120 Minute IPA - Dogfish Head Brewery

stewart124

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at party source December of 2011.

Copper in color with just a trace of white lace.

Pine and grapefruit in the nose.

Whoa. I am not sure what the alcohol percentage is but this is big. Lighter in body than a barley wine but not far off. This absolutely crushes the taste buds. Some grape sweetness and light caramel. Pine bitterness in the background and what more can I say...there isn't anything out there like this.

Medium mouthfeel and moderate carbonation. The alcohol is warming and has some characteristics of brandy. Subtle vanilla and more grapefruit as this warms. It also mellows a good deal as it warms. Lingering pine and resin.

Tasty and fairly easy to drink after the initial bitterness bomb.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 01:41:52 | More by stewart124

teromous

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Light orange to amber in color, with lots of visible carbonation. The beer is slightly hazy, and has half of a thumb of white head. Spotty lacing.

S: The first thing that comes out is a semi-earthy hop smell. Then a caramel scent, and a sort-of sourness. I pick up alcohol on the nose as well.

T: It has an odd flavor. I get very mellow malty character and a slightly resinous hop character. I get some alcohol but it's more of a presence of alcohol than a flavor...it's hard to describe. It doesn't taste like alcohol but there's some light sweetness from the alcohol that floats in the background. This would be a very acquired taste, but I can't say it tastes bad or good so I'm marking it as average.

M: The mouthfeel is medium, and smooth. Drinkability is rather low...it's more of a sipper.

O: Overall I didn't find the beer to be all that pleasant to drink. I find it more of a novelty due to its high alcohol content. I found it remarkable that the alcohol hides so well in the flavor, but despite that the flavor and aroma were lacking. I also felt that there was too much sweetness to the beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 19:14:05 | More by teromous

Roose13

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the latest release (my 4th try). Saving one for next year.

12 oz bottle poured into a glass.

A: A clear dark orange. Almost poured like a solid liqueur. Pretty much headless.

S: Smelled like cognac to me, which I thought was incredible. Fruits like apples, raisins, orange, apricot. Something sweet and syrupy like maple as well.

T: So much flavor in this beer. Has a huge pop, especially with the fruits and sweetness. Tastes like a cognac too. Malty and hoppy but not boozy.

M: Incredibly smooth and thick. Chewy as well.

Overall: It's a sipping beer, and it's something to enjoy over a period of time. Definitely not something you can pound at a bar. This definitely lived up to the expectations. My first try left me a bit disappointed and then I had it on tap and was floored. Had it two more times in the bottle and it was incredible because it was a little bit older.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 16:35:56 | More by Roose13

MNBeerNE

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a dark orange to amber red color with very little head that leaves no lacing. Smells of orange blossoms and a spiciness that I can't quite make out. Alcohol is present in the nose, but not as overpowering as I would expect.

Taste has a warmness to it, but the alcohol is masked pretty well. Not a hop bomb in the traditional way that you would expect. Tastes mostly of orange marmalade or orange blossom with a spicy warmness from the alcohol. It's a bit of a one note pony though to me. I can't pick up much complexity. Maybe a little pineapple.

Mouth feel is a bit syrupy, but I like the moderate carbonation.

I'm happy I picked it up, and it is definitely a well thought out and constructed beer. Hides the alcohol well and doesn't blow your tongue away with the hops, but I was a bit disappointed with what I felt was a bit one-dimensional. Worth a try (and I'd like to age one) but won't be dying to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:07:16 | More by MNBeerNE

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into an oversized wine glass. This is a fresh bottle, but, if I can, I like to sample extra-strong offerings fresh as well as aged. I've had it several times at several different ages, but I've heard that 4+ years is best.

A - good looking beer, very orange, but mysteriously translucent. Hardly any head, no carbonation apparent. Doesn't pour like the high ABV offering that it is.

S - oh my god, I love the way this beer smells. The alcohol is nowhere to be found. Some of the hops come through with the deeper whiffs, but mostly it's this strange, sour smell, not unpleasant, a lot like a wild or a gueze. Fruits, apples, oranges, none of the sweetness that comes through in the taste.

T - hmm. I like this. The bite doesn't come from the alcohol, more from the sour taste I detected in the smell. It's strong, but nothing like I'd expect 18% to taste like. Still very fruity, but this beer benefits from age for sure.

M - okay, here's where the beer lacks fresh a little bit. Fresh bite, not as syrupy as one would expect, but pretty clingy on the cheeks none the less. Coats the throat.

O - I like this fresh. The price deters me from buying it regularly, but it's a good offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 03:57:14 | More by JamesShoemaker

KC9LDB

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottle date: 2012 B 15:59. Purchased early 2012, I think the first batch shipped to my store, sat in the cellar ever since.

A: Opened with a great amount of carbonation, I smelled fruit instantly. Light careful pour into a scotch snifter which made little head that is still lingering. Standard IIPA color but very hard to see thru.

S: Really reminds me of Devil Dancer form Founders, I'm smelling more floral hops.

T: Sweet side, I get a good amount of malt which makes me wonder if this is better fresh. It changes up to a hard pine with a maple sweet kind of flavor and then finishes with apricot. Pretty amazing!

M: Carbonation is great, you can feel the alcohol but not the burn at all. On the thinner side than some IIPAs I've had in the past.

O: I am happy with the age, the other bottle I have will sit another year but next batch I'm going to have one fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 01:03:30 | More by KC9LDB

Ryki

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This beer is like the 90 minute IPA on steriods. It tastes like a very concentrated form of the 90 minute IPA. But because it is so concentrated it does not taste as good. It's like salt makes food taste better, but if you use too much salt the food becomes unpleasant tasting. At $9.00 a bottle it's way overpriced. For $9.00 you can get 4 bottles of the 90 minute IPA. Nice experiment but it doesn't work. Saying that the 90 minute IPA is one of my favorite beers of all time. Bought it, tried it, not for me.

I was told to dink this beer not cold and that was my first tasting, The 2nd bottle I had was cold. Tasted much better, still like 90 minute IPA on steriods but not quite as concentrated easier to drink. 2nd bottle I would rate taste 5.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 22:49:56 | More by Ryki

Beer_Runner

4.45/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle date: 2012A 0747. Not really sure what this means. I think it was bottled sometime in 2012, but I am not sure about the month, and therefore, not sure about how long this beer has aged.

A: A fairly aggressive pour into a standard pint glass produced about half a finger of dense head that is a light khaki color. After a few minutes the head dissipated to a thin, patchy layer. All-in-all, pretty good head retention for this level of ABV. The brew is a golden-orange with just a little haze. It is easily translucent and there are steady streams of carbonation rising to the head.

S: The aroma is a blend of pine and grapefruit citrus with some sweet malt in the mix, too.

T: There is a strong sweet malt backbone that supports and balances a bold hops blend of pepper, citrus, and pine, along with yeast flavors of bread and clove.

M: The body is just a touch to the heavier side of the medium range, and there is lively level of carbonation that seems to fit this beer well. It is also surprisingly easy drinking and smooth.

O: This is definitely a top-notch double IPA. The malt and hops are both big and bold, but, they balance each other and play-off each other well. And, the alcohol is well hidden for this level of ABV; so, it is also an easy drinking beer. It is well worth trying for hopheads and double IPA fans. This is a first class offering in the hyper competitive arena of big, hoppy beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 00:27:12 | More by Beer_Runner

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 2012G (July?)

Beer is a clear amber colour with a small to medium sized off-white head. Fades quite quickly.

Smell contains a lot of pine resin and generous amounts of caramel, grapefruit, pineapple, mango and other fruits.

Taste is a surprise. A lot fruitier and brighter than I expected (I was sort of expecting little more than a boozy mess). Surprisingly tropical, with mango and pineapple coming out prominently. PIne is there as well. Booze, unsurprisingly- a pretty hot beer. Caramel malt.

Full bodied, moderately carbonated, lots of alcohol heat. Of course, when a brew gets to this level of ABV, you can't drink it like a beer.

Overall, I really like this one. I had it a couple of years ago and liked it a lot but was curious what I would think the second time around. Still like it a lot. Rather unique and not surprising that it gets mixed reviews. I am in the positive camp!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:37:53 | More by jrenihan

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled Nov. 2012. Fresh bottle here we go...

Pours hazy orange/yellow with just no head. No lacing, just alcohol legs and film along the glass.

Smell offers big resinous hoppy notes, tropical fruits, sweet malts, orange, booze.

Pretty sweet on the palate..plenty of hops to boot..Big sweet fruit notes, tropical notes, well balanced for how chaotic it could be..some warming alcohol

Big chewy body on this..slightly bitter finish

Definitely a sipper but highly drinkable in that realm. You pay for the ABV but there's a good beer behind all of that.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:23:53 | More by TheMultiYeast

arizcards

Arizona

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 12 oz bottle on 10-26-2006 from the Arrowhead AJ's for $6.99.

Beer poured orange with a pretty good white head considering its age.

Nose is wonderful, dark fruits, large malts, definitely the aroma of an aged barleywine with some imperial pilsner.

Taste is very good, dark fruits, hints of citrus, enough hop bite still left to balance out the ginormous malt backbone. Alcohol warming on the first sip but remains in the background with subsequent sips.

Mouthfeel is superb, full bodied and smooth, totally satisfying.

Overall i was not sure what i would get with a combination ageing between the beer fridge, the wine cooler, and my closet. It turned out far better that i hoped. Will have to definitely do this again!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 01:16:46 | More by arizcards

SeamusDoyle

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly cloudy amber color, medium thin head of tiny white bubbles, seems to have decent legs and good lacing though. Aroma is a piney citrusy hoppy punch in the nose. Taste is quite sweet, almost to the point of cloying, with a syrupy heavy mouth feel. The aftertaste is still quite sweet with just a touch of pineapple to offset. The sweetness masks the alcohol incredibly well.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 21:38:17 | More by SeamusDoyle

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3.69/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle dated 2012, poured into a Nogne goblet.
A-Pours a nice, dark golden amber with orange hues, very little, off white head which hung around the surface edge with very little lacing.
A-Low grassy hops, a little booziness, but smells more like a barley wine!
T-Heavy sweet malts, then finishes with a piney bitterness and booze.
M-Low carbonation is present with a heavy, syrupy body that coats the inside of the mouth. An extremely unique "IPA" that is full of alcohol (I can already feel the ABV in the middle of this review!).
O-Not the "IPA" I was expecting; a very heavy sweet, malt backbone, which compares more to a barleywine rather than other IPA. Very different from the 75, 90 MIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 21:17:48 | More by mtbdonn

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at J Ryans Syracuse NY

Appearance - Copper colour with a very small size fizzy/frothy off-white coloured head. There a low amount of carbonation and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for only a minute or two.

Smell - Malts, hops, oranges, pineapple, caramel

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste hops and malts mixed with grapefruit and oranges. There is also a caramel/sugary/pineapple sweetness and it ends with a bitter hop aftertaste.. but not as bitter as I would have expected.

Overall - I've had an aged bottle previous to this and I can say that I much preferred it fresh. If you have a few bottles it's worth aging one to see how it changes but make sure you drink most of it fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 19:01:02 | More by spinrsx

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter at Rapture. From notes. Reviewed 24 July 2011.

A: A finger of nice head fades rather fast. The beer is cloudy-clear and orange-amber. Scattered lacing.

S: Huge, boozy, and fruity. A touch of hops (and maybe even citrus) underneath the strongly sweet alcohol.

T: Better than the recent bottle I sampled. Lighter and less oppressively sweet. It doesn't taste as strong as it is. Hops on the endtaste linger on in the sweet-dry aftertaste/finish. A more balanced maintaste than the bottle -- loads of hops are still completely overridden by honeyed alcohol, but it's not cloying. Well-made if...overambitious?

M: Smooth, sweet, but less substantial than anticipated. Hoppy-dry at times, which is great!

O: Good beer. Recommended on-tap. I might have again, if not anytime soon. Well-balanced for a super-strong beer. Enjoyable and impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 23:42:16 | More by AgentMunky

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought September 09, 2012:
Consumed November 09, 2012:

Into my chalice:

A: off sort of orange colored body and left a one finger white head that lasted merely ten seconds before dieing into the body. Barely any lacing was left.

S: initial smell - for about the first half hour of the beer was tropical fruit and grapefruit smell, and for the last half hour more caramel came out, the alcohol gradually presented itself as the beer warmed. The hops are there all throughout.

T: pretty much the same except for the very last sip at the bottom of the chalice, there was some chocolate.

M: medium to heavy with nothing harsh on the tongue. However, it did start to get a bit syrupy once it warmed. Some alcohol was felt enabling the carbonation to come out a bit nothing overbearing. This isn't exactly a drinkable beer, a one and done for a night or at least for me.

O: I'm thoroughly impressed, so many complexities surrounding this beer. This is a great sipper I consumed over an hour and a half that I would probably come back eventually some day.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 11:35:32 | More by kangarooAdam59

tectactoe

Michigan

3.66/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Oak, 6-oz in a tulip. Nice golden-yellow with strong overtones of orange. A bit foggy in the glass, small white head that doesn't last for long. The nose is oh-so-powerful, full of hops, citrus, and alcohol to the max. Going into this knowing it's an ~18% ABV beer, I was nervous about the taste. To my surprising, it's not nearly as strong or overbearing as you might think. The brew is laid out with a malt character, toasted grains, and a bit of yeast. On top of that are wild, bitter hops, and intense citrus flavors. The bitterness is balanced well by the citrus and the malt. Now I'm not saying the alcohol wasn't noticeable - it certainly was. It provided a strong bite on the forefront and fizzled into an intense warmth and tingling sensation for the rest of the sip. You can feel it warming up your throat and stomach on the way down, too. BUT - it worked well with the beer and was done quite masterfully. It wasn't too strong, making the beer undrinkable, rather it turned the beer into something you have to sit and sip gently, like a fine whiskey. Thick, heavy, carbonated a ton, and a bit sticky on the mouth.

Overall, this isn't something you'd relax with and throw back a sixer. It's obviously much to assertive for something like that. It deserves more care and pampering, like a top shelf mixer. Even though this beer wasn't the greatest, it provided a nice experience and is something I would definitely have again, given the time.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2012 13:02:46 | More by tectactoe

Psyko

California

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

120 Minutes
On Tap
8 oz pour served in a tulip glass

Had this beer Monday November 5th at the local “Cheesehead” deli with a cheddar cheese sandwich and some Zapp’s Crawtaters.

A: Pours a nice shade of orange with a thick 3 finger head. Slightly cloudy with a bit of chill haze going on. Some alcohol legs are present on this 18% IIPA.

S: There is a pleasant tropical fruit and grapefruit smell. Finishes with a nice booze burn.

T: As expected there is malty toffee backbone. There is a very pronounced hop smack to the face but not as much as expected. The grapefruit is more pronounced that the tropical fruit with a long lingering bitter finish.

M: Not expected is the lack of the mouth coating dank that you find in Pliny, Knuckle Sandwich, Double Bastard or Exponential Hoppiness. I was looking forward to the resinous oily mouthfeel...

O: I have been waiting for years to try this bastard, but I always seemed to missed the boat. Now that I have had it I would have to say I am a little let down. To any IPA lover I say search it out but if you don’t find it, not a big loss, there are better IIPA’s out there.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 06:13:02 | More by Psyko

ChrisKuhns

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got this bottle from HeB Plus in Kyle, Texas on shelf. Was surprised that it was right there on the shelf in beer area while I checked out if there is anything else special. I got two since it mentioned that it can be aged for a decade or so! I got an opportunity to taste the first bottle in my snifter glass. All I can summarize it is that it is holy grail of IPA world! It is so strong enough to drink the whole glass within an hour along with aged cheddar cheeses. Mouthfeel is wonderful and enjoying enough to know it is one of best double American ever made for IPA! God bless!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:52:36 | More by ChrisKuhns

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

150th review, and it's my birthday, seemed the correct time to crack the ol' 120.

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter, 2012 vintage, with a couple months of age on it.

A- Very nice orange/gold. Clear, with some sediment, and a half finger of white head, that dissipates very quickly, but laces very nicely. Alcohol legs are very evident.

S- Big sweet notes of pineapple, mango, and booze.

T- This is so well crafted, and the complexity of making this brew is just mind boggling. Yes there is alcohol warmth, booziness, and a bit of a burn, but you have to expect that at 18%. Very sweet pineapple, mango, a bit or orange, with a nice bitter citric hop bite. The family lines are very distinguishable to 60 and 90. An amazing Impy IPA that everyone should at least try.

M- thick and slightly syrupy. A pretty active carbonation, heavy side of medium. Not as dry on the finish as I thought it would be.

O- Few beers live up to the "hype", but I for one believe that 120 does. Will certainly get this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:30:38 | More by JWU

Brandywine

Washington

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 vintage poured into a tulip.
Appearance: Clear sunset golden orange. Fingers worth of an off white head. Epic alcohol legs and tons of lacing.

Smell: Pineapple, mango, peach, sweet orange, grapefruit, Crème brûlée and sweet malt.

Taste: Really follows the nose. Explosion of fruits, mango, peach, nectarine, orange, pineapple, grapefruit, toffee. Sweet malt provides a perfect counterbalance to the assault of hops.

Mouth Feel: Full and viscous without being cloying. Nice amount of carbonation carries it through the palate.

Overall: This for me is the perfect IPA. Extreme hops, extreme malt and incredibly balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 03:20:22 | More by Brandywine

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter
2012

A- Pours clear orange. A one finger of an off white head that sticks around surprisingly long. Very noticeable alcohol legs.

S- I get a ton of citrus, there is quite a bit of pine as well. Mine doesnt smell to fresh because it has an overly ripened earthy grapefruit smell. The malts smell pretty sweet and a tiny bit of alcohol warms the nose.

T- Surpringly low hop bitterness/intensity at first. The beer does however have a consistently high feel of bitterness. The hops are quite floral. A lot of citrus is present as well, a bit of orange and grapefruit as well as lemon. The malt backbone is sweet, very sugary, syrupy. I can definitely taste the alcohol in this beer so I wasn't surprised however it could be more intense. The fresh hop taste of mine has faded but that doesn't keep this from being a monstrously hoppy brew. Surprisingly balanced but keep in mind of the 18%.

M- Thick, syrupy, bitter and boozy. So in my opinion, nice stuff. And hot, quite warming.

O- Know what your getting into before trying a bottle but I encourage everybody to try this once. It is different and massive icon of an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:34:04 | More by TwelveOunces

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.88/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

on tap at hops and Hominey,San Francisco. Awesome. Burnt orange beautiful poor in a snifter with I finger off white head. The aroma is surprisingly sweet Ford.

I love it. Rather than an imperial I pee a, this drinks more like an American style barley wine barley wine. listed at 22 percent ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2012 00:57:37 | More by martyl1000

Cambo04

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

With this high alcohol content you would think it would be to much, but oh how it's not. If I hear about this beer being on tap in Dallas, I'm there for the tapping. I love this beer. It pours with a small head but deep caramel color and it just tastes incredible. I also just bought a 4 pack and am aging them at different intervals. I hope everyone can try this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 15:05:59 | More by Cambo04

rsdaugherty

Colorado

2.8/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle into tulip
A – Moderate carbonation gives a thicker 1 finger head that reduces thin layer, no lacing after pour, brew is a cloudy reddish/brown amber, quite pedestrian 3.5
S – Barleywine like aromas: dried apricots, caramel sweetness are backed by more subtle pine, prune, alcohol, candied fruits, and citrus rind 3.5
T – In one word, intense. Sweet, like a bourbon infused toffee, with a moderate trailing bitterness but the malts dominate the show, unbalanced. Two gigantic positions of hop & malt fighting it out. Alcohol punch is less than I expected. Too sweet for my tastes. 2.5
M – Thick & syrupy, full body, low carbonation, warming alcohol 3
O – A beer I will not be revisiting. A challenging sipper, an over the top grain & hop bill that is reflected in the price and the taste, a novelty. An overwhelming brew, which is not a hop bomb but more barleywine. 1 bottle feels like I’ve been eating Halloween candy for hours. 2.5

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 05:20:10 | More by rsdaugherty