Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA Fueled Bachelor Night
This Friday was bachelor night at the Stewart household so I went down to the local Freddies for the beer selection. Fred has recently remodeled and it appears the months of construction is paying off big. They have quadrupled their beer selection, including a daunting selection of Point 2s. It is going to take me months to work through it but I look forward to the challenge.
Freddie's Beer Fridge
While I was there I took back some bottles that had been piling up. After waiting in line with 6 other people while the attendant tried to get more than 3 of 4 of the machines working I vowed to lobby the state legislature to change our bottle return system. But that’s another post.
After staring at the wall of beer with what must have been an expression of pure agony, I settled on a 4 pack of Dogfish 90 minute IPA. The box said, “Quite possibly the best IPA in America” or something like that so I figured it had to be good.
Next stop was dinner. We’ve been driving by a local Ochoa (Mexican cart) for weeks and remarking about how many people were there at all hours of the night. I decided Tacos Lupitas would be my source for bachelor nourishment.
Tacos Lupitas
On the corner of 87th and Beaverton Hillsdale Highway the location is less than ideal. It’s nestled between a pawn shop, an eyeglass repair shop, and a place called “Private Rendezvous” that deals in erotic massage. I’m not sure what people thought when the Skylark rumbled in but a couple thumbs-up made me feel welcome.
Once home I queued up Richard Pryor Live from the Sunset Strip, opened the Dogfish 90 minute IPA, and dug in to my Carne Asada tacos. The meat was subpar but the salsas, grilled onions and peppers, and pico de gallo was amazing.
Psst… Story time is over, here’s the review!
As for the Dogfish 90 Min IPA, it was like nothing I had ever tasted. To call it an IPA merely hints at the experience. At it’s heart, the 90 min is an IPA. The taste is driven by the hoppy goodness I love about IPAs. However, that is just the beginning. The taste builds to resemble something more akin to a bourbon or whiskey. It kind of resembles a barrel aged beer but the taste is more complex and goes well beyond a hint.
The final sip revealed only one inevitable flaw. That would be alcohol content (9%, probably more). After two I was pretty much done. Not trashed, but pretty darn close. Maybe I’m a lightweight but damn, this beer kicked my ass. Of course, that only means that my brain now has a pavlovian chemical association with the 90 that will only make me love it more.
A few weeks ago I had the 60 minute (almost blogged about it!) and although the two beers share a few syllables, they are much different. I still got the impression I was going to be trashed after a couple, but they really stood alone. I guess that is why they make two versions.
So, one beer in the Freddie’s fridge down and a couple hundred more to go. Tonight Deschutes Brewery’s Red Chair IPA is queued up. I think I might review it too, but don’t bet on it.
—Skylark
Downtown Brown 9:03 am on July 10, 2007 Permalink
CORNHOLE! sorry I just can’t help myself either.
I’ve had that Green Flash before, and it had a tremendous bite to me. In fact I swore it off as good IPA because I didn’t have any food to go along with it, which might be what it needs to bring it up from a 2 for me.
WOLVERINES!!!!
Frosty 8:51 am on July 11, 2007 Permalink
CORNHOLE!