25 Dodici - Birra Del Borgo

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -26%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: pours an almost entirely opaque murky mud-water color. minimal head did not retain for long. definitely got some yeast? (or so other particulates) floating around as well as resting on the bottom of my glass. very fine carbonation bubbles slowly trickling tot the surface.

S: smells like soured grape juice. absolutely no hops here. not really finding any spice either. or orange zest (which it was brewed with as noted on the bottle). hmmmm.

T: starts with chalk, lingering malts, and quickly transitions to spiced run. linger of Welsh's Grape Jelly w/ exactly the same sweetness. really all over the place.

M: really soft carbonation. almost tingly. a medium body, but a quasi-watery aspect as well.

D: i drank it. reluctantly. (side note: my girlfriend claimed it looked and tasted like vomit)

overall, not sure what to think. not your typical warmer with the lack of spice. not really sure what this beer is. almost finding some dubbel/sour qualities in this one. had some big expectations for this beer/from this brewery. i hope i just got a really crummy bottle and expect better from a brewery that is doing collaborations with DFH.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 12:33:10 | More by Jimmys

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

05-01-2013 20:06:51 | More by ShemRahBoo

sendbeer

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

04-15-2013 20:22:59 | More by sendbeer

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Dogfish Head pint glass. Pours a very dark chestnut brown with a nice two finger tan head with good retention and lots of lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, light citrus, lightly sour. Flavor is muted, but complex; bready and toasted malt, dark dried fruit, a bit of chocolate and hints of light fruit. Finishes semi-dry with residual dark malt, chocolate, bittering hops and light citrus, very slightly sour. Medium bodied but very nice sharp, active carbonation. A nice flavor profile and progression. Different. Closest in style to a hopped brown ale, but with a bit more fruit elements. I really liked this and glad I found a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:24:04 | More by LiquidAmber

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +9.6%

03-24-2013 22:31:42 | More by RedneckBeerz

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.91/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Sort of a cloudy brownish color with a thin, bubbly tan head. Almost looks like tea, but not a whole lot of light shines through.

S- Caramel malt along with a funky fruit scent. There is also a nutty aroma present as well.

T- Flavor is similar to a strong brown ale, with caramel malts and nutty flavors coming through. There is also some spice flavors similar to clove and dried orange. Overall the flavors work pretty well together.

M- Medium carbonation, body makes it drinkable, but the feel is somewhat dry and boozy.

O- This is a good beer, but not outstanding. Booze is hidden in flavor, but noticeable in the feel. That probably does not make sense to some, but it's true.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 00:49:19 | More by stephenjmoore

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.26/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The Oude 25th-year Dodici comes with high expectations. As a brewery that flirts with authentic tartness of Belgian-esque origins but committed to the forward progress or barrel aged art and sour ale development- this beer has to come with high aspirations, right?

Upon the pour, the zesty ale dons a tawny brown color with varying highlights of maroon and rust. Its vibrant carbonation reveals a scattered head that dissipates soon thereafter. Its light foam relies on Merlot-like legging over lace- likely because of its high acidity. Its appearance catches it somewhere between ale and port.

Incredible sour aromas of balsamic vinegar, tart apple cider, dry white wine and sour grapes kick start the pungent aromatics. A whiff of sea air, horse blanket, and old dusty woods offer earthy aromas to complement the sour fruit. But then other eccentric notes of , leather, tobacco. sweat and earthen marmalade make the aromas both savory and sweet.

Richer to taste, the malt and port notes reinforce a sweeter impression and relegate the sour notes to a somewhat secondary role. The strong balsamic taste is alive and well but invite the taste of dry sherry, Port, raisin, dried orange peel, dates, figs, and soy sauce to add to the acidity and sultry taste. Fruitcake spice, weathered oak, tannin. tobacco and tea all reveal themselves as the beer lumbers in its finish and aftertaste.

Surprisingly medoium-light on the palate, the beer eases from a soft pillowy malt support and int a sharply acidic tone in quick order. As the malt recedes and the acidity takes hold, the beer only intensifies from there- concluding in a pungent, sharp, and sultry taste that lingers briefly in after taste and texture.

Dodici is a masterfully crafted ale that starts bullyish, abrupt, and aggressive but finsihes with a soft charm that wins me over easily.It's an inquisitive Sour Ale that does so much more than just sour a beer. One sip sets you on that jounet.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 07:24:00 | More by BEERchitect

DruRho

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

03-21-2013 23:12:39 | More by DruRho

JLapadura

New York

2.75/5  rDev -24.7%

01-22-2013 23:26:12 | More by JLapadura

LambicKing

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

01-17-2013 03:09:34 | More by LambicKing

Hanzo

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

01-17-2013 02:52:10 | More by Hanzo

irishgreensoda

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -11%

01-11-2013 13:01:26 | More by irishgreensoda

asafarc2

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

01-07-2013 15:01:05 | More by asafarc2

GrumpyOldTroll

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -31.5%

12-31-2012 20:47:34 | More by GrumpyOldTroll

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is chestnut brown with a thin beige cap. The aroma offers malt, holiday spices, brown sugar, brown bread, light sweetness. Light malty sweetness, with brown bread and perhaps a touch of cinnamon. Pretty tasty. Medium bodied with adequate carbonation. Alcohol presence is minimal. Pretty smooth feel. Overall, this was solid, but not exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 04:33:05 | More by Huhzubendah

TerrapinWakenBake

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +23.3%

11-18-2012 20:19:44 | More by TerrapinWakenBake

csurowiec

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

11-04-2012 01:47:09 | More by csurowiec

HamFon

Florida

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted this at the Walk The Line On Barleywine commercial barleywine competition.

A: hazy amber with moderate beige head that fades to a ring and produces minimal lacing

S: malty, light floral, not much complexity

T: again malty, some slight offsetting indistinct hop flavors, light hop bittering

M: medium body, very dry finish

O: a decent barleywine with not as much complexity as expected (particularly compared to Sedici Gradi from the same brewery), and not visually exceptional

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 16:49:03 | More by HamFon

demgoth

New York

4/5  rDev +9.6%

03-28-2012 03:41:18 | More by demgoth

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

02-28-2012 20:57:24 | More by sholland119

Hellrob

Italy

3.08/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

---with this alchool % and for this style this beer has a very very very thin body and light aromas. brown in colour. few carbonation. not so good as expected, also because it is a winter beer in belgian strong dark style. maybe, to re-try another year for a confirmation---

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 11:11:27 | More by Hellrob

nicoco184

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a Weyerbacher tulip.

Appearance: Hazy, dark caramel color and pours with a thick, bubbly head. Lacing is fairly sticky and the rim remains for a while.

Smell: Caramel and malts come to mind first, with a hint of citrus at the end. Reminds me of the chocolates that have a orange liquor center.

Taste: Sweet and malty, with a boozy finish. Is it bad that I keep repeating caramel? But it does taste like caramel.

Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, but flavor sticks around for a while and leaves almost a syrupy residue feeling.

Overall: This is probably average, at best. You can tell there is a certain amount of craftsmanship and attention to the beer, but the style just doesn't really appeal to my palette. I would absolutely consider this - given its thickness - more of a fall/winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 00:49:46 | More by nicoco184

shanekramer

New York

4/5  rDev +9.6%

11-20-2011 22:32:13 | More by shanekramer

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

11-14-2011 23:18:11 | More by JAHMUR

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Birra Del Borgo - 25 Dodici
12.7 oz bottle

Hmmm? I don't get the name... 25 twelve (dodici). I'll have to research that.

A: It pours a hazy russet brown body with muddied orange highlights along the sides of the glass. Even a rough pour failed to deliver any head.

S: The lemon peel is right there, bright and fresh. There's a little bit of mustiness, and a touch of caramelish malt.

T: The lemon hits you upfront, and you think that it might be tart, but then it warms to reveal the maltiness. It's caramelish, bready, herbal, straw-like and grassy with a little bit of mustiness and wet-wood, and fruity like dried figs. It's not particularly bitter (there's just enough to balance it), yet it finishes dry. As it fades in the swallow it's gently spicy and subtly herbal, and there's a subtle touch of earthiness.

M: Medium-full in body. Smooth with a very low carbonation level.

Overall: Impressive! It's new and interesting. It's semi-rich, but also refreshing. It reminds me in some ways of a saison, and in some ways of a more malty beer. The lemon peel has really been put to good use; and it has surprising balance. Quite remarkable. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 15:55:42 | More by NeroFiddled