Dogfish Head Squall IPA

Brewed by Dogfish Head Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Milton, Delaware USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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Frothy, long-lasting head; leaves good ring lace. The liquid is golden amber and is clear. Very strong pine/grapefruit hop bitter nose. Little else for the smell. Surprisingly strong malt base on the initial sip. The swallow is where the bittering hop shows up. Unlike some DIPA’s, this one has balance. Creamy body with a fine-bubbled level of carbonation. The aftertaste is long-lasting hop pellet-like bitterness.

750 in pint glass. Clear copper with lasting thick head and lace. Citrusy peppery woody spicy aroma with trace alcohol. Medium fruity pineapple orange sweetness with a little caramel biscuit. Slightly gristly bitter complex hop finish. Dry with lingering bitterness. Very complex and quite tasty. Nice mouthfeel for a thick beer. Nice refreshing carbo. Very good.

For my 600th rating, I decided to go with this special release from Dogfish Head, who have been at the forefront of the craft beer movement. I feel connected to them because DH boss Sam Calagione first got interested in microbrews while working at Nacho Mamas, a cool little Mexican restaurant/bar that I used to visit once in a while. I vaguely remember talking with him once or twice. Anyway, Squall has a nice orange and hop aroma. The flavor is fresh, peppy, herbal, and hoppy, with some similarity to the 90 minute. It is tasty and nicely balanced, but surprisingly low key for an Imperial IPA from this brewery.

750ml bottle from Coles, Buffalo NY. Pours an amber copper color with little head. Citrus, light to medium hop, caramel malt aroma. Taste was rather blah, esp. considering this is coming from DFH. Taste like an old IPA that has lost its hop bite. Pretty flat tasting also. Average

UPDATED: OCT 18, 2009 Pour from the 750ml bottle: Large off-white head tops a deep copper body. The taste is fantastic. Eclectic, earthy notes of citrus, caramel and apricot. No distinct hoppy flavors. Clean finish. #011 on 14062009, DG.

750ml bottle, much thanks to Mike/Swoopjones @ Cole’s. Copper body, solid off-white pillow head. Nose is columbus-ey mango & mint, tangerine, hidden pineapple & other citrus fruits. A bit of caramel-ey malt presence and a hint of alcohol round out the nose. Flavor is that mango/mint hop character, pepperiness and more of that caramel. More pepper & mint come out in the finish. Extremely thinck - almost the consistency of an ice cider. I can’t help but think that if this had more carbonation (should it have been left to condition longer?) or was more fully attenuated it would be a better experience. Still, not a bad offering from DFH.

(bottle - 750 ml) Hazy orange pour with a thin layer of off-white head. Aroma is very juicy and citrusy with aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, and some oranges. Smells delicious. Flavor is smooth with a lot of citrus, some surprisingly mild hops, and a sweet and tart finish. Not as hoppy as I thought it would be but incredibly smooth and easy to drink.

bottle. Pours an unassuming amber, thin-ish off white head that clears quick enough. Reminiscient of a muted 90 Minute IPA... some light piney and spicy hops on the nose with light sweetness in the background. Flavor follows the nose, with light, muted earthy hop notes and thick caramel sweetness with some very light booze notes in the background. Palate does shine, being smooth and creamy with a relatively clean finish. Overall, nothing especially exciting.

Tasted out of bottle. Much more herbal and less fruity hop character than regular 90 minute. Lightly sweet taste is superbly balanced, with the hops coming through on the finish.

Well, I don’t know what to say. Clear amber with quickly fading head. Aroma is lightly hoppy. Taste is very malty and blah. Absolutely no hops in the taste. Mouthfeel is creamy, like a creamy beige. Reminds me of a scaly manfish’s watercolors. Drinkability, it certainly is drinkable, I just don’t see why you would want to.