Birra Etrusca - Dogfish Head Brewery

mdaschaf

Washington

3.34/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Had on tap at DFH. Review from notes.

A: Pours a rather clear ruby/brown color with no real head or lacing.

S: Sugary sweet, lots of honey and raisins. Its rather fruity.

T: Similarly sweet with a big honey flavor going on. There is some grape and raisin that comes in afterwards.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Kind of what I expected it to be, another ancient ale that I don't really care for.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2013 22:54:36 | More by mdaschaf

davey101

Connecticut

3.71/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2012A, 750 ml into a DFH signature glass. Ugh....another ancient ale that I must tick...

A - Pours a dark brown/red body. Very clear with some rising carbonation. Bronze? Eh, close enough. Three fingers of very dense bone white foam forms and disappears rather quickly. Leaves behind a thin soda like cap of awkwardly large bubbles. Moderate lacing with weak retention.

S - Well, theres a lot happening here. Not in the "woah, this beer is uber complex" way either. Just in the way that several very different aromas get to clash it up in my nostrils. I don't even know. Its nutty and sweet, with some herbal and savory notes. Mix in a bit of burnt plastic as well.

T - Again, just a cavalcade of question marks and nonsense. Starts off with some honey sweetness ala Midas Touch but with a bit of tart pomegranate fruit, then a wave of nutty flavors, then it all gets hit in the face with an odd savory tea/herbal like quality on the end. Its drinkable enough, just weird.

M - Thin to medium bodied with a decent carbonation.

O - Just another one of those silly ancient ales. Much, much better than the travesty that was Ta Drainpour, but this is still not a great beer. I might be tired of the beer history lessons because I've yet to have one of these beers that warrants a repeat purchase. Decent enough beer, but just wildly confusing in all aspects.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 03:54:20 | More by davey101

peabody

Kentucky

3.51/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Definately a bronze color and almost reddish brown with a finger of off-white suds. Some lacing around the glass.
Smell is all over the place. Mostly I get belgian spice with a peppery note then some fruit in the grape/pommegranet family. Can really smell the sugar and just a hint of the alcohol.
Taste is sour and sweet and bitter and hard fruit candy all at one time. The spices do come in towards the end of the sip along with some phenol notes.
Mouthfeel is pretty sticky and the aftertaste of grape skin and belgian spice.
Overall this isn't bad but it has way too many things going on for my palate. Good to try once but would not visit it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 00:51:50 | More by peabody

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Served in a signature DFH pint glass.

Appearance: Straight amber, light with light bubbles on the body. Off-white head with a hard pour rose to about 2/3" but settles too quick. It dropped flat in less than a minute.

Smell: Easily a fruity scent, comes off pretty strong. Yeasty but nice sniff that I wish I had a cheesecake at the time of the brew. Smelling lightly sweet.

Taste: Comes off fruity and complex. Has a honey feel that almost overwhelms the rest of the beer. Very grapey and lightly sour with a yeast feel that only gets better with each sip.

Mouth: Light to medium carbonation, has a sweet sour finish at the end that is definitely the acquired type of feel.

Overall: Definitely a different type of beer, taste alone reminds you maybe something from Belgium. This brew i will mind you is not for everyone, you have to have an open mind to appreciate it for what it is. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 06:54:58 | More by BlurryVisi0n

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.74/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Maybe it's the long hours, maybe it's the food coma I just went into but the label on the bottle didn't make a hell of a lot of sense to me. I got 8 B.C Tuscany, pomegranate, bronze and a bunch of ingredients I've never heard of. I've come to appreciate the Ancient Ales series as something new that I'd probably never try without it. With that said, a lot of these ingredients don't really change my life one way or another. I appreciate the history behind the label more than what's in the beer.

Anyway...

Crystal clear burnt copper. Half finger off white head disappeared to nothingness. No lacing, just a single row of tight bubbles around the rim.

Definitely getting the hazelnut flour and the pomegranate. Aside from those I smell a lot of caramel, brown sugar, raisins and some sweet malts.

Pomegranate, raisins, apple skins, some leather and caramel. There is a powdery flour feel along with a taste associated with it. Slightly metallic tastes (most like from the malts not the bronze lol) The taste transforms from great, to bad, to good. It's hard to explain.

Light body, medium to high carbonation.

It has an aftertaste I can't put my finger on. I've had every ancient ale except Ta Hanket (zero interest in that one really) and this ranks probably the low middle of the spectrum of those releases. It isn't necessarily bad, just not necessarily great.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 23:44:46 | More by korguy123

champ103

Texas

2.55/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

On tap at Hay Merchant in Houston.

A: Pours a clear amber/red. A one finger white head forms, and fizzles out in a second. Light lace is left behind.
S: The kitchen cabinet. Pepper, other nondescript spice, honey, light fruity flavors. Grainy, sugary, flour, literally powdered flour. No structure, just a mess.
T: Again, a mess. Lets see, black pepper, honey, fruit, corn, sugar, again flour. Like the stuff you cook with. What the hell is this? An aspirin like powdery flavor, I assume more freaking flour...what ever.
M/D: A medium body that is low on the carbonation and thin. Very powdery and chalky. While the alcohol is nowhere to be seen, this is just not something I care to drink.

I am glad I only tried a small snifter, and did not pony up for the ridiculous bomber. An absolute mess, and I have a hard time believing this has any resemblance to any "ancient ale." Just a waist.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2013 02:12:21 | More by champ103

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.56/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

25.4 oz bottle poured into a Lagunitas mason jar glass (I didn't have a crock handy). Bottling code present. Dig the label.

Poured a dark bronze as indicated, with lots of white patchy head that stuck around. Smell is fruit and grain, like it came from a juicer. I get a LOT of juice (pomegranate, cherry) on the taste. Also some of the exact same wheat flavor that I remember with Rhizing Bines, along with the soft feel of that beer. A lot of honey for the finish. The bittering is unique. There are a LOT of different things happening here; this is a very filling beer, even when sipped for an entire evening.

This brew blurs the “beer” expectation considerably, and although the DFH ancient ales haven't been my favorite things from them, I will definitely try each new one when it's released. I appreciate the efforts and the history. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 18:06:34 | More by sixerofelixir

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Slightly more than three fingers worth of audibly fizzy crisp off-white colored head with a slight honey colored hue... Decent retention gives way to a splotchy veil of lacing and slight collar... Carbonation is a mixed bag of sizes and speeds with no discernible patterns... The color is a rich honey amber when back lit and a medium bronze when not back lit... No lacing nor film is noticeable on the glass as the session progresses...

S - My initial thoughts are of incense that I used to burn back in high school... Once the aroma begin to separate a bit, there as a wide array of unique aromas... Honey... Hazelnut... Strong notes of fresh cut grass... Some light woody notes... Earthy... Unlike any other beer I've encountered... Very curious about how it will taste...

T - Sweet over ripened green grapes... Honey... Sugar cane... The hazelnut is a bit more subdued on the palate... Cherry... Hint of weak coffee... Apples... Pears... Just the slightest hint of vinegar... A rich mix of flavor over all...

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied... Limited carbonation... Sleek... Fairly smooth... Goes down very easily...

D - Definitely interesting and unique... Not remotely like any other beers I've encountered... I certainly enjoyed this one well enough, but I'm not quite sure it is something that I would seek out again or drink with regularity... I would recommend for those seeking out an experience and not afraid of tying truly unique brews...

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:41:12 | More by philbe311

rlee1390

Indiana

3.79/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A-Clear amber, slightly ruby, not much carbonation, head doesn't last long.

S-Honey, grapes, apples and wheat.

T-An unbalanced mixed of honey, grapes, apple and vinegar. Spices and some slight pomegranate.

M-Light to medium bodied, but no carbonation.

O-Another interesting beer from DFH. Nothing great but I'm glad they make the Ancient Ales.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 21:28:27 | More by rlee1390

d1ckvanswype

Florida

4.74/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

22oz bomber into a wine glass.

A: Wow, what a stunning looking beer. Pours out as a copper-gold but sits in the glass as a resolute red-brown. When held to the light it turns back into amber-copper-gold. Really nice head, which disappeared before I could stop admiring the beer, the only visual flaw.

S: Honey and wheat, mixed with a strongly pomegranate scented must (pre-fermented wine), with a twinge of floral notes.

T: The first thing that hits me as the beer is held in my mouth is a warming cinnamon note, oddly, which turns to raisins, red grape skins, pomegranate tartness and the Gentian root, which comes out near the very, very end and turns into a warming, slightly numbing, slightly medicinal bitterness, which tastes EXACTLY like Moxie soda (available on the internet and in the Northeast US). The myrrh is also tasted in a very slight minty flavor mixed in with the Gentian root, but the myrrh comes out much more prominently in the next category.

M: This beer is SO exciting to drink! Sharp carbonation mixes with that cinnamon warming/numbing which feels dry on your tongue, but leaves your cheeks nice and moist. It turns refreshing and as the bitterness from the Gentian comes along and re-warms your palate with the alcohol the myrrh does something very cool, it brings a menthol-like coolness to the mouth when you breathe in. Just stunning.

O: It's the best of both wine and beer in one bottle, hands down. This is a great beer to taste on your own and I bet this would spark a lively debate during a tasting. Dogfish nailed it with this beer, I could easily drink this all the time, I hope this becomes a regular DFH brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 05:21:04 | More by d1ckvanswype

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Birra Etrusca by Dogfish Head in collaboration with Birra del Borgo and Baladin
25.4 oz. bottle, no apparent freshness date

The first thing this beer reminded me of was how much I miss the TV show "Brew Masters" on the Discovery Channel. Damn you, A-B!!!

Imagine this episode: Sam and Dr. Pat meet in Milton (scenes of fermentation vessels), and the Museum of Archeology at Penn (pan across an Egyptian sarcophagus) to discuss their next beer adventure. Dr. Pat grabs his Indiana Jones hat and whip, and they hop a plane to Italy (plane takes off / lands). After a few scenes of their silhouettes as they climb the hills of Tuscany, they start to dig in front of some ruins and find some broken clay pots. They meet up with the boys from Baladin and Borgo, have a few laughs and talk about beer, and then settle down to a huge Italian dinner made by a 104 year old mother who doesn't speak any English (cue pictures of Sam dancing with her at the end of the night, and some of the guests looking a little loopy from too much beer). Return to the U.S., talk about the historic significance of myrrh, brew the beer, show more tanks and bottling - and it's a wrap!

On to the beer... it's bronze in color with a reddish cast beneath a full head of fluffy white. The aroma expresses sweetish, dark caramel accented malt with an undercurrent of spice and a waft of earthiness. It's not bold, but neither is it bland, and the flavor goes the same way - you might expect it to be over-done, but it's actually a very accessible beer. The list of ingredients is as follows: honey, hazelnut flour, heirloom wheat, myrrh, gentian root, raisins, pomegranate juice, and pomegranates (why pomegranates are listed twice I don't know but I'm guessing it has to do with labeling guidelines). The honey is certainly clear, it almost comes through more than the malt. And the raisins are easy to find as well. Right there you've got a pretty good beer as it is, but then you also get a note of the pomegranate in the finish which lends it a light touch of complexity. What about the other ingredients? Well they're there, I just don't recognize them, and I'm guessing neither will you. It's not like we're adding gentian root to our salads, or dusting our morning omelets with myrrh. Both are bitter substances, and given the lack of hop aromas or flavors, I'm guessing that these were what was used to balance the beer in ancient times.

So how to rate this beer? It can only be done hedonistically as it doesn't follow any known style guidelines? Forgetting price, or any other side-factor or variable, and focusing simply on the beer itself, would you drink it again? And how much would you want to drink it again?

Interestingly enough, in the world of beer, wine, and liquor there's not much that reminds me of this as much as Dogfish Head's "Midas Touch" (which is, of course, the first beer that they did with Dr. Pat). There may be some beers that come close, and perhaps there's a bit of a dry red wine to it, but nothing springs to mind. And I liked the "Midas Touch", but I think I like "Birra Etrusca" better. It's lighter in body, less sweet, and softer in character. The alcohol is not as apparent, and overall, it's a much more rounded and polished beer. I thought it looked good, it smelled good, it tasted good, and it was nice in the mouth with the body of a rich wine. I'd very much like to enjoy it again. And I also think it would be a very interesting beer to pair against food.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 15:10:55 | More by NeroFiddled

DavidST

Texas

3.64/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a tulip glass, 2012 version. This pours a reddish brown color with a two finger white head. The smells are of pomegranate, honey, ginger, raisins, mostly sweet very little hops. The feel is medium, mostly sweet, honey, juice a little noticeable alcohol very mild hops.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 01:38:21 | More by DavidST

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a golden amber, moderate froth, quickly gone. Scent brings big floral notes, flowery honey, light herbal quality, some bready yeastyness and spice, sugar and fruit. Taste has a lot going on as well... strong floral, honey, grape notes, moderate sugar, herbal, spice notes, rounded out with a grainy and bready profile. Medium bodied, some prickly carbonation. Overall, impressed with the uniqueness and drinkability of this one, only thing to question is value.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2013 16:21:11 | More by rfgetz

Daktyls

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly reddish amber color with a one and a half finger head that very quickly dissipates to no foam at all with a continual stream of carbonation rising up in the beer.

S: Light notes of pomegranate and raisins with some backing honey sweetness. Some light grassy notes are present with a small amount of malt as well.

T: The taste starts with a pomegranate flavor with a very light hop profile finishing with some bready notes. There is definitely some complexity here with the flavor profile morphing on the finish leaving a pleasant light honey flavor.

M: A tart mouthfeel with a medium amount of carbonation that seems a little too much for the flavors present in the beer.

O: Overall, quite tasty. I would definitely have this again. Some of flavors are a little muted, but otherwise very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 19:29:00 | More by Daktyls

prototypic

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Birra Etrusca pours a gold color. It’s crystal clear. Backlighting brightens it up a bit. There is a slight reddish tint to it. It’s subtle. Looks good though. It’s topped with a white head that rises to about a finger or so in height. It’s rather quick to recede. Lacing was non-existent. That’s a bit disappointing. Color looks pretty good though.

The nose is alright. It’s a bit weak and could use more strength. It kicks off with strong earthy and grainy notes. They’re prominent throughout. It smells a lit sweet and sugary. Fruit notes are apparent. Smells like berries, but I assume it’s the pomegranates. It does feature some interesting floral and herbal notes. They’re a decent complement to the other scents, but I wouldn’t say great. Alcohol is there. Not too strong, but it’s there. Not bad. More strength would be better.

The flavor is pretty good. It is earthy and grainy up front. Those flavors resonate throughout each sip. A mix of fruity, floral, and herbal flavors follows. The fruit flavor tastes like berries. It’s not all that strong. That’s a good thing here. It is sweet, a bit sugary. The floral and herbal notes are alright. They add some depth, but don’t taste great. Honey is definitely in the mix and adds a nice flavor. Nice complement to the other flavors. Alcohol is a little noticeable, but blends fairly well. Finishes earthy, sweet, and a little floral.

The body is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is light and soft for the most part. Feels a bit thin though. Either more body or more carbonation would help. Either way.

Birra Etrusca is nothing short of interesting. In terms of beer, it’s alright. Not bad. I do think the mix of sweet and floral flavors is just okay. More body or bubbles would help too. I’m not particular on which. It’s interesting, worth checking out. It’s another in Dogfish’s growing line of trailblazing beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 03:12:49 | More by prototypic

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

I got a little excited on this and poured a little overly aggressive. Two fingers of head sit on top of my beer. Body color is a dirty, muted yellow orange.

Smells very strongly of yeast and malt. Gardeny hops come through, as well as a smell like watered down sarsaparilla. Spices float throughout.

The taste is tart yet sweet. Sweet malt up front comes into a companionship with with strong yeast and spices. The end is very lightly hoppy, with a tidbit of sour apple.

Carbonation is strong. The beer is very smooth throughout, but that carbonation leaves a bite on your tongue. Lightly coats the throat and back of the tongue. I would call it light-medium bodied.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 01:05:23 | More by CFHMagnet

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.71/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle purchased at Tully's in Wells. Pours a fairly clear copper with nearly an inch of khaki colored head. Smells crazy - fruity, spicy... Liquoice and root beer notes. Spicy and fruity. Pomegranate, cherry, anise. Medium in body and carbonation. Pretty good. Interesting. Unique.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:50:02 | More by MrHurmateeowish

Greywulfken

New York

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: medium amber beer, clear, some bubbles from the bottom - two fingers of sudsy tan head was gone quickly, no lacing

S: some malts, but what I guess is most the result of the pomegranate and herbs - floral and sweet

T: the pomegranate is the most forward, with some honey sweetness and herbal tastes from the various ingredients incorporated into the brewing - not very beery-tasting - tasted like a dank fruit juice

M: thin, slick, some tingle on the back-end

O: my least favorite in their ancient ales series - too fruit juicy for my tastes - I appreciate the energy and innovation, but this is not something I'd return to.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 22:17:57 | More by Greywulfken

TexIndy

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a nonic pint glass. "Bottled in 2012A" lasered on the neck. I picked it up the day it hit the market here so should be pretty fresh. It was a clear bronze color with good carb streams. It had a small head that quickly dissipated into nothing. No collar and no lacing.

The aroma is very floral and sweet with honey and pomegranate leading the way. Sorta sweet wine like in aroma. Saw one review mention potpourri aroma and I can see that a little. The taste is sweet from the start and doesn't let up. Floral tones to keep it from getting overly sweet but it's borderline as is. Light mouthfeel with low carbonation and a very sweet aftertaste.

Overall, an interesting beer and glad I tried it to see what some historical ales tasted like but it was too sweet and just didn't grab me. Avail here in TX. Rotation - one is enough.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 02:29:32 | More by TexIndy

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.46/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Bottle shared by Jon, 750ml into a tulip.

Copper/bronze body, offwhite head that doesn't retain or lace. Nose has toasty breads, grains, herbal, honey and pomegranate are prominent as well. Taste is composed of pomegranate, herbals notes, grains, toasty and nutty character. Medium full palate, low carbonation. Sweet, and pomegranate lingers.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 15:37:54 | More by liamt07

shand

Florida

4.09/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Time to pop a new Dogfish 750 ... time for things to get weird. Birra Etrusca pours out a copper color with a finger of persistent head. The aroma is sweet, floral, fruity, yeasty, and malty. There's a lot going on with the nose, and it's hard to figure it out until you take a sip. And even then, it's not easy, as an initial strong spiced floral apple gives way to a more bitter pomegranate along with some other vinous sweet fruit flavors. Some honey sweetness makes it's presence known as well, along with some Belgian yeasts. As the beer approaches room-temperature, the yeast and floral aspects begin to dominate. Quite a lot going on here, but it's tasty. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a moderate carbonation level, and the drinkability is solid enough. Overall, another interesting big bottle from Dogfish Head.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 04:44:39 | More by shand

Evansbeer

4.13/5  rDev +11%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

DFH really did what they set out to do with this brew. Their explanation of this beer was to bring the Etruscans a beer that they could drink at dinner as well as their wine. Their intentions noble, and according to DFH they were also successful. I give them credit for the investment they put into making this ancient ale.

Now the beer: It is sweet and like other have said, hints of apple and pomegranate. I think the pomegranate is best pronounced by a tart finish. It had a decent head that dissipated after the first sip. Much more like a dessert beer than a beer that should be drunk before a heavy meal.

Its color resembles honey, smooth and golden. Light carbonation compared to other streamline brews.

It would best pair with olives (Italian traditional) or other strong flavors such as pickles, or I'd dare say dark chocolate??

I would recommend this to wine drinkers, and beginner beer drinkers who are above drinking wine coolers but can't stomach a Budweiser.

At 8.5% alcohol by volume, it is appropriate to be taken in like wine, small doses. For the 750mL bottle it runs expensive at around $12 a bottle (puts some wines to shame) but its not meant to be a beer to get drunk off of, much more a beer to enjoy slowly, at celebrations, or at nice family dinners.

Overall, if the price dropped I'd be more likely to drink this more often, but as of now I'll enjoy it as a celebratory beverage.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2013 15:52:00 | More by Evansbeer

Jonada

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

750ml bottle served in a DFH Signature Glass

Appearance: Dark golden/copper color with 2 fingers of head that dissipated rather quickly. Slightly hazy in the glass.

Smell: Apple cider, belgian yeast spiciness, some clove, banana, hints of pomegranate. Smells interesting.

Taste: Apple, spice, honey, slightly tart, herbal. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something slightly "off" in the finish and aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium/light body. High carbonation

Overall: This is...interesting. It's heavy on the apple and Belgian characteristics which I was not expecting based on the description. It's not bad, but it's definitely nothing special. Unless you're a big DFH fan, I'd probably recommend skipping this one, especially given the price.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:02:32 | More by Jonada

Boto

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Draught @ Birreria: This one was served in an interesting stem glass. It poured a clear, amber color. There was a small dense off-white head that left no lacing. It has an interesting nose: a nice spice that must be the myrrh. I also get a whiff of the pomegranate. It has a very nice taste. Spice, a hint of the pomegranate, and some wheat in the body. Somewhat dry, with a faint fruit sweetness in the finish. Really interesting!

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 18:32:54 | More by Boto

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.09/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dogfish Heads' curriosity has gotten the best of them again. With all the can't-help-themselves attitude, they find creative juices in Italy. Resurrecting ancient ale flavor with the help of Del Borgo an Baladin breweries, a very wine-freindly taste emerges from the ashes.

Bright gold in color, the beer shares tawny copper highlights with peps of amber in its body. A slim stark-white foam tops the beer and reluctantly endures half the session before sucumbing to the honey and herbs underneath.

Highly floral aromas seem vibrant with a bouquet that spans rose pedals, honeysuckle, perfume, fruity, and herbal. Backed with a supple sweet note of honey and grape, the beer takes on mead-like proportions- at least to the nose.

Honey sweetness falls on the mouth with a thin fruity/floral interplay. As the sweetness fades, the fruit and potpourri note remain, reigning in periphreal notes of pepper spice, oak, wine must, and grapes. Rye-like flavors add a peppery earthen zip that evokes impressions of oak-aged chardonnay and sweet riesling. The beer's overall appealing taste is as much of wine as it is of beer.

Medium-light on the palate, the beer is big on flavor but is rather well attenuated, allowing its early creaminess and honey weight to exit early, favoring a florl, spicy finish. Wood-like tannins give the beer as much balance as hops or alcohol.

Etrusca reminds me of Midas' Touch, but with more complex dryness, herbal, mead-like touches. Its heavy wine tilt creates a lot of allure, but also becomes challenging to the taste buds.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2013 02:46:12 | More by BEERchitect