Dogfish Head Immort Ale

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

Amazingly rich and complex. Reddish mahogany color. The head isn’t long-lasting, though in my mind that’s the way sipping beers tend to be. The aroma is sweet vanilla and some earthiness (and a certain medicinal quality that’s not really a plus, but I don’t realy mind it because this beer has so much going for it). It has a wonderul creamy, rounded mouthfeel that might be the first thing you’d notice, if not for the incredible array of flavors: the peaty, earthy maltiness is amazing, with rich notes of maple, vanilla, a little caramel-molasses, and yes, I think I even detect the juniper berries. A nice alcohol warmth finishes off each sip. The sweetness means this isn’t an everyday beer, but when I’m in the mood, there’s nothing better.

Pours a deep brown color with a barely-noticeable head. The aroma is very strong vanilla with some maple, woody, and slightly wheaty notes thrown in. The taste is very sweet, malty, with a touch of vanilla thrown in at the end. One of the most off-beat brews I’ve ever tasted, and the alcohol is prominent as it warms up.

355 ml bottle. Pours a hazy mahogany with an adequate off-white head. Strong vanilla notes in the nose along with woody, earthy hints. Moderately heavy semi-sweet body. Smoky up front leading to a caramel toffee finish with just a touch of vanilla. Noticeable alcohol warming. Unique brew - a tad sweeter than I cared for.

Tap at Flying Saucer. Pours with a deep amber hue that is crowned with an off-white head of foam that lasts throughout the drink. Aroma is a curious lipstick odor, with bits of sugar thrown in to the mix. Flavor is smoked jerky with a nice, heavy sugar glaze. Thick and full mouthfeel leaves a distinct impression on the tongue. Interesting beer, to say the least. BOTTLE FROM ZINISTER: Current numbers reflect this rating. MUCH better from a bottle, for some reason. Perhaps it’s the crystal Brandy snifter (wedding gifts RAWK!) that is truly enhancing the complexity of this beer. The beef jerky factor is exponentialized here, with a nice finish of smoke and bbq sauce. Hints of oak and mesquite seem to be lingering in there as well. GREAT brew!

poured into tall tulip. the oaked age is very apearant on the initial. oaky with woody aroma, maple and vanilla come thru on the taste, aftertaste is long and good. leaves you wanting more...

12 oz. bottle from Zinister. Pour is burgundy with a very minimal off white head. Aroma is wet dirt and barnyard. Taste is Belgian yeast, smoky BBQ, whisky and even tobacco. Interesting and very complex. I get a very specific vanilla sweetness in the finish. another great DFH brew. A Barley Wine? Not sure about that, but where would you put this beer?

it takes some to take it all in. sweet maltyness that leads to the unique vanilla and maple syrup, then to the bitter hops and the smoked malt. there is the overall mouthfeel and taste of a belgian. very strange but very good beer with lots of complexit.

Big beer, quite smooth for the 11% abv. Has some interesting flavors. I definitely tasted some smokey tones, as well as maple syrup, raisins, dark fruit. Quite sweet. Good interesting beer.