Beer Forum

I've heard nothing but rave reviews about Dogfish Head Palo Santo. I got a few bottles, and tasted one with great anticipation. I was truly disappointed. The alcohol overwhelmed everything--and I really like big beers. However, the package said that this beer ages with the best of them. Is this a hint that I need to cellar it for a year or so and re-evaluate?

I think the alcohol comes through, but I think a lot of that flavor is the Palo Santo wood that's used to age the beers. That's just what I get out of it. There is definitely some heat from the alcohol (12% abv I think), but I didn't think it was that overwhelming.

i had it when it first came out and thought it was great...i had it last week at the pub in Rehobeth...wasn't quite the same, seemed to lack some of the flavors that it had the first time. maybe the wood is losing flavor. dunno.

I think it tastes better a little on the warm side, in a snifter. It's a sipper.

Steelers&Beer wrote:i had it when it first came out and thought it was great...i had it last week at the pub in Rehobeth...wasn't quite the same, seemed to lack some of the flavors that it had the first time. maybe the wood is losing flavor. dunno.

i had the same experience. the first release was awesome and this years was pretty lack luster.
the wood character is definitely different.
bummer that they chose to make the worlds largest casks for this one

I bought 4 bottles of it about a year and a half ago. I drank one, was a bit hard to drink for my taste. I've been aging the other 3 bottles for quite awhile now. I'm going to bust one open maybe this weekend and try one again.

Just tonight I noticed I only have 2 bottles left from the case I bought when it came out. I never thought the alcohol was overpowering. I wondered what affect the aging of the wood would have. I need to get some more and find out!

I taste alcohol when it's cold. I gave my wife the first sip without letting it warm up and she simply said "alcohol."

Once it warmed to about 50 (brandy snifter) it really, really mellowed out nicely. The bite was still there, but it didn't have that unpleasant burn anymore.

I had another one with T-Day and experienced the same as I did the first time. Vanilla, caramel, malt, not too much hops, touch of alcohol and that ubiquitous DFH sweetness. I like it, but the 2 I have left will be brought out for special occasions.