I can already hear these words coming out of the mouths of traditional beer drinkers everywhere:
“STOP FRUITING UP MY BEER!”.
While I can understand someone’s aversion to trying a beer with the words “Malt Beverage Brewed with Peach Concentrate” printed on the label, I am of the “you won’t know if you like it until you try it” mentality, so I of course picked up this bottle of Dogfish Head’s Festina Peche for a long overdue review (I’ve had this several times, but have never reviewed it formally) as part of a mixed six pack that contained four other “fruited up” beers (so curious to try the Manayunk Brewing Schuylkill Punch Raspberry Ale!) and one can of 21st Amendment’s Bitter American.
Here is what Dogfish Head’s very own Sam Calagione has to say about their Festina Péche:
And now for my impressions of this beer…
- Appearance: Clear, golden yellow color with a slight pale orange hue. It sounded like I was pouring a glass of seltzer (oodles of effervescence!) with a fast rising head that topped off at about an inch and a half. It dissipated very rapidly and left no lacing.
- Aroma: You can totally smell the peaches in this beer. A definite tart/sour smell with just a hint of sweet malts in the background.
- Taste: Light mouthfeel with some mildly fizzy carbonation, though not at all watery. The peach aromas that are prominent in the nose carry through to the palate. Tastes like a firm, fresh picked peach as opposed to one that has been left on the counter to ripen for a couple days. Good bit of mouth puckering astringency like you would get from a dry white wine. The beer qualities finally show up in the aftertaste, i.e. a good bit of yeast and a dash of bitter hops.
- ABV: 4.5%
When I first had this beer a couple years ago, the Festina Péche was not to my liking. But then I fell in love with the funky side of the Craft Beer spectrum, i.e. Lambics, Sours, Farmhouse Ales, etc., so now I am happy to report that I really enjoy this beer. This is my third time having it this year (twice from a bottle, and once on draught during Philly Beer Week) and I have yet to be disappointed. Two words: tartastically delicious!
