Positive Contact - Dogfish Head Brewery

JoeyRamon

New York

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Very intense for a wit, couldn't drink more than a glass. Still, very well crafted and flavorful. Apple flavor comes off differently than expected, not as cider-y as one would think... Just wish there was less alcohol for a more enjoyable summer sipper.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 20:51:36 | More by JoeyRamon

RollBounce

New York

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

smells of apples cinnamon, lemon peel, little golden color, creamy mouthfeel,with with nice carbonation that fades quickly small bubbles, no lacing, some we wheatyness.with orange, pepper, and a mild sweet aftertaste. Overall an Imperial saison style with a nice mouth feel and a small uniqueness.cool but not over interesting.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 19:34:23 | More by RollBounce

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful golden ale brought forth from a cider base of pressed Fuji apples, cilantro, cayenne, and roasted faro. Hazed just slightly glowing golden body with a bright white head, forms fine lacing around the sides of my glass. Aroma has tart apples freshly sliced in the forefront with hints of herbal spice with a peppery cayenne kick in the nares....really complex well brewed offering from one of my favorite brewers and rappers Dan the Automator aka Deltron 3030 aka Del the Funky Homosapien. No overt sweetness on the palate just tasty sliced apples, spicy cayenne and cilantro interplay, a nice mix of flavors bready yeast biscuit malt and cracker dough added to the spectrum. Nares are lightly kissed with the spice additions of the cayenne and cilantro, a really well done carbonation level effervescent fine ale carries the beer just right across my palate. It works really well for me, the type of beer I can drink by myself, with friends, or with food it's a triple threat great tasting complex and drinkable you can't hate on that. Toward the end I paired it with a spicy Nicaraguan cigar Ortega Wild Bunch series #4 Tony the Boss Churchill great spicy smoke leather in the tobacco pairs well with the spice and light apple sweetness, I'm diggin' the combo it works together so nicely.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 23:22:15 | More by WVbeergeek

gabedivision

New York

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured to a Weizen glass from. 750 ml

A- pours a crystal clear golden yellow with a 1 1/2 finger head and tons of visible carbonation

S- banana up front, soft sugary fruits follow some apricot pear juice. Light spice elements also, coriander some clove, not over powering at all however

T- big carbonation opens the tongue for sugary banana, fruity eaters, vanilla cream, a touch of toasted grain, some soapiness, finishes with some coriander

M- light bodied for a 9% beer, you would never know it, lots of carbonation, fruity, soft a d finishes dry

O- loved this beer, though a tad pricey IMO, but damn good never the less

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:05:17 | More by gabedivision

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.49/5  rDev -9.8%
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

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

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.89/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This would be the recent batch #2. Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer is a bright yellow-gold coloring and a fluffy, white, tall, bright head that leaves a cling all over the glass as it slowly recedes. Settles in a solid half an inch. Aromas of all spice, cinnamon, subtle apple sweetness, and a touch of cloves. Flavors are smooth and light, with a cider sweet backbone and subtle pepper spicing. Very light and very well balanced. The all spice and clove become highlighting accents instead of main characteristics. Very light, crisp, clean body. The finish is slightly sweet, with a hint of spice. Great balance to a very unique brew. Tasty, light, and hugely refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 00:58:57 | More by GarthDanielson

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pale straw. Not great, but upped to above average due to the fat foamy off white head.
Smell: yeasty bread and light spice. Smells like a tripel to me.
Taste: tastes like a tripel too. Quite tasty. A bit of fruity sweetness tempered with light spice.
Overall: yes, I think the overall warrants a higher than any individual score. The experimentation warrants. Kudos to Dogfish and keep at it!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:48:22 | More by cindyjeffsmith

FlemingVSKing

Florida

4.21/5  rDev +8.8%
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

nimrod979

Maryland

3.89/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml Bottle poured into a DFH snifter.

Appearance: Pours a lovely golden orange with a slight haze. Two fingers of thick white frothiness. Amazing retention and thick lacing glued to my glass.

Aroma: Interesting apple cider, fruity and yeasty, trace aromas of some spice. Hints of a banana/clove hefeweizen type aroma.

Taste: Same as nose. Apple and pear fruity flavors, wheat, and some spice quality, though not anything that is clearly detectable.(Not getting a defining cayenne or cilantro)

Mouthfeel: A bit lighter body, soft carbonation. A bit dry in the finish. 9% is not detectable. Not a bad offering.

Another off-centered-ale from DFH.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 21:12:46 | More by nimrod979

metter98

New York

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy pale yellow in color. It poured with a finger high off white head that died down and left a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of apple cider and wheat in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, but also has notes of hefeweizen yeast and hints of herbs and spices.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Considering its strength, this beer is rather easy to drink because the alcohol is well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 01:00:30 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a hazy pale golden yellow in color with some straw yellow highlights and light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall foamy white head that reduces to a mottled very thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a couple of small thin patches and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of carbonation are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of wheat and apples fruitiness - there are some also light notes of cilantro and cinnamon. Light notes of banana and clove.

T: Upfront there is a light amount of wheat flavors with a moderate to strong flavor of apple cider with a touch of fruity sweetness. Next, you get some lighter notes of cilantro and cinnamon with just a touch of banana/clove. Very light notes of bitterness which fade almost immediately. Slightest hint of cayenne pepper towards the finish that becomes a little more noticeable as the beer warms up.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Moderate to strong amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: This beer is refreshing and easy to drink like others in the style, but the imperial nature of it makes the hidden alcohol all the more impressive. There is just a hint of hefeweizen, likely due to the yeast which contributes the very light notes of banana/cove.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:58:26 | More by dbrauneis

nickfl

Florida

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
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

kylehay2004

Florida

3.64/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: 1.5 finger head on a orange with golden hues clear body but with some floaters. Minimal lacing.

S: pear, lemon, orange peel, green apple, coriander.

T: fruit cocktail with apple and pear dominating. Pepper, herbs, caramel and hint of cilantro.

M: this one is very oily coating the palate with medium body and light to moderate carbonation.

Overall: definitely weird as expected. Reminded me a lot of cheap, packaged fruit cocktail with Belgian character. Glad stores decided to brake these 6 packs up despite the threats.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:24:14 | More by kylehay2004

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -8.3%
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

01-17-2013 22:29:08 | More by liamt07

TBoneJones

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours hazy orange with fluffy foam head.
Smells yeasty, lemon rind, spicy, booze.
Taste is like the smell, but what nice balance right off the bat. Crisp and refreshing for the abv. Some sour spices. Herbs. Finally some apple is detected. Complex.
Bitter ending, nice carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:34:52 | More by TBoneJones

LittleDon

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

From a bottle aged under refrigeration 6 to 12 months.

A: Gold with a very slight haze. Dense bleached white head with excellent head retention and lacing.
S: Sweet, pear and apple aroma with citrus, clove, and a bit of alcohol in the background.
T: Starts with a sweet, honey like flavor. Clove, banana, and pear characteristics middle through finish. Almost no hop flavor and very light bitterness.
M: Medium-heavy body and very, very smooth. Carbonation slightly noticeable in the finish.

I expected to get more from the cayenne and cilantro but might not have because of the beer's age.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 22:10:40 | More by LittleDon

match1112

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: clear golden straw colored body. an inch of bright white creamy head settled to a crescent shaped moon while leaving no lacing behind.

s: corriander and apple cider.

t: apple cider, cracker, corriander

m: tad thin, good carbonation, heat from the peppers on the finish. abv is hidden behind the cayanne peppers.

o: i think i like this better now than when i had a sample of it fresh. cilantro is gone and the spices have blended with the cider to make this a smoother easier to drink beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:53:59 | More by match1112

BrewCrew2010

New York

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
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

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

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -14.7%
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

sureshot08

Arizona

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a golden yellow with 1 finger white head that fades but keeps a small remnant.

Smell: Belgian spices, apple, a little grassy (the cilantro?)

Taste: Apple cider comes through on top of the more traditional witbier flavors, can feel a bit of warming from the cayenne but pretty subtle.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation.

Overall: A very enjoyable beer. Hides the 9% quite well. Good value considering I picked up for $8.79 (it was mislabeled).

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 03:22:32 | More by sureshot08

mactrail

California

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very beautiful beer in the tall Stella glass. White foam, loads of lacing, and a glowing golden amber color. Richly carbonated with a fine mouthfeel. Aroma of cider, herbs, and honey.

Seriously fruity, but the apples are nice. Sweeter than cider apples, but very perfumey. Some malt, I suppose, as this is apparently some sort of beer. The Belgian yeasty flavor rides in to save this from sweet silliness. Dry and just a little puckery. Tartness against the sugary fruit. Spicy.

There's a room at Dogfish Head where they roll the big dice. Comin' up cilantro! Apples! Cayenne! It is some kind of fruit punch mixed with V-8 juice from the 30th century, but I have to admit it is very tasty and intriguing. Once of the better DF concoctions.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 05:24:02 | More by mactrail

fank2788

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
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

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up at Julio's a while back poured into a dogfish head chalice.

A - Pours a crystal clear light golden hue pour with a good one finger head that left a nice side lacing and a thin blanket.

S - Aromas of light apple and faint cilantro some light almost honey sweetness.

T - Taste is faint cilantro, no cayenne at all with light apples. Kinda weird...

M - Mouthfeel is good though a bit boozy.

O - Overall this wasn't a bad beer with nice witbier aspects. The cayenne doesn't really work with this beet though.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 02:47:36 | More by rudzud

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
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

starkmarvelo

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -16.5%
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