Zeno
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- From:
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- Delaware, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 9.3%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 19
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 03, 2015
- Added:
- Jun 27, 2010
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
This Brewpub Exclusive saison is an interesting paradox; refreshing yet flavorful, light but complex. The Saison yeast strain takes center stage and contributes complex aromas of pineapple, mango, papaya, and pepper. A healthy dose of American hops at the end of the boil compliments the tropical fruit aromas with their own notes of citrus rinds and fruit.
25 IBU
25 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia
3.6/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured on-tap and served in a pint glass, the beer is a bright, pale, gold color. Crystal clear with lots of carbonation and a thin, filmy head. Nose of lemon zest, hops, and floral highlights. The flavor is slightly sour, with a smokey undertone and spiced-citrus flavors, including some coriander. The aftertaste is all spice, leaving any of the fruit character overpowered. The finish is dry and quick.
Aug 10, 2011
Reviewed by mdaschaf from Indiana
3.14/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.14/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Review from notes. Had on tap at the DFH brewpub in Rehoboth Beach along with ShanePB.
A: Served in a 16oz glass, Zeno was a clear orange with very little bits of bubbles on top, not quite a head though. No lacing either.
S: Floral with some grassy hops, and a bit of orange peel. Not as much spice as I used to in a saison, just a hint of pepper.
T: Similar to the aroma, but a bit more subdued. Some grassy hops and sort of fruity with some graham cracker malt. The spices only come through right at the end again.
M: Medium bodied with high carbonation, but a bit watered down almost. Finishes dry.
O: A bit disappointing. Was hoping for more flavors from a brewery that makes flavorful beer. Maybe it was just this batch, as both ShanePB and I felt that this was a letdown.
Jul 29, 2011A: Served in a 16oz glass, Zeno was a clear orange with very little bits of bubbles on top, not quite a head though. No lacing either.
S: Floral with some grassy hops, and a bit of orange peel. Not as much spice as I used to in a saison, just a hint of pepper.
T: Similar to the aroma, but a bit more subdued. Some grassy hops and sort of fruity with some graham cracker malt. The spices only come through right at the end again.
M: Medium bodied with high carbonation, but a bit watered down almost. Finishes dry.
O: A bit disappointing. Was hoping for more flavors from a brewery that makes flavorful beer. Maybe it was just this batch, as both ShanePB and I felt that this was a letdown.
Reviewed by ShanePB from Pennsylvania
3.02/5 rDev -24.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.02/5 rDev -24.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Served on-tap at the Dogfish Head Rehoboth beach pub. 16 ounce poured into a pint glass, and served well after it was poured.
A: Orange copper body, extremely clear with an obvious filtered nature to it. No head, no retention, no lacing. Talk about a lackluster looking beer, this is just pretty sad.
S: Wet grassy hops, orange peel, black pepper, rose hips. A very faint grainy and hay-like base from the malt comes through but it doesn't seem to add any real diversity or depth to the aroma.
T: Initially the grain bill comes through with evidence of hay and milled grain flavors. Slight earthy, grassy hops provide a nice cut through the rather mundane profile so far. This ends a bit dry with some spice and peppery notes.
M: Nice and bubbly carbonation, a bit thin and watery though. Bordering on the low end of a medium-bodied beer. Dry in the finish.
For this small batch saison from one of my favorite breweries, this was simply disappointing. Serving the beer improperly is one thing, but the actual contents of the glass itself couldn't stand on their own. It wasn't bad in drinking, though I'd never order this again and many saisons are out there that put this attempt to shame.
Jul 21, 2011A: Orange copper body, extremely clear with an obvious filtered nature to it. No head, no retention, no lacing. Talk about a lackluster looking beer, this is just pretty sad.
S: Wet grassy hops, orange peel, black pepper, rose hips. A very faint grainy and hay-like base from the malt comes through but it doesn't seem to add any real diversity or depth to the aroma.
T: Initially the grain bill comes through with evidence of hay and milled grain flavors. Slight earthy, grassy hops provide a nice cut through the rather mundane profile so far. This ends a bit dry with some spice and peppery notes.
M: Nice and bubbly carbonation, a bit thin and watery though. Bordering on the low end of a medium-bodied beer. Dry in the finish.
For this small batch saison from one of my favorite breweries, this was simply disappointing. Serving the beer improperly is one thing, but the actual contents of the glass itself couldn't stand on their own. It wasn't bad in drinking, though I'd never order this again and many saisons are out there that put this attempt to shame.
Reviewed by Ryan011235 from Ohio
4.07/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap in the matching glassware at Winking Lizard on 6/2/11
Eye catching gold with a subtle haze. One finger head dissipates but a thin layer remains. Regardless, there is a good showing of lace.
Zeno boasts an utmost crisp aroma. Citrus zest and spice lead off and are engulfed in swaths of grass. Lemon grass and prairie. Hints of pepper; perhaps from the French yeast. Apple tartness. Nips of orange. Clove is apparent as it warms. Very Clean.
Ooh, packs a bit of a punch, too. It's a restless critter. Lemon zest and a touch of tangy light fruits take up the front half. Grassy flavor mid way through that holds until the finish. Undertones of grains; thank you, pilsner malts. Spicy finish with grassy residuals and citrus zest, orange pith. The flavor profile is seamless. Cracked white pepper lingers long. Herbal notions as it warms up.
The body is crisp and filled out with ample carbonation - half fluffy, half prickly. The only downside is that the carbonation prevents it from being anything more than a sipper. Other than that, it's clean with a pleasant finish.
Overall impression: plenty of good things going on with little room for gripes.
Jul 21, 2011Eye catching gold with a subtle haze. One finger head dissipates but a thin layer remains. Regardless, there is a good showing of lace.
Zeno boasts an utmost crisp aroma. Citrus zest and spice lead off and are engulfed in swaths of grass. Lemon grass and prairie. Hints of pepper; perhaps from the French yeast. Apple tartness. Nips of orange. Clove is apparent as it warms. Very Clean.
Ooh, packs a bit of a punch, too. It's a restless critter. Lemon zest and a touch of tangy light fruits take up the front half. Grassy flavor mid way through that holds until the finish. Undertones of grains; thank you, pilsner malts. Spicy finish with grassy residuals and citrus zest, orange pith. The flavor profile is seamless. Cracked white pepper lingers long. Herbal notions as it warms up.
The body is crisp and filled out with ample carbonation - half fluffy, half prickly. The only downside is that the carbonation prevents it from being anything more than a sipper. Other than that, it's clean with a pleasant finish.
Overall impression: plenty of good things going on with little room for gripes.
Reviewed by beerhan from Ohio
3.85/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.85/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had at the attic in Toledo on draft.
Poured into a pint glass, golden orange color with a super thick foamy white head. Pretty cloudy. Very carbonated.
Smells like orange peel, coriander, and a little funkyness.
Taste is like a spicy wheat beer but with a belgian yeastyness to it. Somewhere in between wheat beer and saison but not really a true saison. I am more reminded of the taste of something like holy moses than a saison. Nonetheless super refreshing.
Overall this is just another dogfish beer to knock off the list. It is good but nothing to right home about. I like the idea of making a nice refreshing summer beer but this one was just a little too filling for me.
Jul 16, 2011Poured into a pint glass, golden orange color with a super thick foamy white head. Pretty cloudy. Very carbonated.
Smells like orange peel, coriander, and a little funkyness.
Taste is like a spicy wheat beer but with a belgian yeastyness to it. Somewhere in between wheat beer and saison but not really a true saison. I am more reminded of the taste of something like holy moses than a saison. Nonetheless super refreshing.
Overall this is just another dogfish beer to knock off the list. It is good but nothing to right home about. I like the idea of making a nice refreshing summer beer but this one was just a little too filling for me.
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