Brewed By: Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware
Purchased: Single 12oz bottle from a 4-pack from Binny's in Illinois; 2011
Style/ABV: American Stout, 5.2%
I've already introduced Dogfish Head when I reviewed their 90 Minute IPA. However, I always enjoy giving the brewery props and an introduction before I decimate their beer, so I've been toying with the idea of just copypasta-ing the brewery info in each post. Like this:
In case you don't know what chicory is, you can check out this cool article. Coffee and chicory were combined by the French during their Civil War to supplement short supplies of coffee. The chicory added additional flavor to the coffee, and softened the bitter edge and added a chocolate-like quality. According to Wikipedia's article on coffee substitutes, ground roasted chicory root was used widely during the American Civil War, and is especially popular in New Orleans. Wikipedia also states that chicory is a woody and bitter plant.
As far as I can tell today's beer is by all means an American Stout. Because it uses Mexican coffee and chicory, the jerks at the BJCP dumped it into the Spice/Herb/Vegetable category. Ratebeer has this pegged as a Stout, and BeerAdvocate agrees with my American Stout labeling. I also tagged this as a Breakfast Stout, because coffee: fuck yeah. I would like to see the Breakfast Stout movement acknowledged by beer judges, even if this isn't really trying to be a Breakfast Stout.
This is a dark, dark beer. The beer pours with 3 to 4 fingers of dark brown/coffee-colored head. The head is thick and bubbly, and looks just like a Stout should. The head is already clinging to my glass, and appears to have good sustainability. The beer is dark black in color when in low light. When you hold the beer up to a bright light, it is still very dark. I would call this beer black or dark, dark brown. I cannot see through the beer, so I can't tell you about carbonation.
The aroma on this beer is very "smooth." Just by smelling the beer you can tell this will drink very smooth. I'm smelling hints of roast, subtle coffee notes; spent coffee filter, fresh from the can. I'm picking up some chocolate, and a definite woody note. Besides the roast, wood, and chocolate...there are very soft pulls towards a vanilla or meat note.
The taste is creamy, smooth, and soft. It is important to keep in mind that this is a 5.2% ABV Stout. This isn't an Imperial or Double Stout. There is some light carbonation on the front. I'm picking up some bitter coffee, wood, smoke, meat, and a hint of spice - maybe pepper? There is also a bright, slightly acidic fruity note. Like a sweet or lighter dark fruit.
This is smooth and mellow, with a light to medium mouthfeel. There is some tingly carbonation on the front of your tongue, which may or may not help the beer's cause. In fact, this is a touch watery (or drinkable, if you're a glass half full kinda person). All is forgiven when you consider this is a 5.2% ABV beer. This has low palate depth, but moderate complexity. The front is coffee, wood, and acidic fruity unknown; the middle is more coffee and mellow chicory; the back end is light bitterness, and the finish is coffee. A touch dry.
Rating: Average
I've already introduced Dogfish Head when I reviewed their 90 Minute IPA. However, I always enjoy giving the brewery props and an introduction before I decimate their beer, so I've been toying with the idea of just copypasta-ing the brewery info in each post. Like this:
Dogfish Head is a craft brewery based out of Milton, Delaware. The brewery was founded by Sam Calagione back in 1995.The brewery began as a brewpub (the first in Delaware) called Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats and was originally located in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The initial brewing setup included three kegs and propane burners. They brewed 12-gallon batches of beer three times a day, five days a week. In 1996 the brewery began bottling their beer, and by 1999 they had distribution to around a dozen different states. In 2002 the company outgrew their Rehoboth location, and moved to Milton, Delaware. More info can be found HERE.Chicory Stout is one of Dogfish Head's oldest beers dating back to their brewpub in 1995. The beer is brewed with roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John's Wort, and licorice root. The beer is also brewed witth Cascade and Fuggle hops; pale, roasted, and oatmeal grains for the malts. This is a winter seasonal released in November and December, and clocks in at 5.2% ABV and 21 IBUs.
In case you don't know what chicory is, you can check out this cool article. Coffee and chicory were combined by the French during their Civil War to supplement short supplies of coffee. The chicory added additional flavor to the coffee, and softened the bitter edge and added a chocolate-like quality. According to Wikipedia's article on coffee substitutes, ground roasted chicory root was used widely during the American Civil War, and is especially popular in New Orleans. Wikipedia also states that chicory is a woody and bitter plant.
As far as I can tell today's beer is by all means an American Stout. Because it uses Mexican coffee and chicory, the jerks at the BJCP dumped it into the Spice/Herb/Vegetable category. Ratebeer has this pegged as a Stout, and BeerAdvocate agrees with my American Stout labeling. I also tagged this as a Breakfast Stout, because coffee: fuck yeah. I would like to see the Breakfast Stout movement acknowledged by beer judges, even if this isn't really trying to be a Breakfast Stout.
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| Dogfish Head Chicory Stout |
The aroma on this beer is very "smooth." Just by smelling the beer you can tell this will drink very smooth. I'm smelling hints of roast, subtle coffee notes; spent coffee filter, fresh from the can. I'm picking up some chocolate, and a definite woody note. Besides the roast, wood, and chocolate...there are very soft pulls towards a vanilla or meat note.
The taste is creamy, smooth, and soft. It is important to keep in mind that this is a 5.2% ABV Stout. This isn't an Imperial or Double Stout. There is some light carbonation on the front. I'm picking up some bitter coffee, wood, smoke, meat, and a hint of spice - maybe pepper? There is also a bright, slightly acidic fruity note. Like a sweet or lighter dark fruit.
This is smooth and mellow, with a light to medium mouthfeel. There is some tingly carbonation on the front of your tongue, which may or may not help the beer's cause. In fact, this is a touch watery (or drinkable, if you're a glass half full kinda person). All is forgiven when you consider this is a 5.2% ABV beer. This has low palate depth, but moderate complexity. The front is coffee, wood, and acidic fruity unknown; the middle is more coffee and mellow chicory; the back end is light bitterness, and the finish is coffee. A touch dry.
Rating: Average
Score: 71%
This is a solid session Stout, and represents its flavors pretty well for the 5.2% ABV. However, a 4-pack of this stuff is like 10 bucks. That means that this wouldn't be my preferential Stout...
Seriously though. I dig the coffee, and the chicory seems to add a slightly acidic, fruity, and mellow vibe to the beer. There are good flavors in this beer, which is smooth and tasty, if not a tad thin and a touch watery. This is worth checking out, at least once.
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