Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Milton, Delaware USA

There is a tree in the bottle. Forget the sap / resin of hops, there is tree sap mixed in this 12% brew. Amazing malt, but crazy presence from the wood. A weird astringency...just a weird beverage all around. 12% was the right way to go as this wood would make some great bourbon. There is some tobacco and tasty malt, but this is all about the wood.

(12 oz btl) Oily near-black w/ a fully diminishing tan head. The wood is noticeable in the aroma, complimenting the toasted malt/caramel nose. I got boiled peanuts, tobacco and black coffee in the first few sips. Lively carbonation, but finishes smooth w/ a little alcohol warming at the back of the palate. Lingering wood aftertaste.

Bottle. First nose is of rubbing alcohol, as it warms the aromas of wood and dark fruit come out. Rather sweet, with woody fruity tones, some vanilla, molasses,and fig. Milk chocolate in the aftertaste, and some alcohol showing through as well. At 12% I expected a lot more alcohol taste, but its fairly well hidden.

Bottle pours black with a decent head that diminishes rather quickly and does not lace. The aroma is of solid dark and dried plums, wood, and sort of sour. The flavor is very molasses and sugar oriented, with the wood showing through, darkness, vanilla, and an extended yeastiness that seems to linger. The palate is pretty rich and bordering on cloying. Overall, I think it is a decent effort, but not something I want to drink much.

cerveza ale bastante oscura con sabor a madera. no se siente el alcohol y quien putas lee estas mierdas de todas maneras

Very complex nose. Woodsie-type smell, like oak, sweet. Taste is also complex, very sweet and malty, slight roastiness. Can tell this is aged in wood. Slight flavor of tannins from wood. %12 abv is extremely well hidden. Wood aging adds a very pleasureable complexity to a typically uncomplex style. Hints of vanilla or molasses, very smooth and easy to drink.

12 fl oz bottle packing 12% alc released a small froth of light brown head. Dense body with a dark brown hue. Toasted grain with a molasses touch at the end. This is a superb brown ale that achieves fogging a dark cloud of roasted malt over an alcohol continent.

Well done. This pretty much falls in the "imperial porter" category in my book, with a little stout in there. Dark brown appearance with a significant beige head. Malty aroma. Vanilla and roasted malts with a good alcohol bite. Doesn’t fool you with the 12% ABV. Fairly heavy on the palate.