90 Minute IPA - Dogfish Head Brewery

GMB

Japan

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA pours an amber body that is paler than expected. A standard pour produces very little by way of foam. Still, the thin ivory ring that does appear in my glass settles into a beautiful pattern atop the beer's body. This I attribute to the hop-oils. I have an ambivalent reaction to the carbonation. No streams of bubbles are visible; rather, one finds an attractive amount of bubbles that slowly make their way towards the top. On the other hand, the bubbles themselves are slightly larger than I like; I expect this beer to be a bit sharp on the tongue.

The nose foregrounds an appealing mixture of citral hop aromas, alcohol and malt. Light caramel and butterscotch are suggested beneath aromas of raisins, sweet grapefruit, and apricots.

The first sip is chewier and gentler on the palate than I had guessed. A whirl around the tongue produces the kind of creamy, viscous froth I expected to see when I poured it.

This beer's flavors take longer to develop on the palate than most Double IPAs. Up front is the rich caramel from the malt. There follows a quick burst of citral hops, which are immediately engaged by the flavor of alcohol. Hoppy bitterness is at first masked by the interplay by the aforementioned flavors. But as the bitterness gradually builds on the palate, it completes the illusion of grapefruit that was first suggested by the beer's nose and then momentarily glimpsed in that initial burst of citral hops.

The beer has a long, sophisticated hang in which resinous hoppy flavors, bitterness, alcohol, and a lot of malt take turns on the palate. Sweet butterscotch, fresh pine, grapefruit, raisins, sweet and peaty whiskey all make appearances. At its best, the taste of this beer is superb.

But as I slowly made my way through the bottle, I became increasingly aware that the alcohol is less integrated than it should be. Perhaps more aggressive hopping would give it something to complement. I noted in the first sip that it got in the way of other flavors. By the middle of the glass, it appears clumsy. By the last few sips it verges on becoming overbearing.

Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA is a delicious Double IPA that offers a unique, memorable flavor profile. Unfortunately, it also suffers to some extent from a lack of balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 21:17:30 | More by GMB

alanv

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-18-2013 21:30:54 | More by alanv

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-18-2013 20:58:33 | More by jbarletto

iCabaLLero

Georgia

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-18-2013 20:57:45 | More by iCabaLLero

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Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 19:11:35 | More by Sixbolt

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California

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-18-2013 14:30:47 | More by drgonzo2k2

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-18-2013 03:58:24 | More by megamass

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Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-18-2013 03:49:56 | More by Billington

marley2112

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 03:32:43 | More by marley2112

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Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

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Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-18-2013 02:48:55 | More by Honus1

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Virginia

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-18-2013 02:13:07 | More by mkirkland80

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It has a nice deep hazy orange color to it. It has a nice thick off-white head that dies down slowly and leaves nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of piney resins, mild citrus, floral hops, sweet toasty malts and some caramel.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a beautiful balance of hops and malts. Piney resins, floral and citrus balanced by sweet bready/toasty malts and caramel.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a very nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with great flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

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Virginia

4/5  rDev -6.8%

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Maine

4/5  rDev -6.8%

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California

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

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West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

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California

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

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Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

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Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

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Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

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Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

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Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

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Texas

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

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Florida

5/5  rDev +16.6%

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