Dogfish Head Aprihop

[Marc Bayes]

Not too long ago I tried Dogfish Head‘s 90min IPA and I kinda fell in love. Coming from a non IPA lover that should say a lot. So when I saw Dogfish Head’s Aprihop in stores I mean I had to buy it, right?

Dogfish Head Brewery is known for making some very crazy beers or rather “off centered ales for off centered people” as their motto goes. They definitely take that idea to heart because not one beer they make is “normal” in the eyes of the beer world; however every beer they make is sought after by hardcore fans- Similar to the California Gold Rush.

Just about every month brings in a new style of beer by Dogfish Head Brewery. Featuring six beers available all year long, four seasonal from March through Decemeber, three strong fruit beers, three ageable ales, four ancient ales, two ridiculously strong ageable IPA’s, three bottle conditioned beers, collaborations, and of course the occasional rarity such as the infamous “Bitches Brew”. Click here to see their yearly schedule.

That’s a lot of beer! Dogfish Head Brewery also is the only craft brewery that has it’s own t.v. show, Brew Masters. Aired for the first time in 3/21/10, the show was an instant success and spun popularity for a small micro brewery out of Delaware that no one could have foreseen. Overnight Dogfish Head Brewery went from a craft brewery that did solid work in the beer community to one of the most difficult breweries to keep on a shelf by popular demand.

Which brings me back to Aprihop by Dogfish Head Brewery.

This is the fruit beer for hop heads! Coming in at 7% abv and full of hops (they dry hop it after fermentation with Amarillo hops) the apricots play a support role to the hops. The color is a very nice dark amber with a soapy type head (big bubbles that like to pop and recedes rather fast).

First sniff: Big bitter! The hops play a huge role in this beer and it shows on the notes but there is a hint of sweetness that shines through after you become accustom to the bitter- that’s the apricots.

First sip- Gratifying! This is a full bodied beer with solid malts, high hops, and finishes with apricots for balance. The hops aren’t a hop bomb, the malts balance out the hops very well but do not subdue them enough to be a malty style IPA. The apricots play a major role, even if it’s secondary, in also balancing the big hops with sweet sticky fruit. While this beer is still quite large and very delicious non IPA fans will find this brew tasty if not refreshing.

I think this beer is off the wall! Aprihop is released in March and on shelves through May (maybe) this is a seasonal fruit beer for hop heads and off centered beers for off centered people alike. If you haven’t hoped on the Dogfish Head bandwagon- that’s okay. Know your missing out though. They are the only brewery in the world known for brewing with an assortment of spices, making ancient ales, traveling the world for ingredients, and never settling for second best. I’ve had the pleasure of tasting a lot by Dogfish and I can say they are one of my favorite top five breweries.

Have you had Red & White by Dogfish Head? Great Belgian style wit beer brewed with Pinot Noir juice, coriander, orange peel,and aged in barrels? Check out the video. What did you think of Aprihop? Leave me a comment- I’d like your thoughts on the beer!