Bobby Dazzler - Portland Brewing Company

BKotch

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A beautiful-looking beer. Deep red-amber color, rich fruity nose. The flavor is very, very malty-fruity. Slightly more hoppy this year (2001) than last, it could still use a bit more to balance things out.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2001 20:58:19 | More by BKotch

JMBSH

Colorado

3/5  rDev -20.6%

12-23-2012 23:43:52 | More by JMBSH

macrosmatic

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.8%

04-10-2012 05:33:24 | More by macrosmatic

shelby415

Oregon

3/5  rDev -20.6%

02-26-2012 08:29:20 | More by shelby415

cdwil

Texas

4/5  rDev +5.8%

12-29-2011 21:16:06 | More by cdwil

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Chesnut brown then ruby red with small head. Smooth malt aroma and really not much else, which was kinda weird given the spice notes picked up in the taste.

Like I said, spice, cinnamon, nutty flavor, full bodied and robust, but not harsh. Not content to just be a maltbomb warmer, this one has a delightful little hop kick to it, although far from playing center stage, this is the proverbial second fiddle. Downbottle sweetness makes a well rounded winter beer. Only downside is this is something I wouldn't see myself having multiples of at any one time, given the flavor profile that packs a lot of stuff into one bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 23:29:05 | More by Beerandraiderfan

hotstuff

Indiana

3.3/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A beer that poured a very small sized tan head that contained fine-small sized bubbles that quickly dissipated.The body was hazy and carbonated with a brown hue.The nose consisted of malt, fruit, and possibly some spice.It had a slightly bitter flavor and some alcohol was noted as well.The mouthfeel of this beer was smooth, tingly and medium bodied.This beer had very little lacing.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2003 21:59:53 | More by hotstuff

TheDM

Indiana

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured a small head of finely sized off-white mostly disappearing bubbles that left behind a fair lacing and a uncarbonated hazy brown colored body. The aroma is a mild malt hop mix with few little roasted notes thrown in for variety. The mouthfeel is motth with a mild tingly to it and a noticeable mild alcohol finish. The flavor is of roasted malts and mildly hopped with some spiceyness thrown in for good measure.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2003 00:36:03 | More by TheDM

beerguy101

California

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown color, medium head. Aroma is fruity and sweet. A medium bodied holiday ale. Roasted malts, mildly hopped, some spice? Slightly bitter with some sweetness. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean. Aftertaste is somewhat bitter, and slightly fruity sweet

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2003 06:27:38 | More by beerguy101

Brent

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing this holiday beer in May is well out of season, but even so this beer has held up quite well. Overall, this stuck me as "Anchor Our Special Ale Light." Has a slightly pine sap and plum aroma. The flavor is mildly spiced, with the pine sap and plum flavors mingled among the malt. Finishes fairly clean for a holiday seasonal. A bit of English old ale mixed with west-coast innovation. Not stellar, but quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2003 19:41:58 | More by Brent

the42ndtourist

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep dark ruby colour, a little brown but very red. Limited head. This entry was quite tasty - toffee and caramel flavours abound. Not peaty like Sam Smith's classic Winter Welcome, this had a taste profile that leaned towards a Scottish ale (not too much, but some). I like it, but there are many that are better.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2003 15:03:43 | More by the42ndtourist

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2001 bottling. Beautiful mahogany colored beer that pours with a respectable beige head. The head fades quickly and leaves a slight lace on the glass. The aroma of this beer is superb. Caramel and a hint of spiciness, yet very refreshing and crisp. The aroma makes you feel a need to drink this beer. The first sip is packed with roasted nut and malt flavors. It has a very full mouthfeel that wraps your tongue in sweetness. Then, when you decide to finally swallow, the hops express a touch of bitterness and clean the palate. A hint of nutty sweetness slips in on the aftertaste, but it is very subtle. Subsequent sips present the same sweetness, with the hops being a little more noticable. This is truly an excellent beer that dis not seem to stay in my glass all that long. I try to savor my beers, but once in a while a truly delicious beer that is very drinkable makes it difficult to do. This is one of those beers. I must thank Nero for providing me the oppurtunity to experience this fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2002 10:19:46 | More by aaronh

TXHops

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My nostalgia for Bobby Dazzler is a little perplexing, since I didn't think it was that great, but it was enough to make me dig out my 1999 review to post it...

Bobby Dazzler

ABV: 6.5%, 5.02%ABW
OG: 1.072, 17.5 P
FG: 1.023, 5.89 P
Attenuation: 66.38%
Real Extract: 7.99
Caolries/12 oz: 240
IBU's: 50

New for 1999, Portland Brewing Company introduces their "Winter Wonder", Bobby Dazzler. PBC claims that Bobby Dazzler is an Old London Style Holiday Ale. Even the name is colloquial English for "a remarkable or excellent person or thing", or a verb that means to dazzle. (To quote the 6 pack carrier...) I don't know if Portland Brewing Company's Holiday Ale is an acceptable use of the Olde English term that serves as its namesake, but it is definitely a Holiday Ale by style. Deep ruby red in color: almost Marzen-like, with a satisfactory head of beige bubbles which help to bring aromas reminiscent of wine and sweet rhubarb to the nose, Bobby Dazzler makes the appropriate Holiday Ale impression. The hop bouquet is mostly hidden by the sweet, winey maltiness, but those 50 IBU's manage to assert themselves, if only as balance to the sweetness of the loads of malted barley, which is really the feature of Booby Dazzler. It’s pretty spicy too: not Belgian spicy, but strong ale spicy, if you get my meaning… That 5 malt cocktail is the genesis of an intensely-vinous fruitiness (once again, rhubarb?) that finishes very long, and with the tingle of warming alcohol.

Less overwhelmingly assertive than some Holiday Ales (like Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale), Bobby Dazzler is nonetheless a very enjoyable winter beer. Sweet, complex, fruity and warming: it has all the necessary characteristics...

3.7

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2002 12:06:40 | More by TXHops

Gusler

Arizona

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The pour is a tawny brown color, adequate light brown head, flimsy lace. Nose is malt with some floral tones also noticed. Start is malt, somewhat sweet, top is light, the finish modestly carbonated, benignly hopped, pleasently dry, and a decent drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2002 18:14:49 | More by Gusler

StevieW

Florida

4.72/5  rDev +24.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brought back from my spring trip to California, this beer is nearly one year old. Opened tonight in honor of the first "cold front" to reach South Florida this morning. (Temps were 80-85, sunny warm, no humidity and a cooling NE breeze at 10-15mps, with just a whisper of chill in the air.)
Welcome to winter my friends. Ruby, Garnet, shiny brown clear color. An agressive pour produced an exceptional fluffy, hop bubbled fluffy beige head. Initial head turning, smile inducing smell of roasted earthy toffee, malty sweetness, and noticable hop kick. First taste was full of deep rich roasted sweetness, with a certain earthy fullness to it. Maybe comparable to a scotch ale, with a shot of brandy. Unbelievible taste combinations. Nice medium to full bodied feel. Decided hop kick delivers a crisp, dry finish, and those deep soul warming hop burps that Venom describes so well. Very drinkable, alcohol slides by, but warms your belly nicely. I was worried about keeping this one on the shelf so long, but not now. A truly great tasting beer, and a hidden gem. I will keep the other 2 I have for Thanksgiving, Christmas or the next cold snap. Great beer, cool bottle.
This beer gets my highest rating............Magic in a glass.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2002 16:55:56 | More by StevieW

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cellared bottle. Age unknown, but @ 1 year. Clear. A burgundy robe with beautifully glowing ruby highlights is topped by a frothy, cream colored head that holds well and leaves some excellent lace. The aroma is quite enticing with a dark fruitiness above a rich caramel maltiness and some bright floral hops. The body is medium with a light, very fine carbonation; giving a very nice creaminess in the mouth. The flavor offers a mellow blending of toasted malts and hops right off the bat, warming into some light toffee notes as it crosses the palette, revealing some grassy hop flavors, and slipping ever so gently away with one last ripe fruit note and a long lasting hoppy bitterness. Impressive balance! A gently complex, rich and characterful beer. Whatever alcohol is present is completely masked except for the feeling you have after finishing the serving. An exceptional beer that seems to have aged quite well. There's no sign of any oxidation; and the hops are still clear in their flavor and aroma, but the bitterness has smoothed immensely. I would not suggest aging this beer for more than one year, however, as it seems in prime condition right now with most of it's hop character intact. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2002 05:31:47 | More by NeroFiddled

Jason

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12oz brown twist with no freshness date to be found. On the label it is stated the it is an Old London Style Holiday Ale.

Appearance: Tawny copper with a deep reddish hue ... the lace does an awesome job of sticking everywhere.

Smell: Dark creamy toffee aroma with a big handful of hops in the nose.

Taste: Very smooth, with a big rich malty backbone full of toasted malt and caramel. Fruity esters and an oily hop bitterness help to round out this brew and take it to the next level of greatness. Hop flavour and some residual sweetness finish the beer off perfectly.

Notes: Indeed a great winter brew ... perhaps one of the most flavourful brews that Portland Brewing has produced ever. Tastes like an English/American hybrid Winter Warmer. Hats off for this very enjoyable ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2002 23:25:46 | More by Jason

Murph

Arizona

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark amber with a creamy head. The nose is nice and malty. Great malt character with a little bit of hops thrown in as well. I think I am getting a little bit of chocolate and very slight smokiness as well. Nice and creamy across the palate. This is a nice winter beer. I am now wishing that I had discovered it a little earlier in the season as it is not very expensive and is pretty damn good. This would be nice for a cold weather session, or with some hearty winteresque food.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2002 23:21:10 | More by Murph

gwfrankpsu

California

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Just recieved this as part of my Christmas collection from the Northwest. Chesnut in color, 6.5% abv. While this is a good beer, it is not as good as last year, then it's not on tap at the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2001 15:09:53 | More by gwfrankpsu