Positive Contact - Dogfish Head Brewery

jsanford

Georgia

2.65/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Cheers to The CPJ

Pours a hazy dark gold with a creamy white head that settles to a think cap and some sudsy bubbles. Smells like...a Witbier. Maybe a bit of apple cider and cilantro, but mainly just a banana-forward Wit yeast. Bland. Taste is similarly dominated by a Wit yeast, lots of banana and clove, a touch of apple, and grassy herbs. Not getting any of the cayenne. Tastes like Namaste with some apple. Smooth mouthfeel, fairly creamy, with a medium body and good carbonation. Overall a pretty bland, uninspired beer that tastes like any other Dogfish beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 01:38:07 | More by jsanford

CampusCrew

Florida

2.83/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Well i was expecting more of a cider, not an average wheat beer. Love the color and fast rising bubbles. The was acutally head rentention. I was like thats amazing for a cider. Aromas were weak. Some fruit aromas and some earthy spice. The taste was disappointing. Cilantro added to the bitterness, zero sweetness and no to little apple flavor. Loved the cayenne kick. Well balanced heat. But the body and flavor of the base beer was weak and the cider aspect just wasnt there. This was nice paired up with some fish and veggies but not my favorite dfh brew. I guess expectations can ruin your thught process. I was expecting a spicy cider.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 00:06:53 | More by CampusCrew

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Split a 750 ml poured into a duvel glass.

A: pours a nice clean golden color with two fingers if white head that dissapates on the slow side and leavs some spots of lacing.

S: smells like a wheat beer, I can get a touch of cayenne on the end. Also a bit of a cider note, but the wheat beerness is deffinatly dominating here.... Wish the label of the beer had mentioned that. I'm not a huge fan of wheat beers. Maybe I should have researched the beer more...

T: deffinatly a belgiany wheat beer, and now after having looked up this brew I can see its an imperial wit... There is a bunch of spicyness going on here, none of which I am a particular fan off, really not my style... Cloveyness, bubblegum, a touch of cayenne on the finish, I really don't get to much of the cider either a slight Appleness if I hold it in my mouth.

M: medium bodied with medium crisp carbonation,

O: I did not particularly enjoy this.... A wheat beer with subtle apple character and a load of spice.... Particularly Belgian yeast spice which really dominates this brew.... Maybe enjoyable to some... But not me.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 01:28:23 | More by PeterIngemi

swetsastonic

New Jersey

3.2/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I wasn't overly impressed with this one. some very interesting ingredients, but tastes like something pretty standard that I've had before. not a bad beer, but not one I would get again.

that being said, I drank the second half after having a decent amount of habanero hot sauce and it actually improved the taste a lot. I'd be interested to hear if others agree with that.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 22:33:08 | More by swetsastonic

oline73

Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a mostly clear golden amber color with almost a finger of fluffy white head that leaves a layer on top of the pour.

Smell: Sweet and malty. I'm picking up the Belgian spice from the yeast and some apples. There is almost a white wine not here as well.

Taste: The wit yeast contributes heavily. Lots of Belgian yeast spice. I'm getting the malt as well as the apples. The white wine doesn't show up a whole lot here. I'm getting some spice from the cayenne in the finish, but I don't get a whole lot from the cilantro.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

Overall: This is a fairly weird beer. I'm not sure that it needed the spice in the finish. I'm glad I tried it, but wouldn't pick up another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 22:07:15 | More by oline73

starkmarvelo

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

DFH Positive Contact

Clear, Bright golden, lots of carbonation, 2 finger head. Good retention

Clove, banana, light apples, a bit earthy. Not a whole lot of other aromas. And they're not very pronounced other than banana

Herbal, banana, cayenne heat in the back of throat works with alcohol warmth. Apple skin and a bit of sweetness middle of tongue as it warms. Getting quite a bit of tartness at the back of the tongue towards the end of my first glass.

Medium, coats well. Lingering taste of apple skin and aged cheddar.

Very different. Extremely clear for a Wit and a few shades darker . I like the cayenne bite at the end, it hides the alcohol well. There is a lot going on here. I wouldn't have guessed its a "cider hybrid" though. Not bad. Not great. The 9% hits you pretty good after a while so be careful. Worth the try. B-

Don't buy again

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 18:53:57 | More by starkmarvelo

kojevergas

California

3.29/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

9% ABV confirmed. 1 pint 9.4 fl oz brown glass bottle with okay label art and branded copper pressure cap acquired at Cap N Cork Junior Market for $15.00 and served into a Mitchells of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I'm in the mood for a good witbier - but I'm skeptical about Dogfish Head.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

The cap yielded a crisp "psh" upon opening; no beer surged out or anything. Carbonation appears adequate but not overdone.

A: Pours a two finger white colour head of nice cream and thickness. Retention is good for the ABV - about 4 minutes. Body colour is a clear pale straw yellow. Translucent and transparent. It's got me worried; every good witbier I've had has been cloudy but this isn't. Was it filtered? Seems off for the style. I'm hesitant. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Lemon and orange citrus fruit notes. Estery. Pale malts. Fresh, fruity, and inviting. No yeast character is detectable. No alcohol is detectable. Some cream. Light spices - cilantro sticks out. Not getting the cidery notes mentioned on the label. The aroma is typical of the style overall. Minimal floral hop character. A moderate strength aroma - pretty assertive for a witbier. Appealing and inviting.

T: Orange and lemon citrus fruit esters. Pale malts. No real yeasty character. Alcohol is more prominent than in most witbiers, but still well concealed. Vague cilantro does come through. Apple skin. Not getting any cayenne pepper as listed on the label. Clean and crisp. Pleasant to drink. Decently balanced. Forceful for the style; it doesn't come off natural or traditional. The alcohol in particular is upsetting. Attempts to be complex at the expense of balance and purity. Not at all subtle. Approachable, but it misses the mark for the style.

Mf: Crisp and clean. Smooth and wet. Suits the flavour profile well. To style. Overcarbonated. Decent presence on the palate.

Dr: Price point is way too high considering the quality here. I wouldn't get it again but it's an interesting take on a witbier. It feels very American and non-traditional; the brewers are trying to pack in flavour needlessly. A witbier is a subtle and balanced style; these brewers are forcing complexity where it has no place. Alcohol is too high and noticeable for the style. A decent attempt at the style, but a misguided one. The efforts to make it cidery and spicy largely fail, and we're left with a bad excuse for a witbier in terms of conventions. I'll be sticking to Allagash White; it's supremely better and the price point is more respectable - even though it's imported farther.

Low B-

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 00:54:24 | More by kojevergas

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle courtesy of suspect pours a hazed gold color with a large, stiff cap of white head. Good retention and lacing.

Nose is lots of coriander, soft wheat and honey. I can smell the cilantro if I try and the apples/cider make a sweet fruity appearance.

Taste is quite cidery with a mild yeasty wheat bite at the end. The pepper is pretty tame and I wouldnt have noticed it if I didnt know it was there...the cilantro is a bit of an enigma, as the flavors are incorporated nicely and I do get a bit of vegetal stem-y-ness. The coriander is omnipresent and is about the only thing holding this beer withinthe witbier category. Alcohol is a bit high and overall the beer is just kind of fruity/cidery. The flavors are pretty well integrated thoough and is an interesting pour. I am not a fan of the double-wit style, so take that for what its worth.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 19:06:31 | More by twiggamortis420

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-Golden with a nice white head

S-smells like a mix of spicy witbier and an apple cider. The apple smell is fresh. Medium strength

T-comes in with a spicy and slightly bitter taste of pale Belgian wheats. It's a decent taste. Has a touch of booze to it. Has a light matching after-taste. Slightly syrupy.

M-medium creamy with a dry finish.

O-I'm not a huge fan of this here beer. It has just an off quality to it. The flavors really, really don't mesh together well at all. 

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 18:31:53 | More by AdamBear

MLasoski

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I'm reviewing this beer as I'm listening to Side 1 of the Deltron 3030/DFH special edition vinyl! Never listened to Deltron 3030 before until 2 weeks ago and I'm pleasantly surprised. Now onto the beer... (Shout out to Joe Canal's West Deptford for handing me one of the records!)

A: From bottle to my DFH signature pint glass, it forms a puffy, foamy head about 2 inches thick. The body sits underneath with minimally visible carbonation and is a solid gold color.

S: I definitely smell the witbier characteristics; however, was expecting a bit of a apple/peppery aroma which I didn't notice. If I had to reach I get a light apple crisp smell. I'm blaming this on my allergies unfortunately.

T: I'm getting the cider and I'm getting the witbier; however, I expected the cider to come through more or less. I seriously think its my allergies.

M Light carbonation combined with a medium body makes it easily drinkable. There is a subtle spicy note as it goes down.

O: Gotta hand it to Dogfish Head for being innovative. I enjoy every one of their offerings and this is no exception. I just wish I could taste more. I'll buy some more later next week and possibly review this again.

I bought an extra bottle to experiment with. The record cover comes with recipes printed on it from top notch chefs (e.g., Mario Batali, Sean Paxton, David Chang).

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 21:46:47 | More by MLasoski

RaulMondesi

California

3.41/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

At tha lil wiener hipster joint - linx, for some "frites" and a few brews.

My brother ordered this not knowing what it was (he poured half out to me) and I sure wish that he didn't. Raul's like, yeah, he gets it, but like hoo-hoes wearing wedges, he wish he didn't. It's palatable, and like a girl in wedges, he won't turn it away. But like said hoochie, Raul wishes that this beer could just put some stilettos on.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 00:21:57 | More by RaulMondesi

THECPJ

Delaware

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes:

Appearance: murky orange brown with no head

Smell: apples, pears, coriander, spice,

Taste: apples, spice, malts,

Mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body

Overall: interesting take on a witbier. Definitely get some cider qualities from the apple and pears. Glad I got to try it.


Cheers,
Thecpj

Serving type: on-tap
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

12-28-2011 22:04:12 | More by THECPJ

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another DFH experiment. I have not been a fan in the past, but am always open minded. 750ml bottle into Duvel tulip.

A - Clear golden body. Head is very white with only slight yellow in it. Great lacing. Foam sticks around for a long while.

S - Very Beligan like in the aroma. Some lemon and banana. Lots of cloves. Simple and sweet.

T - A lot more tart than the smell. Still tons of clove and banana. Lemon sourness and just a hint of red and green apple. Nice.

M - Strong carbonation which is combined with a medium body.

O - If you like Belgian yeast and the like, you'll love this beer on a hot day. A nice lemon flavor added to it to make a good beer.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

09-01-2012 23:22:03 | More by RuckusDu

BrewCrew2010

New York

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: clear straw like color with a white dance head that's long lasting.

Smell: reminds me of a Tripel almost. A wheat like nose, almost a hint of banana and cider.

Taste: not what I was expecting, but a bit more cider with banana notes, a bit herbal, wheat, and no noticeable hops.

Mouth feel: light body with a lot of carbonation.

Overall: not my favorite of this style. I bought it on sale and I'm glad I did. I felt the flavors didn't mesh well and it was off for its style.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

12-25-2012 03:15:54 | More by BrewCrew2010

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.49/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours like a a light American Lager, except this one is somewhat more brilliant and you almost see some body in this beer. The head was a nice but short white creamy head.

I had a hard time picking out one assertive bouquet. There were several different noses going on, all nice. At the first sip, the apple taste can right through. It was a crisp , not to tart of an apple taste along with some very complimenting spices.

At each sip, I discovered more apple and spices. This is a soft big round beer that you will enjoy keeping in your mouth a bit. The aftertaste trails away gracefully and I always hope beers do.

A good beer for the Spring time

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

04-25-2013 15:52:08 | More by rdilauro

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle
Served into a tulip

A: Chill hazed orange golden color with a big creamy, fluffy white head. Nice amounts of lacing sticking to the wall, as well as a really nice retention cap atop the whole way down.

S: Belgian yeast, corriander, peppercorn, spice, and some faint pressed apple juice towards the back. Not as overly cider-like in the aroma like expected. Muddles the line between a classic Witbier and some apple cider qualities, for sure.

T: Plenty of Witbier qualities up front; spice, corriander, orange peel and a very prominent Belgian yeast component. The apples are more on the back end, there isn't the slight tartness or sweetness that generally comes with a cider here at all. More dried apple skin, not really any "juice" either.

M: Bubbly, decently carbonated but the higher ABV gives this a fuller body than expected. When I think Witbier and cider, I don't think of this body. The alcohol is detectable on the back end and linger.

Another interesting experiment from Dogfish Head. I love trying their unique beers, and this one was decent. Nothing in it makes it amazing, but it's not bad either. Quite different but I was hoping more of the apple cider qualities were here.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

06-29-2012 17:17:39 | More by ShanePB

drabmuh

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the brew pub in Rehoboth beach, served in a shaker pint. Beer is yellow and mildly hazy, white head, large bubbles, no lacing, low retention.

Aroma is apple-y and grainy, smells like a witbier.

I guess I can taste some of the apples but not the cilantro or the chayenne pepper. It tastes like a witbier and a grainy witbier at that. not a favorite. Not a repeat.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

07-19-2012 17:15:32 | More by drabmuh

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at DFH, Rehoboth

Hazy, pale yellow pour, with a large cap of foamy white head that receded to a ringlet, leaving a few dots of lacing on the glass. Fairly typical wheat profile on the nose, with notes of apple and grape. Taste of toasted wheat, sweet apple cider, subtle grape and yeast flavors, herbal hops; I didn't really get any pepper characteristics at all. Light-medium body, decent overall, but not too memorable.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

04-03-2013 00:43:43 | More by Rifugium

Gavage

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: hazy orange in color with a short 1/2" head that falls slowly.

Smell: apples and a fruity sweetness are easily detectable.

Taste: mild wheat profile with a load of golden apples, some pear, and a pepper spice. Bitterness is mild overall.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp from start to finish with dryness arriving late.

Overall: as the description said it is a bit cider like, and it certainly was. Mildy refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

03-16-2012 19:50:54 | More by Gavage

nrbw23

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a very slightly hazy gold color with a nice white head. Head has pretty solid retention and leaves some nice layered lacing. This beer has the slightest bit of haze and a ton of bubbles coming to the top.

S- A ton of spice going on here, a bit of pear and tart apples. A good amount of yeast coming out too.

T- Follows the nose well. Quite a bit of spice, tartness from the apples and yeast.

M- Light in body and a good amount of carbonation.

O- Overall, pretty unique brew. Nothing terrible but not outstanding either.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

08-02-2012 10:37:23 | More by nrbw23

DavidST

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip glass, in 2012. This pours a slightly hazy, light golden color with a massive tight bubbled white head which has good retention and a slight lacing. The smells are of Belgian yeast esters, some banana, apple, coriander. The feel is medium decent carbonation. The taste is different, some apple, pepper, coriander, spices.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

08-15-2012 03:39:45 | More by DavidST

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared by myself during BRoss242’s send-off party before he moves! Will miss you man! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured neon yellow with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, apple cider, wheat, grain, and fruit. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, banana, apple, and wheat. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. Apple cider in a beer… Hmmm, this is a big bottle of Woodchuck. Wait, shit! This isn’t my Woodchuck Cider! But seriously, I’m not really sure how I feel about this one, but the rest of the beer helped to carry it through as a decent representative for the style. Not sure if I would drink this one again though and I really feel sorry for those who bought a case of these unless you only wanted the vinyl collection.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

09-04-2012 11:31:09 | More by thagr81us

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Steve, 750ml into a tulip.

Clear orange, white head with ok retention and some lacing. Nose has lots of wheat, green banana, some cider character and orange rind. Cayenne is super subtle, wouldn't have picked it out had it not been on the label. Taste has banana, wheat, spice on the back. Toasty malts and a bit of alcohol in the finish. Some texture on the palate, medium body. Good enough as an imperial wit, but as with most of these DFH collab beers, I struggle to pick out any of these crazy ingredients.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

01-17-2013 22:29:08 | More by liamt07

mdaschaf

Washington

3.55/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes.

A: Served in a goblet, the beer was a dark orange color with a very small off-white head on top, just covering the top, with extremely thin lacing that does not last.

S: Definitely get the cider and apple on the aroma. There is a slight grassy component and a hint of heat, probably from the cayenne.

T: An apple forward witbier for sure. There is a little bit of pear and an herbal flavor. There is a little bit of hot spice at the back and as the beer goes down.

M: Medium bodied with low to medium carbonation, probably could have been a bit higher.

O: A different take on a witbier and a nice change of pace from the normal offerings at DFH.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

01-20-2012 19:38:39 | More by mdaschaf

draheim

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750mL into a saison glass. Pours a crystal clear golden color w/ a bright white head, lively carb.

Aroma is grassy, funky, herbal. Belgian yeast, bubblegum, spice. As it warms it takes on a vaguely vegetable quality, maybe from the cilantro.

Taste is a little grainy, grassy. Heavy bubblegum from the yeast, and a spicy kick from the cayenne.

Mouthfeel is creamy, medium bodied.

Overall, I can't say I'm really enjoying this beer. It's not awful or anything, but there's no reason I would buy another bottle. I just don't think all the elements are working together.

Serving type: bottle
@ Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach

07-27-2012 06:12:36 | More by draheim