Urkontinent - Dogfish Head Brewery

blaje

Quebec (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml Bottle, aged for few months before tasting.
Pouring dark brown with some mahogany and red tones, somewhat clear not to hazy. Nice off-white creamy head of ½ inch thick.
N- Caramel, cocoa, dark fruits/red fruits, honey, roasted grain.
M&T- Surprisingly not too heavy! Medium to full bodied beer. Carbonation is medium and bitterness is just great. Something if floral here and it is pleasant. Definitively on the sweet side like the Belgian dubbel, very reminiscent of those Flander’s brown ale. Alcohol warmth is present becoming more intense while rewarming. Flavours of caramel, nuts,roasted grains, dates, toast, watermelon (?!). Aftertaste reveals tea like flavours. Very complex in flavours,
Overall, a challenging beer that well deserve sharing with a buddy rather than drinking it on your own, simply for having inputs to from your friends on the brew and having the pleasure to “decorticates” a challenging beer. A very good beer from DFH.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 01:26:51 | More by blaje

jgammoniv

Maine

1.45/5  rDev -63%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

Poured a flat brown with little to no head.
Sweet chicory and light black tea flavor.
Spicy finish with a cloying clingy film left over on the finish.
This is a perfect example of when a beer ceases to be a beer due to the degree of added ingredients.
This "beer" is barely drinkable, i forced down 8 oz, the rest will be used in cooking.
Even after cleansing my palette with an extra trappist beer, i still have a cloying film lingering from this awful beer. i wish i could give negative ratings.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:44:29 | More by jgammoniv

mactrail

California

2.63/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25

Pours a sienna brown color in the Bellegems Bruin tall glass. Nicely foamy and plenty of spritz on the tongue. Is that fingernail polish I smell? Very odd phenolic odor.

Tastes so earthy, I'd say it's more like dirt. Think of how wet, mildewy wood smells. Now imagine how it would taste in a beer. The flavors lurch around and vanish, leaving the taste of cheap root beer with a bitterish edge. I taste old beets, buckwheat honey, nut shells, and some kind of hard candy. I don't know how this could be called a Dubbel, but if it has to be rated that way the competition is a little overwhelming.

Maybe after having spent $15 for this people have a need to like it. I have an need to try one more half glass tomorrow before I feed it to the African daisies. From the DF-branded 500 ml capped bottle bought at Liticker's in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 03:42:11 | More by mactrail

Brenden

Ohio

3.84/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Tried this a while ago, just found my notes...

Darker than a typical dubbel, this one's a dark brown rather than the usual orange-to-red range. It's opaque despite its darker color, with lots of clarity. A small, almost pure white head comes up, reaching almost one finger, but it quite creamy and dense. Lacing is spotty but plentiful.
There's a lot going on in this beer. The nose does hold the nutty and chocolaty notes promised, with a strong earthy note as well. The earthiness even includes a bit of peat or soil to it. A touch of coffee comes out with the roastiness. There's a note of something translating almost to metallic. A bit of dark fruits come out in the flavor, where the metallic note falls off. Some woods and a little spiciness pull out as well.
The body is pretty rich and quite full, rounding out to a medium nearing full. It's perhaps a bit much for a dubbel, though not bad. There's a bit of a stickiness. It nears cloying in its sweetness even as alcohol pulls through the finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 14:22:10 | More by Brenden

ONUMello

Ohio

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

750ml bottle poured into a goblet
A: Pours a dark brown color with a strong red tint and a one-finger latte colored head
S: Cocoa nibs, freshly baked wheat bread, a hint of coffee beans, no hops to speak of. "Roasted" is the name of the day and I like it
T: The bread is not as pronounced as the nose, but adds dried fruit (cherry, plum & fig in particular), a touch of honey/spice round it out
M: Medium-bodied, a bit sweet. I would like it better with a touch of carbonation
O: Solid, enjoyable to try. Many components you see in other styles of beer all rolled into one

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 20:02:53 | More by ONUMello

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Draft at The Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a dark chestnut brown color that's completely opaque with purplish/plum hues and a one finger beige head that slowly settles into a thin ring.  Sporadic splotches of lace left behind.

Surprisingly roasty aroma forthe style with a bit of toast, dark chocolate, caramel and coffee bean.  This is not overwhelming, however,  with subtle earthy hops and a good bit of estery dark fruit notes, notably grape and dark cherry.

Medium bodied and again, has a bit more roast than expected.  The experimental ingredients give complexity to a style that can become boring adding a nice balance to the alcohol sweetness and estery dark fruit flavors.  Hints of dark chocolate, toffee, oatmeal and subtle coffee bean flavor followed by alcohol, plum, raisin and dark cherry.  Kind of like a roasted dark chocolate covered cherry.  There's also some subtle hop bitterness and well masked ABV making this complex beer very easy to drink.  Nice experimental beer from dfh for a change.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2013 23:36:48 | More by corby112

Pencible

Virginia

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

A: This poured a clear black ruby with some light tan head.
S: It smelled like whole wheat bread and roasted barley and copper hops, with some sunflower seed and wild honey.
T: It tasted like sweet honey and earthy whole grain bread, with some brown sugar and copper hops and a bit of sunflower seeds. It had a clean and mostly sweet aftertaste.
M: It was oily with moderate carbonation. Nice full body.
D: This was not super unique, but still fairly different from most new beers today. The scent and taste were well crafted, and the body was solid. The finish was mellow with well hidden alcohol, so it was quite easy to drink. It doesn't need age, but could probably last a few more years. Not much more than a strong brown ale with a twist to me, but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:12:42 | More by Pencible

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.41/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured this Belgian Dubbel from a bottle into a pint glass. This ale poured a dark reddish/brown color, produced a thick off white head, decent retention and left a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma had a foundation of malted grain, Belgian yeast, honey and spice. . Full bodied, this ale had a malted grain base, chocolate malt and the distinct fruity Belgian yeast. Slightly sweet with a semi dry finish. Very interesting spice profile, this is probably where all of the exotic ingredients come into play. Dogfish kept with the "Pangea" theme and chose an ingredient from each continent. I had to use the Intertubes to figure out what the heck Waddleseed, Aramath, and Myrica Gale was.... Very nice Winter Warmer, nice session beer if you have a pal to share it with- The St. Charles Whisker Biscuit assisted me with this brute, and I am glad I had a helping hand. Big Beer at 8%- Glad I tried this one- not outstanding but for an experimental beer it makes for a nice session.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 17:12:09 | More by GossageBrewery

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into chalice, bottled code 2012B. Pours crystal clear extremely dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense light khaki head with nice retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty foamy lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big chocolate, raisin, prune, toast, coffee, roasted malt, pepper, clove, honey, caramel, toffee, floral, dark bread, herbal, and earthy yeast spiciness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of malt, spices, and yeast esters. Taste of chocolate, raisin, fig, caramel, toast, toffee, roasted malt, honey, coffee, clove, dark bread, candi sugar, floral, herbal, and earthy yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of chocolate, dark fruits, caramel, toast, toffee, roasted malt, coffee, honey, candi sugar, herbal, floral, and earth on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity; all herbs and spices compliment the Dubbel style nicely; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with nearly zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent spiced Dubbel style! Great flavor complexity and balance with the complimenting spices; and extremely smooth to sip on. This was a highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:16:45 | More by superspak

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a dark brown color with tints of red visible when held to the light and lighter highlights around the edges. The head is a one finger slightly off white slightly khaki colored soapy head which recedes to edging a skim and leave some strands of lace around the edge. The aroma is of candied yeast along with honey and a slight coco aroma. The taste is very complex. The beer starts with a dark candied yeast at the very front there is then a slight coffee flavor before a very big and bold dark chocolate flavor comes in and dominates. The back end has a cherry dark fruit sweetness to it. The mouthfeel is sticky and velvety. Overall this is a very complex and different beer, it took a few drinks to really appreciate all that is going on with this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 22:51:29 | More by goblue3509

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

so much more than just a dubbel, and such a categorization hardly does justice to what this beer really is. it pours really dark brown, hardly a ray of light coming through, with a prominent and lasting off white head of a few foamy inches. the nose is a little spicy, like a rye beer, and i can only imagine that comes from the wattle seed, which i am familiar with from my time down under. the sweetness seems to be low, and the yeast strong. the african tea is right up front. taste is also dominated by that fruity tea flavor, and any honey used in this brew was for accents only, as the malt has more of a bready oompg to it, rather than any sort of light sweet pastry feeling. a lot going on in this beer, i love the idea behind it, and i think its executed better than a lot of the crazy dogfish imaginative beers. lots of carbonation, awesome yeast strain used here, gives the beer a great feel, not too heavy over the full body. overall one of the better dogfis head beers ive had lately. was perfect with all the christmas cookies, and ill be buying this again. heard its even better on tap, so ill look out for that too!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 21:33:19 | More by StonedTrippin

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an Olde Hickory glass on 12/17/12

Bottled in 2012B

The beer has a dull sorghum brown. In the glass it has a much darker hue - stained mahogany and tobacco. Two finger head fizzes out after several minutes leaving thin washes of foam. Basically no lace.

The aroma reminds me of spunky American brown ales: toasted dark bread, and earthy and nutty tones. Of course, there are some Dogfishy smells in here: cola, herbal root and sweet pollen. Suggestions of chocolate-covered coffee beans. Maybe a dusting of pine.

The flavor is similar in terms of the brown ale thing; lots of dark bread - toasty and spiced. The Dogfishiness isn't quite as strong as the aroma. Mild herbs. Moderate sweetness that builds over time. The finish dries up pretty well. Rather sugary after several hours The alcohol is hidden well.

The body is on the high side of medium, underpinned by some mild bready grit. Carbonation is ample at the onset, but dies off to a much more comfortable feel. It also has the rare kind of coating finish that is actually enjoyable.

Kind of strange, but I don't mind it at all. It certainly isn't as over-the-top as I was expecting. I would drink it again, but wouldn't go out of my way for a bottle. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 06:15:23 | More by Ryan011235

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

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

A rather eclectic and stimulating take on a Dubbel

Presentation: 750 ml brown custom DFH capped bottle. Retro illustration with assorted fonts, and a sky orbe pointing to the continents in a ridge profile. Small side note noting main characteristics and intent. Shows 8% Alc. by Vol. Served in tulip glass.

A - Deep brown/crimson pour, small frothy head, moderate retention with good surface memory and touches of lacing.

S - Complex fruity nose, a bit medicinal and grainy...

T - Nice fruity range a bit unusual, mecidinal touch from the rooibos, spicy touch punctuated by the yeast, sweet hint with some caramel and light coffee...

M - Medium body and carbonation, nice smooth memory on the finish.

O - Pleasing brew, an unusual take on a dubbel that works rather well.

Notes: Well worth the try, and it is neither as disjointed as some told me or as extraordinary as others suggested. Nice brew in any case, and I would not mind at all having it again the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 20:22:51 | More by Daniellobo

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle poured into a chalice

A slightly muddy brown body with a tan two finger cap. Some lines of lace as it recedes. Some mahogany comes through around the edges as you hold it up to the light. The nose is of chocolate, figs, raisins, cherries, faint coffee, vanilla, and honey. A very sweet nose. On the palate, the sweetness is hidden a little better. Semi-sweet cocoa and dried fruit up front before a wave of sweet honey, caramel, cherries, and vanilla. The finish is some mild coffee grounds, roast, and dark chocolate. The roasty notes linger for a decent amount of time. On the lighter side of medium. The body seemed to lack a little heft for the style. Decent brew that I am glad to have tried, but I won't seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 17:35:59 | More by ColForbinBC

RoyAlan

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draft @ Two Stone Wilmington
In a goblet, pours dark mahogany with a beige head that hugs the glass but doesn't really lace.
Smell is Belgium dark with a noticeable alcohol aroma
Chocolate and cherry are the dominant flavors. ABV is stealth but there.
Overall, this a nice winter warmer. We balanced and very soothing

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2012 17:51:02 | More by RoyAlan

cvm4

Mississippi

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

A - Pours a deep red to almost brown. Light khaki head with an okay amount of lacing. Slowly dissipates to a good sized ring around the glass.

S - Cocoa, brown sugar and a good amount of malt.

T - Very malty and sweet at the same time. Kind of nutty with chocolate & coffee running throughout.

M - It's on par for the style. Not too light, not too full.

O - I actually like this beer which is saying a lot since I'm not usually a DFH lover.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 00:58:24 | More by cvm4

therica

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 22-ounce bottle split between three beer afficionados.

We agreed that this beer is something akin to a Palo Santo Light, if there were such a thing.

Pours like a really dirty dishwater dark brown with a near white head. Nose is similar to a dark Belgian Dubbel, some liquor on the nose as well. Taste is a mix of boldness and subtle blends-- toffee, coffee, chocolate, occasionally wild cherry. An interesting offering, it still left us somewhere between savoring and sipping versus occasionally odd and puzzled expressions.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 06:39:50 | More by therica

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

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

I poured this from a 22oz bottle, into a pint glass. It has a very dark, rich black color body with a small tan head that hangs out for a minute till it goes to a thin lace around the edge. The smell is of roasted chocolate and some dark fruits. The taste starts off as with dark fruits and roasted malt, then on the back of the tongue, the chocolate comes into play and as it warms ups it seems to get a little sweeter. The mouthfeel is good, goes down easy and overall thsi is a good dubbel, i wouldn't run out for another one but one once in a while is good for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 02:32:30 | More by chefhatt

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a two finger khaki head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Deep mahogany/brown color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Baked chocolate nose and flavor is semisweet chocolate/coffee and Belgian yeast. Higher ABV is totally hidden. Another decent offering from DFH. Pricey at $14.00 for a 750ml (not a 22oz) bottle from Tully's Beer and Wine Wells, ME.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 23:42:29 | More by jdhilt

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a small snifter. Light beige head with moderate retention. Oily and soapy lacing. Dark mahogany body. Aroma includes figs, chocolate, coffee, rice covered with chocolate (weird descriptor, I know). Now that Eddie (Cheesemoose) just told me he gets chocolate covered bananas, I have to agree with that as well. Taste includes a nice Belgian dubbel yeast, overripe banana, chocolate, raisins and miscellaneous deliciousness. Insanely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 07:04:07 | More by KickbacksSteve

dfillius

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass
A: Gentle pour yields 2/3 finger of light tan head with fair to good retention. Deep crimson crystal clear liquid is gorgeous. Better head retention please.
S: Caramel, honey, red and white wine. Coffee, chocolate, rooibos in the background. A tad too sweet smelling in a dusty necco wafer way.
T: Interesting. Another unique one from DFH. Odd bitterness in the finish, maybe from the rooibos. Kind of harsh actually in a metallic way. Opens sweet. Are there any hops in this one? Interesting herbal tang in the middle is countered by a caramelized sugar, maybe the toasted amaranth.
M: Full and chewy with substantial bitterness in the finish that is decidedly not hoppy. A bit cloying.
O: Unlike any other beer I've had. Elements of a brown ale, maybe even a braggot. I wouldn't order another and won't buy again. I wish I could share the 22oz bottle! Is this related to Pangaea, like is there a supercontinent line of beers they are releasing? Next up Gondwanaland!

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 17:27:18 | More by dfillius

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

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

Poured from 22oz bottle into HF Tulip. Pours a deep amber brown, with nice off white head. Really nice dried fruit, fig, raison, abbey aromas....smells super sweet. Taste is similar, though not as sweet. Roasted chocolate sweetness, dried fruit; but a chocolate flavor dominates with typical abbey aftertaste. Its an easy drinker, and full of flavors. Again, DFH makes it difficult to rate a beer...while its not a true Abbey/dubbel; it is very tastey...id get one if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 02:22:19 | More by DrinkSlurm

KajII

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

[Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]

The pour was a muddy dark brown with a slight cranberry red hue and a small (1 finger or less) tan creamy head that was mostly diminishing, down to a thin film with a small collar and good sheeting of lacing that coated the glass.

The aroma was all about the chocolate with a roasted grain malt and a sweet doughy yeast with a note of dark fruit (cherries and currant), a hint of roasted coffee and a mild nuttiness.

The taste was extremely malty and a tad sweet with a big note of chocolate and a touch of coffee throughout with the finish being quite fruity and having a mild nutty alcohol ending. The flavor stuck around for an average time after the swallow with a bold roasty mocha flavor left to linger on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was medium in body and creamy in texture with a nice soft carbonation.

Overall a smooth, creamy and rather tasty brew that had a wonderful mocha, berry, coffee flavor, a mild alcohol warming and an awesome drinkability. All these components combined, make this beer sensationally delicious...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 17:55:07 | More by KajII

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Dark brown, near black, but light will pass on the edge. Good head but it settles to rim bubbles, leaving no lace on the glass.

Smells like a dry stout--lots of burnt malts (black patent). Some alcohol to the nose.

Dark cherries, unsweetened chocolate and a touch of sourness. Very smooth. Some alcohol warmth in the swallow. Light body, particularly for the style. The carbonation leans toward the high side. The aftertaste, while short lived, is similar to unsweetened hot cocoa.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2012 16:29:39 | More by smcolw

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

- Ale brewed with wattle seed, amaranth, rooibos, myrica gale and honey.

A: Dark opaque nature shows merlot highlights around the edges upon backlighting. The head is khaki, sturdy long lasting at 1.5 fingers high. Clean window dressing with a quick paced effervesce.

S: Cocoa, fresh gale and wattleseed are easy to pick up on (thanks to baron). Listen i have no idea what the other spices are and am not going to sit here and tell you i do and pick up on them. I did detect some vanilla creamer, a bit of nutty almond coffee that was soothing and refined in strength.

T: Sweet orange peels and tea along with dry wattle seed first come to mind. Sweet dark caramelized malts, wet sage, nutty almond, cola and vanilla add spice support along with a honey-pine sweetness. Flavor is very smooth polised and shows some acidity.

M: Good frothy feel, light bubbly carbonation, good residual malt lacing on the tongue with a dry tea fade.

O: Interesting flavor, smooth coffee and herbal tea with oranges and wattle seed highlights. Nice silty residual touch. Good though a bomber may be much to tackle alone, best split with a friend, share the unique quality without overstaying the welcome.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 22:54:28 | More by beerthulhu