Squall IPA - Dogfish Head Brewery

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First I must say that I am not a big fan of hoppy beers, but I consider DFH 90Min an exception as there is enough backbone to even still challenge the multitude of hops that Sam throws in there, so I hope that this version will be no exception. Let's find out:

Appearance: Pours a very slightly hazy yellow golden color with a small 1/8" head of off white bubbles after a pretty aggressive pour. The head faded back into the beer within about 45 seconds to leave a small ring where the beer meets the glass. There is no lacing left on the glass after drinking.

Aroma: My initial impression of the aroma is that it is quite a bit different than the aroma on the original 90Min. This version is a bit milder with much more emphasis on the earthy qualities and the citrus is playing a more supportive role. The alcohol is already coming out in the nose adding mostly spice with a very mild solventy quality. There is some sweetness from the malt that is coming across more like Vienna than anything with some toasty sweet notes and everything else is pretty reserved. The yeast is also taking a back seat, so the beer must have been fermented a little on the cool side.

Taste: The flavor follows the aroma pretty closely in that the hops are the predominant factor in the beer, and they are much more earthy than the original 90Min but they are coming across as a bit oxidized in the flavor where I didn't pick that up in the aroma at all. The overall balance is slightly toward the hops in the finish, which is characteristic of the original beer, but the sweetness from the malt is coming out much more in the middle of the profile. The mouthfeel is medium to a bit full as the carbonation is a little bit low for this beer. The finish is a tad watery due to the lack of carbonation, but the oxidation and bittering hops make sure that you don't lose focus on the beer at hand.

Opinion: This is a pretty decent beer overall. Of course, it blows away a host of other IPA's, but not the original 90Min. I was a little disappointed in that fact as I hoped that this one would be remarkably better. As it is, the oxidative notes are so strong that I am going to make myself finish the beer. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed in this beer and would MUCH rather stick with their normal 90Min going forward.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 03:17:59 | More by SkeeterHawk

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-22-2013 03:22:51 | More by SmellsofMahagony

stanowsf

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-19-2013 20:20:29 | More by stanowsf

HinghamRick

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-19-2013 16:38:46 | More by HinghamRick

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

05-19-2013 16:32:29 | More by Photekut

jkane101

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-19-2013 02:39:09 | More by jkane101

megamass

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-18-2013 04:13:06 | More by megamass

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-13-2013 05:19:40 | More by Bonko_the_sane

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-10-2013 18:00:39 | More by twenty5

blknikon

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-08-2013 19:32:35 | More by blknikon

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -22.2%

05-08-2013 02:53:17 | More by tommyguz

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-07-2013 22:16:13 | More by dalepryor

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

04-23-2013 04:39:18 | More by Kelp

Skott1123

Ohio

5/5  rDev +19.6%

04-13-2013 17:03:58 | More by Skott1123

Seakyden

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

04-06-2013 14:59:37 | More by Seakyden

jono311

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

04-05-2013 16:58:46 | More by jono311

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

03-20-2013 18:12:44 | More by JohnK17

leodarko

California

4/5  rDev -4.3%

03-20-2013 08:44:46 | More by leodarko

soze47

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

03-16-2013 14:31:38 | More by soze47

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

03-12-2013 00:43:41 | More by DaPan

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.3%

03-10-2013 19:11:09 | More by spycow

jlindsey

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

03-09-2013 05:26:13 | More by jlindsey

Danielr26

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.3%

02-25-2013 23:50:12 | More by Danielr26

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

02-18-2013 19:43:18 | More by DIPAFAN

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

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