Apricot Ale - Dry Dock Brewing Co.

chugalug06

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 2 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Foggy orange haze with a thin soapy white head. No lacing.

HUGE Apricot notes... yum. Honey and wheat also stand out. It's not sugary, it's just fruity.

Very refreshing; medium carbonation, no sweetness, no bitterness, just a well thought out summer (fruit) refresher.

Highly recommended. Well deserving of a Gold medal.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:08:53 | More by chugalug06

kojevergas

California

3.33/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Labelled "Apricot Blonde". 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a nonical pint glass in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery and this beer's reputation.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with pretzel rods.

A: Pours a one finger beige colour head of fair cream, nice thickness, and pretty good retention. Colour is a nontransparent murky hazy copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Fresh apricot with clean malts, cream, and some light fruit hopping. Quite a pungent aroma.

T: Apricot puree and cream over a clean malt foundation. Light fruity hops lend some character and help round it out. A moderate strength taste; it doesn't hit me as bold or experimental. Some clove-ridden yeasty notes. Somewhat simple. Fresh and enjoyable. Not horribly complex or subtle, but likable.

Mf: Smooth, wet, and refreshing. Clean. Adequate carbonation. Adequately thick on the palate. Suits the flavours in a general sense.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. I'd try it on draught. I like it. Will satisfy apricot beer fans.

Low B-

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 04:05:10 | More by kojevergas

mactrail

California

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Slight haze on the golden-orange brew poured in a tall Faust Weizen glass. More head towards the bottom of the bottle, and the carbonation in the mouth is prickly rather than creamy. Plenty of it, though.

The flavor is among the best fruit beers I've tried. It has that rich fruity mouthful, plus the tangy intrigue that makes apricot such a complex flavor at its best. A cross between really good apricot nectar (sweet) and the fresh fruit (tart). The aroma with each gulp is also outstanding.

"What you hope an apricot beer would taste like," sez the tasting companion. Dry Dock is a recent discovery for me and getting to be one of my favorite Colorado breweries. The 22 oz bottle from Mayfair Liquors in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 03:33:40 | More by mactrail

Robloc303

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours almost a copper color, or cloudy golden, and very frothy. Nose of...surprise! Apricots. I'm not usually a huge fan of fruit beer, but have to say this is pretty good. Easy to drink, crisp and good flavor. The Apricot is not as overwhelming as the nose indicates and is very enjoyable. I could easily drink more than one :)

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 22:22:49 | More by Robloc303

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.58/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Re-post of hacked "jmkratt" account :(

look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled as Dry Dock Apricot Blonde. Picked up a bottle as soon as it hit the shelves at the local store, the guy stocking said I bought the first one there - yes! Anyhow, on to the review:

A - Poured from brown 22oz bomber to a pint glass. The beer pours a cloudy dark deep yellow/golden color. Nice 1.5 finger white bubbly head with excellent retention and lacing throughout.

S - Wow, apricots! The beer smells heavenly. I can't think of how it could get any better. The nice pleasant fruity sweetness of the apricots dominate. Blends well with the yeast, and malty biscuity background of the beer. You can basically taste the beer through the nose.

T - Very similar to the nose with a dominant force of apricot immediately. It provides a nice fruity sweetness and imparts slight flavors of apples and bananas as well. Very flavorful. Mild bitterness. The biscuity malt provides a nice bakdrop for the fruit. Finishes crisp and clean.

M - Thick, medium bodied. Well Carbonated.

O - Another excellent beer from Dry Dock. Perfect for a summer day, it is a Summer Release as the bottle states. I've never been a fan of Apricot brews until this one. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 13:54:00 | More by hopfacebrew

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy straw/gold color. Poured a 3 finger creamy off-white head with excellent retention to a 1 finger cap. Decanted continually. Legs of lacing sliding down then holding to the glass.

S: Mild, sweet apricots; pleasantly fruity. Biscuity malt in the background with a very light sprice.

T: Very consistent with the nose. Fresh, sweet apricots dominate the palate though other light-colored fruits are present as well. Biscuity malt provides some balance ahead of the finish. Mild bitterness punctuates a crisp, refreshing (and slightly sweet) finish.

M: Medium body. Ample carbonation; very active on the palate and in the glass. Crisp and refreshing.

O: Though clearly apricot in nose and taste, not overdone. Beer achieves a nice balance though fruit flavors are dominant. Not a fan of fruit beers, but liked this one - a lot.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 21:27:05 | More by Haybeerman

GilGarp

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber labeled "Apricot Blonde" Summer Seasonal: Ale Brewed with Apricot Puree.

Served cold into a goblet, this beer has a hazy golden orange color with thick white head.

The aroma is spectacular! If you love apricots, you'll probably spend as much time sniffing the beer as you do sipping it.

Flavor is really solid as well. A sweet and mild malt backbone is there simply to provide a stage upon which the apricots to perform. Very little bitterness but not cloyingly sweet either. Very drinkable, especially considering it's a fruit beer.

Mouthfeel is light in body and carbonation. Reasonably well balanced but fairly sweet. No hops to speak of, really.

Overall a really well done beer. I will have to seek out another bottle before the Summer seasonals go away.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 00:27:13 | More by GilGarp

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle purchased in Denver...22 oz. bottle reads "Apricot Blonde". Shared on the back porch with the wife and the Steep as the sunlight fades behinds the pines. Ah, summer.

Medium yellow pour with some sunny orange highlights. Consistent thin off white tarp lays atop.

Smells of fresh apricots and a hint of Macy's perfume counter. If you're reading this Chris, eat it! Perfume is a perfectly cromulent scent in a beer.

Tastes much the same. Like George W aboard some seabound aircraft carrier...mission accomplished. Apricots and beer, commence copulation.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 00:48:48 | More by BarrytheBear

JCDenver

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Labeled "Apricot Blonde." Poured into a snifter; color is cloudy light orange. About an inch of dense, bubbly head, which quickly receded to a nice ring of lacing.

The smell of this beer is phenomenal. Just a big punch of rich apricot goodness.

Loads of apricots with a nice, subdued malt backing and a touch of bitterness on the end.

Medium bodied, very well carbonated, and extremely refreshing.

This is by far the best non-sour apricot beer I have ever had, just delicious.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 00:32:52 | More by JCDenver

kyleelton

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

For this from a friend in Colorado in an awesome beer trade that included a ton of Funkwerks. Certainly looking forward to that but my first foray is this one.

As soon as I open the can I get that sweet apricot aroma. So fruity. It's not bad, but I normally don't love fruit beers so let's see. Head begins a little thin, but when it dies away it leaves me a nice, satisfying layer of lace. Golden orange and cloudy.

Like I said major fruit aroma. A proper whiff reveals that this is no ordinary fruited beer. Barely getting any beer at all, but if I didn't have my eyes open I would swear there was a ripe, delicious apricot just inches from my nose. No artificial flavors, here. I could smell this all day, but I'm eager to taste how this apricot bomb mixes with the (presumed) hops.

Apricots and citrus as expected. If I'm totally honest, though, I'm a little disappointed. Don't know what was expecting, but while the apricot flavor is the main attraction I think I was hoping it would blend with a stronger bitterness.

The mouthfeel is a bit underwhelming, too. It is a blonde, though, so perhaps I was expecting more of a pale ale body.

Too much comparing to Dogfish's Aprihop, which I like, a lot, and this beer doesn't quite make it there. It's decent I suppose if your a fan of fruit beers, but this one is not for me. It does, however get major points for authenticity. They did not cut corners on the apricots.

Serving type: can

04-12-2013 02:23:07 | More by kyleelton

denver10

Colorado

3.66/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a light orange with a yellowish hue and a white head. Aroma is apricot jam straight up; its good but definitely one dimensional. Flavor is pretty much the same, with dominant apricot. At first I get some fresh apricot fruit, but then the sweet jamminess comes into play. Along for the ride that shows itself in the finish is some slight cracker. An active mouthfeel, works well. Overall, a solid and enjoyable fruit beer. Will drink again I am sure as it makes for a nice summertime brew, but definitely best as part of a mixed sixer.

Serving type: can

04-03-2013 03:52:06 | More by denver10

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.59/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

"All apricot- all the time" - this seems to be the focus for Dry Dock's fruited Blonde Ale. Where other brewers may add a nuance of fruit here and a touch there, these brewers really sock the fruit to the beer!

Honey orange in its appearance, the expected pectin haze from fruit is a testament to the beer's unfiltered character; thus an interlude into its full flavor. A fast rise of foam recedes just as quickly until a loose twill of foam scatters the surface. Scattered islands of lace coats the glass with ivory white foam in the beer's wake.

All apricot in aroma... except for the slightest taste of grainy pilsner malt and a pep of wheat bread. A twangy tart scent from fermentation can easily be attributed to fruit acidity. But no mistake about it- rich apricot puree dominates the beer's aroma.

All apricot in taste... except for the slim grain-malt character and yeast character seen in the aromas. Its rich fruit taste rivals the flavors found in Tropical Fruit Punch and Fruit Roll-Ups. Modest hops assist in balance but go relatively unnoticed. Only a ghost of wheat returns in aftertaste and outlasts the apricot.

Despite its one-dimensional taste, aroma, and its fairly high rate of residual fruit sweetness, the beer is remarkably refreshing. Aided by zesty carbonation and fruit acidity the beer's body is smooth, highly drinkable and slightly minty to finish. A cool warmth seems lightly menthol like.

It's really easy to over-do it when it comes to fruit beers, and I think that this line has been passed a long time ago- but I feel that this is the brewer's intent: A fruit-forward apricot ale. But the real question, is it (APE)ricot or (APP)ricot?

Serving type: can

03-29-2013 04:54:36 | More by BEERchitect

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

certainly one of the better fruit beers ive had. this one pours cloudy and blonde, almost hefeweizen style. smells like fresh fruit, apricots, peaches, nectarines, all of the above. its got some more balanced hops on the back end of the flavor, but this is really about the apricot. no artificial or overly sugary extracts going on here, this is the genuine article. a superb summer brew. feel is light and drinkable, aftertaste is only mildly sweet. this is a fruit beer for people who dont usually like fruit beers, me being one of those. i really really enjoyed my pint of this, and might might pick up a bomber this afternoon. good nectar to share with your lady too!

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 18:54:29 | More by StonedTrippin

SassyBootblack

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Rackhouse Pub.

Appearance: Cloudy, dark gold, almost copper colored.

Smell: Apricots!

Taste: Apricots doing jazz hands. Compared to other fruit beers I've had, they really get a phenominal amount of fruit flavor in there.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, smooth.

Drinkability: Probably the best fruit beer I've had in memory, so bottoms up.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2011 16:59:06 | More by SassyBootblack

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at Rackhouse pub. Nice orange color, hazy, looks good. The smell was jam packed with apricots, so good. The flavor was also totally dominated by apricots which was quite good. It was almost like biting into one. This is the second best beer I have had that uses apricots, Fou Foune is clearly the best but I'm biased towards lambics.

edit 9/7/10

Just got a growler, wow! Way too easy to drink and fucking filled with apricots.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2010 18:50:47 | More by ArrogantB

Domingo

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this at the Old Chicago on Buckley (only a mile or two from Dry Dock).
Pretty interesting beer. Not sure what kind of yeast they're using, but it reminds me of a flavored Bavrian weizen. It could be the way the flavors blend, but there's something that's definitely more flavorful than similar brews. It's definitely thicker and more murky, but the texture actually makes it more drinkable.
Apricot flavor steals the show, but there's some apple and banana fruitiness, too. There's even some faint hop flavor in the back, too.
Pretty good fruit beer for sure. This is usually available throughout the spring/summer months, so it's appropriate for this time of year. I definitely recommend it if you like the Pyramid or Sea Dog apricot brews.

EDIT: This is a blonde ale and not a wheat beer. The cloudiness is from the fruit. I still think that yeast imparts some interesting fruit flavors beyond the apricots, and it reminds me of a weizen. Good stuff either way!

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2009 15:25:41 | More by Domingo

filabrazilia

Colorado

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

A: Pours a nice semi-cloudy peach from the growler. A small off white head adorns the glass.

S: A nice apricot aroma wafts from the brew. A subtle malt and yeast component balance the fruit.

T: Mildly sweet and furity--not too sweet though. Just the right touch of fruit to make it very refreshing.

M: Very basic. Thin, mellow and not overwhelming. This is what you want from a summer brew. Refreshing and restorative.

D: This would be a good brew to drink after a long hike--whioh is exactly what I did. I could drink several of these to extinguish the thirst from a vigorous workout.

Serving type: growler

05-30-2008 02:57:53 | More by filabrazilia

drumrboy22

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Keg was a gift from the brewer. Many, many thanks to Kevin for this one! Beer pours a cloudy, peach color. Had a straw colored, two finger head that left heavy lacing around the glass.

Aroma is very sweet from the apricot, also apples, grains and light floral hops.

Taste was apricots as expected, along with wheat grains, bread and light yeast. Also had a slightly bitter finish, which was very nice and helped to balance the sweetness out.

Moderate carbonation and a creamy mouthfeel. Very crisp, refreshing and easy drinking. The perfect beer for a tailgate party, BBQ, hot summer day, etc... I really love this beer. Goes down way too easy which makes the drinkability very high.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2008 19:26:33 | More by drumrboy22

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Found this on the chalkboard at Old Chicago's on Hampden (Denver). I've loved Dry Dock's ales before, so I'll give this one a try.
Pours a slightly glowing orange/peach color. A bit of a relief as I didn't want to see it as a thick syrup-goo. Small head, but retained nicely. Aroma was a bit weak, or maybe just not overpowering. Apricot is noticeable, but not overpowering like some apricot ales. I do think it was served too cold, though.
Taste: Apricot balances the malt nicely and gives the light hops a bit of flavor. I think it's good, not great. Yet it is smooth and very drinkable. Paired this with the Meat Me pizza. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2007 20:24:50 | More by Mebuzzard