Filed under: Dogfish Head | Tags: 2006, Aggresive, Aroma, Cloying, hoppy, Malty, rich, Syrupy
ABV: 21 %
Calories: estimated at 300 C
Volume: 12 fl oz
Glass: trappist
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ
Price: $8.99
Consumed at: home
Impression: Wow. Knocks you over. 0-60 in 3 sips. The aroma fills the room with flowery hops. The malt is jumping. The bottle conditioning is a nice touch. I like a little haze in my 21% ABV ale (!). It’s syrupy with sweetness. It seems like a barleywine style, except for the IPA overtones. You are absolutely forced to sip and recover. The aftertaste is long, palate damaging, and delicious. I would find it hard to pair this with anything but the richest foods. This is the death by chocolate of hoppy beers. Thick yellowish head reduces to a wispy white foam with nice lacing. The reputation of this beer precedes it and it does not disappoint, though I thought I would enjoy it a bit more than I am, it simply whacks you over the head. It’s like trying to drink coke syrup. It’s exactly what I asked for, but as they say, be careful of what you ask for, they might serve it to you in a 12 oz bottle for 9 bucks.
Aroma: 10 out of 10
Visuals: 4 out of 5
Taste: 8 out of 10
Palate: 4 out of 5
Overall: 18 out of 20 I liked the overwhelming nature of this beer, but it is at the same time its downfall. I think this would be a great beer for a wine enthusiast to try to enjoy, but for me, I think I’ll stick to the 60 or 90 minute IPAs from this same great brewer. At the very least those are more affordable. For me they would also be a bit more enjoyable.
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My thoughts as well from my first 120, but it hadn’t been aged yet either. I liked the second one I had (on a different night, mind you) much more than the first, and the same went for the third one too…
Comment by Chris 05/07/2008 @ 11:08 PM@ Chris – I pretty desperately wanted to love this 120 minute, since DFH is one of my faves, but sweetness is a downer for me, and this one is way sweet. I wanted it to be crushingly bitter, and it wasn’t. I think now that I’ve had it, I’ll be able to enjoy it more the next time, as I’m sure it’s an acquired taste.
I am very fond of many IPA’s, imperial IPAs, and barleywines, plus I loved every Ruinator I ever had, so I was really looking forward to the 120 minute. At $9 for 12 oz, I obviously had hoped I’d enjoy it more. I’ll let the next one age for a few more years, though this one was from 2006. I’ll definitely try again, and thanks for the encouragement. 😉
Comment by lemasney 05/08/2008 @ 1:14 AM