Dogfish Head Immort Ale

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Milton, Delaware USA

From the growler station at the Party Source. A cheap customer filled one up, then noticed the $24 price tag. Needless to say, I went home very happy that night- with a free growler of Immort Ale. In a large tulip glass, this has an intense ruby to light brown color and a bright vibrant sheen. An intensely sweet aroma- full of maple syrup, honey, sour cherries, blackberry jam and raisins, is luscious and fragrant. There is a certain spiciness from the juniper; strong salty sea air and peat, like an islay whisky, and sticky gum drops. The taste is complex and incredibly unique- very delicious and quite easily drinkable, with a strong grape medicinal note. The tongue picks up an extreme sticky fruit candy sweetness, prickly pears, fig compote and vanilla. This is rounded out and quickly transformed into a smoky, pungent, earthy peatiness, with oak chips and wood. The body is very thick, but not quite syrupy. It is oily, silky, and sticky, and glides slowly and gently across the tongue, leaving a trail of intensities- such as smoke, spicy cinammon and cloves in its wake, as well as a sour, funky moldiness that continuously makes me think of bleu cheese. Nonetheless, this beer is great, and is so easily enjoyed. As with all of Dogfish’s beers, the alcohol blends seemlessly and one could wind up quite drunk before even tasting it. Overall, Immort Ale perfectly blends the best characteristics of a Scottish wee heavy and a Belgian quad into one intensely enjoyable brew. I drank this every night for a week, and it never got boring. Niiiice.

From bottle : Pours a dark copper color, with a big foamy white head, and very nice sticky lacing. Nose is wonderful. Maple and raisons, and light fruits, vanilla, syrup, it is really nice. Taste has some of the same quilites, just not as pronounced. Finishes with lots of syrup taste. Sticky feel on the palate, and not to thick. I really like this, even though im not a huge barley wine fan.

Great little barely wine. Pours with a largish thick off-white head that lasts all the way through. Clearish amber body with small particles floating around. Aroma of maple, raisins, peat, vanilla and alcohol. Taste is maplee syrup, vanilla, nuts, alcohol (brandy) and spices. Would love to have this on tap. Syrupy mouthfeel with light bubbles.

Intimidated by the way it looks. Very smoky nose, which is even more intimidating. Tastes like smoked bacon, and I think that’s about the best compliment I can give to anything.

Clear brown pour with a red tint. Fluffy beige head. Hoppy aroma with a some alcohol, a bit of caramel, but really not much going on. Chalky, almost burnt rubber flavor. Bitter with a touch sweetness and lots of alcohol. Not good.

Purchased from bottletrek.com, contents poured into a Duvel tulip glass. Appearance is a dull murky orange-brown hue, head is a minimal off-white thin layer that dissipates, thin fluid lacing. Smell is oak and smokey wood, dark fruit, maple syrup, caramel, and alcohol. Taste is initially met with cherries, raisins, figs mixed with a healthy dose of vanilla, caramel malts and brown sugar enter midway alongside tones of smoke and oak, lighter fruits and hops linger, finishes with a sweet alcohol warming. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, thick and chewy texture, moderate carbonation. Drinkability is moderate, a very bold beer that maintains the DFH profile, the oak/smoke/sweet fruits provide an intriguing blend that is fun but could be a bit much in large quantities, plenty of alcohol that is modestly masked in the flavors.

2004 Vintage 12oz. Hazy red copper color with minimal white head. Aromas of caramel, fruit, and malt. Flavors are mixed with peaches, oak, warming alcohol, and a bit of sweet malt. Intense flavors and really different.

Pours a lovely clear orange with a short-lived layer of foam. Incredible sweet barley aroma - wow! Dessert wine and light alcohol. Tastes very oily at first, bitter and hoppy, but it opens up into a thick goopy sweet malt taste - you can definitely taste the peat. Plenty of alcohol in the finish, peppery and lingering. Very complex. Body undercarbonated but chewy. What a real treat - sipped this over the course of a few hours. Last of a trade a year and a half ago with Thaichile - many thanks!