Ta Henket - Dogfish Head Brewery

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml bottle poured on 2-28-12.

A - Pours a clear golden orange with a two finger near white, foamy head. Good retention.

S - Corn, herbs, earthy.

T - Tea-like with a sweet breadlike taste.

D - Higher carbonation and a thin body. Slightly sweet.

O - Ok, nothing I need again.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 05:20:45 | More by HuskyinPDX

01001111

California

4.08/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear, pale orange; much like a pilsner.

S: Sulfurous fruit, honey, and sharp yeast funk.

T: A wash of peppery, sulfurous fruit and chamomile gives way to a weak pilsner-like flavor.

M: Thin and crisp.

O: The taste is certainly better than the strange scent implies. An interesting experiment leaves me strangely drawn to wanting more despite not being too enamored; mildly repellant, oddly attractive.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 01:58:23 | More by 01001111

jtierney89

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had no idea this thing was 4.5% abv what a rip off (12.99 for the bomber). This better taste fantastic.

Pours a golden straw color with a pretty good sized off white head. Lots of visible carbonation and great clarity (which I'm sure the Egyptians didnt achieve) Nose is nutty and grainy (but not like adjunct grains) more like a whole grain cereal. Almonds come to my. Some sort of bright fruit is present as well.

Wow, whats weird is I like this. Very very spiced but balanced as well. Medium body. Roasted nut like quality up front and around the center of the tongue. Strange exotic spices play off the nutty flavors extremely well. Really reminds you of thai or indian food. Some bright fruit is present as well and balances the very dry spice characteristics of the rest of the beer. Extremely effervescent.

I've truly never had anything like this but definitely brings me on a journey to another time where such a strange beverage could be enjoyed. This beer really does what dogfish head sent out to do with it and to me is leaps and bounds ahead of midas touch even though I love that beer. I could be found buying this often if made more available in something like a 4 pack. Would go amazing with exotic dishes.

Truly unique and truly tells a story.

One of the downsides of this beer i'm noticing however is that it gets pretty phenolic after a bit almost band aid like. Maybe the bottle is best split amongst friends.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 04:16:07 | More by jtierney89

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very unusual and stimulating historic exploration, well worth the try, fruity, soft, with intriguing nuances...

Presentation: 750 ml brown capped bottle. White an greeln label with hieroglyphs depicting the name of brewery and overall DFG branding. Small side note point to ingredients and ancient character. Shows bottling in 2011 22:38A, and 4.5% Alc. by Vol. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Clear golden pour, fizzy two finger of head with moderate retention, fair surface memory and some small touches of lacing.

S -The nose is already very unusual the fruity and mix of spices is rare for this palate and intriguing. Date sweetness but this Doum Fruit is new.. and or the Za'atar mix or yeast. Spiced sweet roundness…

T - which follows nicely on the palate. The strange spiced sweetness permeates the feel but is not overwhelming at all, noting down for future reference that Doum date Fruit and the mix of spices. There is a sense o f light bready wheat in the flow, and sure enough a tea/chamomile touch in the rhythm that is gently recognizable. Honey, maybe meady at points… Not enough meads in my memory but a ring to those I have had, maybe more so kinda braggot...

M - Medium to medium/light body with medium carbonation, and a slightly smooth touch held by the soft sweet finish.

O - It offers a very nice and pleasing flow.

Notes: Maybe one the best new big bottle releases from DFH I have tried in the last year or beyond… Nice to try and in the right context this could work great socially. The background is stimulating enough as it is, with the idea of a brew aiming at cloning ancient Egyptian brews, then tailored and upgraded to contemporary palates, I sure would have loved to try a sample with the sulphur, but how they got rid of it and let the fruit shine is quite nice too. Not top tier of their historic brews, but something that I might repeat...

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:37:22 | More by Daniellobo

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.45/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured in a Wellington glass.

Appearance: Light amber,off-white head is thin originally 1/4" off the body settled into nada in a matter of seconds after one sip.

Smell: Light yeast, pretty bland nothing.

Taste: you know it feels like a yeasted tea. Not bitter and something that is closer to sour-sweet.

Mouth: medium carbonation, so smooth you will finish the glass before writing the review .

Overall: Can't complain at all, most of the time when I think of DFH, I think of their stronger beers and ales...this is something unique that you would definitely love image summer months. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 23:13:27 | More by BlurryVisi0n

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle.

Pours clear gold with barely a trace of white head that evaporated instantly. A placid surface with zero lacing for the duration.

Aromatics lead off with shades of honey-laced malt, earthy spice, and light funk. A bit Pledge-like with the Camomile character, followed by hints of flower petals and perhaps potpourri. Light pineapple and ginger as well.

Light bodied with a crispish, thin mouthfeel.

Clovey spices with a wheaty twang start the palate. Sweetish malt with shades of nutmeg, ginger, and cut grass follow through.

Finishes with honey, spice, and clove-studded lemon pith.

Interesting beer. A bit thin and watery and the spicing is not overdone. The funk from the wild yeast is very mild, hard to imagine a wild yeast not yeilding a product that is even remotely sour.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 02:00:13 | More by brewandbbq

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into an oversized pilsner glass @ Oneguyonecup's.

A: Relatively clean, golden yellow with a chilled haze & a two-finger head of bone-white carbonation that left a bit of sticky lace.

S: Vegetative, with hints of musty tropical fruit, whey and oddly enough, chicken stock.

T: Dry, semisweet and fruity with a dense, rich pulpy flavor. Hints of citrus, wheat and almost peach-pumpkin like fruitiness build around a buttery, apricot finish. Very dry and slightly herbal aftertaste cleanses the palate.

M: Light, somewhat crisp, but dense, pulpy fruit essence makes the mouthfeel full-bodied before a dry, frothy finish.

O: Very interesting light brew in DFH's expanding ancient beer series, the Middle Eastern ingredients are like a history lesson on the palate. The 4.5% ABV is quite manageable, but I'd be searching for just the right pairing to have more than one glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 01:34:04 | More by Gambrinus1184

Vec2267

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - clear golden, white head that falls quickly

S - a strong perfume of spice

T - bread, tart lemon, followed by a heavy dose of spice

M - very light and crisp but the swirl of flavors makes it very rich

O - very unique, a must try, but I doubt I will repeat it

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 23:15:59 | More by Vec2267

CaptJackHarkness

New York

4.25/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nose is a bit sour, herby, slightly sulferous. Pours out dark yellow with huge frothy white head. Head reduces to a foamy film.No lacing at all. Taste is surprizingly mild. No bitterness, unhopped. Bready with a hint of chamomile and somewhat figgy (doum fruit?). I can see the Pyramid builders having something very much like this, very nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 23:12:51 | More by CaptJackHarkness

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-transparent golden with a stable white head

S-smells like fresh grassy grains with a hint of honey and spice. very crisp smelling. actually smells like a good german beer. its a complex smell.

T-comes in with a taste of oyster crackers, its a simple and clean taste. the after-taste is subtley complex that is matching yet has a spice to it that i can't put my finger on. it taste foreign, but not European? it seriously seems to have a middle eastern funk to it. its a good and easy drinking beer.

M-medium carbonation with a dry finsh

O-this is definitely a unique beer. it reminds me of an oktoberfest style with a middle eastern touch to it! its extremely drinkable and has a such a nice and balanced complexity considering the low ABV

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 19:41:19 | More by AdamBear

Sam21

Connecticut

2.95/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Purchased in January 2011 for ~$8. Poured around 40-45 degrees into a snifter.

Appearance - Golden amber body with a quickly dissipating white head. Leaves sparse lacing.

Smell - A bit bready with a rustic spice quality. Slightly rough around the edges with dry fruit present. There is a very pronounced dry spice note.

Taste - A rustic malt sweetness up front with bready undertones. There are notes of dried fruit and a strong chamomile presence that adds hints of green apple and a haylike quality. The finish is yeasty with more hay, bread, and a heavy spice note.

Mouthfeel - Light feel with enough behind it. Far from thin. Good carbonation. Pleasant.

Overall - In the end, you have to take Ta Henket for what it is. The Ancient Ales are always interesting, so I had to take a step back and appreciate this beer from the perspective of what went into it. It tasted quite unrefined and rugged and while there was definitely a plain/bland quality to the depth of the beer, I picture it being an everyday brew of the masses in ancient Egypt. An interesting experience that I enjoyed. I have to say that the presence of chamomile was most intriguing as it really came through in the finished product!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 13:25:59 | More by Sam21

the38raven

Virginia

2.83/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer is all over the place. Very interesting concept, but some of the elements are a little off-putting.

A: Very clear, light golden color. Thin, rapidly dissipating head; I turned around for a second and it was gone. No lacing whatsoever.

S: I get mostly chamomile, an herbal/floral characteristic.

T: Largely like an average beer of this type, but with a growing taste of chamomile that lingers in my mouth. My first impression was more "what is that?" than anything positive.

M: Smooth, on the thicker side of light. Not bad.

O: I'm not a huge fan of chamomile, which probably prejudices me against this one. As a historian, I was really hoping to like this one, but... eh.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 02:48:29 | More by the38raven

Manoftyr

New York

3.35/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance-Pours straw yellow with a puffy white head that leaves little dollops of lacing as it quickly bubbles down to nothing. Not much retention.

Aroma-Very grainy/wheaty, some fruit and spice in there but it's hard to pick out.

Taste-A little tartness from the doum fruit, some spice from the Za'atar and mustiness from the yeast are noted upfront but they don't really make a lasting impact. Middle is all raw grain with some light acidity, the doum fruit comes back on the finish. I don't pick up the Chamomile at all.

Mouthfeel-Quite nice actually, crisp and carbonated while still being exceptionally lush; refreshing after each gulp.

Overall-I like this beer and I don't like it, I see what DFH was going for but I think it could've been executed better. Still a very unique brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 19:59:55 | More by Manoftyr

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

4.1/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Golden honey color with a light thin white head. Bright and bubbly clear body.

Smell:The aroma is almost like a Pilsner. Earthy grains and hops. Ripe fruits and citric flavors. Tangerine and lime. Herbs and Doum fruit.

Taste: Zesty citric flavor. Fruity and herbal. Lots of grain and yeast.

Mouthfeel:Thin and light with a lot of great balance. This is malty with only slight hop bitterness. Finishes dry crisp and clean. Very refreshing.

Overall: A very unique and enjoyable beer. Another unique exhibition by Dogfish.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 04:18:13 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

UCLABrewN84

California

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the ColLAboration beer fest at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear light orange with a puffy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. There is no lacing on the drink down. Smell is of grains and herbs that I cannot identify. Taste is of grains, herbs, and spices. There is a slightly spice forward aftertaste with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer for what it is but not something I could drink an entire bottle of. Very interesting story behind this one and I am glad I was able to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 04:07:27 | More by UCLABrewN84

Daktyls

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy golden color with a fairly small patch of tiny bubbles that clings together in the middle.

S: Smells faintly of chamomile with light straw and wheat and perhaps a little bit of lemon-y citrus.

T: Very light in flavor, with light citrus notes being the predominant taste in this beer with a little bit of chamomile.

M: Light bodied beer with a mild amount of carbonation.

O: A Solid beer overall, a little less flavorful than I was expecting, but is solid against the style. Definitely would buy again, this is a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 01:49:57 | More by Daktyls

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Gaithersburg Alehouse. Served in a snifter.

Appearance: Clear amber color. Barest amount of head across the top with some lacing.

Smell : Very unusual. Spicy, herby, quite savory. Sage, oregano? Really unexpected but interesting.

Taste: Again, very unusual – very savory for a beer not much sweetness or hop bitterness, just lots of other flavors. Spicy, roasty, strong herb flavors. At times I thought I was drinking something that had come fresh out of a mediterrean restaurant oven – I really must emphasize the savory nature of the beer as that is was stuck out the most, not bad – just quite different but that’s the point of this beer, isn’t it? Not sure if I liked it per se, but I will give it points for being one of the most unusual tasting beers I’ve ever had.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, slick, just right carbonation. Coated the mouth nicely and went down really easy.

Overall/Drinkability: A very unusual beer. Glad I tried it but I can’t see getting it again. A beer worth expanding the palate with, and maybe with a pizza rather than the crab cakes I had, it would work even better, but by itself, just interesting to see an potential take on an ancient style, but not an everyday drinkable beer. However, I will again give it points for being such a creative and palate challenging beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 01:22:39 | More by damndirtyape

FosterJM

California

3.4/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1113th Review on BA
Tap to stemmed cup

@Hamiltons San Diego, CA

App- A mild light yellow with some decent orange in the color. A soft 1/2 in. head faded quickly and left maybe a couple lines of cling on the glass.

Smell- A generous mix that just seemed to soft to me. I appreciate the lightness but needed more aromatics. A little bit of lemon, orange, wheat, licorice and damp earth.

Taste- The profile followed the nose and was a bit sweet, with a bit of wheat and then flowed into a bit of that unique tea/licorice flavor.

Mouth- A bit of a light thin body with a medium light carbonation. A little bit of wheat and spice remain.

Drink- Won't creep up the ladder as a favorite of mine from DFH, but I am intriqued by what Sam and staff put out and will keep trying their beers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2012 18:09:39 | More by FosterJM

albertjr21

New York

4/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Into a wine glass pours a bright and clear yellow gold under a very thin head. Aroma is of mild earthy zesty fruit. Light bodied malt feel with a crisp carbonation sets forth a very subtle but flavorful blend of delicate herbs and fruit. The phrase "less is more" comes to mind here and I can't help but think of how much I'd like to introduce this to my green folk who "don't like beer"...

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 02:00:51 | More by albertjr21

Shaw

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lovely reddish golden in color with a nice white head that reduces to a thin layer in my tulip glass.

Light sweet aroma of fruit and chamomile with a bit of earthiness, perhaps from the wild yeast?

Flavor is almost savory from the spices. This is a dry beer. The chamomile comes through. It tastes of exotic spice.

A hefty body.

Overall I think this beer is greater than the sum of its parts. I was especially interested to have it after seeing its creation on "Brew Masters." Was it worth trying? Certainly. Would I have it again? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 04:31:53 | More by Shaw

TechTriumph

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From notes on 01/08/12:
2011 Vintage; Poured in a pint glass.

A - First pour: 1/4" of fizzing head that disappears into nothing within seconds; Dark gold/wheat in color; Crystal clear in appearance with visible carbonation; No lacing whatsoever
Second pour: Better showing of head this time with just under one inch that's white and creamy; The head also manages to stick around just a bit longer this time around

S - Notes of cracked wheat, burnt caramel and toast, sourdough bread, floral qualities, some unfamiliar spices, and a funk that I can't really put into words; The funky smell does weaken as the beer warms and in the second pour

T - More cracked wheat present in the taste, especially in the beginning; The taste also consists of sweet honey, white and sourdough bread, and floral and spicy characteristics; Leafy and earthy flavors come mostly in the finish and linger

M - Moderate carbonation; Light bodied; Somewhat wet lingering finish that leaves a sticky sensation in the mouth

O - Without a doubt, I have never had a beer quite like this before, and probably never will again. What brought me to try this beer was the Brew Masters "Ancient Ale" episode where Dogfish Head goes through a painstaking process to reproduce an ancient Egyptian beer recipe, dubbed Ta Henket. After watching their dedication and creativity hard at work, I can truly appreciate getting to finally experience this beer. I'll be honest though, I'm not sure how the Egyptians managed to drink this on a regular basis (I assume). After drinking a bomber, I realized two things: 1) A single bomber was more than enough for me, and 2) Beer has come a looong way over the last several thousand years. Evolution is a beautiful thing.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 15:25:59 | More by TechTriumph

CHickman

New York

1.78/5  rDev -47%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Pours slightly hazy gold color with a 2 finger foamy white head that faded quickly and left zero lacing. The head fizzed away like a soda.

This is a very weird smelling beer; it’s a cross between burnt wheat, burnt hair and stinky hippy feet. After mustering up the courage to go in for another whiff, it smells of wheat, roasted grains, sand (like you’re at the beach), flowers, herbs, light toasted bread, cracker, honey and some light spices; again, this smells unlike any beer that I’ve ever encountered and I understand the historical interpretation attempt, but have no idea what Za’atar or Doum fruit smell like. I guess I pick up the chamomile, but that’s likely just as much mental play since I’m reading it on the front of the bottle.

Tastes like burnt wheat, dry hay, lightly toasted grains, flowers, herbs, toast, cracker, honey and some light spices. Almost tasted like licking a horse, and I could not pick up hops but did get the flavor of vegetables like celery.

Mouthfeel is light and crisp, with very light carbonation that’s almost watery, a light body (as in Bud Light) and a clean dry finish.

Overall it was not good, and did not get better as I downed more of the bottle. I love trying new styles and experimental beers, but this was just not good at all to me and the taste and aroma were so far off that I couldn’t finish the bomber. Thankfully I have a 120 Minute IPA in my beer fridge to remind me of why I love DogFish Head, so I’ll give them another mulligan on this one; this was a valiant effort at recreating history, but this beer could have stay buried with the Lost Ark out in the desert.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 05:50:42 | More by CHickman

prototypic

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Ta Henket pours a golden color. It’s very clear and looks more yellow when held to light. A soft, white head caps it and stands about a finger and a half tall. It recedes rather quickly, leaving a light, spotty lacing behind. It’s not exactly a looker, but it’s not bad.

The nose is okay. It’s a little weak on the nose. More strength would be good. It is earthy and grainy throughout. No surprise there. There’s a distinct floral quality to it. I suspect that’s the chamomile. There are some light honey and perhaps fruity notes at the secondary level. I’m very unfamiliar with the fruit used here. It has a somewhat prominent yeasty, breadlike scent. Alcohol is masked well and is not noticeable.

The flavor is rather average. It’s mostly earthy, grainy, and floral. It has a malt base that’s a little sweet. Chamomile definitely gives it a relatively strong floral flavor. It’s alright. Not my favorite thing. It’s followed a light fruity and honey flavors. The fruit flavor is okay. It’s not quite strong enough to have much of an impact on the flavor. Yeasty, breadlike flavors come and go, but are easily noted throughout. Alcohol isn’t much of a factor at all. I’m not getting any. It finishes with a mix of honey and floral notes.

Ta Henket has a lighter body. Carbonation feels light and relatively soft. It goes down rather smooth and easy. For what it’s worth, the flavor limits my enjoyment. I’ll probably polish off the bottle in any event.

Dogfish Head certainly is a trailblazer. Ta Henket is one of its beers where the back story is a little better than the beer. Frankly, it just doesn’t have enough flavor to be a standout success. It’s not a total disaster. Maybe worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 03:17:22 | More by prototypic

Brad007

Vermont

4.3/5  rDev +28%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a honey gold with a thin head into my glass. Label says Za'atar, Doum Fruit and Chamomile. I'm not familiar at all with the first two.

Fruity and spicy with hints of fig and plum. Similar to a saison? I can't differentiate at this point.

"Flowery" and full of fig and grape notes. Very gentle on the palate.

It's taboo to use the word smooth but that's the mouthfeel in my opinion. It also has what I would call a dry finish.

This beer may have been hard for me to describe due to the ingredients. However, it is solid and different from the usual examples of the style. They are constantly trying to out-do themselves with each new release. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 00:41:29 | More by Brad007

Halcyondays

California

4.05/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle,

A: Pours a rather clear goldenrod with a medium white head. Fair retention.

S: Very flowery with lots of bread and yeast, a unique character.

T: The chamomile is very noticable which I like. An earthy, bready overall flavour, herbal notes, I quite liked it.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp and smooth.

O: Definitely an interesting beer, a distinct herbal flavour, so those that don't like that might want to stay away. But for the adventurous, this is worth a buy.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 21:47:02 | More by Halcyondays