HOT THOUP! - Dogfish Head Brewery

nubz77

West Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Going to the pub in Rehoboth I knew I wanted to try this beer, but I wasn't really sure what to expect.

It came garnished with a carrot stick which was highly amusing. The carrot juice didn't come through in the smell, it was more peppery, spicy, probably the ginger doing it's work.

Once I had my first sip though, things got serious. The bitterness comes through but like the previous review said, the hop flavor itself isn't present whatsoever. The carrot came through in the taste, but it was subtle and blended very nicely with the caramel and the alcohol as well. Very unique taste in my opinion. It's a bit on the viscous side, but the carbonation is perfect and it's slick and smooth. It's a real feel-good beer.

Overall great, great beer, and if they sent it to full production I'd certainly buy it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2012 03:42:55 | More by nubz77

smakawhat

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured on tap at Dogfish Eats in Rehoboth Beach DE, into a snifter glass. Served with a carrot stick and not hot (probably about 45°).

A nice burnt red amber brown, kind of dull brown ruby body color, but leaves a solid thick tan collar. Very foamy collar also.

Nose rips of powdered ginger. Hints of fruit jam and pectin thickness, very impressive, maybe some apple butter. Quite impressive, but lots of ginger.

Taste feels like thick cider, but with more depth. Apple front and ginger punch on first sip. Ginger root and all the heat that comes with it. Finish completes lightly surprisingly, plum wine abounds with a great finish. No syrup thickness but controled, no booze hints either. To complete there is some light hop bitterness and astringency too.

Overall, what cider should be when it grows up.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2012 17:09:50 | More by smakawhat

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First had: on tap at the DFH brewpub, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Served in a snifter with a carrot stick for a garnish, disappointingly not warm or hot, but I let it sit and reach room temperature while drinking a Beard de Garde in the meantime. A cloudy orange-amber color with a small, non-lacing, white head that almost disappeared, but surprisingly rejuvenated on its own as it sat; a quick stir of the carrot stick whipped it up even more, and eventually it settled out as a lasting ringlet. Aroma is heavy with ginger, lesser notes of bready malts and subtle carrot cake. (Most of the carrot smell was probably coming from the carrot stick.) Very tasty beer here, ginger is again the key player on the palate, rock candy, sweet tea, distant bready malts, and a vegetal carrot-hop hybrid presence. Smooth, medium body, higher alcohol almost unnoticeable. I liked this a lot, probably more than many newer DFH offerings I've had lately, but honestly at the end of one serving, I was getting sick of it, mainly due to the ginger presence I suppose...a little bit goes a long way, and I had no desire to have another glass. Still a great brew though, and if it weren't a one-time deal, I'd definitely want to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2012 01:48:09 | More by Rifugium

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampled at the brewpub, served in a snifter.

$6.00 for the pour
Sampled 08SEP12

[A] First off, the color of this beer is strikingly beautiful. The addition of carrot juice does what one might expect, and the result is a deep, radiant, endlessy orange hue. A serious haze means no transparency at all, but i think the body is more impressive looking because of it. The head is less than a finger high - off white and foamy. Retention is pour but a bubbly collar remains. Lacing is non existent.

[S] Much like pumpkins, carrots don't actually impart much aroma or flavor at all - and so it's no surprise that the ginger root is the prominent feature of the nose. I pick up on some other spices as well...perhaps a light hand of allspice and brown sugar. Malts include Pale, Maris Otter, and Crystal which result in a toasted, crust-like, caramelly base.

[T] The base recipe is an imperial pale ale but you would never know if you weren't told. The Saaz and Willamette hops seem to be for bittering only as there is no hop flavor (or aroma) to be noticed.

[M] The addition of lactose and crystal malt elevates the body towards medium full. It is semi thick, very smooth & and slightly grainy at the same time. Bitterness is low and sweetness is in check.

[O] This beer was markedly better than anticipated and actually pretty damn enjoyable. I was especially curious how it would be after I saw Sam say in a video that Hot Thoup! is served at 90° and with minimal carbonation. Well, I didn't get the carrot stick garnish, the carbonation was at typical levels, and the beer was served at normal temperature. But...I think it worked out better this way. Nice job Dogfish.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2012 10:37:43 | More by FeDUBBELFIST