Flashlight shows a hazy reddish plum color, with solid head retention, smells very similar to a port or a sherry, with strong alcohol and fermented fruit notes, perhaps a bit of leather in the background. The taste is sweet and juicy with notes of the four berries: boysen, rasp, black, and elder; paired with a strong, warming kick of booze and a minimally carbonated yet full body. The finish is borderline burning from the alcohol, with a long slow fade out of very wine-like tannins, reminiscent of leather and pipe tobacco, along with some more piney and resinous hop notes. Overall, this a very interesting beer, and is about as close to you can get to wine while still (barely) being a beer; that said, it’s Dogfish so of course it’s complex as hell while still displaying exquisite balance. The green cap is no joke here either, this is a very potent beer, and you’re constantly reminded of this throughout the drinking experience.
