DOGFISH HEAD’S QUOTE-UNQUOTE “APRIHOP”

Delaware’s DOGFISH HEAD BREWING have earned some pretty serious cache in beer-drinking circles for their huge lineup of experimental and day-to-day beers. A quick check of their website shows no less than 24 bottled beers available from the brewery, with a handful more available on tap at the brewery’s two locations. You know that with a brewing spirit that adventurous you’re going to make a few knockouts (like the 90-MINUTE IPA) and a few clunkers as well. I’ll put this APRIHOP that a friend sent me closer to the latter than the former. My beef with it isn’t too complicated: I didn’t really like the taste of it. As an India Pale Ale with a whole bunch of apricots thrown in the hopper, it could go either way. This one didn’t have a balance that brought the fruit bursting to my lips, nor the intense hop flavor we all dig so much. Men manlier than I would probably call this a “girl beer”, but I’d counter that it’s not girly enough – and sometimes a raspberry or a pumpkin beer is just the ticket in my book. This one just sorta sits there and takes up space in the glass. I’ll move down the line and try to taste the other two dozen Dogfish Heads I’ve yet to try. 5.5/10.