Black & Blue | Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Brewed by:
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Delaware, United States
dogfish.com
Style: Fruit / Vegetable Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Black & Blue is a Belgian-style golden ale fermented with blackberries and blueberries. Because we dose Black & Blue with real berries -- rather than artificial flavoring -- the fruit comes through in the flavor, not just the aroma.
The pureed berries are added as the beer leaves the brewhouse. In fermentation, the yeast -- the same one we use in Red & White and Pangaea -- feeds on sugars from the barley and the berries, giving Black & Blue a unique complexity and a high ABV.
25 IBU
Added by ggaughan on 08-23-2006
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,624 | Reviews: 530
4.18/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.32/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Did a vertical between a new 2015, and a bottle shop shelf dusty from 2014 bought a month ago; It was not exposed to sun light, just fluorescent light and room temps.
Other then what is likely slight recipe and fruit differences, the 2014 only had a couple of not offensive flavor differences. It was more berry forward and a bit rounder in flavor
348 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Did a vertical between a new 2015, and a bottle shop shelf dusty from 2014 bought a month ago; It was not exposed to sun light, just fluorescent light and room temps.
Other then what is likely slight recipe and fruit differences, the 2014 only had a couple of not offensive flavor differences. It was more berry forward and a bit rounder in flavor
348 characters
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark reddish brown color, with a huge three finger off white foamy head. There is a lot of carbonation and a soapy lacing. The odor is fruity, dark berries, spices, clove, woods, orange peel. The taste is very raspberry, berry, apple, sweet, barely any alcohol, peach, orange, spices, clove, crisp up front, barely any bitterness, a little sour throughout.
367 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark reddish brown color, with a huge three finger off white foamy head. There is a lot of carbonation and a soapy lacing. The odor is fruity, dark berries, spices, clove, woods, orange peel. The taste is very raspberry, berry, apple, sweet, barely any alcohol, peach, orange, spices, clove, crisp up front, barely any bitterness, a little sour throughout.
367 characters
3.5/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.48/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
On tap. Looked dark in the glass. Could have been purple. Spicy aroma. Tons of blueberry taste. I’m not too much into these styles of beers, although this one was decent. Does hide the 10% ABV pretty well.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
On tap. Looked dark in the glass. Could have been purple. Spicy aroma. Tons of blueberry taste. I’m not too much into these styles of beers, although this one was decent. Does hide the 10% ABV pretty well.
207 characters
3.68/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Disappointed by the lack of berry flavor. Some raspberry in the smell and almost none at all in the taste.
106 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Disappointed by the lack of berry flavor. Some raspberry in the smell and almost none at all in the taste.
106 characters
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
750 mL bottle poured into a shaker. The aroma is as advertised -blueberries and blackberries - with a coriander and clove hint. The beer is a clear, dark blueberry-purple hue with a thin, pink, fuzzy soap head that has okay retention and a light lace (extra points for unique coloring). The thick oily beer is a medium high sweet and medium bitter bitter mix with a light sour. There’s an abundant, light fizz carbonation to help the medium full body go down. The flavor strikes as a blueberry and blackberry muffin with a peppery clove spice. It finishes crisp and peppery with grass, bread, and tart berries. The aftertaste is clean and astringent with just a hint of spice and tart berries.
695 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
750 mL bottle poured into a shaker. The aroma is as advertised -blueberries and blackberries - with a coriander and clove hint. The beer is a clear, dark blueberry-purple hue with a thin, pink, fuzzy soap head that has okay retention and a light lace (extra points for unique coloring). The thick oily beer is a medium high sweet and medium bitter bitter mix with a light sour. There’s an abundant, light fizz carbonation to help the medium full body go down. The flavor strikes as a blueberry and blackberry muffin with a peppery clove spice. It finishes crisp and peppery with grass, bread, and tart berries. The aftertaste is clean and astringent with just a hint of spice and tart berries.
695 characters
4.21/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at champs in State College, PA - poured into a snifter.
L: Pours a deep reddish mahogany color with a generous white head.
S: Fruits and berries, blackberry, blueberry, and maybe a hint of sour cherry. Mild spicyness as well... cloves and cinnamon.
T/F: Tastes very much the way it smells. Fruity and refreshing. Not too sweet with a slight tartness at the finish reminding me of cherry (although the dominant flavors are definitely blueberry and blackberry). Very smooth and moderately carbonated.
O: I don't usually go in for the fruit beers but since it was Dogfish head I gave it a go and was not disappointed. Very refreshing and crisp, and great to drink as we're entering the summer months. I'd have it again.
741 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at champs in State College, PA - poured into a snifter.
L: Pours a deep reddish mahogany color with a generous white head.
S: Fruits and berries, blackberry, blueberry, and maybe a hint of sour cherry. Mild spicyness as well... cloves and cinnamon.
T/F: Tastes very much the way it smells. Fruity and refreshing. Not too sweet with a slight tartness at the finish reminding me of cherry (although the dominant flavors are definitely blueberry and blackberry). Very smooth and moderately carbonated.
O: I don't usually go in for the fruit beers but since it was Dogfish head I gave it a go and was not disappointed. Very refreshing and crisp, and great to drink as we're entering the summer months. I'd have it again.
741 characters
3.46/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4.16/5 rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5
Weird. Delicious. Fruit. Strong. Dogfish makes better but most others will not match this.
90 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5
Weird. Delicious. Fruit. Strong. Dogfish makes better but most others will not match this.
90 characters
4.16/5 rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
3.25/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.3/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From a bomber to a snifter
Pour is ruby red with 2 fingers of thick white foam. Foam fades quickly with tight lace. Medium carbonation
Smell is all berries. Blackberry and blueberry mostly. Smell is almost like grandmas preserves! Very nice!
Taste follows nose well. All fruit with little bitterness. Very tart like tart cherries and blackberries. Nice complement to the nose of the beer.
Feel is nice and light. Surprising for the high abv. No boozyness at all to the taste. Very smooth and refreshing. Absolutely brilliant for a strong beer. Feel might be the best part of this beer.
Overall this is great. No surprise dogfish hits another home run.
660 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From a bomber to a snifter
Pour is ruby red with 2 fingers of thick white foam. Foam fades quickly with tight lace. Medium carbonation
Smell is all berries. Blackberry and blueberry mostly. Smell is almost like grandmas preserves! Very nice!
Taste follows nose well. All fruit with little bitterness. Very tart like tart cherries and blackberries. Nice complement to the nose of the beer.
Feel is nice and light. Surprising for the high abv. No boozyness at all to the taste. Very smooth and refreshing. Absolutely brilliant for a strong beer. Feel might be the best part of this beer.
Overall this is great. No surprise dogfish hits another home run.
660 characters
Black & Blue from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating:
3.68 out of
5 with
1,624 ratings
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