Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

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

Gift from Enniskillen; Sweet hoppy nose, with some caramel; Hazy gold with a small off-white head; VERY sweet yet hoppy flavor with a little bitterness showing in the finish. How can anything this sweet, show bitterness?

[original] Tried this at a DFH tasting run by a rep at a local distributor (shoreline beverage) - this is certainly an experience - I wouldn't call it an IPA, more like sweet, hoppy rum - sure, the hops are there, but there is an intense, maple syrup sweetness to it (though not as sweet as WWS 23%) - the aroma is like pine resin, hops, liquor and rocket fuel - it burns the hair out of your nose, but at the very least makes you curious about the taste - as I understand, this beer's high alcohol content was an "accident," but what a happy one - tasty and unique, I wouldn't call it wonderful, but like the WWS, I'm sure it will age wonderfully [re-rate, 11/26/03] I still think that this beer is in no way an IPA, but once you put that aside it's actually pretty good - very barleywine-ish - the sweetness is a little much at times, but I'm sure it will balance out with some aging - they should re-name the beer, remove the IPA title.

Thanks to Papsoe. Bottle. Amber colour with a nice white head. Aroma of fruit, sweetness andd wine-like. Amazing flavour of caramel, candy, sweetness, and some very well hidded hop flavour underneeth a massive sugarmix. Ends up strong and with a warm feeling from the alcohol. A really big beer, nearly like sherry with hops.

The aroma has what you would expect without being as strong as some people claim. There is plenty of citrus and pine hops along with fruit, and caramel malt. The appearance is orange gold with an average foamy head. The flavor is butter and fruity and bitter in a wonderful way. There is also a definite fruitiness and of course caramel malt. The palate is smooth and the aftertaste is hoppy without being overwhelming. Overall I think what I like best about this beer is how well hidden the alcohol is and how strong it is without blowing you away.

(Draught at Oliver Twist, Stockholm 28 Apr) Colour is amber, with some bubbly disappearing head. Nose is sweet, winey and hoppy. Somewhat closed though. Taste is complex: hops, dried fruit (raisins, figs), spruce needles and resin. Full bodied, like a thick, sticky hop syrup. Long, bitter and sweet finish. Surpisingly nice balance regarding it’s a true monster. Very nice in moderate doses.

On tap. Pours a hazy golden with a thick white head. The aroma is strong alcohol, diacetyl, vanilla, and some sweet candied hop notes. Slick and hot feel. The flavor is huge with a thick and buttery sweetness. Has a glazed bakery pastry aspect, and a vanilla toffee warmth. Underlying sweet hops, and an alcohol bombardment. I’ve sampled a number of bottles since my initial tap sample, and I can fairly say that over the top is an understatement.

The color on the pour a lightly hazed deep copper with a rather smallish head that is spumescent in texture and the color a light tan as the lace forms it creates a thick and sticky sheet to smother the glass. Whoa Nellie! Nose big time hop floral, sweet malt, fusel alcohol, just from the nose you know this is going to be one bad assed beer. Start is devastatingly sweet with a thick malt profile and the top all rich and full in its feel to the palate. Finish is lenient in its acidity, the hops robust and delightful in their bite, but the alcohol rules the day, aftertaste somewhat alcohol bitter, vinous and desert dry with the hops, sweetness and alcohol all lingering on to the very end, what a “Hoot”, I thank my good buddy , The_Tsunami for this bottle.

Smells like cat urine and eggs. Intense citrine coloring, health food store label. Tastes like over-fried eggs, moderately sweet, tangy. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth considering the high hopping and ABV. This was just a hard beer to drink. Technically good but unenjoyable.