Festina Pêche - Dogfish Head Brewery

tjsjostrom

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The Festina Peche is a very light yet snappy beer. The peach immediately jumps out when you are smelling it. I had this beer literally after mowing my yard, and it smelled like 12oz of heaven. The beer has a very light feel (I would compare it to the feel of a half-breed of beer and champagne). While the beer tastes good, it is decisively peach and I could only have one or two before I had to move onto something else.

When visiting a Dogfish Head Alehouse, I was given the recommendation to mix the Festina Peche with their 90 Minute IPA. This is perhaps the wisest thing I have ever done, and my wife greatly appreciated it. For most people that do not drink a lot of IPA, they are turned off by the "excessive" hop taste (Being from Seattle, I do not think there is a such thing). With mixing in the Festina Peche, it cut away at the "excessive hop flavor" without taking away from the essence of the IPA. It was easy on the palette yet went down like an IPA. I liked it so much I got a growler filled with 2/3 90 Minute IPA and 1/3 Festina Peche.

Serving type: growler

09-05-2012 02:41:44 | More by tjsjostrom

JizackFH

New York

3.83/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - This beer pours a slightly hazy golden straw color. It has a small 1-figner foamy white head on it. The head has decent retention, and leaves no lacing behind.

S - It smells of wheat and peaches. It is tart, tangy, and a tad sour. The smell reminds me a little bit of cider.

T - The taste starts off with a tart, sour peach flavor. Near the finish, the wheat background makes itself pronounced. The finish leaves some lingering peach and wheat on the palate.

M - This has a light to medium body and lower carbonation. It goes down very smooth. It has some sour fruit flavor that is almost mouth puckering at times.

O - This has good drinkability. Overall, I enjoyed this beer. I think it is a nice new twist on what most breweries put out as a summer beer. It is light, refreshing, and they didn't go overboard with the fruit. Also, with it only being 4.5% ABV I could drink these all day. I recommend giving this a try.

Serving type: growler

06-17-2011 02:58:55 | More by JizackFH

jpro

South Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a growler for a cookout - it seemed like a good choice for a refreshing summer afternoon brew. Poured a slightly hazy pale orange (very light), with an almost non-existent head - very fizzy, though. Aroma was dominated by wheat and peaches - ruh-roh, what have I done... Taste was surprisingly enjoyable (compared to the bland / fruity aroma) - wheat / grains, with some peach starchiness, with a puckering, sour finish. Mouthfeel is pretty light - that crisp, sour finish is what saved this beer for me. Pretty drinkable, but its definitely something I'd have to be in the mood for to have again - the peach sweetness gets a little old after a couple. Worth a try, though -

Serving type: growler

07-07-2010 19:36:24 | More by jpro

Augustiner719

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler filled on 2/12, poured on 2/14

Appearance: Pours an almost crystal clear orange yellowish color with a nice foamy pure white head. Very little lacing and the head recededs moderately fast but leaves a nice ring on the glass. Very carbonated and great looking.

Smell: Smells a bit different, almost like budweiser. Corn, ethanol and a bit of grain husks come through. Very muted though and a bit macro like and dull.

Taste: Tastes very very interesting. Bitter citrus, kumquat, lime zest and a mango bitterness come through predominately. There is a medium bodied orange flavor. Very interesting and refreshing. Light body overall, but good flavors come through.

Mouthfeel: Very carbonated, but silky smooth despite the bitterness. Great mouthfeel.

Drinkability: this would be a great go to in the summer. Its refreshing and light with a touch of sweetness that grows after a few sips. Nice.

A) 4.5
S) 2.5
T) 3.5
M) 4
D) 4

***Review on 6/22/10***

Realized that my previous review was way out of season. Got a fresh 4pack and quickly changed my mind.

Appearance: Not sure why i rated the appearance so high. I find an orange yellow hazy color with crappy head retention due to the style. Fizzy at first and then totally flat after a minute.

Smell: This has a a great kumquat, orange peel type of sourness to the aroma that is very distinct. Some sour peach, with a bit of bitter cherry also. Highly aromatic.

Taste: Taste also went up because its fresh now and has bright vibrant flavors of sour peach, nectarine, mango, orange peel and a lemon acidity to it that is balanced by the malt that is ever so slight. Great summer brew and very very fresh tasting.

Drinkability: raise the drinkability also because this was so refreshing and the abv is nice and low yet it packs so much flavor. easlily went through the 4 pack.

Serving type: growler

02-14-2010 21:01:14 | More by Augustiner719

mangledorf

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Just came back with a growler and a bottle of this because the lady who runs the taps at the distribution claimed everybody was coming saying the keg-aged crop tasted much different (and better) than the bottles.

Whole heartedly agree. On almost all counts the keg beat out the bottle.

Pours slighly misty with a quick rise of head like pop (translate soda). Has that carbonate snap in its smell the way 7up and OJ might.

The growler's tasted very citrus-y and sharp, where the bottle was almost tart to the point of sour.

Both were delightfully fresh in my mouth and easily diminished.

As said early down this thread, this is a hero-beer of beers for a hot day.

Serving type: growler

09-11-2008 23:24:52 | More by mangledorf

shaebs99

New York

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler from Superstar a while back. Thought it was interesting and worth sharing with my Brother and Father.
Poured from growler into pint glasses. Light yellow with fizzy and quick dissipating head.
Aroma is of wheat and peaches. Taste is tart and peachy. Very interesting.
Mouthfeel is light with a good amount of carbonation.
I found it quite enjoyable on a hot summer day. Sort of refreshing and a nice alternative to other typical refreshing summer beers. If you don't mind the interesting taste of the beer (my father didn't like it) a very drinkable beer at 4.5%
I can't fault it for deviating from the style since this is the only one of this style that I have seen available. Just an interesting and refreshing fruit beer.

Serving type: growler

08-14-2007 04:25:29 | More by shaebs99

rem5

New York

2.4/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

I got this beer in a growler from shoreline beverage. The beer poured clear... almost like bud light. I was very disappointed. Carbonation was good for the style. Beer had no wheat or peach flavor or very little. The funk was less than expected and frankly a terrible representation of the style.

Dogfish Head needs to rethink this one, as it has totally missed the mark.

Serving type: growler

07-28-2007 19:40:21 | More by rem5

jbsteiny

Hawaii

4.35/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got a growler of this at Bierkraft -- very excited! (I'm a bit excitable...) Poured a hazy gold with a slight off-white head. Not much lacing, but nice carbonation nonetheless.

Smells of tinned peaches, wheat, and grassy hops. Interesting. I loved the taste -- probably my favorite American fruit beer (though I know that's not the technical style) -- sour peach, a little honey, and crisp as can be. Mmm mmm. Haven't tried it out of the bottle yet, so I don't know how it stacks up, but that gallon disappeared with ease. The perfect summer brew, in my opinion. Thank you, DFH!

Serving type: growler

07-07-2007 03:07:48 | More by jbsteiny

sjones5045

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev +5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours like a light wit beer. Decent white head and looks pretty fizzy. You can smell the peach instantly along with a sort of musty smell. Tastes refreshing and goes down easy. It does have almost a Chardonnay tangy finish which I'm not wild about but it doesn't ruin it. I'm not a fruit in the beer type drinker but on a hot day I'd reach for this over a peach tea. The ABV is great, since it doesn't eat up much beer credits. I can't see having this regularly, but it might be something I offer at bbqs in the summer. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 20:06:09 | More by sjones5045

Gibonow

California

2.84/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This tasted surprisingly weak considering the smell. The peach smell was strong and powerful and also suggested the beer would be sweet. In reality, the taste was tart and very light. Very un-dogfish head.

My biggest complaint is the after taste, which was almost non-existent. It left a watery, cleaner-type taste behind, especially towards the end. I attribute this to the quick loss of carbonation. I would also describe it as dry, with high acidity.

As for the good, this is an easy beer to drink. I'd pick this one for a hot day outside because it's so light.

Enjoyed this from a tulip. 12oz for $3.49

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 03:30:28 | More by Gibonow

GossageBrewery

Missouri

4.23/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Poured this Berliner Weissbier from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This ale poured a hazy yellow color, produced an average white head, featured nice retention, just a little lacing left on the glass. The aroma of this ale was very nice, bursting with fresh peach nectar, some suggestions of malted wheat. Medium bodied, this ale features a baseline of malted wheat, that gives way to a sour peach nectar, and Granny Smith Apples. The favorite part of this beer, for me, is the sour bite you get about midway through, that sour bite gives way to a dry finish that leaves you ready for the next sip. Very nice session beer, would be a great summer beer- Thanks Dogfish, another winner! Prost!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 18:54:04 | More by GossageBrewery

KingSlayer

Mexico

3.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought a bottle from a local pub, the bottle sticker caught my eye.
At first i was expecting a sweet syrupy peach beer, high on carbonation and somewhat cider like appearence. i was wrong (thank god).

A: Poured a mango yellow hazy liquid, semitranslucent. poured very conservatively so little to no head formed, nonetheless a white loose foam ring formed on top, no lacing,

S: peaches and flowers, dont expect sweetness, its more like a tart, crisp, acid like smell, but pleasant. reminds me of an extra dry champagne or white fruity dry wine.

T: faithful representation of its pleasant bouquet. peaches without being overwhelming, green apple undertones. again reminds me of a dry white wine, no syrup or sweetness.

M: light body, active strong carbonation but not excessively strong. little tart.

O: fizzy refreshing dry peach beer. appeared more like an extra dry peach wine for me except for the lower abv of course. a pleasant experience. Definitively worth trying but not really my type of beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 05:56:48 | More by KingSlayer

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled served in a weizen glass

A - slightly murky pale straw with a 3 finger very bubbly white head and average head retention and poor lacing.

S - peaches obviously with mellow wheat notes

T - moderately tart green apple open to be filled of aromatic sour white peaches, a relaxed wheat backbone is finished with a smooth floral acidic finish, almost like a white wine.

M - light body, moderate carbonation, crisp, wet.

O - a really neat light fruity beer that captures the character of peaches without being obnoxious. This would be a nice summer beer to share with friends that don't care for more bitter beers. Haven't tried too many of this style, but I looking forward to it.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 20:49:21 | More by williamjbauer

Guden

Maryland

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- White grape juice in color with great clarity, a few carbonation bubbles and a small white head that fades leaving behind a few bubbles.

S- Peach (obviously) with the sweet juiciness coming through as well as some honey, leaves and again a white grape quality.

T- Again juicy peach leads the way with a slight puckering sourness and some candy sweetness.

M- Medium bodied and medium in carbonation. Work out very well making the beer feel juicy without being watery or lifeless. The mouthfeel is actually quite full for a 4.5% abv beer and considering the amount of fruit it does well to not have a white wine quality.

O- I had this beer once at the brewery and really enjoyed it, it seems that some time in the bottle has made this seem a little less bright and refreshing but it still holds a lot of juicy peach flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:26:38 | More by Guden

tectactoe

Michigan

2.98/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Pours a bright, golden-yellow color. A bit cloudy and hazy with a bright white head that dissipates rather quickly. The nose hits with a soft peach smell and a bit of chalkiness. The taste first hits with some malts, corn, grains, and wheat, and about halfway through, the fruit starts to take over. Peachy sweetness engulfs the palette, along with some white grape, apple, and a slight touch of cherry. In fact, near the end, I could swear I was tasting more apple than peach. The middle and aftertaste are very tart and tangy, almost inducing a pucker. Almost no bitterness to this brew at all. Medium to high carbonation with a medium body leaves a crispy, refreshing finish.

A nice warm-weather type beer, crisp and refreshing. Although, this beer tastes a little too much like it could be hard cider. Definitely not bad, but a little too tart and sweet for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 11:46:39 | More by tectactoe

BilbosNuts

California

3.9/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a clear, straw yellow color with a small, rocky head that dissipates quickly. A small amount of carbonation is visible, giving off a not-so-still appearance.

S: Smells exactly like a fuzzy peach. Pretty spectacular. A bit of a puckering aroma along with a slight earthiness.

T: Tart and slightly sour peaches dominate. Pretty much an exact replica of the aroma.

M: Light bodied with just enough carbonation to tingle the palate. A crisp, and somewhat puckering finish cleanse the palate.

O: This is one of my go-to summer brews. Very refreshing for a hot summer day. The fantastic representation of peaches never disappoints. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 02:25:19 | More by BilbosNuts

brewcore

South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a tulip.

A: Hazy, straw yellow in color. Yields a two finger creamy, white head that dissipates rather quickly into a thin ring around the glass. Lots of carbonation rises up the glass that lasts throughout the session. Very little lacing.

S: A sweet peach tartness that seems to promise a sour bite. Wheat mustiness.

T: Not as much sour as the nose suggests. This berliner is only slightly sour and more on the barely tart side. Starts slightly tart. Canned peaches in the middle. FInishes with wheat.

M: Moderate mouthfeel. Fairly creamy for a 4.5% beer. Moderate to high carbonation. Very easy drinking and very refreshing.

O: A very easy drinking berliner. Probably the only one I have found that I could drink as a session. However, it is not exactly as tart as I expect. I have had this one before and would definitely seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 22:09:45 | More by brewcore

Hoagie1973

New York

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours light lemony yellow. Slightly hazy with a one-finger white fizzy head.

Smell has a hint of yeast, a touch of grassiness and a load of peach sweetness.

Wow. Tartness is out of control. It's downright sour. However it's not too bad, definitely not the artificial syrupy sweet fruit beer I was expecting. Pretty balanced overall with a spicy crispness in the finish.

Mouthfeel is crisp and thin.

I could see drinking a few of these on a hot day for a change of pace.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 22:49:30 | More by Hoagie1973

Pexkool

Mexico

3.83/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a 2 finger white head, leaving a thin lace that sticks to the glass. The color is a murky golden yellow.

S - Peach juice, a little bit of honey and hoppy spiciness. A hint of something sour, like a peach juice that is slightly past its due date and has started to ferment.

T - Tartness and a somewhat lactic flavor; the peach hits you as you swallow the beer down. Citric notes are also present, I believe thanks to the hops. Some malts are present in the aftertaste.

M - Definitely tarty, but not overwhelming. It goes down a little bit too smoothly, almost like water, which makes it highly drinkable.

Overall, I enjoyed it a lot! An excellent beer for the summer. I would definitely have it again and would seek it and recommend it the next time I buy it (the next summer, perhaps?). Also, like I said, being highly drinkable you could have a whole 4 pack in a single session, after a good meal or just to cool down in a hot afternoon (it's entirely possible thanks to its low IBU and lower ABV).

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 03:58:56 | More by Pexkool

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Dogfish Head's Festina Pêche is a Berliner Weisse brewed with peach concentrate. According to the label, "Festina Pêche is a neo-Berliner style Weisse fermented with peach juice. This unique, tart and refreshing brew is so down with the dog days of summer." I scored a 40% discount on two packs of this popular summer seasonal at the Smokerise Bottle Shoppe yesterday. Regular 4-pack price is commonly $8.99.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my Dogfish Head Signature glass. Served in the low 40º's Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) An aggressive pour yields a thick, somewhat foamy, somewhat crisp bright white head. It recedes at an average pace, thickening to a creamier and lumpier texture as it settles. The body color is certainly Berliner-Weiss style- a pale murky yellow with lots of carbonation, some haziness and perhaps a touch of a peachy orange hue adds some dimension to the color. Overall the appearance is nice and the head quality isn't bad either. This looks to be a nice Berliner Weiss. 4

(Smell) The nose gathers significant amounts of that peachy concentrate, like a light syrup, but there's some pure peachy flavor, fuzzy rind and all that makes me think twice about giving the "concentrate" label a thumbs down. Peach is certainly the dominant flavor in this beer, largely overshadowing the pale wheat characteristics. A small trace of tartness lingers in the aroma, a bit less than anticipated but still enjoyable. Potency is high and balance is decent, although there is little else to discern in the beer besides the peach and a small touch of tart wheat. Overall, a nice peachy flavored wheat beer, and the aroma is inviting should you like peach-forward beers. 3.5

(Taste) Tart wheat and fresh peach front and body with and a growing light syrup sweetness throughout the drink. The tartness is enjoyable; enough to bring some originality and flavor dimension to the drink without taking away from the peach flavor, which stands strong on its own. All flavors work well together, and the beer has very low hop presence. Drinkability is high as the gravity is low and the beer neither swings too sweet nor tart. Very tasty brew overall. 4

(Mouthfeel) Medium-textured mouthfeel with some light carbonation. The peachy tartness helps round out the slight thickness of the wheat malt, and the alcohol presence is very low to none. Body is medium for the style, low overall; I allude the heightened body to the fuller wheat presence and the peach concentrate which filled the beer with flavor, followed through with a very dry finish. It's not a palate drainer, however and is quite the drinkable brew. The texture is quite enjoyable, although a heightened carbonation texture may help bring out some more of the flavor and pair better with the tartness. Just a notch, though. 3.5

(Overall) Considering that Berliner Weiss beers are still far and few, I find this to be one of my favorite American interpretations of the growing style. The tartness and wheat body are full and flavorful and the peach concentrate adds tons of flavor without sacrificing drinkability. All in all, the only downer is the 4 packs that the beer is released in, making this otherwise sessionable brew harder to come by. I plan on making this a regular summer buy, as it's one of my favorite Berliner Weissbiers to date, and I'm glad I have a handful more of these to enjoy! 4.5

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery's
Festina Pêche
3.95/5.00

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 03:56:43 | More by Jadjunk

travolta

California

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Brilliant white, whipped cream head. "White ale" in color. A two finger head with spotted lacing.

Nose: Soft peach fruit, banana, peach blossoms, mild and soft pineapple, slightly bread.

Taste: Peachy bitterness, ascorbic acid, dry and active carbonation. Peach lingers on the palate, lambic bitterness, little citrus pinch.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:30:17 | More by travolta

vfgccp

New York

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Light, hazy banana body. Off-white head with ok retention and low lace.

S - Fantastic nose. Bright, fresh, crisp, tart white peach.

T - Mirrors the nose with crisp, tart, effervescent white peach.

M - Light and refreshing.

O - Crisp tart flavors push the profile over the safety line of common summer brews and I'm glad for it.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 15:29:13 | More by vfgccp

gottabetweed

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass. Poured a hazy yellow with a nice head that dissipated rather quickly

Strong smell of peach, lemon, and beer. The smell of this beer concentrated in the tulip glass makes my mouth water. Very intrigued.

Taste is sour with a very upfront peach taste. Some lemon. Man I love the taste. This beer is delicious!

Mothfeel is medium. Aftertaste fade to a peachy goodness.

Overall a great beer. I think peach is my favorite fruit flavor for a beer and this beer has inspired me to try some peach lambics. Just a great summertime brew! Gracias Dogfish!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 03:34:30 | More by gottabetweed

B0BZ1LLA

3/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - 2 inch head that disappears quickly, straw color

S - bread, peach

T - bubblegum, tart, wine-like

M - sweet, dry

I'm not too familiar with the Berliner Weissbier style. I'm a big fan of lambics, oud bruins and the like. I didn't find it quite as refreshing as other reviewers.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 03:21:00 | More by B0BZ1LLA

socon67

New York

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Orange pour with a high white foam. Cloudy appearance, with some carbonation noted.

S - Scent of fresh grains, and fresh fruit. The scent is peaches is very faint.

T - A light flavored wheat beer that has a sweet flavor of fruit. A good summer beer, the taste of light grain and sugary fruit is refreshing. The distinction of peaches is not really there.

M - Very drinkable and sessionable. Slightly carbonated and light bodied.

O - Not a beer I'd seek out again. There ar eother peach flavored beers I prefer more (RJ Rockers Son of the Peach and CCB Peach Jai-Alai).

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2012 15:03:34 | More by socon67