Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

Beer of the year!

Well... not officially, but that's my opinion. This is a truly outstanding beer. It's an American Strong Ale from Dogfish Head and they describe it as a big brown ale, and indeed it is. This beer is aged in a very dense wood from Paraguay called palo santo, which means "holy tree". The wood has a lot of resin which allows it to lend a lot of flavor in the beer. What Dogfish Head has created is a roasty, malty delight that allows the resin of the wood to counter balance the malty sweetness and thus, has a minimal hop profile.

The beer pours a very deep brown with a small, frothy tan head. The aroma gives off very toasty malts with vanilla, caramel, and wood. The wood adds a very nice caramel and vanilla complexity to the taste. The beer is fairly sweet with hints of maple syrup, vanilla, caramel, and a resiny touch from the wood. The finish is slightly dry with lots of warming due to the 12% alcohol this beer brings to the table.

This is yet another eccentric brew from the minds at Dogfish Head, but it is incredibly delicious. This beer may not be seen again for a while, so if you are able to come across it, do not hesitate to give this beer a try. You will not be disappointed. A+