisp toasted mlats lend a nice water cracker aroma as well. This beer smells like a well hopped pilsner.

This Double Pilsner has everything. You get Earthy, grassy, herbal, and citric hop flavors. You also get lightly toasted, cracker like, malts. These flavors balance out beautifully to make one of the best tasting Pilsner I've ever had. The hops add a certain crispness to this beer. The alcohol is only noticed a little bit on the finish.

This is one well balanced, hoppy, double pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 05:12:45 | More by scruffwhor

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was pleased to see this on the tap menu at Cobblestone's - served chilled in a goblet.

The clarity is like crystal - practically transparent with sudsy white foam atop which has an almost shiny smooth topography. The bead is fine and lace sticks like sap to the goblet-no carbonation is visible in the liquid. A strong herbal fragrance with hints of sweet leafy hops and floral alcohol esters w/ mild pils malt aroma which reminds me of my first taste of Pilsner bier in the Fatherland w/ hops and malt given equal creedence. The yeast provides a mild sulfur accent which gives the impression of a traditional european pilsner smell. The feel is wonderful -it is both dry and slightly bitter w/ a mild tinge of sweet pils character with light amount of toastiness and medium amount of carbonation and bitterness with a semi-dry finish.

The taste has herbal sweet and lightly malty qualities with low bitterness in the flavor and smooth lemony noble hop accents. The gentle alcohol flavor and spice provides some contrast to the mild honey-like tinge from the malt. There is a mild level of fruitiness and toasted elements in the flavor with hints of floral noble hop tinges throughout. I almost get a sweet golden delicious aspsect from the pils near the finish which is probably yeast derived. I find this to be a wonderful Imperial Pils -a beer I would drink daily if given the chance. It is not boring to me, very flavorful and it fits the style well. I would recommend this to German Pils fans and it went well with my brats with spicy dijon mustard countering the fattiness well.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 18:06:13 | More by Slatetank

kylehay2004

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 3 finger head, nice retention. Golden clear.

S: bready, brown sugar. Not a lot of the fruit that I get in the taste.

T: malt, spices and some fruits, mostly banana and pineapple. Alcohol esters make this a tad unpleasant but drinkable. Clove and earthy notes as well.

M: moderate carbonation and medium to full body.

Overall: A complex beer which may be one of the better imperial pilsners I have had.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 01:17:02 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle, purchased in Columbus for something like $8. It pours a golden-orange color, slightly hazy with a wet looking foam on top. Very nice aromatics, this definitely has a pilsner base but the hops are amped up big time, not quite the same as Sam Adams Hallertau but maybe a first cousin. Rather than Hallertau hops this has plenty of Saaz style spiciness, also some juicy citrus that I associate more with American IPAs. It tastes very nice, not really a refined pils but rather more of an agressive IPA. Lasting bitterness in the aftertaste but it's a flavorful bitterness so I like it. Creamy mouthfeel, very good match with the flavors, overall an excellent beer. I'd be happy to have it again any time.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 04:13:48 | More by TurdFurgison