120 Minute IPA - Oloroso Sherry Barrel Aged
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Murky light brown appearance with very minimal tan head and no lacing. Malt, dates, citrus, and dominant sherry barrel notes. Thick creamy mouthfeel, mild carbonation. Delicious!

 

Crowler filled on 2/7/22; consumed on 2/16/22

Pours a deep chestnut-brown body struggling to form any head beyond a short-lived sliver of off-beige foam, which quickly fades to a viscous, blank surface, thin, frothy collar, and no lacing whatsoever holding to the walls of the glass.

Aromas of piney resins peak to flambéed orange and a soft, flaky malt underscore as boozy sherry washes over the bouquet, imparting hints of fig, plum, and nutty maple while shreds of barrel linger for slick vanillins, raisins, and a delicate dusting of cocoa on the back end.

Taste opens to softer pine bleeding into citric orange undertones, a flaky malt base melding woody hop tones for a character redolent of Palo Santo as the sherried aspects of plum, leather, and raisins evolve over the mid-palate; charry chocolate in the distance shows through on a back end with a calmer, oakier presence alongside the omnipresent boozy hop resins.

Mouthfeel brings a medium-full body with minimal carbonation poking through as slick, rending syrupy textures coat the palate before a calming overlay of drying oak prickles into the back end on waves of boozy warmth finding effective balance through the finish.

Fearlessly boozy and undeniably unique, the barrel sweetness leans into the amplified base with a nutty, dark fruit laden counterbalance, softening the harsher edges while simultaneously owning its strength; less a barrel-aged IPA and more an alchemic fusion of punchy hop overload and wide-ranging sherry influence, this is another addition to a 120 Minute series proving to be in a league of its own.

Had this on a flight off at the brewery in Milton on 1/8/2022.

Look: Dark amber, almost caramelized brown. Thin, lacy head that disappears pretty quickly.

Smell: Like a vaguely hoppy Sherry, though the hoppy characteristics are significantly muted compared to the "classic" variety.

Taste: Heavy Sherry notes, would pair well with a lobster bisque or other seafood. A little sweet out the gate but with a lingering, slightly boozy finish.

Feel: Smooth as polished glass.

Overall: Hot DAMN this a good brew. As with many of the boozier DFH concoctions this definitely drinks more like a port, barleywine, or cocktail than a beer. Definitely a sipper. Only regret is that they don't sell this back in NC...