Robert Johnson's Hellhound On My Ale - Dogfish Head Brewery

macrosmatic

Florida

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Poured from bomber into a CCB pint glass.

A: Pours a mostly clear, nice deep gold, with a pretty 1 1/2 finger white head, and a good amount of visible carbonation.

S. Not a whole lot of aroma here. Some citrus hoppiness, biscuit malt...and that's about it.

T: Bitter up front, a citrus rind hoppiness, a bit of pine, and biscuit malt. This is pretty bitter.

M: Medium body, alcohol noticeable, good carbonation sensation.

O: OK, and that's about it. Nothing objectionable, but it does nothing to make me want another.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 02:56:55 | More by macrosmatic

MisterNic

Wyoming

3.1/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml bottle

A - Pours a hazy dark orange/amber color with a 2 finger white head.

S - Citrus, maltiness, mango, and a little pear. The bottle says they added lemon peel, but I didn't really pick that up. If it was there, it was lost in the aroma of the centennial hops, which tend to have a citrusy aroma to begin with. As the beer warmed up, I did notice a little bit of lemon aroma.

T - Moderate bitterness, roasted maltiness, pineapple, pine, caramel, spicy. Again, the lemon didn't come through at first, but after the beer warmed up, it did. This is a very well balanced beer.

M - Medium body, dry finish, lingering bitterness.

O - Good, but for an IIPA it could use a lot more hop flavor and aroma. I tasted no alcohol whatsoever, so it was very drinkable for a 10% ABV beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 00:04:11 | More by MisterNic

teromous

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is a deep golden color, with a huge white foamy head. It is slightly hazy, leaves good lacing on the glass, and has a steady stream of slow bubbles.

S: A very familiar IIPA hop scent. I get some mellow grapefruit scent, some flowery perfumes which are quite nice, and only a hint of alcohol. No malt scents come across for me at all. It smells good...it really does remind me of a ladies perfume.

T: I get lots of grapefruit flavor coming through. The beer label says it's brewed with lemons, but it doesn't really taste a lot like lemons to me. Whatever they did, it just tastes like a really great IIPA. The bitterness is right there, but isn't harsh.

M: The mouthfeel on this beer is perfect. I can go on to describe it but it really is A+. It is incredibly easy to drink. I could down a glass of this without batting an eye. The bitterness is there for IIPA lovers, but it is not harsh at all which I believe makes it easier to drink. It's a pretty dry beer, which suits the hop character.

O: Overall I was highly impressed with the beer. It was a sleeper for me. I bought the bottle because I've never tried this one from DFH, and admittedly I was a bit apprehensive about trying a lemon beer. I was ready to open a bottle of beer lemonade. Instead I was greeted with a wonderfully hopped IIPA. If there are lemons in this beer, they tuck in with the citrus flavors of the hops, because it's hard for me to differentiate the two. I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys hoppy beers. I would drink it again, and probably will.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 23:36:11 | More by teromous

brewtus

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark orange with a dense head. You can smell a little bit of lemon, but not in a sweet way, like warm lemon, and its subtle. Taste is big imperial ipa hops,pretty bitter, warm lemon, some dark fruit and a thick mouthfeel. The 10% abv is pretty prevalent. I prefer the taste of this over the stone 16th.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 21:31:04 | More by brewtus

BeastLU

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750

A - An aggressive pour produced about a 1.5 inch head which dissipated quickly. Thin thin head remains for the rest of the glass. The color is great, clear burnt orange.

S - Smell is not as forward as I would have anticipated for a beer with this IBU and abv. That being said you still know your in for a hoppy treat when you take a sniff of this beer, all citrus hops and lemon.

T - Taste is awesome. They say on the bottle that they added lemon peel and flesh to off set the citrusy centennial hops, which I really didn't think was going to go that well. Well, it went very well in true DFH style. Hop taste doesn't kill you but is still intense enough to be enjoyed by those who love a hop bomb.

M - Love the mouthfeel. Great carbonation, light in body on the tongue. None of the overly sweet boozy after taste. Keeps you coming back for more.

O - Solid Solid beer. Love the hop flavor. Not much malty highlights but I can live with that.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 23:04:23 | More by BeastLU

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle poured into Belgian ale glass

A) Amber, two finger soapy head with decent retention. Leaves quite a bit of lacing.

S) If you like lemons, you'll like this. Very lemony, as if from lemon peel/lemon oil. A little bit of piney hops.

T) First sour lemon, then sweet malts, then bitter hops.

M) Fairly full-bodied, quite drinkable due to the lemon but alcohol heat does build in on the finish. Reasonably well-balanced.

O) Another interesting offering from Dogfish Head. A good share bottle as the IBU and ABV take their toll over time.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 17:51:18 | More by IvoryFoxhole

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into Dogfish Head signature goblet. Bottled in 2012, no further info given.

A - Pours amber with great clarity and a full finger of soapy white head. Retention is poor. Leaves behind a sticky, amoeba lacing. Visibly high carbonation in a reverse cascade from the laser etching of the glass.

S - Smells of sweet citrus; tangerine and lemon peel. Vibrant floral and citrus hops, characteristic of the centennial. Some underlying light biscuity malts balance the other aromas.

T - Initially bitter with citrus hops playing the lead role. Caramel sweet malt follows along with refreshing lemon. As it warms and my tongue acclimates to the hops, it becomes quite sweet with the malt and lemon taking over. The double digit ABV is nowhere to be found.

M - Carbonation is lively, but not overpowering. The body is medium and drinkability is pretty high.

O - I first had this on draft at the brewpub and it blew me away. This bottle was very good, but did not live up the draft version. While the hops are present, I am surprised by the 100 IBU billing on the label. Nonetheless, I enjoy the balance and lemon additions. I am not sure it is worth $11/bomber, but it is good.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:29:08 | More by NoLeafClover44

TubaManJack

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Draft pour yielded a deep orange copper body in my sniffer. The head shows a bit of bubbling which quickly dissipate into lasting lacing.

Smell- Hops and light lemon "scent". I use the quotes not because it smells like lemon pledge or lemonade, but more like a waxy lemon before it is cut. I get the hops and all that the Centennial types has to offer but there is a really malty body in the nose that is more familiar as a hot barleywine.

Taste -A real two front battle between the malt and the hop/lemon combination. The malt leads into the bittering hops with a spicy finish.

Mouthfeel -Its fairly large and heavy. There as quite a bit of carbonation and heat from the ABV. I don't have an issue with 90 MIN but this is another animal.

Drinkability- This is worth bringing to a large bottle sharing event - it will standout and be a novelty but it is kind of hard sell.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2012 06:37:57 | More by TubaManJack

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice hazy dark orange color. There was a light tan head with a bit of lacing. The aroma was full of citrus , some pine, and definitely lemon. Fresh and floral with some sticky malt sweetness. The taste was rich and malty, but with a stern, harsh bitterness, sweet citrus, but with a good dose a booze. Full bodied, rich and verging on syrupy.

Similarly to the Stone 16th, this has its highs and lows...not sure if its the lemon...but overall nice.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 05:29:57 | More by EgadBananas

kylehay2004

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Half finger head with excellent lacing on a clear copper body. Aroma of toasted malts, earthy hops and orange peel. Overall the aroma is pretty mild. Malt foward IPA with citrus hops, candied citrus, toasted malts, lemon and a little caramel. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Fairly oily body. This one is boozy and malt forward although the hops, although a little boring, are still well represented.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2012 03:16:04 | More by kylehay2004

One2Remeber

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Brightly clear copper body, orange tint. Small bubbles create a fog of thin white head that stays put.

S: Smells like a bag of hops. Slightly sweet as honey and fresh citrus as cut lemons. Floral and dank hop notes. Mild yeast cake/heavily dry hop aroma.

T/M: Creamy fruity yeast taste, rich hop flavors while being moderately bitter. Booze calms down as beer warms to room temperature. Light sugary molasses gracefully slides by the tongue before a warming booze and hints of caramel linger on the backend.

O: Not as malt forward as a 60/90 minute, and hop presence is more like a Michigan IPA (Bells Two Hearted, Founders Centennial IPA) rather than a West-Coast (Stone/Lagunitas). Do not drink DFH all the time but their interpretation of IPAs sets a very high standard. Well balanced, medium-heavy body, and clean pronounced flavors.

Serving type: growler

12-21-2012 05:04:23 | More by One2Remeber

Stoutfan23DJ

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Boulevard tulip glass straight down the middle at 45 degrees.
750ml bottle – 10.0% ABV – 2012 Release

Appearance: Hazy golden orange body with a 3 finger head that resides down to a nice lacing of foam on top. Medium bodied and lots of sticky lacing left on the sides of the glass after each sip.

Aroma: Fresh ripe grapefruit, orange, lemon, citrus and tropical fruit that shine brightly here. Strongly bitter centennial hops, sweet malts, spices and earthy, floral characteristics.

Taste: The centennial hops and the lemon have a strong presence and are really showcased here. Pungent, sweet grapefruit, orange, peach, lime, lemongrass and other citrus fruits also come through. Intense hop bitterness with some big floral and herbal qualities. There are also some nice subtle overtones of caramel and sweet malts in the background. The 10.0 ABV starts to come through more and more while it warms up but never really sticks out or becomes a problem. This is definitely one of the better offerings from DFH.

Mouth feel: Medium body, great carbonation, and a steady effervescence throughout. This is a great beer to pour into a glass little by little and just sip on it for an hour or two.

Overall: This is one big, sweet, mouth-puckering double IPA that assaults you from every angle and characteristic. The loads of sweet tropical and citrus fruit, the lip-smacking bitter hops, lemon, spices, the solid malt backbone and the earthy, floral qualities work pretty well together, balance each other out and delivered everything I really like in double IPA! Purchase a bottle while it’s still available so you don’t have to sell your soul at the crossroads sometime on down the road when it’s long gone ... Also, drink it while it’s fresh!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 07:12:47 | More by Stoutfan23DJ

GilGarp

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml capped bottle served cold in a goblet.

Hellhound is a light orange-amber color with a slight haze. The head is thick and long-lasting with nice lacing left behind.

Aroma is very fresh and hoppy with a great lemon-forward citrus character.

Flavor is surprisingly strong and very bitter but there is still a good sweetness upfront that goes some way to balance it out. Lots of lemon and other citrusy hops. Finishes very bitter and the alcohol dries the palate.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and nicely carbonated. Bitter like a double IPA should be.

Overall a very enjoyable big IPA especially if you like centennial hops and fresh lemon zest.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 03:11:17 | More by GilGarp

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1 pint 9.4 fl oz. bottle with bottled on code 2012A18:17, but I know this just came in so I'm assuming it's as fresh as can be. Super stoked to try this beer!

A - Pours a very light color, somewhere between pale orange and lemon peel / straw color.

S - Smells of grapefruit, citrus, and pine hit the nose right away, followed by a nice subtle touch of hot booze underneath. The lemon creeps out strongly as the beer warms.

T - Lovely warm citrus fruits. Grapefruit. Oranges. And of course lemon. The dominance of the lemon does add to this beer's distinctiveness, but it is still noticeably a very well-made IPA. This does NOT taste like a 10% abv beer, but it's slowly working it's magic.

M - Sticky resinous piney mouthfeel. All around, a lovely beer for sure.

Robert Johnson is boss, and so is this beer, although I wish they would package and sell it in 6 packs so I could enjoy a smaller serving and enjoy it more than once.

Dogfish Head Robert Johnson's Hellhound On My Ale ---4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 15:55:15 | More by mfnmbvp

rajendra82

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Very attractive, orange amber colored body, which was clear, and topped with a craggy, three finger tall, beige colored head. The aroma was hoppy, but more restrained than is typical for the style. There were whiffs of citric fruits like oranges, tangerine, and grapefruit in the smell. The taste was sweeter than the typical DIPA, as the massive malt bill had not quite been fermented away by the yeast. There were flavors of raisins, burnt sugar, cherry, and butterscotch, and the hops were providing a bitterness that was citric and herbal in character. The mouthfeel was very sticky, and the aftertaste was bittersweet, and long lasting. There was a good bit of carbonation as well. I was expecting a bit more based on the label.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 04:12:10 | More by rajendra82

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

A- pours a gorgeous, clear shade of orange with a two finger white head that is very puffy and looks beautiful

S- lots of lemon (as expected) and citrus come through, though it's not really outstanding or different from many IPAs I've had

T- decent bit of lemon, very low bitterness, some citrus seeping through as well....not overwhelming at all, but not really very nuanced or deep

M- medium bodied, about average

O- the alcohol is hidden very well, but honestly, I'd rather have a sixer of 60 Minute for cheaper than this. Overpriced for what it is

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 01:39:25 | More by bigfnjoe

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - copper in color with a fluffy 2 fingers of white foamy head, tons of lacing

S - very strong alcohol smell, piney/soapy, slight citrus

T - tasted a LOT like the 60 minute IPA but stronger alcohol taste (but different taste than the 90 minute), very hoppy, feeling the lemon zest and lemon peel bitterness

M - went down surprisingly smooth for the amount of alcohol in it, medium body, medium carbonation, very creamy.

O - a decent imperial IPA but I feel I was unable to thoroughly enjoy it because of the bar situation (was waiting standing in a giant crowd for a table). i'll keep my eyes open for a bottled version... it's almost one year later and i finally got this in a bottle.. a LOT better than i remember it being, i updated all the categories with better scores because it was totally different on tap. i'll stick to the bottle scores.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2012 02:07:36 | More by facundoCNB

Googs

New York

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass.

A: Golden copper colored body with a inch head. Frothy and bubbly. Alcohol legs on this. Good looking DIPA

S: Sweet citrus and lemon. Some grassy and floral notes in there too.

T: Big sweet pale malts followed by a big blast of cripsy lemon hops. Really getting the lemon on this. Not a lemonade but very lemon forward which makes for a refreshing beer. Finishing nice and bitter.

M: Medium body on this. Somewhat smooth with a bite on the end from the hops and alcohol. It hides the 10% really well and the booze does creep up on you.

O: A fun DIPA from Dogfish Head but at $13 for a bomber of this one, I'm not going to re-visit anytime soon. If your a hophead or you like the idea of lemons in your brew, this is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 23:32:53 | More by Googs

nickthegun12

Alabama

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

not a bad beer at all!

orange hue with a thick white head
smells of centennial hops, which it is dry-hopped with
taste is malty lacking in the hops in the taste....can feel quite a bit of heat from the alcohol
mouthfeel is about right on, maybe a little thin
overall this beer is pretty good and well worth the price

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 23:27:53 | More by nickthegun12

Fitwitchik

Ohio

4.98/5  rDev +27%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a snifter.

IIPA is my most fave style so I will try not to be too prejudice.

Poured a light caramel with a nice frothy head.

DAMN! Love the smell of a IIPA!! Grapefruity love.

Taste is head on hops with the deep lemony grapefruit piney flavour yet a sweeter finish.

Mouthfeel is excellent.

Overall will definitely head back to pick up another bottle asap. LOVE LOVE LOVE this brew!!!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 23:35:17 | More by Fitwitchik

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium copper color with a good sized white head that shows great retention and lace. Smells of earth and spice with lots of citrus, green onion, and grapefruit. Light bits of sweet bready malt barely provide any contrast to the hop aromas. The flavor on the other hand holds lots of bready and caramel sweetness along with a hit of ethanol and a solid hop bite. Lemony grapefruit pine and garlic flavors provide an interesting contrast to the sweet malts. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet resinous mouthfeel. I really liked this beer, its a bit on the sweet side, but its quite interesting. The lemon is there, but subtle and with the citrus hops it melds quite well.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:08:29 | More by johnnnniee

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a slightly turbid glistening honey hue. Head displays orange highlights and starts off with respectable length. It dies off to a thin layer of froth and bubbles. Head leaves freckles of lacing.

S-I do get a light hint of lemon zest. I am also picking up large whiffs of pine and herbs. I even get some green onion vegetation. Lighter citrus hops too. All of the aforementioned hoppiness is kept wrapped in a tight malt jacket of caramel-covered biscuit.

T-Much more balance than I was expecting. It is plenty bitter and it also has a blinding flash of fresh cut grass, but the malt does its best to subdue the hops. The lemon delivers a light performance on the back end of the flavor. Big, semi-balanced and bitter.

M-Creamy and resinous. Soft bubbles. Very dry, very bitter. It still does manage to drink quite easily however.

O/D-Pretty neat. Not in love with the flavors the hops bring forth, but it is well-kept without losing its abrasiveness. Wouldn't go out of my way to try it again but it is well above marginal.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 22:12:11 | More by VelvetExtract

Greywulfken

New York

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Only knew to look for this last year, but I was too late. This time, I grabbed a couple: one for the review, one for the shher enjoyment of drinking.

A: deep amber body with white head of 2-3-fingers' width (on a center-pour into a tulip) - lines and motes of lace are left behind.

S: the Centennial hops' citrus notes dance across the rich pale malt base; herbal and floral scents fill the nose

T: wonderful blend of delicious pale malts and bright, bitter Centennial hops; the advertised lemon is not overdone - there is a subtle crispness, tang, and life to the beer - layers of sweeter malt interweave with the great citrusy hops and tingles of zesty yeast

M: great weight - just about perfect medium; again with the carbonation; delightful aftertaste of lemon rind and beer - insanely drinkable

O: a excellent DIPA, another gem from Dogfish Head. I'm a (little) partial to the style and this crisp,lemon-fresh, and totally satisfying take on it. Definitely a must for IPA/DIPA fans, and especially of the citrusy/Centennial hop flavor-type beers. It is a dominant brew, but does nothing exceptional for the style, if that makes sense - like, I consider it to be the lemony-hop tasting IPA of perfection, but it isn't breaking any new ground - it is simply excellent for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 19:25:36 | More by Greywulfken

beergoot

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Excellent, clear amber body with a very rich, creamy, thick white head. Citrus and floral hop aroma abound; lemon and tangerine; faint bready undertone. Nice flavor mix: malty and bitter with a well-blended alcohol heat gently barking in the background. Medium body, smooth and glassy.

A really nice hop bomb, nicely complemented with the lemon addition. Definitely a strong IPA overall, yet with some nice and distinctive uniqueness to set it apart.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 17:23:57 | More by beergoot

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

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

Poured from a 750 ml Vintage 2011 bottle into an oversized pilsener glass.

A:Poured a slightly haze, bright, golden amber-orange color with yellow highlights beneath a tight, two-finger head of ivory foam which left some nice, sudsy lace on the glass.

S: Loads of citrus fruits, a flash of herbal hops and a distinct lemon peel aroma to add to the fruity esters being thrown off.

T: Rich, viscous, malty flavor up front that throws some buttery, caramel sweetness into the mix of fruity esters. A bittersweet, spicy citrus and grassy hop flavor blends in a quick, tart and sweet flash of lemon juice before washing back with a hoppy resin laced with a mellow, boozy burn.

M: Full-bodied DIPA with a zesty, lemon additive sharpness to go with the mild alcohol burn and bittersweet, slightly cloying flavor.

O: A really nice, albeit, a bit of a specialty, DIPA ringing in at a robust 10% ABV. the story is great and the addition of lemon peel and flavor adds a nice, subtle complexity to the brew that makes it a nice sip in the late summer. Everything about the meticulous attention to detail really comes out in this brew and I'd like to pick up a bottle to try fresh next time for comparison.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 22:32:35 | More by Gambrinus1184