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Miles Davis' Bitches Brew
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- From:
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- Delaware, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 93
- Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 11.24%
- Reviews:
- 949
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 28, 2022
- Added:
- Jun 13, 2010
- Wants:
- 520
- Gots:
- 1,482
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the original release of Bitches Brew, Miles Davis' 1970 paradigm-shifting landmark fusion breakthrough, we've created our own Bitches Brew -- a bold, dark beer that's a fusion of three threads of imperial stout and one thread of honey beer with gesho root. It's a gustatory analog to Miles' masterpiece.
38 IBU
38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Soonami:
Reviewed by Soonami from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Tonight, I had Dogfish Head's Bitches Brew at World Cafe Live during the celebration for 40th Anniversary of the album's release. The beer was served in two modes, on draft and in bottles, I only had the beer on draft because by the time we finished the first round, the keg had kicked so only bottles were left--and I didn't want an entire bottle.
The beer was a very nice almost opaque black with just sliver of burnished copper when held up to the light. A thin mocha colored foam hung on top of the beer down to the bottom. The beer smelled very like roasted coffee, chocolate, floral and sweet. The beer was very soft on the palate and although I was expecting an assault on my taste buds, this beer was rather subtle and passive. The flavor of dark roasted coffee and licorice were there, but it was tempered by the honey wine/beer that provided a dry, floral earthiness. The finish was almost white wine-like with its aromatic fruitiness. It was a very well balanced RIS, that didn't have any of the harsh characteristics common in many all-malt beers.
I think the fermented honey made this beer very special and provided a different flavor profile that allowed the roasted character to come out while allowing other flavors to join in the party.
Sep 01, 2010The beer was a very nice almost opaque black with just sliver of burnished copper when held up to the light. A thin mocha colored foam hung on top of the beer down to the bottom. The beer smelled very like roasted coffee, chocolate, floral and sweet. The beer was very soft on the palate and although I was expecting an assault on my taste buds, this beer was rather subtle and passive. The flavor of dark roasted coffee and licorice were there, but it was tempered by the honey wine/beer that provided a dry, floral earthiness. The finish was almost white wine-like with its aromatic fruitiness. It was a very well balanced RIS, that didn't have any of the harsh characteristics common in many all-malt beers.
I think the fermented honey made this beer very special and provided a different flavor profile that allowed the roasted character to come out while allowing other flavors to join in the party.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by LeRose from Massachusetts
4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very pretty pour, a virtual black hole swallowing any light bold enough to venture an escape. Very nice mocha head that remains as about a 2 mm covering that doesn't stick much to the glass.
Big malty toasty smell and a little hint of booze. Chocolate follows, then the usual suspects in the dark fruit lineup. A honey-like sweetness is definitely present, with an earthy component that I'd guess is whatever hops were used along with the gesho. Very nice.
The taste is layered and more complex than the aroma suggests. Yeah - for sure there is an ample malt flavor, mildly roasted and brown bread-like with virtually none of the acrid nastiness found in some Imperial stouts. It's quite clean tasting in that regard. Some dark chocolate, light coffee, raisins or figs maybe both, a berry component maybe currant? Nice level of earthiness grounding this beer. Honey for sure and hello left field - I taste some vanilla, like 99.9% sure There is just a bit of peppery spice at the end of the taste and a faint tingling flavor of licorice. Harmonious and complimentary flavors.
It is odd in that it is striking me as simultaneously sweet and drying. Mild bitterness resets the buds a bit. Creamy and super-smooth, mildly carbonated, pretty full-bodied.
Feb 28, 2022Big malty toasty smell and a little hint of booze. Chocolate follows, then the usual suspects in the dark fruit lineup. A honey-like sweetness is definitely present, with an earthy component that I'd guess is whatever hops were used along with the gesho. Very nice.
The taste is layered and more complex than the aroma suggests. Yeah - for sure there is an ample malt flavor, mildly roasted and brown bread-like with virtually none of the acrid nastiness found in some Imperial stouts. It's quite clean tasting in that regard. Some dark chocolate, light coffee, raisins or figs maybe both, a berry component maybe currant? Nice level of earthiness grounding this beer. Honey for sure and hello left field - I taste some vanilla, like 99.9% sure There is just a bit of peppery spice at the end of the taste and a faint tingling flavor of licorice. Harmonious and complimentary flavors.
It is odd in that it is striking me as simultaneously sweet and drying. Mild bitterness resets the buds a bit. Creamy and super-smooth, mildly carbonated, pretty full-bodied.
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
3.25/5 rDev -22.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -22.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
2013 bottle. Tan head. Black color.
Toasted malts, bitter chocolate, burnt coffee. All the roast. The adjuncts seem to have faded. Full bodied. Carb is fine.
Just seems to have peeked. Not very drinkable.
Aug 29, 2021Toasted malts, bitter chocolate, burnt coffee. All the roast. The adjuncts seem to have faded. Full bodied. Carb is fine.
Just seems to have peeked. Not very drinkable.
Rated by Hemorrhoy
4.5/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great beer! Three cheer!
Feb 10, 2020Reviewed by DerekP from Pennsylvania
4.3/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A 1 pint, 9.4 fl oz champagne style bottle, gifted to me by my brother-in-law on Christmas 2016!
Big chewy malt in the nose. Raisins, currants and almond milk. Dark nougat head with a pitch black body as expected. A little boozy up front, then spicy hops and bread crust with a dark, dry, malty finish. Heavier body, but fits the style. Sipping on this one!
p.s. this one brought me back a decade in terms of the experience of searching out the aromas, flavors and feel. Well done Dogfish!
Feb 08, 2020Big chewy malt in the nose. Raisins, currants and almond milk. Dark nougat head with a pitch black body as expected. A little boozy up front, then spicy hops and bread crust with a dark, dry, malty finish. Heavier body, but fits the style. Sipping on this one!
p.s. this one brought me back a decade in terms of the experience of searching out the aromas, flavors and feel. Well done Dogfish!
Miles Davis' Bitches Brew from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
3840 ratings
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