Positive Contact - Dogfish Head Brewery

themind

New Jersey

4.73/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Well this is the new prince of Dogfish beers in my opinion, Wow! the drinkability is amazing and the aroma and taste are fantastic! really this beer is put together right.

I dont like the fact that you have to buy a case to try it but after you try it your glad you bought a case!

Bottom Line-You gotta try this its special!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 22:22:38 | More by themind

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.68/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Celebrator pokal glass. Pours golden amber with two finger fine white head with excellent retention and massive lacing. Aroma of wheat, coriander, sweet malt and Belgian yeast, smells nice. Flavor is delicious, integrated malt, wheat, sweet cider. Finishes slightly hot (cayenne?) and lightly hopped. Spicing is present but not assertive. Perfectly balanced and tasty. Nice medium to heavy creamy body. I liked this more as the second glass slowly warmed. the only negative is that the alcohol in this 9% beer is well hidden, it's way too quaffable. I sincerely hope that DFH makes this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 20:07:07 | More by LiquidAmber

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.6/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The nose has some similar notes as other pepper-infused ales I've had. Yeasty wheat, apples, lemon and a sharp spicy kick. The fruity notes and spicy notes blend together in a very interesting way. Taste is very strong of apple cider, which is actually surprising. I expected the cider flavors to be muted. Sweet, apples, breadiness and the cayenne kick is really relegated to being a feeling in the back of the throat instead of hotness up front. There's a very slight hint of flavor from the cilantro, but not as much as I'd hoped. The cayenne kinda creeps up in your throat as you wait. Its like a surprise gift (if you like spice). This is one of the best new DFH specialties I have had in a long time. It'd be better if I was listening to the Deltron 3030 remix album with it though...

NOTE: The cayenne heat crept up a lot later. It made my stomach warm up a lot, but not uncomfortably. My only real wish is slightly more apple taste (even though I know they stepped it up) and considerably more cilantro taste (but not enough to be overpowering). Overall though it was very good.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 07:38:23 | More by DonDirkA

thespaceman

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a DFH signature class:

Appearance: Pours a very nice medium gold in color. Hazy with tons of bubbles flowing up the glass. Thick white head rises up and slowly dissapates leaving behind thin lines of lacing. Good head retention.

Smell: Very spicy when it hits the nostrils. I get hints of pepper, and some alcohol ester as well. Has almost a belgian like yeast aroma to it, most likely from the yeast strain used in this one. I get a bit of the cilantro in the nose here as well, very earthy smelling. Nice!

Taste: The cider properties appear evident up front here, this is almost like a cross hybrid of a beer and cider and done perfectly. Spice notes up front are subtle, hints of pepper blend nicely with the cider here. Sweetness is very minimal and that's why this beer impresses me! DFH is known for having a very sweet beer especially when the ABV hits around 8.00% but this beer contradicts that! Finish rounds out with some more spice (tasting the cayenne now) and a nice hint of alcohol burn.

Mouthfeel: Light on the palate, bitterness is minimal. This one rolls around the tongue nicely without breaking up and getting watery.

Drinkability: One of the stand out beers in DFH's portfolio. The best of the music inspired series since "Bitches Brew". This beer is really enjoyable because of how at one minute you taste those fruity, cider properties.. then all of a sudden you get that peppery, yeasty beer quality to bring you back down to the ground. Outside of the box is a understatement for this beer, and I also liked that Sam toned down the sweetness on this to make it more drinkable without too much alcohol burn in the finish. Excellent beer all around!

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 19:01:14 | More by thespaceman

cosmicevan

New York

4.53/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

consumed on 6/29, while I was "on Hiatus." picked up locally. enjoyed from my DFH signature glass.

a - brew poured a transparent orange with a finger plus of white creamy head that dissolved leaving a thin film on the surface, but never fully exited the glass. as the head vanished, it left pretty thick lacing on the glass. visible carbonation could be seen racing from the etching on the bottom of the glass, but sadly no DFH logo in the head on this one.

s - very nice witbier. soft and subtle. balanced orange peel. subtle spicing and the apple cider seems evident. some clove and vanilla. some pear. really smooth and creamy smelling.

t - the flavor is really quite nice. one of, if not the best witbier i've ever tried. the booze is extremely well hidden. big creaminess with soft spicing, balanced orange peels, somewhat apple juice like and like the nose, soft clove and vanilla and even some sage-like flavors. even a bit chive-like.

m - the feel is phenomenal. SUPER creamy and rich.

o - overall, i was pretty blown away by this beer. i didn't have high expectations since the reviews of the first batch were relatively lackluster and even some of the reviews for the newer batch aren't the greatest...that and you have another gimick beer...but all that gimicks isn't bad. DFH hasn't had the best track record with me with all the gimicks. some have blown me away (like Bitches Brew), but others left me feeding my drain (like Faithful), but Positive Contact is a winner. i am, however, thankful that I didn't need to buy a full box set for a taste of this one, but wouldn't be devestated had i done just that. really top of the line witbier - which is a style i don't always love.

bottle

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 01:18:58 | More by cosmicevan

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pretty clear orange glow with lots of visible carbonation. big fluffy white head with lots of sticky lace. Smells funky and sweet like saison with a bit of cider on the nose too. Applecores, clove, and a rustic earthiness.

Really unique. Light airy/fluffy mouthfeel that starts with appleskins. rolls into complex belgian saison flavors of banana and clove, touch of bubble gum sweetness. Finishes with a tart apple cider like flavor. pretty good and unlike anything i've ever had.

bit of alcohol heat but its pretty well hidden for such a strong wit.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 21:29:34 | More by jtierney89

davey101

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into a DFH signature glass. Bottled in 2012A.

A - Very clear golden amber body. Frothy three finger high soapy white head. Settles down a thin cap with massive amounts of lacing and retention.

S - Smells pretty wit like (bready and spicy Belgian yeast, banana esters, bubble gum) with some creative edges. There is a nice note of sweet and slightly tart Fuji apple juice. Can't say I pick up any cayenne pepper, but the slightly vegetal and herby finish points to cilantro. Very balanced and inviting.

T - Again, the usual witbier notes of bananas, cloves, yeast, and wheat. Apple juice sweetness with just the faintest hint of pepper which is present mostly in some warmth. Finishes with a bit of an herbal vegetal quality but still remains quite sweet.

M - The mouth feel is actually pretty damned amazing. Perhaps its from the addition of apple cider, but it works really well with the flavors. Medium bodied with a creamy mouth feel. Its not slick or coating, just silky smooth. Finishes dry with some spritzy carbonation.

O - I was really impressed by this beer. I do get the Fuji apple cider, but the cayenne and cilantro are really hidden. Still makes for a crazy delicious and refreshing beer. Call me crazy, but a six pack of these along with some awesome music sounds perfect.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:13:48 | More by davey101

fank2788

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1 pt 9.4oz bottle served in two pint glasses
Hazy pale gold with some floaters in the glass along with huge white head and tons of lace, I'm not a huge fan of the yeast which even a slow pour wouldn't leave in the bottle. The smell is quite typical of a good/great Belgian golden ale with the peppery spiciness which is backed by lemon and clean wheat bready character. The additions of cider, cilantro and cayenne may be just noticeable in the smell but they are subtle. The taste too is all Belgian ale with some additions. First you are hit by lemon and pepper. This is followed by great pale malt, biscuit and warming alcohol characteristics. The cider adds to the complexity of the fruity esters of the yeast and maybe it is just because I've read the label and I'm looking for it but it does seem as though the pepper and cilantro are also evident but only just and again to add an additional layer of complexity to a beer that is already quite impressive. The carbonation is relatively high and the peppery tingle makes this beer quite lively in the mouth. Overall this is a great twist on a great style using some interesting ingredients proving again that the guys and DFH have redefined what brewing and beer can be.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 01:06:37 | More by fank2788

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured into my Duvel Snifter, a beautiful clear blonde yellow with a light orange hue. Very heavy lacing and a strong white head of two fingers on the top.

S: Crisp Fuji Apple, with an herbal presence from a blending of cilantro, cayenne and farro. Good witbier doughy yeast presence, not overdone to pronounce clove or banana esters.

T: Of the spices, the cilantro is the most subtle, but neither is overdone or defeating of the apple flavor. Aside from the fact that I cannot name an a beer that uses Apple's in it offhand, (not hard cider), this has come together quite nicely and I think is an exceptional Witbier. The Cilantro is just gently present, not overtaking the Cayenne, a normally very potent hot spice. How these three spices were chosen, I applaud how well they have come together. Usually when a beer is incorporating Chipotle peppers or cayenne peppers they are overdone, to make them really known. Here they seem to be used as additional flavor that I think is phenomenally done.

M: Medium body for a Witbier. Good level of carbonation, clearly present coming up from the "D" etched in the bottom of my Duvel glass.

O: I have a hard time understating how much I appreciate this beer. I am not just saying this because Delton 3030 is probably my favorite album of all time and the fact that I am anxiously awaiting 3030 The Return in September (assuming the time frame is kept). I am really saying it because this beer is very well done. The yeast is not obnoxiously strong, the beer is not too overdone in any one area of Apple, Cilantro, or Cayenne, and these flavors are all distinctly different which makes this beer very good in my book. I am looking forward to the 4 beers that I have left of this. Very well done DFH.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 00:24:10 | More by alpinebryant

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into my New Belgium globe glass. The bottle itself is a bit different, so it actually almost forces the beer to pour outin waves and really aerates the beer; causing nice thick head. Im not sure if thats the intention, but thats what I think anyway...
Pours a crisp lightclear golden with good foamy head; although it is gone quick, leaving a thin ring of head. Smell is really refreshing belgian meets german hefe. Banana, clove, and fruity apple aromas. Taste is really nice banana and clove again...the fruit is subtle but present and leaves a bit of heat from the cayenne pepper in the finish. Its refreshing and easy. Overall its a great brew and deff worth seeking out, especially if you are a wit fan; although I dont think id ever buy it as they intend; a six pack of bombers for ~%70...I got mine "illegally" as a solo bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 00:17:48 | More by DrinkSlurm

avalon07

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a golden yellow color and a clear texture. There was an inch of fairly long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A very spicy aroma, with hints of malt and yeast as well.

T: Tasted of spices (coriander, cilantro, etc.), apples, yeast, and a bit of malt. An incredibly vibrant flavor that takes the typical witbier style and extrapolates something interesting from it.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: One of the more interesting versions of a witbier I've tried recently. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 13:10:08 | More by avalon07

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear golden orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of wheat, coriander, clove, and other Belgian yeast flavors, cayenne, cilantro, apple cider, and some citrus smells.

T - Starts off with some wheat, lemon zest, coriander, other Belgian yeast flavors, cilantro, and a touch of cayenne. Through the middle, the apple cider flavors come through with some grains. The finish is a mix of Belgian yeast spices, wheat and grains, apple cider, and a bit of citrus.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a spicy, sweet, and cidery finish.

D - Very drinkable. Surprisingly well balanced and the combination of witbier and cider works nicely.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 01:15:59 | More by ngeunit1

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 2012. Pours lightly cloudy golden amber color with a nice 2-3 finger dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Good soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big grape, apple, pear, pepper, clove, banana, bubblegum, cilantro, herbal, light cayenne, and yeast spiciness. Fantastic aromas with great complexity, balance, and strength. Taste of apple, grape, pear, cilantro, clove, banana, pepper, herbal, earth, grass, bubblegum, wheat, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of light fruit, banana, pepper, clove, herbal, earth, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity; with nice complimenting flavors from the herbs and spices. Nothing is overbearing. No cloying flavors at all after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with almost no warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic imperial witbier! Fantastic complexity and balance; and very smooth to sip on. This was very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 03:32:25 | More by superspak

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is golden with a nice creamy head that leaves good lacing on the glass. The smell on this beer is really nice - heavy apple scent and spices along with some bready malts make this a very nice fall beer. The taste is also sweet with apples and peppery spices. Smooth on the front end; on the back end there is a pop of fruit flavor maybe enhanced by cayenne on the tongue (although cayenne not specifically notable). Great brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 21:12:57 | More by Oakenator

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Max's in Baltimore in a tulip glass. Pours a cloudy amber color, fruity nose to it. Listed as a hybrid cider beer.... worries me a bit. Medium bodied, nice mouthfeel. Actually don't get too much of a cider taste at all, but just a well balanced tasty brew with an assortment of fruity flavors and hops. Surprisingly smooth, finishes clean... was pleasantly surprised at how good this beer was... try it out if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 02:02:02 | More by marlinsfan4

larryi86

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter

A- A slightly hazy golden color with a two finger white head.

S- Wheat, apples, yeast, touch of banana, earthy spices, cilantro, hint of cloves.

T- The apple provide a nice tartness to solid wheat base, nice hints of earthy spices and even getting a touch of the cilantro, and the finish brings some nice heat with a good kick of cayenne peppers. Everything works very well together, and I feel the cayenne pepper add a great twist to this beer.

M- Smooth crisp medium body.

O- Another good beer from DFH. I feel the 9% ABV is well hidden and the flavors are well balanced. The apples really add to the beer, but I would have liked it to be more apple forward.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 21:53:18 | More by larryi86

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Positive Contact opens with an aroma that bears a distinct apple cider note, but not overly so, the sweet apple blended nicely with fresh wheat, banana, coriander, pepper, lemon, and an almost sarsaparilla earthiness. The fruit notes here are predominant, but underpinned nicely by earthy, spicy tones. Some touches of brown bread, caramel, and brown sugar add further sugary textures, these being darker and a nice counter to the bright banana, apple, and lemon. As a whole, the nose is very interesting, smelling much like a Belgian cut with apple cider, with a few funky earthy notes thrown in for good measure. My only qualm is that one of these funky earthy notes bears, at least to my nose, a strong resemblance to dry dirt, and doesn’t mix well with the other fragrances.

On the tongue, the beer opens with strong banana, clove, coriander, and pepper notes, bearing much resemblance in this respect to a Belgian. The differences are made more apparent by the presence of a spicy cayenne pepper burn on the soft tissues (the flavor itself hardly noticeable, however), and a good apple cider undercurrent. It’s important to note that the apple cider blends extremely well, and in fact might not be recognized as apple cider were it not printed on the label; it could be easily mistaken for malt-based apple fruit esters. Some brown bread notes lie just below, joined by brown sugar. The aftertaste is a continuation of the main flavors, with a slight increase in the cayenne pepper burn, and lingers for a good while. Very late in the aftertaste, however, a stale apple cider flavor coats the tongue and soft palate, leaving--at least on this reviewer’s tongue--a slightly waxy feel. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is good beer, and represents the masterful blending of strange ingredients typical of Dogfish Head’s brews. The results is a nicely balanced beverage that bears only slight reminders of the 9% ABV, and includes an excellent series of fruit and spice flavors. The tail end of the aftertaste is strange and, in some ways, unpleasant, marking one of the beer’s few weaknesses. Still, this is worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 17:29:32 | More by jondeelee

ckollias

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this bomber bottle out of a large Chimay snifter glass.

A: Pours a golden clear hue with a great big white fluffy head that lingers forever before ending in a wispy lace.

S: Sweet Belgian alcoholic aroma.

T: Strong Belgian sweet flavor with an alcoholic burn. Lots of complex spices and flavors here.

M: Very strong and boozy. Heavy body and heavy carbonation.

O: A nice sipping beer @ 9 % alcohol by volume. Very tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 00:58:14 | More by ckollias

FlemingVSKing

Florida

4.21/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purely enjoyable.

The most notable thing here is the spicy finish. It's warm and complements the lighter flavor of the rest of the beer very well. It's flavorful, but doesn't go out of it's way to be an experience outside of the transition from the light fruit hints to the spice at the finish. All in all a good one trick beer that I would drink again any time. Good for all occassions.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 07:41:49 | More by FlemingVSKing

nickfl

Florida

4.19/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with half a finger of white foam on top of a clear, golden body with tiny particles floating in it.

S - Wheat, spicy yeast, red apple, pepper, and lots of thick malt.

T - White wine, black pepper, and clove up front. Some dense malt in the middle and a finish of anise and red apple.

M - Medium-thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Not bad, it is a bit much at first but grows on me as I drink it and halfway through the glass it has become a spicy, fairly complex Belgian golden type beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:27:12 | More by nickfl

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a single of this brew at my local establishment, Civera's in Drexel Hill. Let's see how it matches up. Gotta love rotating brews!

Appearance: Pours a golden, hazy, very light orange hue. Pretty cloudy, but the less transparency is promising. Leaves a nice, frothy, about a 3 inch head. Lacing sticks down to almost the end, then fades.

Smell: Has a great aroma of Belgian yeast and a straw-like wheat. Second take on the aroma is a sweet-like spice that seems to radiate beyond the grains and malts. A aroma of cider is also detected. Not bad at all. Pretty inviting.

Taste: First sips really reveal the abundance of fruits and spices. Cider is obviously apparent, hints of orange peel are also detected and wheat. Pretty delicious. Also a slight vegetation is detected, I would assume is the cilantro. Mild hops are present and I can also sense a tart spiciness. Not bad at all.

Mouthfeel: Medium to almost light body. Moderate carbonation. Finishes a little dry. Mild also with a lighter bread-y taste.

Overall: Coming into this brew, I would say I had some doubts, considering I've recently had bad experiences with Dogfish Head's rotating, specialty beers. But I was taken aghast. This beer actually was quite delicious. The witbier category is well represented. A mix of the wheat and bitter of the spices and even the cider is added with a slight bitterness works well. It's well-balanced. The body is quite nicely put together. I would totally have this beer again and would recommend it to a friend. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 00:47:35 | More by DMXLOX22

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Deep golden body with a thin bubbly tan head. Very transparent with no haze.

S- Sweet apples with an earthy and herbal aroma. Some belgian-like spice note is there too. Also a slight hop presence, but it is hidden in the back.

T- Not really what I expected at all. The fruit is there, but the taste is not that sweet. The Belgian-style spices are noticable to me, along with some toasted barley.

M- Crisp, with full flavor. Not very cider-like to me which is good.

O- Good solid beer. Really interesting flavors and very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 22:27:51 | More by stephenjmoore

random846

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a light amber in color with two fingers of white head. Just a very nice looking beer.

S: Belgian yeast was all I got really, maybe some apples but that might be all in my head because I know this is a cider and beer hybrid of sorts.

T: Apples then belgian yeast followed by the cilantro. Finally after the beer is gone you get this nice subtle burn from the canyenne peppers. The way the slightly peppery taste comes out from the herb flavor of the cilantro is definitely something new to me.

M: High carbonation, light but prickly mouthfeel. Canyenne pepper burns just enough to let you know it's there.

O: If this was cheaper I would buy this again, it's a truely interesting and tasty experiment by dogfish head but the price is quite high. It throws a couple of strange ingredients together and manages to balance them well and get the flavors they wanted out of them.

Serving type: growler

11-04-2012 00:31:40 | More by random846

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Champagne-esque look to this beer with a big and sea foamy white head overtop a golden orange beer with a slight chill haze to it. The head sticks around for a while and leaves some spotty lacing on the side of the glass. The smell has a Belgian air about it, with a clean funkiness that is pebbled by other little aromas. There is the slightest hint of cayenne in the background as well as an even slighter note of cilantro detectable as well, spicing up this beer nicely. The crisp, clean part of the aroma that meshes so well with the funk is the fuji apple cider. In the back end of the aroma after a few good swirls, a certain toastiness comes out as well. This all makes for a very pleasantlty aromatic brew that I'm definitely enjoying putting my nose into.

Nice clean flavor to it as well with a bit of that funk to dirty it up just a tad. Surprisingly, the heat of the cayenne doesn't effect this clean feel as it almost comes in as an afterthought in the background. It goes very well with acidity of the apples. For the record, the heat (from both the cayenne and the alcohol) comes out a bit more as it warms up, but at no point is it overpowering or the main focus of the beer. That is left to the crispness of the fuji cider flavor. There is a toastiness present from the malt as well, just as there was in the aroma, set in the background to make for a balanced and enjoyable sipper of a beer. Despite having its roots in apple cider, the feel is definitely not cidery, and I think this is because of that toastiness. It does a great job keeping a steady balance over this beer. Not detecting much on the cilantro, which might be a good thing as that particular spice tends to taste like soap to me. Just a tad bit of booze in the flavor as it warms, but never enough to take away from the beer. Smooth in the feel with an smooth carbonation level that is spot on.

Overall, just a really good beer. Interesting ingredient choices and it came out alright. I was lucky enough to be at the brewery on the day they released this and I'm excited that it I had the opportunity to try this second batch before most. Good stuff DFH as always. Keep it up!

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 03:16:03 | More by chodinheaven

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a clean golden yellow pour with 2 fingers of foamy white head, very visible carbonation coming up from the center of the glass.
smells of apple, yeast.. a bit like a cider/brett saison.
the taste is very fruity.. a bit tart/sour.. a bit spicy in the finish. apples, pepper, bready yeast flavor. best tasting wheat beer i've ever had.
medium body, very creamy, nicely carbonated. refreshingly crisp with a sweet yet dry finish.
overall a great beer. the style says itbier but it honestly drinks more like a saison. either way, it's delicious and a very nice summer ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:59:21 | More by facundoCNB