I didn't expect my first review to be so strong. However I must admit, Sam Calgaione and his team in Milton, DE have out done themselves with the 2011 Squall IPA. The bottle, chilled at a balmy 52 Degrees Fahrenheit, is the first tell. Beer that makes you drink it comes in the 750 mL Champagne bottles. Once you pop the top, their is no stopping finishing the bottle for the sheer fact that you just can't let this golden nectar go to waste. (Or flat for that matter.) So it was a treasure opening the bottle. It won't happen again for at least another year.
Pouring the beer into the snifter, I expected an amber shade (the grain making it truly American), but the deep golden pour was a pleasant surprise. The haze of this IPA sings of it's unfiltered nature and forebodes of a slight yeasty quality. The head is a bit rocky but primarily creamy. Lingering for the majority of the experience, the head laces the glass as it is swirled to truly appreciate the aroma that is nothing short of balanced. Appearance score - 4.5 out of 5.
Hints of citrus float through the remainder of the ride on Squall, and the aroma gives these citrus notes a tale of the continuous hopping of this 90 minute IPA. Earthy notes also come to the nose. Yeast didn't play as big a part in the nose as previously expected. The fruity notes of the yeast pair well with the sweet tones from the specialty malts used. The only lacking area with this IPA is a lack of strength or intensity in the scent. With this IPA be dry hopped after leaving the Mash Tun, I expected something more intense. The clean and balanced nose of Squall rings the same throughout the tasting. Aroma score - 12 out of 15
Now to the best and most important part. Tasting the storm that is Squall. The nose of this beer is it's tell. Sweet and toast notes pair the citrus and floral hints into a balance on the palate that most east coast IPAs rarely have reached. The cleanliness of the yeast leave little to be desired in the taste category. At 9% ABV, the taste of this beer is quite nice. Taste score - 23 out of 25
Finishing with mouth feel, Squall went down an unexpected avenue. With it's light color, I half expected a crisp beer. I got a creamy, almost viscous, full bodied IPA that has a lasting finish that leaves you wanting more. Mouth feel score - 4 out 5.
Overall, Squall IPA 2011 from Dogfish Head Brewery is a well balanced citrusy IPA that is not only pleasing to drink, but also an experience that all beer lovers must enjoy. With score of 43.5 out of 50, this beer leaves little to be desired for the beer enthusiast. I say to Sam and his team to keep up the great work. Drink on, beer drinker. Drink on.
Pouring the beer into the snifter, I expected an amber shade (the grain making it truly American), but the deep golden pour was a pleasant surprise. The haze of this IPA sings of it's unfiltered nature and forebodes of a slight yeasty quality. The head is a bit rocky but primarily creamy. Lingering for the majority of the experience, the head laces the glass as it is swirled to truly appreciate the aroma that is nothing short of balanced. Appearance score - 4.5 out of 5.
Hints of citrus float through the remainder of the ride on Squall, and the aroma gives these citrus notes a tale of the continuous hopping of this 90 minute IPA. Earthy notes also come to the nose. Yeast didn't play as big a part in the nose as previously expected. The fruity notes of the yeast pair well with the sweet tones from the specialty malts used. The only lacking area with this IPA is a lack of strength or intensity in the scent. With this IPA be dry hopped after leaving the Mash Tun, I expected something more intense. The clean and balanced nose of Squall rings the same throughout the tasting. Aroma score - 12 out of 15
Now to the best and most important part. Tasting the storm that is Squall. The nose of this beer is it's tell. Sweet and toast notes pair the citrus and floral hints into a balance on the palate that most east coast IPAs rarely have reached. The cleanliness of the yeast leave little to be desired in the taste category. At 9% ABV, the taste of this beer is quite nice. Taste score - 23 out of 25
Finishing with mouth feel, Squall went down an unexpected avenue. With it's light color, I half expected a crisp beer. I got a creamy, almost viscous, full bodied IPA that has a lasting finish that leaves you wanting more. Mouth feel score - 4 out 5.
Overall, Squall IPA 2011 from Dogfish Head Brewery is a well balanced citrusy IPA that is not only pleasing to drink, but also an experience that all beer lovers must enjoy. With score of 43.5 out of 50, this beer leaves little to be desired for the beer enthusiast. I say to Sam and his team to keep up the great work. Drink on, beer drinker. Drink on.
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