A taste of… Olde School

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, Delaware, 19968
United States
302-684-1000

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Olde School was purchased for $5.00(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was a “BOTTLED IN 2009” stamped on the neck of the bottle.

N.B. – I have known Sam Calagione for a number of years. I have interviewed and attended a number of beer dinners hosted by him as well.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The label includes the following information as well as volume and alcohol content:

“DIRECTIONS: Open bottle, pour contents into two snifters. Enjoy. OR: Walk hand-in-neck into the middle of the woods. Use a shovel to dig a 2 x 2 hole three feet deep. Seal the bottle in a plastic bag. Place in hole and pack with dirt. Memorize location and leave. Return exactly one year later. Dig up bottle, open & enjoy.”

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a crystal clear burnished amber brew with carbonation of very tiny bubbles. The head is a remarkably dense linen white with a slight orange tint to it, made of tiny and, a few, large bubbles.

Aroma: The first impression was a bit of a surprise in that there was no noticeable hop or roasted grain aroma… more of a rustic attic sensation. The second visit revealed bitter orange aromas closer to Clementines. The third nose-dive brought out some sour cherry accents.

Mouth feel: Almost spirituous.

Flavor: First impressions are of roasted sugar candy hitched to an alcoholic warmth that fills the sinuses as fast as it fills the mouth. The second visit strikes the sweet notes rather sharply and brings tha sensation of alcoholic warmth almost to the spirit level. The third very tiny sip was easier to handle than the first two and revealed sweet nuances that were missing in the first two large swallows.

Finish: Sherry like and it doesn’t stay long.

Comments: If you don’t take at least an hour sipping this 12 oz. bottle of beer

Food & Beer: Walnuts, Stilton and contemplation would all bring out the best of this massive brew.

The Brewery: http://www.dogfish.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10099/6533

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dogfish-head-olde-school-barleywine/17557/