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Birra Etrusca
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- From:
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- Delaware, United States
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
Ranked #31 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #22,719 - Avg:
- 3.72 | pDev: 13.71%
- Reviews:
- 155
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 05, 2023
- Added:
- Dec 09, 2012
- Wants:
- 43
- Gots:
- 144
This beer is based on a beverage that may have been enjoyed by the Etruscans of Ancient Italy around 800 BC. A strong ale containing an Italian heirloom grain called Cappelli Senatore, along with pomegranate juice, raisins, and hazelnut flour, together with 3 types of honey: chestnut, wildflower, and clover. Spiced with several hop flowers, Gentian root and tree resin (think Myrrh) in the kettle.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by damndirtyape:
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio
3.87/5 rDev +4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev +4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
750mL bottle served in a Duvel Tulip glass. Bottled on 06/18/13.
Appearance: Hazy coppery-brown. Light tan head upon pouring died back fairly quickly and left nothing behind. No lacing at all.
Smell: Yeast and lots of fruits (grape, apple).
Taste: All sorts of flavor. Honey like sweetness mixed in with lots of fruits - apples, grapes, pomegranate. There is a peppery taste right before the finish. The finish is slightly tart and sour, and again fruit-like.
Mouthfeel: Juicy, slick, light carbonation.
Overall / Drinkability: A very unique beer. I've never had a beer like this - but that's the point isn't it? If this is what the Etruscans were drinking (roughly) over 2800 years ago...then count me in for enjoying a cup from time to time. I picked up a bottle because the price was right (on sale - $5.99) and aged over a year it's still quite good. It paired very well with food (Chicken Paillard with curry gravy and red lettuce salad) and as a very fruity beer, I think it might go well with a variety of other foods as well. So for drinkability, I never got tired of the large glass I poured for myself and the alcohol is dangerously well hidden. Overall, an unique experience and worth a try. I might actually pick up a bottle again if the price is right. Not an amazing beer, but it has its charm.
Jul 13, 2014Appearance: Hazy coppery-brown. Light tan head upon pouring died back fairly quickly and left nothing behind. No lacing at all.
Smell: Yeast and lots of fruits (grape, apple).
Taste: All sorts of flavor. Honey like sweetness mixed in with lots of fruits - apples, grapes, pomegranate. There is a peppery taste right before the finish. The finish is slightly tart and sour, and again fruit-like.
Mouthfeel: Juicy, slick, light carbonation.
Overall / Drinkability: A very unique beer. I've never had a beer like this - but that's the point isn't it? If this is what the Etruscans were drinking (roughly) over 2800 years ago...then count me in for enjoying a cup from time to time. I picked up a bottle because the price was right (on sale - $5.99) and aged over a year it's still quite good. It paired very well with food (Chicken Paillard with curry gravy and red lettuce salad) and as a very fruity beer, I think it might go well with a variety of other foods as well. So for drinkability, I never got tired of the large glass I poured for myself and the alcohol is dangerously well hidden. Overall, an unique experience and worth a try. I might actually pick up a bottle again if the price is right. Not an amazing beer, but it has its charm.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark red color with a minimal head that disappears quickly. Aroma of tart fruits. Taste is a tart, slightly sour mix of dark fruits with a alcohol warmth. Crisp and dry
Sep 05, 2023Rated by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois
4.02/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Really enjoyed this, I get the pomegranate and the rest is a nice meld
Aug 06, 2020Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.57/5 rDev +22.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.57/5 rDev +22.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled on 06/03/14
Nice, complex, tart, fruity, with an interesting herbal incense spice note, myrrh, gentian root, honey, hint of hazelnut, wheaty, with fresh pomegranates, pomegranate juice, raisins, some acidity, herbal notes, and a touch of bronze
Apr 25, 2019Nice, complex, tart, fruity, with an interesting herbal incense spice note, myrrh, gentian root, honey, hint of hazelnut, wheaty, with fresh pomegranates, pomegranate juice, raisins, some acidity, herbal notes, and a touch of bronze
Rated by Reggie_Dunlop from Pennsylvania
4.29/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had it several years ago in a pint bottle. I can remember the taste being eye opening
Jan 13, 2019Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
3.83/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the 750 ml. bottle. Sampled on May 20, 2018.
It pours a handsome looking and slightly murky looking amber brown. Quick lived off-white head.
The aroma is alive with sensations including pomegranate, honey, woody spiciness, and hazelnut. A kid of earthiness throughout.
The body is medium to bold and rather slick.
IN the flavor the sweet honey is front and center with a boost of fruitiness. The alcohol is downplayed yet there is an exotic spicy character. Hops are not found. A unique tasting beer.
May 20, 2018It pours a handsome looking and slightly murky looking amber brown. Quick lived off-white head.
The aroma is alive with sensations including pomegranate, honey, woody spiciness, and hazelnut. A kid of earthiness throughout.
The body is medium to bold and rather slick.
IN the flavor the sweet honey is front and center with a boost of fruitiness. The alcohol is downplayed yet there is an exotic spicy character. Hops are not found. A unique tasting beer.
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
3.7/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Rated blind.
Clear brown brew, with a fizzy head of moderate size that rapidly disappears completely.
Prunes feature heavily on the aroma, along with figs and dates, light Belgian yeast notes, and brown sugar. Something on the nose is a touch stale and cloying.
My immediate impression on the palate is figs and grape juice, along with apples, light brown sugar, hay, wheat, and mild spices. Not as strong as a Belgian in flavors.
Sticky finish, but a light brew overall. Surprising warmth belies a moderately high ABV.
Oct 10, 2017Clear brown brew, with a fizzy head of moderate size that rapidly disappears completely.
Prunes feature heavily on the aroma, along with figs and dates, light Belgian yeast notes, and brown sugar. Something on the nose is a touch stale and cloying.
My immediate impression on the palate is figs and grape juice, along with apples, light brown sugar, hay, wheat, and mild spices. Not as strong as a Belgian in flavors.
Sticky finish, but a light brew overall. Surprising warmth belies a moderately high ABV.
Reviewed by secondtooth from Indiana
3.84/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aged maybe a year.
Appearance: This Bronze-age ancient ale pours a deep and clean amber, with average head and no lace.
Aroma: Fruity. Sour pomegranate notes seem to take hold first, with a grainy maltiness ruling. Not bad.
Taste: Fruit again, sweet but with a warming finish. I get a honey taste, too. Can’t detect much of the hazelnut flour, but I do get the raisins and some spice, too. Feels a lot like a wine vibe overall, but pretty well delicious and fruit/malty in the realm of the fine Belgians. Really pleasant and tasty.
Aug 26, 2017Appearance: This Bronze-age ancient ale pours a deep and clean amber, with average head and no lace.
Aroma: Fruity. Sour pomegranate notes seem to take hold first, with a grainy maltiness ruling. Not bad.
Taste: Fruit again, sweet but with a warming finish. I get a honey taste, too. Can’t detect much of the hazelnut flour, but I do get the raisins and some spice, too. Feels a lot like a wine vibe overall, but pretty well delicious and fruit/malty in the realm of the fine Belgians. Really pleasant and tasty.
Birra Etrusca from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
804 ratings
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