This beer really needs no introduction, so I’m going to skip all of the small talk and jump right into the commercial description from the website, dogfish.com.
Too extreme to be called beer? 120 Minute is brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full two hours while being continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the fermenter for a month and aged for another month on whole-leaf hops!
Clocking in between 15% ABV and 120 IBUs, 120 Minute is by far the biggest IPA ever brewed! It’s easy to see why we call this beer THE HOLY GRAIL for hopheads!
We brew 120 Minute IPA a few times a year, but it goes fast. If you find some grab a few bottles — some to enjoy and some to age.
You ready??? I am!!!
This brew comes in a 12 oz. bottle and, according to the website, clocks in at anywhere between 15-20% ABV with some going as high as 21%.
The 120 poured a slightly hazy, orange color with a barely off white head that was of pretty good size. It was semi-smooth with both large and small bubbles. The retention time was more than adequate and I was impressed by the amount of lacing that was left behind considering the higher than normal ABV. A thin film remained on top of the liquid for the entire drink. A ton of alcohol legs were imparted on the sides of the glass when tilted from front to back. The beer started to clear significantly as it warmed to room temperature. It looked very nice.
As to be expected, the nose delivered a tremendous amount of hops. Tons of grapefruit, orange, peach and pineapple. It was very floral and bright with heavy hints of pine. Accents of alcohol, but not nearly as much as one would expect. A redolence of sugars, breads and caramel were intermingled also, however there is no denying that the hops were the primary factor with the smell.
The taste reaffirmed the extreme amount of bitterness and hops. Hops galore to tell the truth. A tremendous amount of citric fruits dipped in alcohol. Grapefruit, peach, pineapple and orange. Rum like alcohol savors were much more prevalent in the taste than they were in the aroma, however they were infused so well that they never became distracting, bothersome or off putting. The flavor was very sweet to say the least. It had hints of candied sugars, pine and caramel along with a minute amount of breadiness to try and tame those hops, but to no avail. This brew is not trying to hide ’em, it wanted to accentuate them.
The mouthfeel was …. wow!!! Medium to full bodied with a gargantuan amount of heat radiating as it worked its way across the palate toward the throat, down the chest, and into the belly. It completely scorched the front and sides of my tongue. I loved it!!! It was surprisingly smooth, sticky, chewy and gummy. The flavor lasted long after each sip had passed.
This beer is awesome!!! Some might think its too much, but I sure didn’t. It is BIG in every way. BIG aroma, BIG taste, BIG mouthfeel. With that being said, I had no problem finishing this bottle all by myself. It’s a sipper for sure and it should be taken slowly, however I had to take a huge gulp or two just so I could gage the full effect of this concoction. If you like hops, I would highly recommend that you seek this thing out. It’s worth the conversation alone. I was able to obtain another bottle, so I’m going to hang onto it for awhile and see how it develops. I hope I can find some more somewhere though because I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait a year or two before I try this again!!!
Have you guys ever had the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA??? What did you think of it??? Was it too extreme??? Be sure to leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks for reading guys. Until next time.
Cheers.
Score: 4.65 out of 5
Grade: A+
Beer Apprentice - Craft Beer News, Reviews, Interviews and Info. 
Sud Savant
December 28, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I should be having some sent to me in trade any day now. Very excited!
Sud Savant
December 28, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I should be having some sent to me in trade any day now. Very excited!
Scott Shrewsberry
December 28, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Sud,
I think you will like it. I have one bottle left. I'm going to hide it from myself!!!
Cheers,
Scott
Scott Shrewsberry
December 28, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Sud,
I think you will like it. I have one bottle left. I'm going to hide it from myself!!!
Cheers,
Scott
Anonymous
February 13, 2012 at 3:08 am
I could not believe my eyes when I walked into my local Craft Beer supply store (Olympia WA.) and saw Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA on their shelf! I said ring me up for two six packs,when the owner said 12?
At $12.95 a bottle I settled for 6 instead. I will wait a week and pick up another six if they are still there.
My first experience with the 120 min.IPA was in 2009. I bought the last four 2008 vintage bottles left on the shelves of our local Top Foods. I became an immediate fan of Dogfish Head! Coming in second only to Sierra Nevada,Can we say Torpedo and Bigfoot? But I'm getting side tracked,back to 120 min. IPA. My Bottle says “Bottled in 2011E 08:41”.
Today it is 02/12/2012 18:07 and I have consumed 1/2 of a 12oz. bottle and I must say the 2011 vintage far surpasses the 2008 version. The ABV is anybody's guess, as it has not been printed on their way cool label. Why not Dogfish Head? Anyway, back to the Beer in the glass, the head comes and goes without a trace,the lacing only at the very top of the glass,but who cares? The taste is superb, the alcohol is exquisite,the warmth is otherworldly,and the aftertaste cries for another! I love this Ale, Dogfish Head has without question outdone themselves and has delivered another gift to mankind. In my humble non professional opinion, You will not be disappointed, go for the gusto,forget about sharing the bottle with another and down the whole thing yourself. Cheers!
Anonymous
February 13, 2012 at 3:08 am
I could not believe my eyes when I walked into my local Craft Beer supply store (Olympia WA.) and saw Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA on their shelf! I said ring me up for two six packs,when the owner said 12?
At $12.95 a bottle I settled for 6 instead. I will wait a week and pick up another six if they are still there.
My first experience with the 120 min.IPA was in 2009. I bought the last four 2008 vintage bottles left on the shelves of our local Top Foods. I became an immediate fan of Dogfish Head! Coming in second only to Sierra Nevada,Can we say Torpedo and Bigfoot? But I'm getting side tracked,back to 120 min. IPA. My Bottle says “Bottled in 2011E 08:41”.
Today it is 02/12/2012 18:07 and I have consumed 1/2 of a 12oz. bottle and I must say the 2011 vintage far surpasses the 2008 version. The ABV is anybody's guess, as it has not been printed on their way cool label. Why not Dogfish Head? Anyway, back to the Beer in the glass, the head comes and goes without a trace,the lacing only at the very top of the glass,but who cares? The taste is superb, the alcohol is exquisite,the warmth is otherworldly,and the aftertaste cries for another! I love this Ale, Dogfish Head has without question outdone themselves and has delivered another gift to mankind. In my humble non professional opinion, You will not be disappointed, go for the gusto,forget about sharing the bottle with another and down the whole thing yourself. Cheers!
Scott Shrewsberry
February 13, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Anonymous,
Thanks for reading and commenting my friend. I'm glad to hear that you really enjoyed the 120. I can sense the excitement in your text. I, too, really liked the 120. Maybe I'm being a bit selfish, but I doubt that I will share my remaining bottle with anyone!!! Haha. I'm sure I will pick up another bottle or two when the time is right, so I can share one of those.
Be sure to check back from time to time. I have a ton of DFH stuff to review and I post most daily.
Cheers,
Scott
Scott Shrewsberry
February 13, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Anonymous,
Thanks for reading and commenting my friend. I'm glad to hear that you really enjoyed the 120. I can sense the excitement in your text. I, too, really liked the 120. Maybe I'm being a bit selfish, but I doubt that I will share my remaining bottle with anyone!!! Haha. I'm sure I will pick up another bottle or two when the time is right, so I can share one of those.
Be sure to check back from time to time. I have a ton of DFH stuff to review and I post most daily.
Cheers,
Scott