Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Milton, Delaware USA

Big. What else can I say about this amazing beer. If there is an element of flaw, it would be that its too damn sweet. I understand it’s super high in alcohol, but the sweetness makes it very difficult to pair with light vibrant dishes. Luckily the fall and winter seasons are just coming along.

Ahhh... Found it! Very floral aroma, probably the hops. Predominant taste of orange, but more in the form of Cointreau or Grand Marnier. Tastes a lot like a Sidecar, but fizzy. Sweet syrupy texture upon the tongue. Aftertaste of hops and orange rind. Like a combination of an imperial IPA and a Barleywine, my two favorite styles. I’m so glad I actually scored two of these; I’m going to save the other and re-rate.

The King of IPA’s in my opinion. It’s scary BIG. The color is beautiful, dark gold and brown with off white foam head. The aroma is earthy and extremely hoppy. The taste is rather sweet and bitter. A sipping beer. The ABV is too big to take a full gulp.

Whoo, Lordy! This is one big beer for such a small bottle. Aroma is all floral hops out of the bottle but that changes as soon as it’s poured into the glass. Now it’s all sweet and malty and biscuity. Says it’s an IPA, but tastes more like a barleywine (and a young one at that.) Alcohol is definitely there, but not overpowering. Seems almost to big to take in at one sitting. Wish this one wasn’t so rare so I could give it another go ’round.

24th August 2008. Cloudy orange brown beer. Low carbonation. Doesn’t actually feel the hop agressive. More like a barleywine. Bitter orange undertone. Smooth finish with a spirity warmth. Different and not what I was expecting!

Intense looking dark amber brew with a small beige head. Aroma is pinejuice, alcohol and light malt. Flavour is very sweet with fruity hops that is however entirely dominated by the sweetness and the alcohol. The finish is hot and heavy with hoppy notes lingering for quite some time. Body is thick and sticky. I quite like this, could drink it almost any day, totally lacks complexity though.

Dark copper/light amber in color. Nice two-finger head of light tan foam. Very good retention and the lacing is nicely sticky. Good hops aroma. Floral, grassy and slightly piney. Big sweet caramel maltiness. Light booziness, though not as much as expected as expected, considering it’s over-the-top ABV. Big butterey biscuits. Very sweet and hoppy, overall. Mmmmm. Good stuff. More like a barleywine with hoppy undertones than an IPA, really. Notes of caramel and raisin from the big malty backbone. Bits of tropical fruit and hints of vanilla. Nice underbelly of big hops spice. Molasses mixing with grapefruit, sprinkled generously with various spices. An odd combo, to be sure, but one that I like. The alcohol provides a nice warming touch, while not being in the way of your enjoyment. This is a brew with a body that I can love. Big, thick and viscous. It coats the inside of your mouth, along with everything else, on it’s way down. Oily, almost verging on sludge-like. Excellent! This is extremely drinkable, IMO. Sadly, at 21% abv, or thereabout, most people could only down two or three in a sitting before being unable to function. The alcohol content, while I totally love it, brings down it’s overall drinkability score. But please Dogfish and Sam, never EVER change (or stop making) this brew! Truly excellent.

Bottle from Frugal Mac’s. Holy hell. I’ll write this before I get any farther down the glass. Blast of hops as soon as I pop the cap, but once it is poured it takes on malty and floral scents. Dark orange gold, no head, nearly opaque. Gorgeous, but loses a point because the final drops land a gross brown on top of it. Okay, the flavor is one of the densest I’ve ever experienced. It’s bitter, but not a sharp bitter like Ruination. It finishes malty, so it reminds more of a barley wine. Overall, very fantastic.