Aprihop might be Dogfish Head's spring seasonal, but I think this apricot-infused IPA is perfect for right now — just as the the temperature creeps up and the first apricots of summer are appearing at farmers markets. So snatch up a few bottles of Aprihop while they're still around and salute both the season that's ending and the one that's beginning.
Beer Details: Aprihop from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware (Apricot-infused IPA, 7% ABV)
Appearance: This beer tops the glass with a super-creamy head of meringue-like foam that you practically want to eat with a spoon. The IPA itself is crystal clear and glows a burnished orange against the light.
Aroma: Soft but heady aromas of fresh apricots and peaches with a lemony edge.
Taste: This is what I'd call a quaffing beer. It's not meant for demure sipping; it's meant to be tipped down the throat and quaffed until your thirst is satisfied. Tangy fruit flavors hit mid-palate, not unlike biting into a sun-warmed apricot. Otherwise, the beer is surprisingly dry. The pilsner malts lend a cracker-like crispness beneath the juicy fruit flavors. Both the fruits and malts fade into a hoppy finish with a touch of astringency.
This isn't a super forward beer, either in terms of IPA bitterness of fruit beer fruitiness. It's a nice balance of both, resulting in something that's refreshing and easy to drink. The effervescence adds a lovely tingle on the tongue, bringing it all together.
Food Pairings: I love this beer with a big dinner salad, one with lots of fresh vegetables, toasted nuts, bits of rich cheese, and a few slices of grilled chicken breast over top.
Have you tried this beer? What do you think of it?
Related: Saisons to Hefeweizens: Best Beers to Pair with Salads
(Image: Emma Christensen)
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This is so mean! We haven't been able to find Aprihop since mid-April, and it would be delicious right now.
I thought it was good, but not great. I prefer Titan (Great Divide) or Stormcloud (Rahr & Sons) for an everyday IPA (I just finished a home brew of IPA I get to try next weekend). And I really like a good hop bomb on special occasions. I'll admit I'm a big fan of bold hops, so this isn't really marketed towards me.
Sorry, Arya! We still seem to have plenty on store shelves here in the Bay Area, so I figured it was still around!
It's the only "fruit" beer I like...because it's not too fruity.
@wbruner - I've learned that I like a lot of IPAs a lot more if I pretend like they're not IPAs. I expect great things from an IPA (and I expect to taste nothing but hops for days). But if I think of some of these good but milder beers as "good, mild beers of an indeterminate style," I like them a lot more. This is definitely one of those.
The times I've had it I've really liked it. A floral hop will often have almost a bitter/sweet strawberry thing going for it, and the addition of apricot only enhances the effect for me. I understand why some people might hate this combination of flavors, but I really find them satisfying. I'm just sorry they no longer distribute in Wisconsin- no more quick trips across the border for the good stuff!
yay Dogfish Head! love seeing local breweries pop up on bigger blogs. :)
@Alicelost - That's an interesting way to look at it. It is pretty tasty. Dogfish Head is a pretty great brewery, so I can't hold that one gripe against them. I still enjoy their Punkin' Ale and Namaste quite a bit (and obviously their IPAs).