6 replies to this topic

[chuck_d]

Sah'Tea from DFHHas anyone else had this yet? The first thing that surprised me when I poured the beer was the color. I was thinking it would be a red-brown ale, but it pours like your standard yellow fizzy. The aroma is unmistakably chai, no hops aroma at all that I can pick up, but my nose is a little stuffed. They say they use juniper but I don't notice it all that much, however it could be the balanced sweetness to the chai that makes the chai jump out in the taste to me. I like this beer. Another fine addition to the DFH lineup even though some of their concoctions are too much for me. One nitpick though, Sammy boy, chai means tea. So writing "Chai Tea" on the label is redundant, it's like saying "Cerveza Beer".

[Thirsty]

Sah'Tea from DFH So writing "Chai Tea" on the label is redundant, it's like saying "Cerveza Beer".

I read somewhere that the title was a play on words to some ole school style/heritage thang. I thought the beer was OK, I thought there was a lot of nutmeg/cinnamon/pumpkin type spice going on. Again OK, but not my cup of "tea". Kind of like their Theobroma, great example of a "thinking outside the box" ancient recipe, but I will take their other champagne bottled beers any day, Fort- ZOMG!

[chuck_d]

I read somewhere that the title was a play on words to some ole school style/heritage thang. I thought the beer was OK, I thought there was a lot of nutmeg/cinnamon/pumpkin type spice going on. Again OK, but not my cup of "tea". Kind of like their Theobroma, great example of a "thinking outside the box" ancient recipe, but I will take their other champagne bottled beers any day, Fort- ZOMG!

Perhaps that was in the WP link I put in my Beer on the Rocks thread. "Sah'tea is Sam Calagione's take on sahti, a type of Finnish home-brew. He flavored the strong ale (it measures 9 percent alcohol by volume) with juniper berries, a traditional ingredient that adds an "earthy, perfumy" flavor, and black chai tea, a nontraditional ingredient that augments the beer's citrusy character."Ironically, I hate pumpkin beers, that whole nutmeg/cinnamon thing turns me off, but I can't pick it up too much in this beer even though the DFH blog post mentions use of those spices. I'm currently on my second glass, and you know that effect where if you say one thing out-loud, or hear it, you can taste it. Rereading his blog post I'm now tasting some of the clove & nutmeg, not so much the cinnamon. It perhaps could be part of the beer warming as well. To me the chai really stands out, but chai is a spiced tea almost always so I guess it's just that I like black tea with those spices and think it works in a carbonated beverage. It's not really beery, it's like drinking alcoholic, carbonated, non-creamed chai. I'm diggin' it.I think you and I just have different palates. I don't like Fort that much, but I enjoy Indian Brown Ale and Palo Santo to no end. The Palo Santo hurts my wallet. However, I'm generally with you on the nutmeg/cinnamon thing in beer, but damn if it don't work in this one...

[jayb151]

I had this beer last weekend. I pretty much agree with you, but I must say I did get some of the juniper. It had a kind of "Christmas" everegreen thing going on for me. Although this beer is made well, and has subtle flavors, I'm not sure I'll be getting it again. It was good, but the price keeps me away from most Dogfish Head.

[brewskee]

I had this beer a little while ago. It was sort of like a saison, but a little more "dark" in complexion. Can't get that shit in KS, my friend had to bring it.

[chuck_d]

I had this beer a little while ago. It was sort of like a saison, but a little more "dark" in complexion. Can't get that shit in KS, my friend had to bring it.

Interesting. Here I was surprised by the color being light and yet you noticed a dark complexion. I wonder how much my perception was offset by expectation and lighting. I'll have to drink more of these

[Finnbrewer]

I havent tried this beer, but living in Finland, and haveing tried many of the authentic versions, Im not super impressed with DFHs butchery. I love thier beer, but there really isnt much similer between this beer and Sahti. The ABV is way to high, and the spices dont belong. I know they said they were just inspired by the style and went following it to closely, but its a shame, more people should try it. One thing he did get wrong is the Juniper berries. They actually use the Juniper branches, not the berries. What they do is hollow out this big log, line it with juniper branches, add the grains and do the rock boil method. they have a hole that is bunged up at one end, and then they ferment in the same log, grains and all. The purpose of the Juniper boughs is to filter out the grain and fermentation floc as it comes out the bung at the end of the log. It really is a pleasant beady flavored ale.