Incredibly complex turbidly brown dry-hopped India Pale Ale retains richer, creamier and boozier (12% ABV) flavor profile than less sophisticated competition. Enlivened bright citrus aromatics reach overripe tangerine-peach confirmation and Midori melon ball syruping. Deep-fruited malt sweetness attracts caramelized apple, cotton candy, and spruce tips stickiness before medicinal Grand Marnier finish blankets warm sensual delight. On 2023 reinspection, whiskeyed cherry, bruised orange, brandy, cognac and sweet rum illusions plus a fruited vodka cleanliness found its way to the caramelized center of this enormously entertaining strong ale!
All posts by John Fortunato
DOGFISH HEAD OLDE SCHOOL BARLEYWINE
Incredible 15% alcohol wallop, sweet sticky Scotch malt kick, and peach brandy warmth provide unmistakable complexity for fig-fermented barleywine. Cereal grains enhance lingered caramel-butterscotch permanence as seductively juicy mandarin orange, red grape, black cherry, and mango medley overlay earthy evergreen dryness and roasted nut bottom. On tap, tangy grapefruit bitterness and candied sugar splendor detected.
DOGFISH HEAD 90 MINUTE I.P.A.
Cascading pearly bubbles form thick-headed web lace for robust rust amber-hued world class ale. Heavily concentrated yeast, spicy floral-bound citric hops and plush caramelized malts conjure equally impressive East Coast rival, Ipswich IPA. Grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering gathers mild pecan-fig-date-raisin cluster, jettisoned cognac-almondine spell and sweet sugar pie sedation contrasted by astringent alcohol persuasion. In growler, spectral cereal-malted grapefruit peel bittering rises above apple-candied cherry, honeydew, and melon fruiting, leaving dark-roast hops to contain thrusting alcohol burn. On tap, through special auxiliary-hopping tube, deep piney evergreen freshness, currant notes, and perfumed fragrance absorb any styptic constraint.
DOGFISH HEAD MIDAS TOUCH ALE
Billowy-headed saffron-spiced ale gains buttery wine essence as muscat grape tartness and bright grapefruit illusion induce sugary honeyed wheat stickiness contrasting minor acidic bitterness concealing 9% alcohol margin.
DOGFISH HEAD LIQUOR DE MALT
Innovative brewer takes on uniquely challenging goal of making worthy malt liquor (sans customary nasty alcohol astringency) from gourmet milled corn. Encased in a paper bag, this massive plastic-capped 40-ounce bomber bottle contains well-balanced honeyed liquid securing sugar caned caramelized oat frontage. Secondary red cherry, bruised orange, and overripe grape concision backs thin barleywine illusion subtly embittered by floral hop spicing.
DOGFISH HEAD LAWN MOWER LIGHT LAGER
Dry hickory wood overture cloaks citric green hop bittering of light-bodied pleasantry. Pineapple, mango, strawberry, and kiwi illusions lay low as wood-soaked grapefruit rind souring expands.
DOGFISH HEAD INDIAN BROWN ALE
Perfectly balanced blend of an IPA and brown ale. “Caramelized brown sugar” extract, dark maple syrup, and prune ripeness provide sinewy texture underlined by spicy adjuncts. Persistent barley presence contrasted by hop bitterness and sour mash. Burnt chicory finish lingers, adding further resilience. An exquisite complement to barbecue.
DOGFISH HEAD GOLDEN SHOWER IMPERIAL PILSNER
Bottled 3-21-06 and teasingly ‘brewed against better judgement,’ this busily majestic pilsner deserves highest praise. Heavily honeyed malts form sweet Scotch-whiskey base, picking up orange-bruised toasted almond snip while its lively Belgian-like yeast complexity scatters butterscotch-caramel niceties beside vegetal asparagus nook.
DOGFISH HEAD IMMORT ALE ‘X’
Outstanding oak-barreled version of ‘luscious and complex’ full-bodied Immort Ale may be most flavorful 11% alcohol drink available. Syrupy malts invoke heavy maple sapping blitzing bruised orange, overripe cherry, and stewed prune thickness. Overpowering Band-Aid aroma picks up peppery spicing and juicy red apple-pear smoothing before sugary chocolate creaminess scampers to eternal yeast-lacquered finish.
DOGFISH HEAD IMMORT ALE
Primal ’99 version of classic barleywine-styled ale proved worthy. Dynamic caramel-scented 11% alcohol-fueled ale with smoked cedar-oak enhancing lively clove-spiced hops, peat-smoked roasted barley, and chicory of idiosyncratic medicinal brew. Vanilla extract, maple, and vinous cherry inform acquired bourbon-burgundy finish that’s indeed nearly immortal.
DOGFISH HEAD GOLDEN ERA IMPERIAL PILSNER
Busy full-bodied pils, version 2007 of suggestively named Golden Shower, retains honeyed malt heft and candi-sugared spicing countering white peppered grassy-hopped bittering. Lingered lemony grapefruit center skews melon-honeydew-cantaloupe-pineapple fruiting wallowing beneath peculiar herbal-potpourri acridity.
DOGFISH HEAD FORT ALE
Alarming $17 price tag for 22-ounce bottle justified by astonishing 18% alcohol volume. Deeply penetrating pureed raspberry fortification dissipates slightly to medicinal apricot-brandied cherry tang as accumulative perfumed waft brightens sinewy pink-glowed amber-pruned fruit ale. Sharp apple cider tartness underscores bitter hop bite. Sticky whiskey malting nips at the heels, securing tertiary naval orange, purple grape, peach, nectar, and clementine illusions.