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.
This stuff is amazing. I tried it recently at a local beer tasting, and it has to sampled to be believed. Definitely worth going to the trouble to find.
Fort comes from the french meaning “strong”. Great beer though. Readily available at “Big C” Liquor store on University and Goldenrod in Orlando. Good luck finding it in Tampa.
I’m a huge fan of Dogfish Head brews, especially their stronger ones and their fruit beers so thought this would be a perfect marriage. I tried this last night with my wife and although it looks and smells great I found it to be almost undrinkable.
It is unique and one to be tried but I was almost glad when it was all over! I felt I was drinking hard liquor and it sent shivers down my spine after each sip! The initial and aftertaste just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t that it was poorly executed, it was the fact the concept just didn’t work for me.
I still love Dogfish Head beers though and look forward to sampling more of their unusual stuff.