Positive Contact - Dogfish Head Brewery

match1112

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
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 -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

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

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

sureshot08

Arizona

4/5  rDev +3.6%
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

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

mactrail

California

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
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 +14.8%
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

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
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 +16.6%
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

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

SHODriver

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours into a pilsner glass with to a nice golden hue that's right in the middle of yellow and orange. two inches of dense white head that fades somewhat quickly to a small mat
S: smells of corriander, and spicy yeast, along with some nice wheat and malt aroma. slight apple aroma but very subdued
T: nice cider flavor, with some corriander and spicy yeast flavor, slightly fruity esters, wheaty and malty backbone as well, a slight grassyness too at times, slight cinnamon as well maybe. swallow brings more cinnamon like spice, wheat, and cider
M: medium mouthfeel with soft carbonation from bottle conditioning and a dry finish
O: Looks good, smells good, tastes good and drinks easy. not your average witbier and a nice twist on the style. good balance of flavors with a nice complexity

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 20:46:46 | More by SHODriver

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a near-straw, not the colour I was expecting from a witbier. Nice dense head though with great retention.

Really nice aroma. Wheat, plenty of yeast, a good hit of cilantro.

Fruity start, leaning towards banana. Nice bit of coriander, coupled with a good wit yeast. Cider kicks up in the finish, bringing on tartness, sugary sweet, at times just a bit much. Missing the Cayenne.

Good enough, but lacks the follow-through you might expect from the description. At times it drinks more like a Belgian pale than a witbier.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 23:22:11 | More by CanuckRover

Beer_Runner

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Could not find a bottled on date on the label or the bottle.

A: A very slow and careful pour into a standard pint glass resulted in a three-finger head that was off-white, and thick and fluffy. It dissipated fairly quickly into a single layer and left a very good lacing. The brew was a bright golden straw color and very clear.

S: The aroma consisted of Belgian yeast funk and sweet apple cider.

T: The taste had a mild Belgian yeast funk mixed with sweet apple juice, which was offset and balanced by some spiciness.

M: This was a very light bodied beer with a medium amount of carbonation. It was also very crisp and had a clean finish.

O: This was an interested beer that was just right for a cool fall afternoon. It had many cider-like qualities from the light body and apple sweetness; and, the slight Belgian yeast funk and the touch of spice added a nice twist. This was definitely a different and “off-center” beer. It is not a “must try” but it is still pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 22:55:44 | More by Beer_Runner

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

25.4 oz was poured into a large snifter.

Appearance: The beer poured a two finger head that has reduced to half the size. It is a golden yellow color with great clarity and visions of carbonation coming up through the glass.

Smell: bready malts, lots of apples, spiciness, mustiness from the apples, vanilla, yeasty esters, and a little bit of alcohol.

Taste: what should be a witbier is almost similar to a tripel. Apple, pear, vanilla, a lot of spiciness, bready malts, yeasty esters. A bit of a burn from the pepper after s bit.

Mouthfeel: smooth, a little dry, lingering bitterness that is a bit strange, light to medium bodied, low to medium carbonation, a little chewy, and a bit smooth.

Overall: pretty solid for a witbier. It could be a tripel, but still tasty one way or another.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 05:25:49 | More by Flounder57

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Positive Contact
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Style: Witbier
ABV: 9.00 %

LOOK: Cloudy light golden color, white fluffy head forms and little lace. A bit earthier looking than a standard wit.

SMELL: Aromas of wheat malt, lemon, sweet cider, herbs and a hint of pepper noticeable as well. All in all some pretty interesting smells and actually is fairly inviting.

TASTE: In the taste, moderately wheaty, with some lemony citrus tones and wheat malt breadyness. There is a light herbal twang from the cilantro, and there is a small warming heat in the finish from the peppers, but not overstated. Alcohol is well hidden for the most part, and this is a tasty drink.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, overall smoothness on the palate, but not watery.

OVERALL: A nice addition to the Dogfish Head lineup, this has an ancient ale feel, but mostly, its just a tasty beverage and definitely remains a beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 20:58:08 | More by Stinkypuss

DovaliHops

California

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours an almost-clear golden color with a medium white head. Some floaties floating around in there as well. Scent is verry apple-forward. Some lovely fuji apple aromas with Belgian yeast and pears...a little white grape as well. I'm detecting a lot of spices, but not necessarily cayenne in the nose. Not really getting any cilantro either. It does smell inviting though. Taste is quite complex, much better than I was expecting. Initially, I get a pleasant herbal flavor, immediately followed by floral Belgian notes. Yeasty belgian deliciousness with a TON off Fuji apples and a hint of cinnamon. The cayenne peppers make their appearance mid-palate, but VERY subtle. There is a hint of booziness, but nothing you would expect from a 9% "witbier". Unfortunately, still not detecting any cilantro. Some more light fruit flavors...pears, green apples, white grapes. Sweet Belgian-yeast finish. Mouthfeel is crisp and somewhat refreshing. Drinkability is high. Overall, I am VERY shocked by this beer. I went into this thinking it was simply a gimmick and would not taste good. I only bought it because I am a fan of Deltron 3030. Glad I bought it...very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 05:08:49 | More by DovaliHops

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

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml into snifter.

Respectable 3F white head over a fairly clear, light golden body. Pretty nice lacing.

Aromas are sharp and unique... obviously not a straight Wit. Blood orange, apple cider, sweet mango, white pepper, yeast.

Mouthfeel is fairly creamy on the palate, but finishes with a sharp bite. Flavors are full of apple, and citrus including oranges and lemons. As it warms, the banana comes through thick... did not notice when cold. Cayenne heat only comes through in the afterbreath... well done. That heat brings you back time and again for another sip.

This is NOT your typical summer wheat beer. So much more complex, with a nice heat in the finish that works well around an Autumn campfire.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:39:23 | More by BeerImmediately

XicanoBeerRun

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks like apple juice, bubbles around edge of glass.

Smells like Belgian yeast, apples, cotton candy,

I don't pick up on the cider as much as my girlfriend did. Slightly bitter but not in an obnoxious way, taste is redolent of the smell. This reminds me of a Belgian strong pale ale, I taste the Jolly Rancher-like apple when it warms, biscuity, not sure if I get the cilantro or cayenne.

Medium carbonation, dry finish.

I really enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 15:22:45 | More by XicanoBeerRun

stumac

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Drinking this with my corn dog Amanda! Pours up a nice golden orange with a solid white crown. Nice lacing. This is the way a beer should look. I smell apple up front. Very sweet apples. A lil lemon, some yeast, maybe a banana ester. Taste apples, big and bold. Mayyyybe a kiss of cayenne kick up front, mayyyybe a mellow herbal finish. Wheaty and Belgium-esque fo shozy. I wish I could taste all the other ingrediates as prodominant as the apples. Regardless, tasty wit bier and you can never go wrong with 9% booze

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:29:26 | More by stumac

hooliganlife

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours a slightly dark golden yellow with hints of burnt orange. thick white creamy head.

apple cider and belgian yeast. some light spice.

rather funky with a strong belgian yeast presence. the cider is also very noticeable. i would never know there was cayenne pepper or cilantro had i not see the ingredients. a bit one dimensional.

thick, full, and creamy. slightly sticky finish.

overall, nothing i was blown away by. not for the price.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 00:23:24 | More by hooliganlife

TexIndy

Texas

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

Poured from a 750ml crowned bottle into a pint glass. "Bottled in: 2012A 09:59" lasered onto the neck. Not sure exactly when in 2012 but it just hit the market here about a month ago so hopefully it's pretty fresh. It was a slightly hazy golden yellow color with good carb streams. It had a large, fluffy white head that settled into a thick collar and covering foam. Great lacing with some sticking. Really good appearance for a witbier.

The aroma was heavy on the apple cider as expected since it's one of the main ingredients. Nice sweet, but not overly sweet, aroma from the cider offset with good amounts of yeast and spices. The label lists cayenne and I do use that alot in cooking but I couldn't detect any in the aroma. It's listed as a witbier but it seems more like a hybrid between that and a cider or fruit beer. Medium mouthfeel with good carb levels and sweet yet spiced aftertaste. No detection of the 9% ABV in the aroma or the taste which is awesome as almost all the imperial wits I've had have had an overly strong alcohol presence. Well done!

Overall, a really enjoyable imperial wit for a change. Goes down dangerously smooth for 9%. I really liked it as a nice change of pace after a recent run of heavy hopped ADIPA's. High recommend and another good outing from Dogfish. Available here in TX. Rotation: I can see getting several bottles per year. It's says it's a rotating release so not sure how often it will be available. Tap for sure. Might be a good beer to share with craft newbies as well.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 01:42:26 | More by TexIndy

RossCain

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz into a pint glass

A: Hazy and cloudy swirls top the glass upon the initial pour. The beer settles to present an opaque , straw coloured body with a puffy white head.

S: Sweet and herbal, with a just a tiny bit of a more earthy tone propped up by the cilantro

T: Sweet rush of cider quality upfront with a very interesting twist of spicy yeast and a strangely hearty body presented by the cilantro and cayenne. These earthy and hearty notes blend with the sweet cider to create almost a fresh-baked cornbread taste with a sprinkle of cilantro. Weird, but it works

M: Medium bodied with the right amount of carbonation and a dry aftertaste. Presents a faint tingling warmth upon the palate from the cayenne. Pleasantly executed.

O: When I saw this beer, I was completely unaware it was a part of Dogfish Head's music-inspired series; I simply picked up the beer because it seemed like an interesting list of ingredients. Although skeptical of the cider/cilantro mix, I will say that it worked in a rather pleasing fashion. DFH did a good job making the ingredients of this beer work together which made for a interesting deviation from the norm. I enjoyed the experience but at $10 a bomber, this was definitely a one time thing.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 00:33:09 | More by RossCain

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a DFH Alehouse glass.

A: Apricot color through and through, with a bit of chill haze and slight 1/3 finger head.

S: After dipping my nose into the glass, I got a good bit of coriander, honey, grass, and cilantro. How could I not give DFH a great review in this category?

T: Unlike any Witbier I've ever had: Definitely sugary, infinitely spiced, and with an afterbite that is about as intense as it gets. Not too sweet, but I definitely got the cayenne and cilantro.

M: Thick, like most all DFH brews (they excel in this area IMO), with the spice component cutting the sugar down to size. The glass came out fairly laced as well as the palate spice-wise.

O: If this beer were only a few bucks, I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. However, at $10, please choose your future beers wisely...

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 00:50:30 | More by Chaney