Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu
From Dogfish Head: Let’s travel back in time again (Midas Touch was our first foray and Theobroma our most recent), this time 9000 years! Preserved pottery jars found in the Neolithic villiage of Jiahu, in Henan province, Northern China, has revealed that a mixed fermented beverage of rice, honey and fruit was being produced that long ago – right around the same time that barley beer and grape wine were beginning to be made in the Middle East! Fast forward to 2005…. Molecular Archeologist Dr. Patrick McGovern of the University of PA calls on Dogfish Head to re-create their second ancient beverage and Chateau Jiahu is born.
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – Chateau Jiahu – 750 ml capped bottle poured into a goblet. 9% abv.
Appearance: Pours a clear amber orange with a pin stripe of white at the top.
Aroma: Bread crust, white grapes (mlidly sweet white wine and skins), and honey suckle bush.
Taste: Honey, bread crust, dry white wine (opposite of what I get in the nose) and finishes with more dry breadcrustiness.
Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy.
Overall: For those who were put off by Theobroma’s uniqueness, this is a much more drinkable traditional ale. This is crazy (because its not something you experience every day with beer), yet balanced.
July 19, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
My wife and I really enjoyed Chateau Jiahu with our dinner the other night. I’m definitely looking for more. It’s probably a more appealing drink with food that simply drinking it by itself.
August 11, 2009 @ 5:19 am
I really didn’t care for this at all when I tasted it.
August 10, 2009 @ 10:35 am
I was quite impressed with Jiahu. I enjoyed the white grape aroma and flavor. DFH’s experimental stuff might turn some off, but I their risky brewing puts them on the map as one of the most innovatively successful brewery.