Imagine over a ton of raspberries in a giant beer tank. Imagine the strongest, most potent fruit beer in the known universe with an alcohol content over 18%. Imagine a brewery wacky enough to make it and call it “Fort” for reasons unexplained. Dogfish Head brewery is one of the most inventive brewers around today that insists on pushing the boundaries of what is beer and what is God only knows what… The Fort is one of their winter season beers that’s brewed and distributed each December to their beer-lovin’ geek cult following (disclosure: that includes me).
The Fort pours a beautiful dark reddish orange. The head is almost non-existent and what there is of it dissipates rapidly. The aroma is full of what else, mouth watering, tart raspberries. In fact, that’s pretty much all that you smell. This brew has a one-track, fruity mind. The tasting, however, revealed a little more. The brew had a definite chocolate undertone and a slight floral note combined with a big alcohol flavor. The alcohol wasn’t as dominate as the 18% might suggest but it was definitely present and accounted for. Fortunately it doesn’t detract from the beer’s charm. This is definitely not your run-in-the-mill frou frou fruity beer. This is one big, complex beverage that is not cheaply made. Dogfish Head is known for using high quality ingredients from all over the country and world. The Fort is another wonderful distraction from the world of regular beers from folks that love what they do. If you can find it, pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.
Different people will have many different associations with the word “golden”. Things like the phrase “you’re golden”, the golden rule, golden retriever, golden age, golden arches, golden tee, golden oldies, the golden globes, the golden girls…the list goes on. Well, here’s another little something that’s golden, a golden shot. Just look at it. An striking clear gold foundation (Drambuie), a warm and creamy middle (Bailey’s), and a misty white layer on top (Vodka).
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