Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 15%-20%

I've had 120 Minute IPA a few times, but never fresh. Until now, the only times I have ever come across a bottle of this is during a bottle share when a friend has gone deep into the back of his cellar to pull out a finely aged 120. I've heard stories of how this beer tastes fresh, and have been eager to jump on the opportunity to experience it myself.

This particular bottle has a date of 3/19/14, making it about 5 weeks fresh. I expect the hop characteristics to be much more present then in the cellared versions I've tried in the past.

And before I move onto the actual review, I also want to give some much-deserved attention to what this beer actually is. I suspect some of you, may not be fully up-to-speed on the context of 120 Minute IPA.

Dogfish Head first released this mammoth of a beer in 2003. It's been labeled as "The Holy Grail" of IPAs, and that's due to two things: The insane amount of hops that go into this beer and the amount of alcohol it contains. 120 Minute IPA is continuously hopped for two hours (hence the name), is then dry-hopped in the fermenter for 30 days, and, as if that's not enough, DFH then ages the beer on whole-leaf hops for another month. In other words, there's A LOT of hops that go into making a batch of 120!

Appearance: The bottle is pretty unassuming, aside from the cap that dons a "caution" symbol, signaling its contents to be something special. 120 Minute IPA pours a beautiful caramel color with shades of amber. The head is minimal and fades quickly.

Aroma: Liquor aromas mixed with floral hops dominate the nose. It's tough to pick up anything else as the alcohol is quite strong and in the forefront of the scents.

Taste: The first thing that registers is alcohol, and lots of it! It's almost like drinking a hopped cocktail of sorts. 120 initially hits the palate with a lot of heat and then finishes with the floral and bitter notes from the hops. There's also a wine characteristic to this beer that comes from the boozy bite and heavier body. Allow the flavors to linger a bit on the tongue and you'll be able to pick up some of the malt sweetness, albeit a subtle sweetness.

As this beer warms, it feels more like I am sipping on a sweet whiskey. The initial alcohol bite subsides and allows some of the maltier notes to come forward. I could sip on this all night!

Mouth: There's a good level of carbonation, but that doesn't stop this beer from being big bodied and heavy. The texture is generally smooth and slightly creamy, though it's not nearly as creamy as it will be once it ages a while. I've had 120 at the 3 year mark, which is about when this Double IPA turns into a smooth and rich barleywine.

Overall: Very different from my past experiences with 120. As I mentioned, my only experiences with 120 have come after it has aged for a few years. So, all I have known about this beer was how richly sweet, flavorful, and heavy it can get. Fresh, this beer is a completely different beast. The hops and alcohol are incredibly strong, and yet, it's still a delicious beer. And when I say that the hops are strong, I don't mean they're strong in the same way Palate Wrecker is strong. The hop characteristic in 120 are fresh and inviting. The citrus and floral flavors are quite enjoyable, and they, in no way, dominate this beer. As I've mentioned, the alcohol and subtle sweetness help to bring some semblance of balance, especially as the beer nears room temperature.

Proceed with caution, but do so with high expectations that won't leave you disappointed. I'm so glad I was able to try this fresh, and even gladder I bought a few extras to store away in my cellar, where they'll stay until the year 2017...at least.

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Sourcing Suds: Bell's Hopslam (2014)

This is the first article in a new series entitled, "Sourcing Suds,"  in which I not only review a beer, but also highlight the place where the beer can be found. The people and places pouring for us are what make the craft beer community what it is. I hope to capture some of that craft culture in this new series. Each month, I will highlight a different craft beer location and a beer from their tap list. Enjoy!

Source: Silver Cow

Silver Cow recently opened their doors to the Riverside area of Jacksonville's "Beer District" on King Street. The space is small but packs charm. The exposed brick walls, antique lamps, whiskey barrel table-tops, and dim lighting give a eloquent sophistication that's intriguing and welcoming.

And there's beer.

The Silver Cow has 25 rotating taps that provide craft delights that are sure to please every beer fan. In addition to beer, Silver Cow offers various wines and food dishes.

Owner, Regina Heffington (you might also know her as the Jax Brew Bitch),is usually behind the bar to greet you with a smile as you walk in. And if Regina's not there, her bartender, Kelsey, is just as welcoming and friendly. If you're looking for a cozy neighborhood bar where service truly comes with a smile, then this place is for you.

Silver Cow was one of the first places to tap a keg of Hopslam, and I was there to get a first taste of this year's popular IPA from Kalamazoo.

Suds: Hopslam

Brewery:  Bell's Brewery
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 10%

The annual release of Bell's Hopslam, and its subsequent appearance on local shelves, never fails to create quite the stir. It's become known as one of the best IPAs in the country and sells out usually within hours of hitting the shelves. 

Bell's Hopslam recently made its official appearance in Jacksonville, and like years before, the beer was gone before most people ever knew it was here. If you are one of the fortunate who secured some Hopslam off the shelves, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. If you are among the many other less-fortunate, fret no more! Several local bars around the city will begin tapping Hopslam in the coming days (if they haven't already). And this is a beer you want to grab fresh. Trust me.

Appearance: Hopslam was poured in a snifter and is a vibrant amber color and a healthy white head that leaves mild lacing.

Aroma: It's citrusy and fresh smelling. Very appealing. I can also detect an inviting sweetness on the nose, likely honey-related.

Taste: Lemon, grapefruit, pine, and honey. This is surprisingly smooth and drinkable. And the flavors are wonderfully complex. It's a multifaceted IPA that doesn't just wreck the palate by throwing a truckload of hops at your tongue. The bitter hop flavors are balanced by a sweetened malt backbone. The finish is mildly bitter with a touch of honey and lingering pine.

Mouthfeel: This is a full-bodied IPA. At 10%, I wouldn't expect anything less. Hopslam is sweet and sticky, but has plenty of carbonation to keep it from being syrup-like.

Overall: Hopslam is worth the hype. Every year, I expect to be disappointed by this beer. I so badly want to be the one to provide that sobering review that says, "Hopslam is just a Hypeslam!" And yet, every year I find myself at this same conclusion. Hopslam is every bit worthy of the hype. It's just that good.

To read my review of last year's release of Hopslam, click here.
To read more about Silver Cow, check out my full review here.

Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale

Brewery: Cigar City Brewing Co.
Location: Tampa, FL
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5%

Cigar City had some fun with this one. The back of the can tells the story of a city that's been invaded and under siege for the last century. Out of options, CCB joins forces with the blasted buccaneers and brews up a tropical pale ale that's sure to please patron and pirate alike!

Invasion is a session ale that pours a cloudy yellow with a decent sized fluffy head.

The aromas are all hops: pine and citrus. This smells like a hop bomb...much hoppier than I would expect from a pale.

Taste: The first sip is full of grapefruit. It's tart at first, but then I get the tropical sweetness from various fruits. The finish includes more citrus notes--I get a lot of lemon zest that's balanced with a piney bitterness.

The headline around this beer is hops. The hops literally invade every aspect of the palate as this beer is consumed. However, there is complexity here. I noticed a yeasty-wheat aftertaste with the lemon zest. And call me crazy, but I pick up some fresh cilantro too.

I appreciate the folks at CCB calling out that this beer should be consumed fresh. The hop flavors literally make this beer and time does not treat hoppy beers well. However, I have one piece of critical feedback: if I am expected to drink this fresh, make sure I can read the date that's printed on the can. I think this one says it was bottled on Nov. 25th, but I can't be too sure.

Overall: This is a sessionable beer at just 5%, but I question whether it's something I could continuously drink by the pool. While it's light in alcohol and calories (estimated at only 150), the citrus, pine, and zest make this beer a bit too abrasive for a session beer. But if you're looking for a beer that packs a punch in the mouth but not on the waistline, you've found your match!

Grasslands Big Cypress IPA (Batch #1)

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in thearchive section of this blog. 

Brewery:  Grasslands Brewery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.5%

This is the first of two reviews I will be posting for Grasslands' Big Cypress IPA. This is Batch #1. According to Owner Gabe Grass, the intent with Big Cypress IPA is to brew a "unique and compelling IPA"  using East and West Coast influences to create a "smack-you-in-the-face IPA."  What an exciting and fun way to describe this beer and it only increased my excitement for trying it!

Grasslands has experimented with a couple variations of the recipe and were gracious enough to send me Batches #1 and #4. Tomorrow, I will be posting my review of #4 and will synthesize my notes from both tastings to give an overall recommendation on which of the two I prefer and why. This is an exciting two-part review, so check back tomorrow to see how Batch #4 compares and which comes out on top!

Now, let's check out Big Cypress IPA Batch #1 and see how it is!

Appearance: Cloudy tangerine color with a fairly serious head that sticks around, creating a nice lacing down the glass. The carbonation is visible and mobile at the base of the head (as seen in the picture below).

Aroma: Fresh hops and pine. There's also a nice sweetness that I can smell, but I can't exactly pinpoint what it might be. Malt and caramel? Either way, this is one of the best-smelling IPAs I have had. Very floral and fresh.

Taste: This IPA starts off with a sweet malt base and quickly moves on the palate towards a piney finish that bursts with hops, pine, and citrus notes. The presence of sugars right away brings a well-balanced flavor that moves nicely from malt to hops. Despite the piney finish, this beer isn't bitter at all. In fact, it's quite clean and leaves a pleasant, but minimal, aftertaste. This is a crisp IPA that has a palate-cleansing effect.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the lighter side, mostly due to how much carbonation there is. The IPA cuts across the tongue easily, rendering a clean, crisp, and zesty product.

Overall: This is a great brew! The taste was great, and as I mentioned earlier, the aroma was wonderful and added to the drinking experience.. The hops were so aromatic and pleasing that they brought a really nice contrast to the malt sweetness that first hits the palate. This is a well-constructed beer. Gabe Grass has done it again!

Don't forget to check my post tomorrow to read about Grassland's Batch #4 for this Big Cypress IPA.  

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before they open, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Cheers!

Lagunitas Sucks

Brewery:  Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Location: Petaluma, CA
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8%
Price: $9.99/6pck

Ok, so truth be told, Lagunitas actually doesn't suck. In fact, they're pretty amazing cool people. What other brewery is so confident in themselves that they would 1) admit that there was an issue with brewing a batch according to its recipe, 2) brew that beer anyway with a substitute ingredient, and then 3) make fun of themselves by saying they "suck"?

Lagunitas is kind of like that friend who we all have and no matter the circumstances, things just always go right for this person. Bad luck brings good fortune. Yeah, that's exactly what happened to Lagunitas.

I recall when Lagunitas Sucks first came out in 2011. I was skeptical about the whole story behind the beer, but bought it anyways. After trying the beer, I remember calling a buddy of mine and telling him he had to go out and buy some because it was actually better than the original. As it turns out, a lot of people had that same reaction and Lagunitas decided to brew some more...on purpose this time.

Naturally, I felt compelled to buy Lagunitas Sucks once more. This time, however, I am more interested to see if they were able to recreate the 2011 release. So here are my tasting notes...

The appearance, as you can see, is a golden amber color with a quarter inch head that laces the glass as the beer is consumed. The carbonation is easily seen rising from the bottom of the glass, so I am expecting a nice zing from the CO2.

The aroma is a lot of pine and grapefruit/citrus hops. I don't really get a ton of depth beyond that; just hops.

The taste follows suit with the aroma--pine, grapefruit, lemon zest. As I expected, the carbonation is a nice factor in how the hops dance on the palate. The flavors of the various hops come into play due to the carbonation. There is a mild sweetness in the middle that works to balance this drink. The malt is subtle, but it's there. The finish is dry and bitter and long.

It's drinkable and, dare I say, refreshing? I love the body of the beer which is on the fuller side for the style. Despite the fact that this is undeniably a hop bomb, there's a lot going on here.

Lagunitas Sucks is affordable AND highly rated, a combination you don't fine too often. Oh yeah, and you can also get this in 32oz Quart jugs. #MindBlowing.

Cheers to you, Lagunitas, and all your good fortune.

Good til the last drop. Love the lacing.