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
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,621 | Reviews: 530
3.66/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from Berts. Definite fruitiness, fruit juice sweetness, definite berry presence. Sweet nose and taste, smooth finish for a high abv fruit beer.
150 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from Berts. Definite fruitiness, fruit juice sweetness, definite berry presence. Sweet nose and taste, smooth finish for a high abv fruit beer.
150 characters
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
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
4.31/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.79/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.44/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Red-purple body, with a cloudy cast, and a light pink head and huge lacing.
S - Berries are front, with a mild sweet note.
T - Following the nose, with a tart berry flavor, and a slightly sweet close.
M - Strong carbonation and tart flavor defuse the sweetness.
O - A pleasant, strong beer that hides its burly ABV and delivers a strong fruit flavor.
358 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Red-purple body, with a cloudy cast, and a light pink head and huge lacing.
S - Berries are front, with a mild sweet note.
T - Following the nose, with a tart berry flavor, and a slightly sweet close.
M - Strong carbonation and tart flavor defuse the sweetness.
O - A pleasant, strong beer that hides its burly ABV and delivers a strong fruit flavor.
358 characters
3.74/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Treated as a fruit beer, this was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a ruddy burnt purple to slightly brown color with a thin finger of a white head. Lacing appeared after the head died off.
The smell had some blackberries, grapes, cherries, blueberries, currants, Belgian spices and some light Belgian sugars all packed up and playing nicely under my nose.
The taste was sweet with a touch of spice from the currants and Belgian spices. Fruits display affectionately in the aftertaste and slide in on the finish.
The mouthfeel was about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. Carbonation ran decently allowing some of the spice to hit my tongue.
Overall, I'd say this was a nice fruit beer. I think I could have it again preferably in the Summer and maybe this could go well in a blend with a stout, maybe.
847 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Treated as a fruit beer, this was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a ruddy burnt purple to slightly brown color with a thin finger of a white head. Lacing appeared after the head died off.
The smell had some blackberries, grapes, cherries, blueberries, currants, Belgian spices and some light Belgian sugars all packed up and playing nicely under my nose.
The taste was sweet with a touch of spice from the currants and Belgian spices. Fruits display affectionately in the aftertaste and slide in on the finish.
The mouthfeel was about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. Carbonation ran decently allowing some of the spice to hit my tongue.
Overall, I'd say this was a nice fruit beer. I think I could have it again preferably in the Summer and maybe this could go well in a blend with a stout, maybe.
847 characters
4.42/5 rDev +20.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.39/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.76/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
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
3.04/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
The look is nothing out of the ordinary with a very dark, burnt orange color. The head never really gets going from the pour. However, with an aggressive swirl, a thin white head can be seen. Moderate retention leaves a spotty lace.
It smells like it should with blackberry and blueberry dominating the nose. Blueberries dominate any dish they're in and this is no exception. On the plus side, it smells like the real thing and not some artificial flavoring.
Wow...can you say berries? I like the taste of blueberries, but this beer is bordering on over the top. The Belgian yeast and carbonation propel the fruity taste beyond just normal blueberry flavor. Near the finish is a spot of alcohol that attempts to tame the onslaught of blueberry taste, providing the only instance of balance in this most one-sided beer.
Sweet and then tart with crisp carbonation the whole way. Like the taste, the high ABV tries to temper the tartness but it really can't as the blueberry phenols impart a strong acidic quality that doesn't mix well with the carbonation.
Fortunately this isn't a crappy beer that's just made with some fruit juice. Some thought and quality ingredients (i.e. real fruit) went into this. That said, it's just not a great beer.
1,259 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
The look is nothing out of the ordinary with a very dark, burnt orange color. The head never really gets going from the pour. However, with an aggressive swirl, a thin white head can be seen. Moderate retention leaves a spotty lace.
It smells like it should with blackberry and blueberry dominating the nose. Blueberries dominate any dish they're in and this is no exception. On the plus side, it smells like the real thing and not some artificial flavoring.
Wow...can you say berries? I like the taste of blueberries, but this beer is bordering on over the top. The Belgian yeast and carbonation propel the fruity taste beyond just normal blueberry flavor. Near the finish is a spot of alcohol that attempts to tame the onslaught of blueberry taste, providing the only instance of balance in this most one-sided beer.
Sweet and then tart with crisp carbonation the whole way. Like the taste, the high ABV tries to temper the tartness but it really can't as the blueberry phenols impart a strong acidic quality that doesn't mix well with the carbonation.
Fortunately this isn't a crappy beer that's just made with some fruit juice. Some thought and quality ingredients (i.e. real fruit) went into this. That said, it's just not a great beer.
1,259 characters
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.57/5 rDev +24.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Beautiful darker Belgian-style golden ale. Real blackberries and blueberries add a subtle taste and tang to the beer giving it a wonderful (but not overpowering) fruitiness and complexity. Leans towards Terrible Beer by Unibroue.
229 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Beautiful darker Belgian-style golden ale. Real blackberries and blueberries add a subtle taste and tang to the beer giving it a wonderful (but not overpowering) fruitiness and complexity. Leans towards Terrible Beer by Unibroue.
229 characters
3.77/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A little bit boozy. Hey it's 10% ABV. No doubt, the fruit purée comes through loud and clear. There is a clear blackberry and blueberry taste. The big bottle is shareable. Pairs well with roast duck or roasted vegetables. Ages well. I've kept a bottle downstairs for a year or two and it smooths as it ages. Doesn't need to be ice cold, goes down real well at just below room temp.
382 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A little bit boozy. Hey it's 10% ABV. No doubt, the fruit purée comes through loud and clear. There is a clear blackberry and blueberry taste. The big bottle is shareable. Pairs well with roast duck or roasted vegetables. Ages well. I've kept a bottle downstairs for a year or two and it smooths as it ages. Doesn't need to be ice cold, goes down real well at just below room temp.
382 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
Black & Blue from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating:
55.3% out of
100 with
1,621 ratings
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3