Dominion Spring Buck - Old Dominion Brewing Company

davidt

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Spring Buck pours a bright amber-gold color with a white head that drops rapidly leaving a ring, but little lacing. The beer is very effervescent, with a never-ending stream of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. The aroma is honey, with some faint hints of pepper, clove and banana. There's a slight yeastiness noted as well. The flavor is predominately honey, orange, and a typical Belgian spice flavor palette. The mouthfeel is moderately thick with a creamy feeling, though the visible carbonation isn't felt in the mouth. The aftertaste leaves a lingering but light pepper bite.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2008 03:46:06 | More by davidt

cliff1066

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

01-06-2013 00:11:36 | More by cliff1066

RBorsato

Virginia

4/5  rDev +15.3%

11-13-2012 20:38:46 | More by RBorsato

pagardner

Virginia

2.5/5  rDev -28%

06-02-2012 00:05:54 | More by pagardner

AndrewMichael

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

01-31-2012 02:31:05 | More by AndrewMichael

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Consumed on 1-22-11.
Brewed with honey, chamomile, dried orange peel and wheat malt.

Enormous off white head that just keeps on rising! This was actually a bit of a gusher, truth be told. So, fair warning!! I very carefully poured this beer into a tapered tulip glass and the head would just not stop rising. I had to shave the top off twice! The beer truly has a beautiful presentation. Orange-gold color, cloudy body, and TONS of rising bubbles to support the massive head. it is hard to imagine a better looking Belgian-style ale in the US.

The aroma seems to favor the chamomile up front, with a minor waft of oranges here and there and a soft sweetness in the background from the honey, I suppose. This beer definitely captures the Belgian spirit.

The taste is unfortunately lacking in the same spirit. A little bit of bitter oranges, fruity, and yet dry. Sadly, this is a bit one-dimensional. Belgian-style ales should have more going on in the flavor, maybe with some funk, ya know?

Highly attenuated and the carbonation is a crazy mess. Is that the price you pay to have such a wonderful head? High alcohol but without the heat, so that is good.

Refreshing despite it's best efforts. I have another bottle in the fridge and I plan on drinking it, but seeing as they are switching their spring seasonal to a maibock, I am not sure if I will ever have this beer again (that is, after my fridge beer).

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 01:54:52 | More by MusicaleMike

Mattvt00

Virginia

2.9/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Picked up a 6 pack of this over the summer at Total Wine in Alexandria Virginia. It was on sale for $3.99, and at that price point I was expecting problems but grabbed it anyway.

Every one of these bottles I've opened has overflowed, literally spilled out of the bottle. Once you let the beer settle, it's decent, but I certainly grabbed a batch that was WAY over-carbonated. The mouth-feel backs this up as it stings the tongue and mouth.

If you open this beer, let it settle, you'll see a pleasant amber beer with a nice spicy smell. Decent taste if you can get by the carbonation.

Might be a good beer otherwise and maybe I just got a bad batch, but, I'd ask for a sample before I ordered it at a bar if I were you.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 03:31:25 | More by Mattvt00

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

I loves me my "malt beverages". This one pours a cloudy golden amber topped by a stiff finger of white suds. The nose is rather soapy, with some light coriander, flowers, jasmine, and a slice or two of banana floating in the shadows. The taste is richer, with notes of Belgian yeast, honey, orange peel, coriander, pepper, flowers, and a bit o' rye bread. The body is fairly light, with a moderate carbonation and a somewhat crisp finish. Overall, a decent brew, but not something I'd necessarily grab for in the future. Worth a shot, though.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 05:50:05 | More by TMoney2591

mrhiccups

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Went to my favorite beer store and picked up a six pack of this. Noticed the high ABV on this, was interested. Drank straight from the bottle, tastes like a wheat beer that I had before, very tart, chamomile will perhaps calm me down once the alcohol kicks in. Not disagreeable at all, would try this again!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 05:19:37 | More by mrhiccups

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a typical clear amber with a thick but not persistent white head. Does have a little carbonation in it. Aroma is not strong but has good malty/wheaty crispness and just a touch of honey sweetness. Flavor is quite strong and satisfying, making up for the wan aroma - not complex, but mouth-filling, wheaty and crisp with just a hint of hop bitterness and whispers of honey and citrus. Texture is quite fizzy and lively.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 21:31:47 | More by Cyberkedi

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Neighbor somehow got a case for $13 and raved about the value - gave me this one to sample.

Pours with a crisp, effervescent white head that drops to a light film over an opaque golden body. Plenty of noticeable carbonation up the sides.

Syrupy citrus smell with some honey, lemon zest, and herbal phenols. Smells like spring!

Taste is slightly more subdued - some bitter lemon, wheat, rose petal, and touch of spices. Unfortunately, the mouthfeel really takes away from the flavor... far too much carbonation rips through the flavor profile and prevents it from getting through cleanly.

Drinkability is distracted by the crisp, biting MF, but if this beer regularly goes for <$15/case (heck, even $20), I would not hesitate to pick one up.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 01:20:22 | More by BeerImmediately

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From a brown 12 oz. bottle. Pours a cloudy brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, some hints of malt and citrus. Taste is a bit tart, citrus with malts. Feels creamy in the mouth. Drinkability is so-so. Overall this is a fairly decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2009 23:23:32 | More by tone77

mltobin

Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bought a 12 ounce bottle at State Line in Elkton, Maryland. Image of a male deer with horns on the label (i.e. a buck)

The appearance is a light yellow color with a one finger head.
Smell is is of corn, a light smell, some sugar also comes across.
Taking a sip, I taste malts and some vanilla. This taste is good, but by no means very good or great. Mouthfeel consists of lemon zest, like it is cleansing your palate, a little too much like a lemon zest cleaning solution though combined with malt liquor. This was an interesting beer, but just a bit above average.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2009 00:38:22 | More by mltobin

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 12 ounce bottle poured into my Sly Fox shaker glass. The ale appears a hazed pale yellow color with about two fingers of quickly fading bone white foam. Aromas and flavors are of sweet honey, oranges, biscuits, slightly spicy with a dry finish. Smooth bodied with ample carbonation. The alcohol is well masked making for good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2009 05:10:05 | More by ClockworkOrange

mjw06

Pennsylvania

2.48/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

a hazy orange champagne color with a nice sized head and good retention. leaves an okay lacing. heavy carbonation rushing to the top and almost sustaining the head by itself, rather than the head retaining itself.

very yeasty and wheaty smell with an orange undertone and hints of spice. some banana hints as well.

the taste mimics the smell, with a lingering yeast and orange taste on the back of the tongue. for all of the elements stated on the label (honey, chamomile, orange peel), it seems to lack complexity.

medium bodied, and can tell by the feel that it is an unfiltered beer. way too much carbonation, lots of big bubbles that pack a very strong and simply unpleasant presence.

not so drinkable, im struggling to finish this six pack, almost forgot i even had it. i wouldnt have another, other than to finish this. sounds good, but simply just isnt good at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2009 04:02:29 | More by mjw06

Proteus93

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured into a Delirium Tremens snifter, somewhat hazy blonde. A very robust head forms on top... creamy with a little shimmer to it.

S: Both the honey and the chamomile make themselves known. Somewhat floral and sweet apple notes with some hints of pear.

T: Green apple, orange zest, some alcohol flavours, and a herbal and somewhat pungent flavour post-finish. There's a bit of a canned fruit flavour in the aftertaste that's a little peculiar.

M: Sparkling mouthfeel, with a softer carbonation and a bit of dryness on the finish, though there are also some little 'sticky spots' that keep it from being as dry as it could be.

D: A decent brew, and one I'd look towards again when in the mood, perhaps. It's got some nice qualities to it that manage to maintain an "American identity" in a Belgian style.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2009 00:57:02 | More by Proteus93

MrIncognito

Virginia

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

***I have had this beer in both a nonic and a wine glass and it has much better flavors and aromas in the wine glass.

A - Very cloudy light orange body with some noticeable carbonation rising up the sides of the glass. A wonderfully fluffy white head at 2-3 fingers after the pour and great retention. I had at least a 1/2-finger head all the way to the end. Great sticky lacing on the glass.

S - Sweet pale malts with citrus notes and some herbal tones. No noticeable hop aroma. More honey shines through as this warms.

T&M - Crisp mouthfeel from the carbonation yet smooth due to the wheat and sweetness. Not overly sweet pale malt, but a nice flavor. Orange peel is the citrus flavor and can be a bit tangy at times. This beer balances more as it warms. Alcohol becomes more evident as well after some warming. Definite herbal notes and I can really taste that chamomile. I'm not sure I'd have picked this out as chamomile w/out reading the bottle, but that's exactly what the herbal flavor is. I don't sense too much honey.

D - A very nice-drinking beer. I would really think of this more as a summer beer than a spring beer but it was a nice change from the heavier beers I've been drinking all winter. This would be a nice go-to beer and I'd love to have it around.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2009 12:02:59 | More by MrIncognito

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazed, golden body with a small-sized, white head.

Smell: Lightly malty aroma with supporting notes of honey, floral chamomile, and orange rinds.

Taste: Honey-coated maltiness with a middling amount of sweetness and hint of crisped grains. Floral, herbal chamomile and just a hint of fruity orange. This one's certainly deficient in hop flavor and bitterness. Ah well. Some peppery alcohol notes as your near the finish. Further appearance of sweet honey on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Perhaps it's the calming properties of the added chamomile, but I just can't get too excited about this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2009 21:54:38 | More by ChainGangGuy

blackie

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: foamy white head over a hazy pale golden beer, good retention for awhile but it eventually fades

s: bready yeasts ride a wheat malt backbone, aged hop aroma, a touch of sweetness from some pale malt and bland honey in the background, a well-played mild orange peel and dried chamomile, pear

m: full, prickly carbonation overwhelms the light body

t: wheat malt with a chalky yeast presence dominant, flavors of dried chamomile and orange peel provide the only point of interest, the honey doesn't really show, dry finish

d: pretty good, especially given the abv...not bad overall, but this is a relatively bare-bones example of the style

single bottle from Total Wine, Newport News, VA

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2009 03:53:56 | More by blackie

pinotboy007

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Cloudy gold with a rich, white colored head that hung in there well and receded to a fine layer. Not much lacing.

S - Wheat, yeast and the honey.

T - Honey and a touch of chamomile and citrus. Has a slight sweetness to it.

M - Crisp and somewhat silky; smooth drinking.

D - The alcohol is well concelealed, and coupled with a nice mouthfeel this makes for a respectable ale. I'd buy it again, especially in light of the fact the brewer is 12-minutes away. :)

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 22:59:45 | More by pinotboy007

mpyle

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

App - fairly pale gold color, cloudy, pours a big head, a bit coarse and disperses relatively quickly

Aroma - an earthy spiciness as befits its Belgian style. Maybe a slight hint of alcohol, but overall very faint aromas.

Taste - Spice and yeast character dominates, but difficult to quantify. Fairly light tasting (no big malt/hop flavors). A bit of a biscuity malt flavor. Finishes a bit fruity, and spicy, but fairly dry.

MF - Medium body and high carbonation. No astringency, a hint of alcohol warming.

D'ability - Surprisingly light and refreshing for a 7.5% ABV beer. Nothing overpowers in terms of flavor. Nothing about this beer blew me away, but have to say I could down a few.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 02:12:40 | More by mpyle

ocelot2500

Arizona

2.45/5  rDev -29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a hazy golden yellow with a good amount of thick white head. Lots of lacing.

Smell is of fruit and sweetness plus some yeastiness.

Tastes of sweet honey and apple mostly. Can also find the orange zest and some mild tea like flavors. Too sweet for me.

Mouthfeel is nice and thick. The carbonation is thick.

This is not drinkable to me because of the sweetness, there is just too much of it and I found myself struggling to finish the beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 23:13:47 | More by ocelot2500

Seanibus

California

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours orangy golden and hazy, with a fluffy head which falls away to nothing fairly quickly. The aroma is sweet and phenolic, with elements of overripe fruit, perhaps apricot and pear. The flavor is sweet and fruity, again with an overripe character. The mouthfeel is smooth and slightly oily.

Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 20:09:42 | More by Seanibus

soupyman10

District of Columbia

3.18/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A friend brought a sixer of these over. Another to add to the list of various mediocre Old Dominion I've had. Nothing great, but certainly not awful neither. This one was definitely too sweet. Lots of honey and dried fruit showed up and made this into a fairly malty mess. Strange candy sweetness in there as well, maybe apples or pears. Otherwise, the beer is solid. Good body and a nice look. Just a little too much in the way of that candy. Be interesting to try on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 21:59:21 | More by soupyman10

kshankar

District of Columbia

3.28/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Cloudy golden..some carbonation can be seen as well. Head was good, stayed a while. Receded to a film layer on top.

Aroma: Wheat, yeast, and the honey is there as well. Can't really smell the supposed chamomile, but that would probably be mild anyways.

Taste: The yeast is somewhat there. Otherwise, there is a honey flavor, slightly in the beginning. The finish is slightly bitter, and the chamomile is hinted at as well. Not bad.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, goes down well

Drinkability: Good mouthfeel, taste is okay, and you can't taste much booze, considering the relatively high ABV.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2009 03:29:43 | More by kshankar