Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA has been heralded by Esquire magazine as “perhaps the best I.P.A. in
America.” Without a doubt, it could very well be. While other IPAs are great all-around drinkable–Redhook Longhammer, Lagunitas, and Sierra Nevada come to mind–this is entirely different as it is indeed an Imperial IPA. Genius Sam Calagione devised a method of continuous hop addition, which produces a unique flavor experience. While many hopped beers have the bitter flavor and aroma in a rather bifurcated palate, this instead uses its continuous hop addition method for a full 90 minute boil to produce an incredibly smooth-yet-extremely hoppy flavor. Indeed, this is a big beer at 9% and 90 IBUs (see a trend yet with the number 9?). Yeah, everything about this makes it a slow-drinking, incredibly enjoyable IPA. It’s pricey at about $10 per four-pack, but consider it value with its strength: you can rarely drink but one without completely destroying your taste buds for an evening. The warming 9% produces a mild euphoria as your pancreas tries to figure out how in heck to handle all that sugar.

It could very well be that I decide to replace my Sunday scotch tasting with this beer, as it has yet to produce a hangover. Simply put, it is to me the best Imperial IPA in our great country (although garden-variety American IPAs, it really depends on what’s available, right?)