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 RateBeer Weekly Magazine > FeaturesA Hopizontal Tasting
DOGFISH HEAD’S 60-, 90-, AND 120-MINUTE IPAS
June 5, 2003
On the last night of May, I, accompanied by my friend-in-beer daniwerks (hereinafter referred to as “Dan”), engaged in what I have termed a “Hopizontal” Tasting of Dogfish Head (DFH).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On that fateful evening, Dan and I each consumed a 12-ounce bottle of 60-Minute IPA (the 60), and shared one 750ml bottle each of 90-Minute IPA (the 90) and 120-Minute IPA (the 120).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <p class=MsoNormal>By way of background, DFH first came up with the idea for the 60 several years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The concept was simple – keep adding hops to the boil for 60 minutes – the resulting beer is 6% ABV, and 60 International Bittering Units (IBUs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>DFH is one of those rare breweries that’s into pushing the envelope, and so figured that if 60 was good, 90 would be better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the 90, DFH continuously adds hops to the boil for 90 minutes, and then dry-hop it in the tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The 90 is 9% ABV, and 90 IBUs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This year, DFH decided to go even one step further, and so the 120 was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the 120, DFH adds hops to the boil for (surprise!) 120 minutes, but also also <span style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>dry-hops it daily in the fermenter for a month, then ages it for a month on whole leaf hops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The 120 is over 20% ABV and checks in at 120 IBUs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>DFH calls it an Imperial IPA.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class=MsoNormal><span style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>When the 120 came out, a plan to conduct the Hopizontal Tasting was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Both Dan and I had previously tried the 60 and 90 – this tasting, however, was our introduction to the 120.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sequence of the tasting went from least hoppy (the 60) to most hoppy (the 120).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The table below summarizes our findings.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class=MsoNormal><span style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:bold’>[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]<o:p></o:p></span> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style=’border-collapse:collapse; border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style=’text-align:center’>[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]<b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’><o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style=’text-align:center’><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>60-Minute IPA<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style=’text-align:center’><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>90-Minute IPA<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style=’text-align:center’><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>120-Minute IPA<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>Appearance<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Hazy golden body with big off-white head. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Murky amber with a big beige head. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Clear(!) amber body with medium beige head. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>Aroma<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Floral hops, backed by pine and grapefruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Medium sweetness. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Grapefruit (definitely Cascade) and pine. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Floral hoppiness dominates, with medium sweetness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some malt aroma too, perhaps nuttiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Surprisingly, the hops aren’t overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amazingly, the alcohol is undetectable – this is a 6.5% beer, right? </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>Taste<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Pine/floral hoppy, moderately sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The finish is unusual – sweet, then a maltiness that isn’t quite caramel, then the bitterness reasserts itself. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Really bitter with limited sweetness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Grapefruit is the primary flavor, along with some floral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some floral/spice in the back of the throat. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Syrupy, medium sweet, definite (but not too strong) alcohol, and oh yes – hops (basically floral, but light citrus as well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still not the hop-bomb you’d expect, doesn’t even taste as hoppy as the 90.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Like many DFH beers, you’d never be able to guess the ridiculously high alcohol level, but there’s a definite warming on the way down. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>Palate<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Nice medium body. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Full body. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Syrupy, very full bodied, light carbonation. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>General Comments<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>An eminently drinkable beer. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Occasionally, a one-dimensional really hopped beer is quite enjoyable – this is that beer. </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once again DFH has done the impossible (it’s beginning to look routine with them) – made a high-alcohol beer taste like it has less than half the strength it actually does, all the while producing a quality beer. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>Aaron’s ratings<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>8/4/9/4/17 = 4.2 </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>7/4/8/4/16 = 3.9 </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>8/4/8/4/16 = 4.0 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=136 valign=top style=’width:102.3pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal><b style=’mso-bidi-font-weight:normal’>Dan’s ratings<o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>10/4/9/4/18 = 4.5 </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>8/5/8/4/15 = 4.0 </td> <td width=151 valign=top style=’width:113.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;border-right:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt’> <p class=MsoNormal>8/4/8/3/17 = 4.0 </td> </tr> </table> <p class=MsoNormal>We discovered that for these rather hoppy beers, Animal Crackers served as a solid palate cleanser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <p class=MsoNormal>Interestingly enough, both Dan and I gave top honors to the more standard beer, the 60, even though the 90 is far and away the highest rated of the three on the site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe more folks should do a side-by-side comparison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That being said, we rated all three beers high, and thought they all showed the quality DFH is known for. <p class=MsoNormal>Who knows if DFH will be creating a 150- or 180-Minute IPA next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But if they’re in the same league as the 60, 90, and 120, I say bring ‘em on! </div> ................................................................
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Medium sweet, definite alcohol, hops [are] floral, light citrus as well... not the hop-bomb you’d expect
