Birra Etrusca
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Birra EtruscaBirra Etrusca
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
 
Delaware, United States
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
Ranked #31
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,684
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 13.71%
Reviews:
155
Ratings:
804
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 05, 2023
Added:
Dec 09, 2012
Wants:
  43
Gots:
  144
This beer is based on a beverage that may have been enjoyed by the Etruscans of Ancient Italy around 800 BC. A strong ale containing an Italian heirloom grain called Cappelli Senatore, along with pomegranate juice, raisins, and hazelnut flour, together with 3 types of honey: chestnut, wildflower, and clover. Spiced with several hop flowers, Gentian root and tree resin (think Myrrh) in the kettle.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TheCraftBrewReview:
Photo of TheCraftBrewReview
Reviewed by TheCraftBrewReview from Georgia

4.14/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Having long been a fan of Dogfish Head’s various eclectic offerings, I spotted this one on the shelf of my local package store a few weeks back. I was aware that the brewery had created a series of “Ancient Ales”, which focus on recipes several hundred years old. Perhaps the most widely recognizable variation so far created has been “Midas Touch”, which is somewhere between a wine and mead. This particular beer was created after the team traveled to Rome with molecular archaeologist Dr. Pat McGovern. Through analyzing drinking vessels found in 2,800-year-old Etruscan tombs, the variance was created, with the two main ingredients being two-row malted barley and heirloom Italian wheat. Curious to see if my inner Italian was satisfied with this brew? Read on!



Appearance – 87: I poured nearly half of the 750 mL bottle vigorously into a tulip glass, and was immediately struck by how fast the bubbles dissipated. There was no foam, or head to speak of in the slightest, almost as if one was pouring a wine instead. The coloring of the beer is a dark caramel.

Aroma – 93: After a sniff or two, the main notes that I was left with were the raisins and pomegranates. The beer (if you can even call it that) has a distinctly sweet smell that bordered on floral it was so pungent. Quite delightful to be honest with you, given that most of the recent reviews I’ve done have been with porters or stouts, where the malts and chocolate/coffee tones become rather “you’ve smelled one, you’ve smelled them all” after a while.

Body & Texture – 86: The beer sits in your mouth similar to a barleywine of sorts – very light and crisp. A layering sensation immediately hits your palate upon first sip, with sweet honey complimenting the heirloom wheat, followed by raisins then pomegranate juice. The aftertaste it leaves is pleasant – very sweet, but not overpowering. Very little “body” to the beverage and it drinks much closer to juice.

Taste – 85: When grading this beer I almost needed to separate my preconceived notions of what a beer tasted like versus what I was actually sampling. In terms of pure taste, it can almost be summed up as pomegranate juice with honey and alcohol – a slight sourness remains afterwards but it isn’t terribly noticeable. Dark fruits dominate the taste, and it leaves a distinctly Belgian taste to it – almost equivalent of a dubel. I’ve never had a “beer” like this before in my life, and doubt that I will do so again. Sweeter than I anticipated. Perhaps there is a reason that the Etruscans were wiped out!

Overall – 87.3 (Great): The label grabbed my attention from the start – ancient script writing in the style of my ancestors. Dogfish Head infuses their beer with almost anything that they can get their hands onto, and this particular offering is no different. The upside to the beverage is that it tastes almost akin to a juice or wine – very smooth and fruity with a distinct smell. However, the taste is lacking considering what I expected, and given the variations of ingredients that they added to the beer, perhaps eliminating one or two to have a more concise impression would be appreciated. Interesting to try and would certainly recommend sipping on it if available locally, but not something that I would ever come back to.
Feb 19, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of dd53grif
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark red color with a minimal head that disappears quickly. Aroma of tart fruits. Taste is a tart, slightly sour mix of dark fruits with a alcohol warmth. Crisp and dry
Sep 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by Ernald_Elbertson from Delaware

Sep 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.55 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Nov 27, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by Benish from Utah

Apr 04, 2021
Photo of Chuckdiesel24
Rated by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

4.02/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Really enjoyed this, I get the pomegranate and the rest is a nice meld
Aug 06, 2020
Photo of StoutElk_92
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.57/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled on 06/03/14

Nice, complex, tart, fruity, with an interesting herbal incense spice note, myrrh, gentian root, honey, hint of hazelnut, wheaty, with fresh pomegranates, pomegranate juice, raisins, some acidity, herbal notes, and a touch of bronze
Apr 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.29 by mholdefer from Alabama

Jan 31, 2019
Photo of Reggie_Dunlop
Rated by Reggie_Dunlop from Pennsylvania

4.29/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had it several years ago in a pint bottle. I can remember the taste being eye opening
Jan 13, 2019
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the 750 ml. bottle. Sampled on May 20, 2018.

It pours a handsome looking and slightly murky looking amber brown. Quick lived off-white head.

The aroma is alive with sensations including pomegranate, honey, woody spiciness, and hazelnut. A kid of earthiness throughout.

The body is medium to bold and rather slick.

IN the flavor the sweet honey is front and center with a boost of fruitiness. The alcohol is downplayed yet there is an exotic spicy character. Hops are not found. A unique tasting beer.
May 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.78 by chiefz1 from New York

Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by JuiceMan818 from California

Jan 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by crow from Illinois

Dec 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by heddar33 from Pennsylvania

Nov 18, 2017
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Rated blind.

Clear brown brew, with a fizzy head of moderate size that rapidly disappears completely.

Prunes feature heavily on the aroma, along with figs and dates, light Belgian yeast notes, and brown sugar. Something on the nose is a touch stale and cloying.

My immediate impression on the palate is figs and grape juice, along with apples, light brown sugar, hay, wheat, and mild spices. Not as strong as a Belgian in flavors.

Sticky finish, but a light brew overall. Surprising warmth belies a moderately high ABV.
Oct 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Aug 28, 2017
Photo of secondtooth
Reviewed by secondtooth from Indiana

3.84/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aged maybe a year.

Appearance: This Bronze-age ancient ale pours a deep and clean amber, with average head and no lace.

Aroma: Fruity. Sour pomegranate notes seem to take hold first, with a grainy maltiness ruling. Not bad.

Taste: Fruit again, sweet but with a warming finish. I get a honey taste, too. Can’t detect much of the hazelnut flour, but I do get the raisins and some spice, too. Feels a lot like a wine vibe overall, but pretty well delicious and fruit/malty in the realm of the fine Belgians. Really pleasant and tasty.
Aug 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.53 by BergBeer from Hawaii

Aug 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Mar 24, 2017
Birra Etrusca from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 804 ratings