Sah'tea - Dogfish Head Brewery

Greywulfken

New York

4.6/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: super hazy amber with sediment aplenty; fat head that settled down into a white rim with side lacing - I personally love beers that look this way

S: floral and citrus notes; hints of gin (from the juniper?) and tea (chai tea, I suppose)

T: yeast and hops, floral and citrus, some herbal qualities; wood/oak notes, bit of sweetness to balance things out; hints of ginger, pepper, banana and tea

M: fresh pepperiness and twinge of tartness, full-bodied; herbal aftertaste

O: knew I'd love this beer - Dogfish Head makes amazing stuff - their big beers (Burton Baton, Midas Touch, WW Stout, 120m IPA, etc) are all top-notch, and this beer is right there - especially recommended for lovers of Midas Touch. Didn't expect to find this beer - hope I'm equally lucky with others in their Ancient Ales line of beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 16:10:50 | More by Greywulfken

Drinkerofales

California

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden straw, with a large off white head that dissipated quickly, but leaves wispy lacing down the whole glass.

Smells of fruity pungency, yeasty, spicy, with notes of the black tea.

Tastes of fruitiness, probably juniper berries(lucky guess right?) in the front of the flavor, while the middle has some of the yeast and spice. The finish is almost tart fruitiness.

The beer is a bit fizzy for a medium bodied beer, and I feel, it's not so drinkable.

I certainly won't be buying this again, though I feel it's an excellent beer, and fits the requirements listed on the description. Other than that though, it's just not my kind of beer.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 18:47:44 | More by Drinkerofales

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type - 25.9 oz bottle

Appearance - Golden tan, yellow, 1/2 creamy head and minor lacing.

Smell - Tea, hops, spices, added sugars, honey, apricots, lemon, grassy, almost sasion like. Pale malts and some banana at the end.

Taste - Lemon, tea and pale malts start this brew off. Spices along with added sugars give this more flavor. Theres juniper berries in this? Yea i get them but id never guess it with all the other flavors. Alcohol is masked well.

Mouthfeel - Light, but alot of flavors. Tounge gets the tea and plenty of sugars. Palette gets alot of honey, lemon and some malts. Aftertaste is sweet and lemonish.

Overall - Quite tasty, as with dogfish head, alot of flavors. First few sips i wasnt digging it but after i got used to it i started enjoying it. The lemon and banana flavor overpowers this a little, wish there was more berry flavor. Overall good, and different, not sure id buy again but id try on tap for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 02:38:04 | More by wvsabbath

SHODriver

California

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a hazy yellow orange with a finger of white head that dissipates to a small pool and collar
S: smells of pale malt, herbs(clove?), and a little tea like. it smells very nice and has a layered and complex aroma
T: pale malt at first and then the herbs come in followed by some light caramel sweetness and more herbs. a little bit of tea like flavor toward the back and a very herbal aftertaste with a bit of grassyness and more pale malt flavor. banana comes through at times with some ginger, pepper and cinnamon.
M: slightly prickly carbonation and a medium mouthfeel. somewhat slick and oily but not overly so
O: an interesting beer and an interesting style. plenty of flavor and complexity and enjoyable to drink. somewhat like a saison and a heffe had a baby.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 00:35:47 | More by SHODriver

BoatsSinkBro

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bomber to snifter.
-Muddled orange amber, defiantly stuff floating about.
-Aroma of apricots, light honey, sweet germen weizen yeast note (banana and cloves), with a thinly veiled puff of alcohol in the outer end. A very sweet smelling beer.
-Taste starts with some fruit/malty sweetness you find common in a weizen (banana notes with malt backbone), the carbonation cuts off the taste half way through and transforms it into a bitterness you get with tea with highlights of juniper berry.
Aftertaste has a floaty tea bitterness with grounded banana malt bringing up the rear.
-Carbonation isn't too strong, plays well with the flavors and helps bring it all down.

A very interesting one from Dogfish Head I've had. Definitely can taste all the characters CLEARLY that they've mentioned on the bottle. Tea bitterness might turn some people off, but it helps counter the vibrant banana fruit in the taste and aroma. There's also a very thick layer of yeast+other stuff in the bottles, so pour carefully, unless you like it.
On one hand, it smells and tastes like your average germen weizen with a kick. On the other hand, it's well made for what it's trying to be.
I'd recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 07:07:34 | More by BoatsSinkBro

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Dogfish Head Sah'tea. Second time around on this one. Last time I had it was about a year and a half ago. Enjoyed it again. Time to do an honest review.

Got a couple of clean and dry pint glasses for the pleasure. Cracked and poured. Already my memory is slipping. I don't remember this being so pale in color. Lemon curd in color with a glassy look. Nice crop of foam at the top, bleachy white in color. A few carb streams up-jetting. 3.5

Lemony tea aroma with a pushy yeast element with a clove ester. Some coriander, lemongrass, and chamomile. Some dusty green peppercorn and cooked plantain in the nose. 4.0

Peppery up front with that chai tea vibe, but in a paler beer. Still showing some girth here at 9%. More big yeast animating the banana/clove a bit, but mostly showcasing the spices added. More than a hint of that dry gin juniper berry pulling through with a minty/sprucy character that is more alkaline than what would be akin to hop flavors. Finishes with a mild burn and tea with sugar. Not as 'chai' as I recall, but still up that road. 4.0

Surprisingly sticky. Cloying even. A little light syrup in the feel, so too thick for the flavor profile. Glazy, maybe. The carbonation is medium-to-light, also. Not so easily drinkable. 2.5

Both my favorite and least favorite version of the style. Just being funny; this is the only sahti that I've ever had. It's not bad. Like I said, I enjoyed it more the first time around. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 03:46:58 | More by thecheapies

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass. Bottled 11/2011.

Appearance: Semi-cloudy gold(if you stare at it slight sediments floating through out), head is is white rising to roughly a 1/4" off the body.

Smell: Light yeast, with a hint of cinnamon.

Taste: Complex. Sweet probably honey and yeast. Flavor of the alcohol is there but not overwhelming, which is a good thing.

Mouth: So smooth, medium carbonation which makes you finish your first glass very quickly.

Overall: A lot going on here and I am not disappointed and neither should you. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 03:40:01 | More by BlurryVisi0n

bszern

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had on tap.

Poured a hazy golden color with some lacing.

Smell is much like a wheat beer, with some spicy notes.

Taste is sort of fruity, and the wheat yeast presents itself well. A little bit of spice is present in the aftertaste.

This is an awesome beer...I have been very hesitant to try any of DFH's "Ancient Ales," but after drinking this phenom I will have to change my approach to them!

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2012 20:30:40 | More by bszern

JustinQ

California

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

11.99 EA

Serving Type: 750 ml Bottle poured into snifter

Appearence: Dark golden/faint orange color. Nice co2, just a little hazy

Aroma: Weizen yeast is dominant, spicy, and somewhat sweet. No hops No alcohol

Taste: Sweet, very smooth, Reminds of a spicy Weizen beer or even a very light peppery saison. Spices are not as dominant as expected

Mouthfeel: Smooth and light but still has nice body

Overall: I LOVE IT. I thought Pangaea was my favorite Dogfish beer. I have been proven wrong.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 02:28:43 | More by JustinQ

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

09' bottle. Thanks Wyatt!

Pours a very dark orange with a yellowish tan head. Lots of lace.

Aroma ks biscuits, caramel, funky note, sweetness, spices and a peppery finish.

Funky, sweet nutty taste, mixed with a hint of alcohol, pepper and spices.

Rich feel, creaminess and an upper medium body.

Quaffable indeed.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 05:20:09 | More by EgadBananas

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed orange color with a bit white head. As with most sahteas, a very herbal aroma. Lots of juniper and maybe some ginger notes. Lots of spices as well, mostly coriander and cardamom. A slight tartness is also noticeable. Strangely, there is a strong flavor of banana to go along with the juniper and spice character. Lightly tart and lemony, which is sort of interesting. Actually pretty enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:51:56 | More by womencantsail

n2185

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a hazy orange with half a finger of off-white head that fades away with no lacing.

S: lots of spices on the nose. Ginger, orange zest, clove, etc. It smells like a chai tea with oranges and a sweet bready finish.

T: similar to the aroma, lots of spices dominate with orange and ginger being prevalent with notes of clove and cinnamon. Like an orange chai. The finish is slightly yeasty.

M: medium-light body with highish carbonation, this beer is clean and fairly crisp with the alcohol very well hidden.

O: a good beer, overall. Lots of nice spice flavors and aromas without being overwhelming. I don't really know what the standards for the style are, but this is a tasty beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2012 00:33:10 | More by n2185

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sahtea - 2011 from notes

A- Hazy orange pour, sediment suspended throughout. Finger width egg shell head. Lacing is okay.

S- Huge cinnamon and cloves from the chai tea. Juniper is faint along with the rye. Vanilla and brown sugar add a nice sweetness.

T- Juniper and rye battle for supremacy against the chai with no clear winner. Cinnamon and cloves from the chai really dominate the back end. Almost overly sweet with a slight alcohol warmth.

M- Medium bodied, lively carbonation, slight warmth.

O- Little heavy handed on the chai but still very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 19:58:27 | More by korguy123

dcloeren

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split with my brother

Poured a glowing apricot light orange with 2 fingers of off white head. Lots of yeast and sediment floating around and I love it.

The aroma is full of chai tea and it smells delicious. Lots of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe some ginger...) a touch of honey and some what I guess would be juniper berries that give it a nice finish.

Taste follows the nose. I'm lovin the chai tea in this beer! Very refreshing and delicious.

Light to medium in body with a decent amount of carbonation.

Overall, I wish that I had another bottle for the summer because this beer was amazingly refreshing. Would definitely be nice on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 03:41:13 | More by dcloeren

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

We pour a golden-orange brew. It holds a full one finger head of reddish, whitish bubbles, showing medium retention. This recedes to get spotty sheets of lacing. There is a thick haze, chunks of sediment, and super active carbonation. The aroma gives bright citric hops, thick orange rind, and grassiness right off the bat. There is huge spice of raw ginger root, chai leafiness, and palpable tannins. The malts are paler, with a light toast, and some soft metallics. There are also light banana esters, with additional fruit and tartness, much like a limey Gatorade. On the far back there are marshmallows and licorice. As we sip, toasty malts and a deep cinnamon burn hit up front. They are accompanied by clovey phenols, which bring us into the peak of earthy and citric hops, nutmeg, and orange fruitiness through the middle. There is additional bitterness of rind, and souring grain. The finish is with more solid grain, spicy alcohol, and cooling berry notes that effectively cut the bitterness. The aftertaste breathes of wet grain, clove, black chai, peppery booze, and juniper berries. The body is medium and the carbonation is high. The feel is soft and bubbly, but not really coating or drying. There are light metallics that act to cool, rather than dry. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks rather easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the flavoring and the aroma. They were both robust with all the spice, ginger, and berry fruitiness. The body was less than impressive, as it was oddly light and strangely not coating. More hops would have also been nice, but the beer is pleasant overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 21:36:03 | More by TheBrewo

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into snifter, bottled 4/20/2011. Pours a cloudy golden orange color with a small dense off white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing on the glass as well. Aromas of big ginger, cinnamon, clove, pepper, bubblegum, wood, chai tea, light fruits, honey, and yeast spices. Damn nice and interesting aromas; with good strength and balance. Taste of big chai tea, clove, pepper, cinnamon, wood, bubblegum, light fruits, honey, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of light fruits, pepper, honey, and spices on the finish for a bit. Fantastic balance of flavors and spices without getting too cloying. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol is extremely well hidden for 9%; with hardly any warming noticed at all. Overall this is an outstanding ancient style representation from Dogfish! Incredibly balanced, drinkable, and tasty; without being cloying with spices at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 02:43:21 | More by superspak

KajII

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Best served in an English Pint]

The pour was a hazy orange with a slight brown tint and had a thin (less than 1 finger) white frothy head that dissipated quickly, which in turn do not produce any significant lacing.

The aroma was of a light bread malt and a sweet doughy yeast with hints of nutmeg, coriander, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, banana, a bit of citrus and a infusion of tea.

The taste was malty and very sweet with hints of nutmeg, brown sugar and banana early on with the flavor getting a getting a bit spicier with notes of coriander, clove, a mild black tea presence and a nice dose of citrus (lemon I believe) at the end. The flavor lasted only a short while after the swallow with a nice smooth spicy finish.

Mouthfeel was just about medium in body and rather creamy in texture with a very mild carbonation.

Overall a very sweet tasting brew with a lot of the fall spices, very reminiscent of a Pumpkin Ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 16:36:49 | More by KajII

Edwaka01

New York

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 750ml into Chimay chalice.

A - golden snow-globe amber

S - Chai, pumpkin pie,

T - The chai/pie spice I got in the nose was almost unnoticeable to the tounge. Slightly spicy finish could be the chai or pumpkin-type spice. I get a Belgian thing here, I'm going to presumptively ascribe to the yeast. Indeterminate dark fruit notes.
Chai flavor extremely present in belches.

M - Full-bodied, slight warming sensation long after each sip.

O - Good, something I would definitely enjoy again, but probably not until after I go through a bunch more beers that are on my to-do list. Maybe a great thanksgiving day pairing?

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 01:48:37 | More by Edwaka01

Schmittymack

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 750 bottle into a trusty pilsner glass. Poured a lighter copper color with no head and very little lacing. Not sure of the vintage (have had this awhile down in the cellar) but it still had good carbonation. Aromas of sweet malt is all I picked up on the nose. Taste was quite pleasant: rather sweet malt, definitely chai tea, and a bit of tartness/sourness--from the juniper berries I presume. Glad I had the opportunity to try this. DFH is very much a hit and miss for me a lot of times; this is definitely a hit and I'll seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 10:25:06 | More by Schmittymack

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A 750 mL bottle in a tumbler.

A: A very light copper color, the ale is nearly transparent. A most unusual sediment, thick and meaty, is suspended throughout the glass, just sitting and staring at me like a mincemeat pie. Minimal head. The whatever-the-hell-it-is is everywhere in the glass.

S: Juniper is strong, a minty sage-like freshness. Having ordered a chai tea this morning, I can confirm that chai doesn't go light on the ale, adding a minty sage-like aroma. Juniper berries are here too, replacing the hop bitterness. Very interesting with aromas that run to the far spectrum of beer.

T: The chai continues on its rampage, sweet and fruity. The sage flavors, reminding me of Cellar Door, are quite strong. Berries and dry coffee linger as well. The juniper again is a nice touch, adding to the berryness. Spiciness runs rampant, the chai and juniper and breads. Very interesting, sweeter even than other sahtis.

M: Big and warming, the bigger abv is noticeable. The chai is rich and sweet, highly spiced but at home within the ale. My first chai, chai latte, and chai beer. I'll stick with the beer, thank you.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 19:54:17 | More by akorsak

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is the third time I have had this beer, and I have been equally impressed each time. From the bottle, the beer pours a vibrant orange revealing a finger head of an off-white color. Immediately, the aroma beckons for awareness. Chai Tea drinkers will particularly delight in the aroma of middle eastern tea coupled with the aroma of sour berries.

The intial taste is the most perfect replication of chai available in a beer coupled the sourness of juniper berries. The flavor reflects the spices of the tea genre, but this does not overwhelm the beer. Though the mouthfeel runs somewhat thin, and there seems to be an unusually high level of carbonation. The taste fades into a moderately sour aftertaste which coats the tongue and throat nicely, allowing the taste to linger.

I have several sahtis, but this is easily the best as it is flavorful to the tea and beer end of the spectrum. I only wish DFH was still available in Indiana.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 03:44:22 | More by JohnnyHopps

ferrari29

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer poured from bottle into a Conical shaped pint glass

A - Beer pours with a well carbonated amber colored body; hazy but full of bubbly activity; head has sort of a off-white color to it; forms a head about one finger in size; holds well and barely has any lacing; looks thick

S - Very sweet black chai tea nose; sugary sweet; herbal scents of Lipton tea; nose finishes off with soft berry scents and other dark fruits; chamomile; has a very strong scent of cinnamon and other sweet spices

T - Very heavy flavor of dark black chai tea; cherries and berries blend together to form a cotton candy flavor; very sweet; nutty roasted malt flavor finishes it up; heavy spice flavor

M - Creamy; thick, viscous sweet flavor; heavy chai tea aftertaste; lingering sugary cotton candy and herbal taste

D - Unique taste and brewed about as well as a recipe like this can be done; a little too much for me on the sweet and herbal side, a lot of cotton candy in this one, like Pangea; worth a try, not something I think I would have again though

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 05:20:46 | More by ferrari29

beerbiatchMD

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle into a pint snifter.

A: dark gold, good clarity, some brown hues. Thin white head, small lacing,

S: light fruity tones, sweet, honey.

T: sweet, herbally, very mild hops fill out a sweet malt background.

M: crisp, light bodied, nice carbonation.

O: very good, not my favorite DFH but certainly good. I like the uniqueness and refreshing qualities.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 01:32:02 | More by beerbiatchMD

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy golden color, with noticeable particulate matter suspended in the liquid. Head was unimpressive, with large champagne-like bubbles that quickly dissipated.

S: Sweet, fruity esters are foremost. Spicy notes as well -- cinnamon and pepper are strongest.

T: Sweet, tart, bitter, in that order, with tart fruit being the dominating taste. The chai spice is definitely there, and gets stronger with each sip.

M: Nice carbonation, and dry (again, like a champagne).

O: Most like a lambic in my experience (but this is my first sahti, so I can't say how typical it is of this style). I shared a bottle with a friend on Christmas day, and it was perfect for the occasion of toasting Jesus' birth.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 18:21:45 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance. Pours a hazy gold amber with a small white head.

Smell. Cloves and sweet honey.

Taste. Sweet honey and cloves again along with distinct juniper. Finishes pretty clean.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body with below medium carbonation.

Overall. Better than I thought this one would taste from the description, and from the smell. Different and not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 16:00:35 | More by Rutager