Country of Origin: United States
Availability: This ale is being discontinued; I got one of the last bottles ever.
Price comparison: About twice the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 7%
Cute bottle/label? 750 ml bottle, corked and caged. The label is Dogfish Head's traditional matte label, with a stylized antique map (depicting the Pangaea - the original single continent that existed before continental drift caused the land masses to separate and the oceans to fill in the blanks. Go me for giving you a Greek lesson), the word "beer" crossed out in every description, and a small, subtle hint to "think globally [and] drink globally."
Appearance: Peach colored and slightly cloudy. The head foamed but did not endure, and left no lace.
Scent: Ginger and hops. Also something in the subtext that reminded me of a freshly mown lawn. In a good way, I suppose, although that aroma doesn't usually tend to whet my appetite or thirst.
Flavor: The single most mild, uncomplicated Dogfish Head offering I've ever tasted. I admit I originally chilled it a bit too long and as a result there was very little complexity in the flavor. However, I tried again once it warmed slightly, at which point I could sort of taste the ginger, but it's still not as interesting as the other Dogfish Head brews.
Impressions: Spoiled by the wonder that is Dogfish Head, I really was a little disappointed by this experiment. They're usually right on the money, but I have to agree with their decision to discontinue the line. This is acceptable, slightly stronger than the normal session beer, but it was pricy for what I got; namely, a bottle with a pretty map on the label to add to my antique map/globe collection.
Will I buy this beer again? It was worth trying just to know that Dogfish Head isn't always perfect, and to say that yes, I did try it before it was discontinued. If you see it available and don't mind spending extra for a fairly pedestrian brew, have at it, but I can't say I'd recommend your going out of your way to seek it out.
The label, incidentally, does include a sentence, almost as an afterthought, stating that "[t]his beer ages with the best of 'em." If I didn't know better, I'd think that one of their marketing moguls suggested, "Let people think that, if it doesn't taste excellent now, it will in a few years. Then they'll buy out the rest of the line." I grant that it's possible that it will, indeed, age well, but having finished off the bottle, I can tell you that the sediment at the bottom was predominantly grated ginger, not yeast or sugar, and I can't say whether or not that would lend itself well to the aging process. If you care to experiment, I suppose you could, but I personally am planning to chalk this one up to experience and move on with my life.
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: December 12, 2003
