Squall IPA - Dogfish Head Brewery

bosox941827

North Carolina

2.65/5  rDev -36.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

750mL bottle into imperial pint glass

Had high expectations for this one after seeing reviews; will try to go easy...
A - Deep amber/orange; heavy, serious looking beer. A bit cloudy as it is unfiltered. Head dissipates fairly quickly.
S - Alcohol, burnt caramel, toffee, black licorice, not much in the way of hops.
T & M - First flavor is alcohol, not a good harbinger. Easily the most alcohol I have tasted from a beer. It almost tastes like scotch, the alcohol is so prominent. It is very sweet, with a black licorice, toffee and caramel flavor (very similar to the smell). This tastes very much like a Scotch Ale for me and the hops are basically non-detectable. They have to be there I know, but they must serve only to keep the malt somewhat in check because I can't distinguish them here. Lingering flavor on the palate is roasted malts, which is actually quite nice. Mouthfeel is almost syrupy and carbonation is very low.
D - Not very; almost counterintuitively, the lack of hop character makes this very difficult to drink for me.

What is going on here? Am willing to consider I have a bad/old bottle, but this was not at all an enjoyable beer. Overly alcohol-y (I've had plenty of 9%+ beers where you couldn't taste any alcohol). The lack of any hop character is disappointing. I will need to have a Torpedo after this to balance out the overwhelming maltiness of this one. Disappointing...

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 00:39:01 | More by bosox941827

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%

02-11-2013 04:32:47 | More by randylangford

dan027

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +19.6%

01-31-2013 02:44:50 | More by dan027

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

01-30-2013 04:02:50 | More by calcnerd

ChrisMon02

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

01-30-2013 00:17:23 | More by ChrisMon02

NYSPHophead

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

01-29-2013 21:48:16 | More by NYSPHophead

ShippinUpToBoston

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

01-29-2013 21:23:56 | More by ShippinUpToBoston