Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Bruery and Dogfish Head - Faster, Bigger, Better, Bolder

I'll let the Dogfish Head website do the heavy lifting here:
Brewed by Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione and the brew crew out at The Bruery in Orange County, CA Faster, Bigger, Better, Bolder (Gradually, Quietly, Steadily) is an homage to the contrasting lifestyle views of American excess set against the more humble and traditional ways of Japan. Brewed with kumquats and The Bruerys seven spice schichimi togarashi blend along with sake yeast, this is an excessive beer brewed with tradition in mind. One dollar from each bottle sale was donated to rebuilding Japanese breweries and households that were destroyed during the 2011 Japanese earthquake.
The end result is what they called a "spiced ale," and it lands at about 8.25% ABV. It was distributed wherever Bruery beers are distributed in Fall 2011, and it's not likely to be brewed again.


Appearance: Frothy honey colored, with a slight reddish tinge. The head is substantial, and it recedes to a small layer of foam on top of the beer. Very little lacing is left on the sides of the glass. The beer is not entirely cloudy, but you can't see through it either.

Smell: Notes of spice, like clove and coriander, and that overall warm aroma that often comes from Belgian yeast. Lemon, wheat, and ginger are also there. The beer has kumquats added, but I don't know what kumquats smell like, so I can't say I pick them out here.

Taste: It tastes a lot like how it smells. My immediate impression is that it tastes like an extra ester-y, spicy saison. Citrus fruit, particularly lemon, is prominent, as well as the clove, similar to the aroma. There is a slight hint of sourness/funk as well that lends an appealing acidic or dry character.

Mouthfeel: Full, with lots of carbonation. Moderately dry finish. It feels like a slightly fuller-bodied champagne.

Overall: This is a pretty tasty, complex beer! My only complaint is that it drank a little heavy and was kind of filling, but otherwise, I really enjoyed this beer. Though I couldn't pick out the particular contribution from the kumquat, the flavors here melded really nicely, and were bold without conflicting. Well done by Dogfish Head and the Bruery!

4/5

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