Dogfish Head Festina Peche

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: Berliner Weisse
Milton, Delaware USA

Pale yellow. Crackling foam quickly disperse to form a wispy ring of bubbles. Flowery, peachy aromas are lightly dotted with honeydew, minerals, chalky yeast and honey-drizzled straw. Prickly, loose-bubbled effervescence. Palate-puckering lactic acids are kissed with a finessed peach fruitiness which slowly gives way to creamy yet firm cracker- and straw-like wheat tones. Pils malt slowly develops some beautiful definition as it takes on more of a toastiness and crisp nuttiness toward the center. Bone-dry body wonderfully contrasts with the succulently fruity esters and polished peach accents. Yeast adds body and softness as it clings to the palate, depositing some starchiness as well as hints of pistachio, vanilla and dough. Fairly musty as well. Trace lemon flashes its sharp yet artfully composed acid into the well-integrated finish which sandwiches the sourness with a lingering malty sweetness and dab of musty yeast. Didn’t expect to like this much, but it undeniably is well-crafted. Perhaps it sacrifices some complexity for its straightforwardness, but I can’t complain. They’ve taken an ancient, nearly extinct style of beer and added a new-world twist while retaining the authenticity of true Berliner weisse. That’s quite commendable!

A good beer, from the always dependable Dogfish Head. I have respect for any brewer who even attempts this very uncommon style. Cloudy, lambic like appearance. Aroma has light wheat and peach. Flavor is lightly sour with just a hint of fruit. Its a close call between being a Berlinner and a sour wheat beer. Enjoyable and refreshing either way.

I really like this beer. Pours a hazy golden color with a light carbonation. The nose is sour with a hint of peach. I’m not use to drinking Berliner Weisse, but it tastes peachy with a hint of sourness. I could drink a lot of these.

Bottle: Whitish yellow, hazy, looks like a Belgian Witbier, head is smallish, light and sudsy, spotty lacing.   Ever so slight sour peach nose.   Vaguely reminds me of those Peach gummies, yet tart instead of sweet.   Mmmmm, I can sum this beer up in one word, refreshing!   This is like a breath of fresh air.   Soft tart notes, a bit fruity, dry... much like a toned down lambic or something.   The fruit aspect is a nice touch, enough to notice but not enough to overpower.   Yeah, very refreshing and zesty.   Clean, very clean.   This would be a great Summer beverage.   Tart, dry, clean, hint of peach and lemon... can’t ask for much more.   Body and mouthfeel are moderate to full.   This one really worked for me.   Subtle, yet striking.   Well balanced too.   Good stuff!

20090114 12oz bottle, dozens of them. I’ve gone through many cases of this stuff and yet have never rated it. Huh. Well, simply put it’s a pleasantly tart, mildly fruity session beer. the funk is there, but subdued with notes of barnyard countered by light peachy sweetness. DFH’s assessment that this beer is comparable to pinot grigio is well said. Definitely more carbonated than most berliner weisse beers I have had, but that adds to its drinkability and compatibility with food. It is welcome anytime, but super refreshing and quenching.

Bottled May 24, 2007; Sampled August 2007
Pours with a hazy, yellowish, gold colored body and is topped by a frothy, meringue white head. The aroma is lightly tart, with a solid, wheat like, grainy aroma. The acidity leans towards / accentuates a nice fruitiness; notes of peaches, apricots and orange blossoms are noticeable as part of the fruit component.

Lightly tart, quite light bodied, actually the combination is really quite refreshing. The beer is very dry, yet the peach / fruit flavors are still noticeable. Almost more aromatic than fruit flavored. Lactic acid tasting, which at times is quite dry and bracing. At other times though, the nectar-like fruitiness adds a softness and a perceived sweetness which softens the total effect of this beer. Flavors of citrus-honey, orange blossoms, peaches & apricots all form layers of the tart fruit flavors found in this beer.

This is a really nice brew for the Summer season; light, refreshing, fruity, simplistic at times, it really captures the essence of a hot weather refresher. I could easily have drunk a couple pints of this on this 100°F + day.

Grainey wheat aroma, with only the slightest hint of peach, really can’t pick up on the oncoming tartness in the aroma, but ,then there it is, big ol’ lemony peach tartness,with a big grainey finish,not as tart as the German versions, has a very satisfying thirst quenching effect

Bottle courtesy of MDS- Thanks Mike! Decants hazy, cloudy yellow with a generous frothy white cap, with good sediment at the bottom of the glass.The aroma is heavily yeasty with sour lemons/limes and grapefruit and a barnyard/wet blanket sort of profile and a smidgen of apricot. The taste is full on tart yeasty peaches with white grapes, hay and a sour funk. Finishes astringent, puckering , bitter and tart, creamy yet dry. Low in alcohol and as a result, I could drink a lot of this. Excellent. Thanks Mike!