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

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!

 

Ooooo that 120 is mighty tempting

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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!)

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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).

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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...

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

Where?

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

Well, not really "everyone "...

 

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?

 

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 ). 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!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Saw this at my local Wegmans, so it's hit shelves.

 

How much is it?

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

I see Trader on your name…

 

If PA has it now, NY should be soon!

 

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!