Dominion Spring Brew 2004
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company

Dominion Spring Brew 2004Dominion Spring Brew 2004
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From:
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company
 
Delaware, United States
Style:
Imperial Pilsner
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 8.39%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
29
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 14, 2005
Added:
Mar 20, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Jason:
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: 12 oz brown bottle with a 09 MAR 2004 bottling date. No info about the beer.

Appearance: Fresh looking white lace, seems to stick around for bit. The clarity is perfect showing a bright yellowish golden hue.

Smell: Super spicy hop with a thick fresh cut grass aroma, very fresh and very aromatic.

Taste: Quick to the bitterness with a solid underlying maltiness, the hops are all over the place with bitterness and a spicy herbal flavor. The malt lays down a biscuity honey character with a warming alcohol in tow. The finish is a long drawn out trail of hops and more hops with a tingling alcohol in the back of the mouth.

Notes: This beer sets the ground for Imperial Pilsners … so tasty and so drinkable it is dangerous.
Apr 05, 2004
More User Ratings:
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This Pils isn’t very Imperial. Pours clear golden with a light orange hue. Thin off-white head and scarce lacing. The aroma is somewhat hoppy with a bit of citrus and traces of skunk. Medium body and well-hidden alcohol. Not too hoppy, and it has some malt and fruit flavors. All in all it is a slightly ratcheted up Pils that doesn’t really blow the doors off the style. Still, it is pretty interesting and drinkable.
Apr 14, 2005
Photo of Jarod
Reviewed by Jarod from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottled on 03-09-04
Twist off cap

This beer poured a yellow straw color that at first pour was crystal clear and on the last pour it looked to have a slight chill haze to it, and was well carbonated. The head that was created was a slight off white color, consistency of a cloud, bubbly, creamy and foamy, some lasting time after a decent pour then falling to a skim on the surface. There was lace present but generally spotty foam in some areas. The aromas were rather light, wisps of malt, fresh hops and hay, herbs and spices, some pine needles, a citrus bite at times and seemed to end with a bread note. The flavors were more pronounced and flavorful. Tastes of light malts, pine trees, citrus hops all dominate, light spices and some fruit show up in the middle then slides in with touches of alcohol and ends with a bread note. Warming and kind of thick in the mouth at the end as well. There were hoppy pine tree notes as an aftertaste. The body over all was on the light/medium side. Overall feel of the beer was watery and an easy drink. A fresh and refreshing beer that is named well – Spring Brew. A good drink, a smooth drink.
Jan 20, 2005
Photo of stirgy
Reviewed by stirgy from Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This was cloudy and an orange amber color. The beer cleared up after it warmed. Thinning head of foam that left no lacing. The aroma has spicy alcohol notes, light liqueur like malts, curacao and lemon zest. The taste is bold – malty and weighty. Bittersweet, resinous and fruity. Lemon zest with a spicy alcohol finish. Tangy. Not bad, but tastes young. This could be one that improves with age.
Sep 01, 2004
Photo of garthwaite
Reviewed by garthwaite from Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Sampled from a pint glass at the brewpub. In the glass, this one was a clear light golden with a long lasting frothy white head that laced beautifully. Clean peppery aroma with biscuit & herbs. Aggressive herbal hop flavors blend deliciously with pale malts. Lemon & honey in front with bold peppery hops in back. Medium to full bodied (especially for a pils), this one is both creamy & highly carbonated. Bitterness & hop flavor are largely muted in the finish which has some mineral hints. I enjoy the heck out of this brew (in small doses).
Aug 27, 2004
Photo of goose114
Reviewed by goose114 from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Sampled at the brewpub, was happy to see that they still had some this far into the year. I had heard a lot about this and have had pleasant experiences with Rogue's and Clipper City's "uber" pilseners, so I was pretty geeked up to try it.

Looks like you'd expect it to look; slightly darker than what I would call straw colored with a bit of fluffy white head. A sweet malt smell emanates from the glass in a perfect balance with the aroma of hops. The balance in the taste is just about perfect, with the hops leading the charge but the malt quick to follow. Just as good on a hot summer day as I asume it would be on a crisp and clear and spring evening.

I could drink this all day -- I had no idea that it was 8.5% abv until I sat down to write this review. Glad I didn't have a second one before driving home!
Aug 20, 2004
Photo of meathookjones
Reviewed by meathookjones from Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this on tap at the Brewpub in Ashburn Va. This is a slightly hazy golden yellow color with about an inch of off white head. The aroma was fairly light with doughy malts and grassy hops coming through as well as grainy notes. The taste starts off with a sharp piney hop flavor that is joined by a grainy and dough malt backbone. There is a bit spice to the flavor and various fruit flavor going on. Definitely well hopped and bitter but balanced nicely for a great complex flavor, too bad the smell didn’t stand out more. The alcohol was minimally noticeable but I definitely felt it after 3 of these. Mouthfeel is great with a medium body and good carbonation and it is very smooth drinking. Excellent beer I can’t believe I have not tried it earlier, since I live 10 minutes from the brewpub, I will definitely be going back there with the intention of getting more of this before its gone.
Aug 05, 2004
Photo of Bighuge
Reviewed by Bighuge from Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Hazed deep golden appearance. Good sized dirty white head. Lacing is full and complete. Nice nose. Soft malts and spicy hops. Nice taste as well. Nice mellow malts lay a decent foundation, but the hops seem to be the story here. Great bitterness. Nice bite. And the hop flavor is full of cracked pepper, floral tones and spiciness in general. Mouthfeel is appropriately carbonated. Fairly prickly in the mouth. And the body is about medium-full. This is a tasty concoction. My 3rd Imperial Pilsener to date. Better than Rogue's. Not quite as good as Granite City's.

Thanks for the rare offering marc77. Imperial Pilseners always catch my attention.
Jul 30, 2004
Photo of JISurfer
Reviewed by JISurfer from Utah

4.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Very nice double. It's my first, but I can guess how the style is represented in this one quite well. The taste was a nice fruity/floral "arrangement", with a malt backbone and a hint of hops. The taste did start off a little hoppy, but then subsided to the fruits and malts. Nice cloudy straw color with a nice white head. Very smooth on the palate. Couldn't tell the high alcohol in the beer at all, which could get dangerous. It was a refreshing brew that quenched the thirst.

Had on tap at the OD Brewpub.
Jul 26, 2004
Photo of ngandhi
Reviewed by ngandhi from Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Assertive spicy/herbal nose. Fruity midpalate. Drying alcoholic yet malty finish of a run-of-the-mill bock. Lingering grass. Raw.

Though the beer is characteristic of a pilsner, it is far too confused with the helles style from which this originates. The hop combo clashes, the yeast isn't neutral enough, and the alcohol is obnoxious.

Relax, relax.
ng
Jul 12, 2004
Photo of Hefe
Reviewed by Hefe from Oregon

4.32/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes, 3/24/04 Michael Jackson Tasting @ R.F.D.'s

Appearance: Clear gold with a fluffy white head that lasts.

Smell: Very aromatic, with fruity malts, grassiness, floral notes, and spicy hoppiness all in evidence.

Taste: Hops are aggressive and right up front, the malts are present but in the background as a solid fruitiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, the alcohol is well masked but still lends some weight. Dry, crisp finish.

Drinkability: More than it has any right to be at 8.5%
Jun 28, 2004
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Clear, perfectly golden color, adequate layer of the usual white fuzz on top.
Malty aroma, heavily vegetal, almost lushly so...I'm more impressed by the minute, for it's reaching beyond the typical lagery smell.
Taste: clean, but bold, with a firm mouthfeel, very thick and almost cloying, this. Big, rich malty foretaste, and it clings to the palate. Tastes pretty good, too, I am warming up to this as the glass grows empty. Very palapable flavor, that coats the mouth, feels a touch fruity, but largely herbal, vegetal, malty.
Unlike any lager I've yet encountered If it's a "malt liquor", then it's one with more sophistication and panache than has even been imagined in beers of that style before.
High alcohol content starts to speak up, and you're know you're not in Candyland, it's starts to get serious, so pace, brother, pace.
One of the tastier strong lagers I've ever set to my lips.
Big thanks to ManekiNeko for this!
Jun 24, 2004
Photo of marc77
Reviewed by marc77 from California

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Crystal celar dark straw hue. Dense, persistent porcelain white head yields Belgian lace. Aroma comprised of grassy Saaz bolstered by a combination of doughy malt and soft, grainy cracker. Only a trace hint of alcohol. Well rounded and gentle aromawise. Snap of sugar cookie sweetness incipient in flavor yields to agreeably assertive hop bitterness. Static grassy hop flavor with a black pepper twang. Subtle hint of minty ethanol, but otherwise immaculately clean overall. Stately husky, bready pilsner malt base provides firm malt foundation. Dextrinous, creamy, yet dangerously brisk in mouthfeel. Finishes with a grapefruit and light toffee tinge yielding to fleeting hop bitters. A delicious, well crafted and unique brew akin to a hellesbock / Czech pils hybrid. Not overly complex, but astoundingly drinkable indeed.
Jun 23, 2004
Photo of Todd
Reviewed by Todd from Finland

3.76/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle. Pours a rich bright golden beer, topped with a rocky, large bubbled head and clinging lace.

Light herbal aromas, some metallic, light fruits and bready grain.

A very rich, thick, smooth and even body. Deceiving for its appearance. Very sweet and malty on the palate with an immediate grape juice flavor. Big, head warming alcohol flavor (feels and tastes like cheap vodka) with a spicy tingle on the palate, which melds well with a spicy herbal, and touch of citric rind, hop character and bitterness. Big fruity burst in the middle, followed by a big breadiness after the beer peaks, and especially as the beer warms up. Dry and lingering at the finish, with some hops, sweetness and gritty husks in the residuals.

Essentially a craft-brewed Malt Liquor and a very aggressive beer all-around. Watch yer ass on this one.
Jun 20, 2004
Photo of RBorsato
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
2004 version of their Spring Brew - An Imperial Pilsner.

Clear light golden color with a nice creamy white head, good carbonation, and clumpier lace than the draft version. Nice prominent Saaz hop aroma ... a bit earthy, lemony, and grassy all at the same time. Flavor is fairly balanced with solid maltiness but a bit more bitter than I recall with the draft version. Mouthfeel is very close to full with nice creaminess but finishes fairly bitter.

Per Hang Tag:
- Noble Imperial Pilsner
- Sazz, Tettnang, and Spalt hops
- 40 lbs. of hops per 25 bbl's; First wort hopping
- 70 IBU's

Bottled: 03/09/04
Tasted: 06/12/04

($5.99 / 6-pack)
Jun 14, 2004
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle obtained via trade with Pisskynights. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed 3/4" of white head, which made for excellent foamy lace over the clear, straw colored brew. Aroma is a slight yeasty aroma, but that's about all I get, for better or worse. Taste is pale malts upfront, balanced with some rough hops character, working out to a pleasant combination. Mouthfeel is great, and drinkability is even better, scarily enough for the alcohol content, which was well hidden, I might add...
Jun 03, 2004
Photo of francisweizen
Reviewed by francisweizen from Washington

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A dark, clear golden colour with a nice white head that comes and goes. An enticing aroma of czech saaz hops and earthy, yet subtle malts. The taste is a nice, high abv blend, of spicy hop flavor, chewy malt notes, and some alcoholic flare. The mouthfeel is thin, but appropriately so and the drinkability is very good for a beer of this style. Good stuff.
May 17, 2004
Photo of ark57
Reviewed by ark57 from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
It pours a clear golden yellow with a thin head. It has a nice looking color, but the lack of head makes it look almost average fortunatley this is not the case. There is some grainy malt in the aroma as well as herbal hops and some citrus (lemon) zest. There is a slight sweet maltiness and some spritzy lemon zest in the taste. There is some good body to stand up to the bitterness, but it still seems appropriately light. I barley notice the ABV, making this a dangerous brew. It finishes with a big lingering bitterness. It is quite refreshing.
May 12, 2004
Photo of tavernjef
Reviewed by tavernjef from Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Bottled date of March 5th, 2004 - Bright and clear stoplight yellow color, thin, tight, white cap on top, steady and slow carbonation bubbles within, lacing in whispy strings and torn sheets.

Dull nose of pale toasty malts, whole grains, and some slight grassy/herbal hops; some berry/fruit-like undertones are in there as well. It's quite fresh and inviting, albiet a bit subdued overall. Tough nose to put a number on. It seemed weaker at most points, but nearer the bottom of the glass it livened up by a good portion with a more substantial fruityness.

Fantastic flavors here, well balanced, fresh, clean, smooth, sweet, slightly fruity, yet set back a bit, with a malty mouth full upon first entering with a great cleanliness and well rounded character. Next ensues the hop additions with blended German style toasty freshness; calm yet flavored and stacked well with inviting herbalness and grasses. Very fresh, mineral laden, toasty warm, with some Saaz-like spices and lighter fruity things pop and go inbetween. Quite a complex amount of things going on here, more so then what I may be able to percieve. Its wonderfully dry at the finish with a fluffy texture and an almost nose clearing floral freshness and alcoholic spicyness float up through the palate and beyond into the sensory units of the nose. Quite intriguing and even fun to behold. It reminded me of what some barleywines can accomplish with its character. A good quality to have IMO.

Feel is quite nice, nearly full with a good backing of malts that aren't over done, yet big and bold enough to stand out as a main character in this play of a brew. It's very fresh, clean, smooth, and just plain yummy! Favorable little crisp edgyness to it with a nice toasty bread dryness in the finish with herbal hops thrown in. Yum! This is a fine brew eh. Nearly perfect! Big thanks to ManekiNeko for throwin' this in!
May 03, 2004
Photo of PartyHatjo
Reviewed by PartyHatjo from Ohio

4.52/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Shit! That was one incredible brew. Thanks to BGreezy and garthwaite for sending this spectacular beer.

Appearance is typical of a decent pilsner--clear golden color, small white head. Head didn't last, died down to a film that added a bit of lacing to the glass. Aroma is strong of grass and bread. I'm not a hop expert, but I believe it's Saaz that figures prominently in the hop bill. There's a bit of fruitiness in the aroma, that is prominent in the taste. This is a very champagne-like beer in taste. A bit like Asti-Spumanti only with a bit of bitterness. Pear is very prevalent in the flavor. Flavor is like having bread with pear jam and honey. Mouthfeel is much better than a champagne--not as bubbly, and much smoother (and probably isn't as likely to induce a hangover). It is a very drinkable high alcohol beer--definitely doesn't taste like it's 8.5% alcohol.
Apr 26, 2004
Dominion Spring Brew 2004 from Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 29 ratings