Dogfish Head releases Mandarin & Mango Crush, Utopias Barrel-Aged 120 Minute IPA, New Variety Pack

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by Todd, Mar 29, 2023.

  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Kicks-Off the Spring Season with Three New Beer Options

    MILTON, Del. (Wednesday, March 29, 2023) – Spring has officially sprung, and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is celebrating the season with three new beer options, Utopias Barrel-Aged 120 Minute IPA, Mandarin & Mango Crush and the Off-Centered Variety Pack. Each of these off-centered packages is now making its way from coast-to-coast. Folks can track them down using Dogfish Head Fish Finder.

    “Warm weather and beer go hand-in-hand. There’s no better feeling than being outside and enjoying a tasty brew as you revel in Mother Nature’s goodness,” said Dogfish Head Founder & Brewer, Sam Calagione. “Typically, we tend to associate light and fruity beers – like our Mandarin & Mango Crush – with the spring and summer seasons, but there’s always a place for a big, bold sipper – like Utopias Barrel-Aged 120 Minute IPA, even during the warmer times of year. With these new product launches and the debut of our Off-Centered Variety Pack, we’re giving folks a whole gamut of drinking options, each of which is uniquely suited to kick off the spring sipping season!”

    MANDARIN & MANGO CRUSH (6.0% ABV):
    The second beer out of this year’s Off-Centered Art Series, Dogfish Head’s annual collection of four beers featuring artwork by a collaborating artist, Mandarin & Mango Crush is a citrusy fruit beer brewed with boatloads of mandarin oranges and mangos. The beer equivalent of the Mid-Atlantic region’s iconic “Crush Cocktail,” a delicious elixir featuring fresh, hand-crushed fruit juice, Mandarin & Mango Crush features artwork by Natalya Balnova, a New York-based illustrator, designer and printmaker, and this year’s Off-Centered Art Series artist. Lightly sweet with a refreshing citrusy tartness and a crisp, dry finish, Mandarin & Mango Crush was first released in 2022, but this year, it will make its debut in 6pk/12oz cans.

    UTOPIAS BARREL-AGED 120 MINUTE IPA (15-20% ABV):
    Dogfish Head’s iconic 120 Minute IPA is an imperial IPA continuously hopped with a copious amount of high-alpha American hops throughout the boil and then dry-hopped with even more hops for an unfiltered and abundantly hoppy brew. A new iteration of 120 Minute IPA, Utopias Barrel-Aged 120 Minute IPA takes the brewery’s fan-favorite beer and ages it for a year in freshly emptied Utopias barrels from Samuel Adams. The resulting deep copper-colored beer is bursting with sweet, almost candy-like aromas of citrus and pine, complemented by hoppy, resiny flavors and a lingering bitterness.

    THE OFF-CENTERED VARIETY PACK:
    Featuring a delicious mix of four off-centered beer styles, Dogfish Head Off-Centered Variety Pack (12pk/12oz cans) including three cans of each of the following beers.
    • 60 Minute IPA (6.0% ABV): A surprisingly sessionable, continually hopped IPA delivering pungent, citrusy, grassy hop flavors without being crushingly bitter.
    • SeaQuench Ale (4.9% ABV): A session sour mash-up of a crisp Kolsch, a salty Gose and a tart Berliner Weiss brewed in sequence with black limes, sour lime juice and sea salt.
    • Blue Hen Pilsner (4.8% ABV): A crisp and refreshing pilsner brewed with only four ingredients – water, hops, yeast and Delaware-grown and malted barley.
    • Citrus Squall (8.0% ABV): The perfect storm of a double golden ale and a paloma cocktail brewed with grapefruit juice, blue agave nectar, lime peels and a touch of sea salt.
    For more information about Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, please visit www.dogfish.com.

    ###
     
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  2. NorsemanOne

    NorsemanOne Pooh-Bah (1,717) Sep 17, 2021 Utah
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Haven't been able to find fresh 120 Minute around here, but a BA version would no longer give me those troubles.... I'm down!
     
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  3. ramseye4

    ramseye4 Savant (1,096) May 14, 2010 Virginia

    Ooooo that 120 is mighty tempting
     
  4. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (3,772) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yeah man...Utopias worked well with world wide, why wouldn't this?
     
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  5. Ipaupaweallpa

    Ipaupaweallpa Pundit (986) Dec 26, 2014 Alabama
    Trader

    Is 120 some good currency for trades? I can usually find at least a couple cases in tallahassee
     
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  6. zac16125

    zac16125 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,296) Jan 26, 2010 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Isn’t Utopia more of a cuvée blend than anything? I’ve always been under the impression, as opposed to them having a whole batch of brewed utopias that they then more from one type of barrel to the next. So if that’s true, and I think it is, it’s kind of a misnomer to call it a utopias barrel aged 120min.

    Also, I firmly believe that not everything needs to be barrel aged and that base beers don’t necessarily automatically get better when you aged them in a barrel. Lastly, I am a huge fan of regular 120 Min which I really believe is a work of art and massively under appreciated.

    All that being said I’ll probably try this, because i’m a sucker.
     
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  7. zac16125

    zac16125 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,296) Jan 26, 2010 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I haven’t traded in years but I would guess not.

    It IS, however, good currency for cellaring! So buy up one of those cases and get to experimenting. I suspect you will enjoy them for many years (and post your results in the BA Cellar Review thread!)
     
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  8. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,304) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Utopias BA 120 will be insane! I'll load up on that...
     
  9. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,304) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Fish Finder doesn't list the Utopias 120, just regular 120.
     
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  10. Victory_Sabre1973

    Victory_Sabre1973 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,179) Sep 15, 2015 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I talked to our local DFH rep. about it today. It isn't in their system yet, but he will look into it. I know it will be expensive, but, based on the regular 120, and the Utopia barrel WWS, it should be amazing.
     
  11. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,500) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone have any insight or guess as to the distribution of 120 Utopias? Never saw the WWS version of it here in Minnesota (as far as I know).
     
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  12. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,304) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    It probably has the same distribution as 120 last year or Utopias WWS in 2021. I'm in South Dakota and we got both. I'm still seeing 120 on the shelves here after almost a year, and we had Utopias WWS on shelves for over three months. Another clue is that it's being sold in fours, rather than a fancy single. I'd venture a guess it'll be in their complete distribution footprint, and in decent quantity. I'll buy at least three fours without trying it first.
     
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  13. JohnnyHopps

    JohnnyHopps Pooh-Bah (2,964) Jun 15, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I still miss the Ancient Ales. How about a variety pack?
     
  14. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,500) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, we see most of their distributed beers but not the WWS Utopias. Here's to hoping!
     
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  15. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,822) Apr 18, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The WWS BA Utopias did have distro in 2021 in Minneapolis.
     
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  16. o29

    o29 Savant (1,129) Sep 29, 2020 Texas
    Society Trader

    Not saying I won't try it and that it might not be good, but aging an imperial stout in barrels is pretty common as the roast-y, robust flavors tend to complement certain barrel characteristics.

    Aging an imperial IPA in barrels on the other hand is quite different, and I imagine that there's a reason they chose to try making and gauging the success of Utopias BA WWS before this.

    I'm definitely interested to see how the flavors work together, but the idea of a super hoppy and malty IPA picking up barrel flavors or some of the cherry-like qualities of the latest Utopias batch doesn't sound quite like as much of an automatic slam dunk to me as it did for Utopias BA WWS.

    Edit: The "Flavor" category of DFH's website doesn't offer any insight here either as it reads: "Hoppy with some hop resin characte[sic]". You don't say...
     
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  17. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (3,772) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I agree that an imperial IPA aged in utopia's barrels doesn't sound good.

    Tasted blind, I don't think many people would identify 120 as an imperial IPA. Comes across as more of an obnoxiously sweet barley wine to me, which could work well with these barrels. I'm in for a single, probably not a pack.
     
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  18. Rug

    Rug Pooh-Bah (2,898) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Even if you can't find it fresh, it's great with some age on it!
     
  19. Rug

    Rug Pooh-Bah (2,898) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I'm all in for Utopias BA 120. I'm loading up the cellar once I find it
     
  20. crazyspicychef

    crazyspicychef Savant (1,215) Sep 27, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I'll try one of the 120's, if I can find one, just because.
    That's the only one on the list that even sounds remotely interesting.
    I highly doubt that it will be an improvement though.
    What's next, barrel aged 90 min?
    I think the Midas Touch would be good with a Utopias barrel touch to it?
    Maybe not.
     
    bbtkd likes this.
  21. MistaRyte

    MistaRyte Pooh-Bah (2,325) Jan 14, 2008 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Looks like Earlybirds in Poquoson got it in... sigh... will maybe pay a visit next weekend
     
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  22. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,500) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Where?

    I never saw it, nor did it come across any of the (many) stores I follow on Twitter.
     
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  23. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,822) Apr 18, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I bought some at Zipps and Elevated on Hiawatha, they broke them into singles ,they were pricey . They were here the fall of 2021 in Minneapolis.
     
    maximum12 likes this.
  24. Troy-Hawaii

    Troy-Hawaii Maven (1,379) Jun 15, 2015 Hawaii

    I thought of buying the Utopias 120, but you convinced me that isn't a good idea. I did like the Utopias WWS, but stouts are better at aging. Everyone knows that IPAs are best when fresh and lose their characteristics as they age so aging them on purpose doesn't seem like a good idea. Sounds more like a money making idea as it will probably be priced high and thus people may rate it higher just for that reason so that they don't feel like they threw away money.
     
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  25. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,245) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader


    This is exactly what I thought about Utopias BA WWS. Perhaps the process is more serial than parallel, or parallel-series - i.e., either aging in the variety of barrels in order, or taking a cuvee and finishing it in bourbon or sherry barrels. That's the only way I can figure aging any other beer in what you could possibly call "Utopias barrels."

    Also like you, I'm not sure this makes 120 min any better ... and I'm also going to try a bottle if I see it. :grinning:
     
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  26. jesskidden

    jesskidden Pooh-Bah (2,969) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Well, not really "everyone "...:wink:
    [​IMG]
     
  27. Troy-Hawaii

    Troy-Hawaii Maven (1,379) Jun 15, 2015 Hawaii

    That is interesting. I haven't seen purposely aged IPAs before and one of the descriptions says it is like old wine. Wines do get smoother as they age and is a good characteristic for it, but not something I would associate with IPAs (West Coast specifically).
    It also says that they age it in bottles for 4 months, but I haven't heard anyone on this site being happy about finding 4 month old IPAs in the stores. Maybe tastes have changed over time and this 120 Utopias is a throwback beer?
     
  28. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,169) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Consumer preferences have indeed changed over time as regards IPAs. Today's consumers prefer an IPA that 'hits' them like a sledgehammer when it comes to hop aroma/flavor. If you can't smell the IPA when it is on a table 3-4 feet from your nose then it is not 'worthy' (well, a slight exaggeration here :flushed:). Aging an IPA for 4 months in the bottle will greatly diminish what hop aroma there was in that beer; hop fade will have occurred.

    Cheers!
     
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  29. ESHBG

    ESHBG Pooh-Bah (2,037) Jul 30, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I disagree with the anti aging comments. 120 is a high octane beer and damn near a hoppy Barleywine and if beers like Founders Dankwood are any indication this process is going to add a nice level of complexity to the beer. Also, I have had Jameson whiskey aged in IPA barrels and it was pretty good.

    Lower ABV hoppy beers are best fresher but I have had higher ABV hoppy beers with some age on them and if you accept the changes for what they are they have been perfectly drinkable.
     
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  30. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,600) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, 120 minute is not just one more ipa. Love it or hate it, it is not going to satisfy your west coast/American ipa itch. It's more like a heavily hopped strong ale or something. I haven't had one in years, can't even remember the last time I saw one on the shelf, but it is its own beer and shouldn't be expected to behave like wha we typically think of as ipa today or like some recreation of an older era of ipa.
     
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  31. coquet

    coquet Zealot (606) Aug 31, 2014 Virginia
    Trader

    Have you ever had 120 Minute fresh? I made that mistake twice, and, at least to my tastes, it was damn near undrinkable both times. After a few years' aging, it drinks like a nice American barleywine. There's a reason they print "AGES WELL" on the front of the label.
     
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  32. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,076) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Saw this at my local Wegmans, so it's hit shelves.
     
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  33. Troy-Hawaii

    Troy-Hawaii Maven (1,379) Jun 15, 2015 Hawaii

    How much is it?
     
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  34. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (3,772) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Picked up one of the 120s today for $11. I'll probably open it today or tomorrow in case it's awesome and I want to go back for a pack before they are gone. My curiosity is at least somewhat morbid here.
     
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  35. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,076) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    No clue, I didn't pick any up. I'll try to remember to check next time I'm there.
     
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  36. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,304) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader


    That tells me a four should be around $40, much less than the $50 I had figured. Of course prices will vary wildly.
     
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  37. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (3,772) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yep this was priced the same as regular 120, $40 per pack.
     
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  38. micada

    micada Grand Pooh-Bah (3,034) Jul 13, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I see Trader on your name…
     
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  39. micada

    micada Grand Pooh-Bah (3,034) Jul 13, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    If PA has it now, NY should be soon!
     
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  40. micada

    micada Grand Pooh-Bah (3,034) Jul 13, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I think the Utopias being such a spirit-esque Solera/cuvée whatever beer is going to do nice things to that smackyourface 120.

    …and nobody cares about those other two things. LOL!
     
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