I’ve had this review sitting round here for a good while now but never gotten round to posting it, mainly because I’ve had other stuff to say but also because Dogma was no longer available from Brewdog…..well until now.
News broke a couple of days ago that Dogma was back in the Brewdog store (you can buy it here) so I thought it was about time I published this.
Dogma previously known as Speedball
Dogma has had a bit of a rocky road, It was originally called Speedball when it was first released but the powers that be weren’t happy with the references to a certain cocktail of drugs so the decision was made the name had to go. Newly branded as Dogma, the heather honey ale hit the shelves and I bought a load of it (I’ve still got 1 final bottle stashed away for a special day), which surprised a few as the first time I tried it I couldn’t quite get my head around it and wasn’t sure if I liked it, but as the glass emptied, it grew and grew on me.
Reading the label it’s got loads of different ingredients in including Poppy, Guarana, kola nut and heather honey, although with the exception of honey I have no idea what the others are supposed to tastle like.
It’s one of those beers that has loads going on from the moment you open the bottle. It pours an amazing deep glowing amber colour with a good off white head, The first thing on the nose is the honey, sweet, sticky and flowery, with a hint of malt and a little bit of lemon from the hops.
In the mouth it’s got so much going on, there’s honey and heather up front, with a good whack of pepper and bitterness combined with a malted milk biscuitiness, It finishes quite softly with the honey but then it’s surprisingly dry right at the end which I guess comes from the hops.
The closest thing I can think of to Dogma is that it’s a bit like William Bros Fraoch on steroids.
I’m sorely tempted to buy some of the new batch to see how it compares to the bottle in my cupboard, I’d suggest if you’ve not had it to sick a couple of bottles in your next beer order, you won’t be disappointed.
You can buy it from the Brewdog website here.
If found it too sweet.
I NEARLY ordered some of this the other day, I had a basket full of Brewdog goodies but just have too much knocking about the place at the moment so resisted…
Lets hope the stocks last
Ed – i don’t think you’re alone there.
Phil – I’m sure it will last – I don’t think it was ever one of the big sellers as i think some of the ingredients put people off.
I received an order a while ago along with the Single hopped IPA’s (get them down you, you won’t be disappointed) .
Though back on track with the Dogma I put in an order for 4 bottles and I am glad I did as this has gone up quickly in the ratings in my top 5 Brewdog beers.
I have had Fraoch before but this blows it clean out the water. I didn’t see the colour as I was supping it out the bottle. Though I know it’s a darker ale and normally I can find them Claggy and too heavy and bitter. This on the first sip I got the sweet hit and was expecting another Tokyo* but after the second sip I was getting a little alcohol warmth that was quickly overtaken by the silky feeling of the honey and then the soft bitterness of the hops stopped that feeling quickly leaving it dry and not too sweet.
Its different, and similar to you I wasn’t overly struck at first taste but as I was finishing the bottle it was climbing slowly up my rating.
I am hesitant to try the ‘New’ Dogma to see how it has been changed cause they had a brilliant product here
I’ve not tried the new single IPA’s i was going to buy they but my beer buying is currently on hold as getting married next week!
I love Fraoch and Dogma but the aged Fraoch they did last year blows both out of the water…i’ve not tried this years yet but i have got a bottle stashed.