Positive Contact - Dogfish Head Brewery

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -11.4%
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

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

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled In: 2012A 14:13

A: Pours a golden straw yellow with 2 fingers worth of sticky white head

S: Definite wit yeast character, which imparts nice spicy and fruity notes. Also get some of the cider, cayenne, and alcohol. No cilantro to be found in the nose

T: Starts off like a usual wit with the yeasty spices and fruit, and then goes into the cider side, which carries with it the slight kick of the cayenne pepper. Still not really getting the cilantro, which really doesn't bother me too much, seeing as I really don't enjoy cilantro too much. Alcohol goes well with the yeast and pepper, with complimenting fruity esters and slight burn

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly creamy and chalky

O: The addition of cider to this beer doesn't do too much to change it, which I like. DFH usually does a nice job imparting the flavor of a different type of drink while maintaining the integrity of the base beer (also in cases such as red & white and noble rot with the wine characteristics), and that stays true here. I really like the complexity and depth as well. Nice job

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 03:05:34 | More by BEERMILER12

gtermi

Texas

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

A: This beer pours a clear golden body with a thick white head that slowly fades.

S This has a strong Belgian yeast smell with some clove, banana and some wheat style scents. Smells nice, but nothing really special.

T: Okay now this beer has an amazing flavor. At first I pick up some funky yeast., but that quickly changes to banana, clove and some mild apple flavors. There are also some random flavors that show up here and there.. Very good.

M: There is a nice amount of carbonation on the tip of the tongue and all the way down my throat.

O: This is a very good beer. The flavors is very delicious and blows me away.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 04:17:49 | More by gtermi

YouSkeete

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear amber/gold color with a bubbly pale yellow head. Lots of yeast, wheat and orange falvors on the nose, herbal tea and some spice also. Bubbly, light apple cider with a heavy yeast character onn the first sip. Creamy malt, wheat and rolled oats with orange and lemon zest. Solid finish with lots of dense malt character. Medium body with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 00:21:27 | More by YouSkeete

prototypic

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Positive Contact pours a lighter gold color. It’s rather hazy and looks a little more yellow-ish or straw colored when held to light. It’s topped with a soft white head that stands under a finger tall. It falls back to a surface covering quickly and holds there for quite a while. Lacing was stick and moderate in volume. Looks good!

The nose is good. It features a strong earthy, grainy scent up front. Apple is definitely noted early on. It definitely smells a little sweet and sugary. There are some light spicy notes, but they seem subdued amidst the apple. I’m getting a little coriander and perhaps some orange peel. Seems like there are some white grape notes at the secondary level. Alcohol is a little noticeable, but is blended quite well for 9%. All in all, it smells good.

The flavor really is pretty darn good, as well. I wasn’t expecting much, but it is. The base is a little sweet and sugary. It’s definitely earthy and grainy throughout. Apple is very noticeable in each sip. It works quite well into the mix. Spicy notes of orange peel and coriander are noted. At the secondary level, white grapes and an herbal flavor emerge. Alcohol is actually more pronounced than I’d like. It’s not warm or hot, but it’s slightly boozy tasting. Finishes with a mix of apple and spicy flavors.

The body is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation seems active, but the bubbles are soft. It goes down alright. If not for its size and alcohol flavor, I could probably finish a 750 with ease. As it is, I’m splitting it. Not bad though.

Positive Contact is an interesting beer. I’ve come to expect no less from Dogfish Head. It’s good beer, but it’s not great beer. The alcohol flavor comes through a little too strong and it just seems too big for the style. Definitely worth checking out though.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 01:46:42 | More by prototypic

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
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

claspada

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light golden color with a small white head, good retention and lacing.

Aromas of cider apples with a lot of Bosc pear, yeasty with a hint of white pepper. As it warms I get something else I can't put my finger on, smells rustic/earthy (label says it was brewed with cilantro, so that makes sense now).

The tastes begin with a great deal of apple and pear upfront. As it warms the Belgian Yeast esters show up more as well as the herbal additions once again.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with medium, frothy, soft carbonation. Finish is a bit heavy and thick as are most DFH "off-centered" offerings.

Overall this was a nice beer, but I feel the heft/ABV hindered the enjoyability and drinkability of this beer. Beers of this style aren't meant to be this viscous and heavy on the palate. Drinks more like a Wheat Wine than a Witbier. Regardless I was glad to sample on draft over having to take the plunge and consume a whole 750ml.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 14:03:11 | More by claspada

Gobzilla

California

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a orangish golden yellow in color with pale yellow highlights and a nice half finger of head that left some good spotted lacing sticking to the glass.

S: lots of belgian yeast character popped out on the aroma, not much cider qualities but did have spice, slight grains, and I didn't really sniff out cilantro either.

T: the apple cider was a little pronounced on the taste alongside spices, lots of sweet belgian yeast character, no cilantro notes to speak of but had a touch of vinous flavor.

M: the brew was medium in body with a fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, yeasty, spice, mild fruity, and prickly finish.

O: pretty intersting beer overall and was tasty as well. I thought it was worth the try.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 19:20:59 | More by Gobzilla

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

With fruit flavors amplified, firmer body, dry crispness, and heightened spices to balance; this inquisitive ale only narrowly resembles the witbier style that influenced its overhaul. Yep, they dogfished it up pretty good!

Not all in all different from the appearance of standard witbiers, this imperialized version carries a firm hazy gold appearance with a thin creamy head that dissipated evenly to a film before residing as a lace around the glass. Light on lace, this is the only deviation from the look of Hoegaarden or Wittekerke.

Where the original aromas call for a apple ester complement, a stronger than normal note of dry cider steers from apple juice and favors the winy character to inform the already present bready wheat and spicy counterparts. Corriander (celery seed), oranges, tea-like dried herbs, dandilion, chamomile, and peppercorn round out the alluring scent with complexity and balance.

But there's no mistake in the sway in attitude that gives the flavors of Positive Contact its true identity. Big on fruit and spice, the balance of dry cider offers just enough sweetness and bread taste to keep the beer from becoming overly tart. Complements of coriander, fresh orange zest, herbal teas, and slight vegetation of pepper, grass, and and a tinge of soap that gives a mild perfumy sense.

Much drier than imperial versions usually give, this zesty and sprite ale offers much the same drinkability as softer and milder versions. Backed by a dry bread texture, the beer soon favors firm acidity of Zinfandel and prickling carbonation to carry the dryness toward a combined warmth of capsaicin and alcohol.

The overall effortless in drinkability of this imperial witbier is remarkably clean, refreshing and crisp despite its high alcohol values and the seemingly challenged spices and fruit added to the brew. But the premiere restraint of these additions give the finished beer added layers of complexity without disrupting the balance of the witbiers that we know and love. Those additions inform the usual taste but without quite being able to pinpoint its source. Putting those additions on the label takes much of the fun out of it for me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 16:04:32 | More by BEERchitect

DavidST

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
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

08-15-2012 03:39:45 | More by DavidST

CampusCrew

Florida

2.83/5  rDev -26.9%
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

barczar

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden color with a solid half inch ivory head that lingers.

Aroma is green apple and wheat, with a yeasty, bready backbone and a bit of coriander.

The flavor is a bit more wheat dominant, with undertones of muted apple. There's a bit of hot pepper at the finish. Coriander and belgian yeast character add complexity. Bubble gum surfaces as it warms.

Body is moderate to a touch heavy, creamy, with fairly high carbonation and a bit of alcohol bite and warmth.

Overall, a complex brew, but I was surprised the cider character wasn't more prevalent. Definitely worth a try!

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2012 22:09:18 | More by barczar

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

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

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into an imperial pilsner glass. Thanks oneguyonecup!

A: Poured a slightly hazy, clean, pale yellow color with golden highlights and rather fierce carbonation that built a three-finger head of dense carbonation bubbles that left some decent lacing. Bubbles roll and wisp as if champagne yeast were used.

S: Very interesting, spicy, fruity aroma with clean, clear hints of tart apple, grainy pears, mild tropical notes and a spritzy, spicy aroma of herbal hops, yeast and added spices.

T: Dry and fruity up front, the tart, apple cider flavor kicks in around mid palate before being seized up by the complexity of spices and yeast flavors. The herbal, fresh tasting cilantro piles together with white pepper and clove which bounces off of the sour apple flavor left on the tongue. A mellow, spicy cayenne finish distracts you from the boozy burn.

M: Light, flavorful and bracing on the tongue, the beer gains some viscosity as the alcohol settles into the spicy finish, cloying just a bit with the cider juice.

O: A very complex and fun beer to drink. Like many a DFH ancient golden ale, I immediately though "Midas Touch" when I initially saw, smelled and tasted Positive Contact. However, this 9% ABV hybrid combines the refreshing tartness of a cider with the complexity of an imperial wit.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 18:45:25 | More by Gambrinus1184

Pahn

New York

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

750ml bottle into Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Free pour yields a 1 inch fluffy white head that dissipates slowly leaving a tight ring of lacing. Pours a hazy yellow and leaves a few small lacing streaks.

Smell: Smells like a sugary, peachy Belgian Strong Pale Ale. I laughed out loud at how pedestrian a BSPA smell it was after reading the label's talk of "fuji cider, slow roasted farro, a bit of cayenne, and fresh cilantro."

Doesn't get any whackier with time, but the base BSPA aromas are quite nice.

Taste: Whoa, there's the additional ingredients... surprising, but not brash or even altogether that weird. Tastes like a BSPA / strong witbier hybrid with a distinct flavor of cayenne and some underlying umami that I can only assume comes from the roasted farro. The blend is actually really good.

A typical sip has a full, yeasty (clove-y) and peachy flavor up front with a quick hit of cayenne, then a pepper heat finish (noticeable but not bold) with some mild boozy heat and a fruity aftertaste. Not tasting much apple... there's some apple notes, but no more than an average Belgian tripel really (not that this tastes like a tripel, but the average tripel doesn't have 300lb of Fuji apples in it either). Well hidden ABV for 9%, even though it's a little boozy at the end.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Creamy. Neither sugary nor dry finish. High side of moderate carbonation.

Overall: What a surprisingly well balanced, sensible beer. Tastes great too. A worthy experimental beer.

Pairing note: Once I started eating some (vegetarian) breaded "chicken" tenders and roasted pepper slices with Schlotterbeck and Foss Texas BBQ Sauce (I specify the brand because I highly recommend it), the flavor of this beer really took off. A lot more apple flavor appeared, along with the distinct impression of biting into a really juicy pear. It's uncanny how much pear gets into each sip, and delicious. Plus, the mild heat in the beer plays well with the heat of the BBQ sauce.

Very much recommend pairing this with BBQ that has some kick.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 04:54:05 | More by Pahn

RockyTopHeel

North Carolina

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

Pours a golden color with a fizzy white head. Aroma of honey, apples and wheat.

More apples and sweet honey on the tongue with a touch of spice (I'm not able to pick out the cayenne and cilantro immediately), a big bready biscuit character and a slightly cloying finish. Reminds me of a lot of tripels I've had. Very warm in the finish, where the cayenne begins to come through. I think I can pick up the cilantro in the aftertaste, but I might just be talking myself into it. As I drink more, the distinct apple character fades a bit and I'm left with a solid, tripel-like beer.

Really interesting, really enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 00:58:42 | More by RockyTopHeel

peabody

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a clear yellow liquid with three fingers of white foamy suds. Lots of lacing here.
Smell is def. clove and corriander and rotten banana peel. Strong burning yeast and just a hint of alcohol.
Taste is wheat and belgian yeast right up front followed by alcohol then the sweet spices. It finishes with sticky banana creme.
Mouthfeel is very sticky and the alcohol doesn't wash that away. The alcohol is almost too prevailent here as it sets in the back of the throat for quite some time.
Overall this is a pretty good try at a belgian but let's face it, nobody does it better than the belgians.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 01:35:26 | More by peabody

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Slightly cloudy golden straw color with a white head. Aroma has a nice Belgian character to it of banana, mild coriander spiciness, and yeast. Fruity apple character with a touch of grass and white pepper. The coriander and yeast are more pronounced on the palate. Light apple flavor, decently fruity. Banana, a bit of grass, bread, and a light herbaceous quality. Not bad, but kind of watery.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 20:26:23 | More by womencantsail

macrosmatic

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from bomber into pint glass.

A: Light gold in color and mostly clear. Half of a finger's worth of white head that settles to foam. Good visible carbonation.

S: Pilsner malt, belgian yeast, underlying generic fruity sweetness.

T: There's a lot going on here. The taste follows the nose well – light malt flavor up front, banana & Belgian yeast fruity profile in the middle, then the apple cider flavor takes over at the end. Finishes with a moderately sweet cider flavor. There's also a weird flat flavor at the end - maybe it's the cilantro? Not sure. I really don't get any particular cayenne spiciness here at all, but maybe some nondescript spiciness as it warms.

M: Light mouthfeel, nice carbonation sensation. Alcohol presence is noticeable, but I would say minimal given the higher ABV.

O: This isn't half–bad, but don't know that I'd necessarily do another.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 02:16:36 | More by macrosmatic

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lots of breweries make good beer worth trying, but unlike most breweries, I don't buy every one of their new releases like I do DFH. In a world where just about every beer tastes like a couple dozen others, DFH brings something fresh nearly every time and nearly every time, it's pretty damn good.

4.0 A: Faintly hazed dark yellow color. Not quite two fingers of frothy white head. Retention is good given the ABV and a short ring of lacing is left.

4.5 S: Apples and cilantro stick out right off the first whiff. Cayenne is right underneath. I'm not sure exactly what farro is or what it smells or tastes like, so no comment there. Otherwise, this is quite funky, like a saison, with a hefty spicy peppery yeastiness and some clove underneath. Funk is of the woodzy, grassy variety with apple orchard (duh) being most prevalent. Really pleasant and super complex. Well done.

4.0 T: The taste is like the nose, but is lacking the power. Apple cider and cilantro are out in front again. The cayenne plays a bigger role this time and even offers a bit of heat. The taste trades in much of its funk for an herbalness, which seems to work about as well. Again pepper and clove from the yeast. Neutral wheat and a light apple orchard and wet grass funk. The alcohol is so well hidden in this that I almost completely forgot to mention it, despite its healthy 9%.

4.0 M: Lighter medium body. Good spritzy carbonation. Could be a touch creamier, but it's super smooth and easy to drink.

4.0 D: Another winner from DFH, though like most of their offerings, this is too expensive to justify another purchase. Definitely worth a try though.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 04:52:52 | More by DavoleBomb

Brad007

Vermont

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice bright gold with a fluffy white head into my glass. Hard to believe that it's an witbier due to the ingredients used.

Spicy, spritzy with strong apple overtones in the nose. I'm not digging the other ingredients in the nose.

There's certainly more diversity in the mouth with apple cider, cilantro and that touch of cayenne. Interesting flavor dynamics.

Mouthfeel is unlike a witbier as it's very tart and crisp. I'm not sure what they were aiming for here.

An interesting and original beer from Dogfish Head. Personally, fruit/vegetable beer would be a better style because this doesn't quite work as a witbier.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 06:14:24 | More by Brad007

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle opened on 7.28.12.
Bottled 2012A

A - Pours a cloudy light orange with a huge cream-colored head.

S - Belgium yeast, fruity and some spices.

T - Sweet Belgian yeast and spices. Some citrus tartness.

D - Tons of carbonation and a light to medium body.

O - Yeasty and spicy. Hard to pickup any specific flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 05:34:37 | More by HuskyinPDX

nrbw23

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
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

08-02-2012 10:37:23 | More by nrbw23

ckollias

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +9.3%
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

Halcyondays

California

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle, found a lone bottle of this at the local Whole Foods,

A: Pours a clear goldenrod with a small white head, good retention and lace.

S: Cider apples with a lot of Bosc pear, yeasty with a hint of white pepper.

T: As with the nose, this beer has a lot of apple and pear upfront. Great finish when the cayenne really makes an appearance; it was a nice end to the beer.

M: Medium-bodied, frothy and soft carbonation.

O: A nice beer, I wish the cider had more effect aka New Glarus Apple Ale. But this is certainly a nice beer. The cost is a problem, but I did enjoy this effort.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 05:16:17 | More by Halcyondays

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Boulvard's in Johnstown, PA in a tulip glass. Pours a cloudy amber color, fruity nose to it. It is essentially a high powered Heffe. 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

08-01-2012 03:18:08 | More by WoodBrew