Dogfish Head Craft Brewery- Squall IPA: Batten down the hatches…

A squall is defined as a quick change in wind pressure usually associated with a storm.  This motif is continued with a schooner imprinted on the label. Squall is a limited edition, small batch edition of 90 minute IPA that is unfiltered and bottle conditioned, much like a home brew. This beer is legendary amongst craft beer nuts and can be extremely rare and difficult to track down. Interestingly enough this beer is inspired by Rogues Gallery out of Portland Maine and their east coast/ocean and fish inspired garments.

Squall pours like a sunset on the high-seas. It is a cloudy and moody orange with a haze like the remnants of fog burning off on a humid, summer day. The aroma is (obviously) akin to 90 minute IPA and features the same cereal and sweet grainy aroma. The malt has a full body that seems to push aside the hops. This beer smells sweet and delicious. Despite being bottle conditioned (which can be tricky) this beer is lightly carbonated and perfect.

Alright, we all now where this is heading, this beer is fucking awesome. It is even more mellow and smooth than 90 minute with a criminally delicious sweetness. Squall is warm and tasty with a “full” flavor that disgusting macro brews could only dream of. This beer has a warm glow and malty grain front-side coupled with a slight and perfectly woody hop finish. Squall is one of those beers that that just shows you what a “beer” can be. Dogfish Head always impresses me, and this might be their coup de grace, which cements their legacy. Always remember, the calm before the storm is scary; the calm after the storm is pure bliss.

ABV: 9.0%

Consumed: Short’s Ionic Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy a Keg

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery- Squall IPA: Perfection Personified

On my personal list of favorite breweries in the US, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is towards the top of my list.  I have consistently loved and enjoyed the fine craft brews from this Maryland Mecca.  So a few weeks back I had attended a Craft Beer event at Half Acre Beer Co and picked up 1 bottle of their amazing Double Daisy Cutter.  I promised Dale that I would get him a bomber and I knew as much as I wanted to hoard this brew all to myself, I had to sacrifice and keep my word.  Luckily for me the phrase, “On good turn deserves another,” applied in this situation as Dale kindly returned the favor and blessed me with the Craft Beer that would be next on my beer hit list.  I am about to hopefully experience another “Off-Centered” brew sensation from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, their Squall IPA is poured and ready for consumption.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery classifies this Craft Beer as an Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA) and their website describes Squall IPA as, “An unfiltered, 100% bottle-conditioned, super-pungent imperial I.P.A. clocking in at 9% ABV and dry-hopped with Palisade, Amarillo, Simcoe, Cascade, CTZ, and Willamette hops.

The beer first came out in June of 2009 in a handful of eastern seaboard states, a second 2009 release started shipping to wholesalers in November 2009. A more wide-spread release of Squall IPA is planned for 2010.”  Squall IPA is a very limited release and is packaged in 750ml champagne bottles.

Squall IPA poured a beautiful golden/orange color with a small ¾” creamy head and has an abundant & huge floral hop aroma that borders on hypnotic and is 9.0% ABV.

A Squall is a sudden and sharp increase in sustained wind speed over a short period of time usually associated with active weather.  Well this Squall sucked the wind right out of me and blew my mind. Squall IPA is a Craft Beer that is as orgasmic as one can get without the company of a partner of the opposite sex.  I would trade my wife for a case of Squall IPA in a heartbeat and that’s saying a lot as I married way out of my league.  This is pure Craft Beer heaven and the depression is starting to set in as I know that I may only have 400 ml’s left to enjoy.  DAMN YOU!!!  The flavor is a symbiotic union of hops & malts with subtle citrus and fruit flavors that can only be described as perfection.  There is absolutely no hint whatsoever of this brew being 9% ABV as it is as smooth as the glass it is consumed from. Perfection.  I can think of no other word…100% Perfection.  Squall IPA is by far the greatest craft beer that I have ever had the honor & pleasure of drinking.  I only hope two things, 1) I can find some more and 2) that each and every one of you reading this get to someday enjoy this amazing Craft Beer experience.

ABV: 9.0%

Consumed: Nonic Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Keg (My New Personal Greatest Beer Of All Time)