Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

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

Bright amber color, head is very small and mostly diminishing. Citrus, pine cones, maple syrup, mint, and chocolate (?) in aroma, with perhaps a slight hint of alcohol. Very sweet raisin and green grape flavor, bordering on syrupy, which almost entirely covers up the citric hops -- they're in there, but it is a bit of a struggle to find them. Pine resin finish. Massively thick stuff. Don't expect an IPA; this stuff is most definitely in a category all its own. This is my 500th rating, on my birthday to boot!

Bottle... Poured a cloudy pinkish-red with an off-white head. Aroma of alcohol and sweet grains. Upon instantly sipping the beer was pretty mellow. It was in the finish that a strong kick and warming sensation sprang up. Very syrupy and a lot of bitter hop notes. It definitely was balanced for such a powerful brew. Other notes of melon-like fruits and sweet caramel.

Bottled 2003: Light amber/orange color with a small head. Aroma of alcohol, sweet candy malts and hops. Flavor is really sweet, and a little syrupy. Not much alcohol taste and the hops don?t seem that strong to me either. Pretty good but its hard to drink the whole bottle.

On draft from Fall’s Church Dogfish location. Listed as 18%. Wow. This beer was nothing like I expected. I expected an astringent, alcohol laden beverage that was nearly undrinkable. I was wrong. This beer is one of the most carefully balanced beers I’ve had in quite some time! It is drinkable, the alcohol is quite hidden considering the alcohol percentage. A typical double IPA can be hard to drink at around 10 percent. What a way to clock in at #1000!

Bottle as a gift from Mother-In-Law! Pours a murky brown and gold colour with a small white head. Nice aroma of citrus hops that hint at pineapple, plus a little alcohol heat. Not the huge hop blast in the flavour I was expecting. Very citrusy hops and plus more alcohol. Honestly not my favourite but extra points for trying something original and different. Nice to try but one bottle was enough.

Pours golden/amber. Aroma is hops, grapefruit, pine, sweet malt and alcohol. Taste is very sweet, much more than expected with honey, slight grapefruit and toffee. Mouthfeel is more like a barleywine, somewhat heavy. Overall, I like this one, for its unexpected sweetness and interesting flavors.That said, the 90 minute IPA is still better. This is #96 on my march to 100.

Bottled March 06, sampled Feb 09! Thanks to Blankboy for sharing with HogTownHarry and I. I’m the only one rating!! Anyhow, Appearance: Cloudy orange, small but sticky white head. Aroma: Citrus, malt, lots of caramel and hops, slight alcohol. Grapefruit whispering in the back. Flavour: Rich, sweet as heck, wonderful warming alcohol feel, honey, wow, so much going on. I can’t help but think what it was like fresh as this is incredible 3 years on! Wow.

It didnt expects this interesting a beer from reading previous ratings of it, but this one really is amazing. Beautiful amber body, beautiful creamy white head (could be a little bigger), beautiful laces; Amazing deep, very balanced well sized incredible settled and elegant nose, the alcohol does of cause show but it is very well fitting; Perfect soft smooth textured body, perfect soft smooth carbonation, super balanced, complex a little to the sweet side, but it clearly touches all elements very elegantly; It moves very smoothly into a long very balanced deep complex finish. A beer very near the PERFECT, I guess this is the most elegant and balanced beer I have ever had from the US. SUPERB! Thanks iowaherkeye.