The Swill: Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
The Still: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, Delaware
http://www.dogfish.com
The Drill: Brown Ale aged on Palo Santo wood, 12oz bottle, 12% ABV
The Spill: Aged in a brewing tank made from Palo Santo wood from Paraguay, the people at Dogfish Head claim this tank, at 10,000 gallons, is the largest wooden tank built in the U.S. since before prohibition. More important than the tank's size is what it does to the beer. Woodiness does not begin to describe the intense flavor this beer has taken on in its journey. It's a full frontal assault on the taste buds, slightly spicy, quite alcoholic, and bolder than any other brown ale can ever hope to be. The Palo Santo wood, coming from the South American "Holy Tree," is also used in wine casks, a tradition where woodiness is a more common aspect of the final product.
Says Bill: I was quite surprised by this beer when I first tried it. The bottle's label says to be on the lookout for vanilla and caramel notes, but all I got was wood. Wait, that sounds bad. Actually, it sounds like a rave review, doesn't it? In any case, this one's not for the faint-hearted. Its high alcohol content can present quite a daunting flavor in itself for inexperienced drinkers, so hold on tight. I'd like to try it again myself, but at $12 per 4-pack, it's not at the top of my priority list.
Refill?: Darn it, there's a hole in the label of the bottle I saved. I sure wish someone would get me a new one: 3.5 taps out of 5.