Shelter Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

 

12 oz. can, date on the bottom just says May 2023. Apparently an oldie from Dogfish Head that they're reviving, added to BeerAdvocate all the way back in 2001! Love the idea of bringing back these old time classics. New to me, surprised to see this beer has such low ratings (currently a 77).

Poured to a clear stemless wine snifter.
A: Pours a nice crisp looking golden body, typical sort of pale ale color, strong finger's worth of soapy white froth. Appears well carbonated, fresh & appealing, and that's all I need.
S: Pale & bready aroma - notes of pale malt, honey, lightly herbal / earthy / grassy. Notes of lemon pith & citrus, but there is a firm balance on display. It isn't terribly impressive, but again, it smells super fresh, and that's all I need.
T: It doesn't smell terribly great, by my lord does this thing taste super well balanced. Crisp, fresh, bready, malty, honey sweetness, herbal, earthy, leafy hop presence.
F: Super smooth, crisp, clean, delicious. Hugely drinkable & quenching at only 5.0% I could drink a ton of this stuff.

Overall, I'd call this a deliciously balanced pale from Dogfish. Not sure where the negative ratings have come from. Would 10/10 drink this again.

Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale -----4.25/5

 

 

 

 

 

From the Continually Hopped variety pack, with BB date of May 2023.

Translucent gold, with 1/2 finger of white head.

Smell is slight orange , honey, and floral aromas. A brief flash of something lemon-lime-like. Not bad, just not much of it.

Taste is faint mixed citrus, a little bread crust, a bit of pine+grass, and some hop spiciness. Moderate bitterness.

Feel is light, but not watery, smooth til some moderate, very,very fine carbonation tingle toward the end.

Not bad. Nothing special, and kind of plain, but it goes down easy.

 

 

 

 

Picked up as part of the mixed twelve I basically bought for the 60 minute and 90 minute and I didn't know the others. I like the earthy tones and floral and grassy hop notes. Kind of a medium body lager with crispness and a bit of flavor. This grew on me a little.

Can from Fairway on the USW NYC. Pours a clear slightly amber gold with a finger of rocky white head, decent lacing, smell is biscuity malts, brioche, orange peel, hop candy, hints of caramel; taste is biscuity malts, lightly toasted white bread, orange flesh, orange zest, hints of orange cake; feel is light, medium carbonation, crisp finish. A nicely balanced malty citrusy crispy delight.

 

On tap at Chesapeake & Maine, Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Pours a clear dark straw, nearly copper color; a bit dark for a pale ale. A moderate head shows decent retention.

The nose displays notes of lightly toasty, bready and grainy malts. Furthermore, there are lightly hoppy aromas that evoke notes of grass, citrus and floral/fruity spices.

Surprisingly clean flavor profile, dry palate amidst a medium to slightly watery body. Dry bready and lightly toasted malt flavors balanced by grassy, floral and earthy hops spices, and citrusy zest. Moderate and clean bitterness counteracts a very mild touch of caramel sweetness. Crisp mouthfeel, lively carbonated and dry finish.

I was a bit surprised by how seemingly “bland” this was considering how I’m used to complex and often over the top flavors from DFH. I didn’t think it was particularly great, but it was refreshing and drinkable.