Dogfish Head - Burton Baton Imperial IPA

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Burton Baton Imperial IPA

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

6 Cannery Village Center

Milton, DE USA 

Est. 1995 

www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV 

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review

Translucent copper orange appearance.

Hops that are citrus in tone with malt and vanilla aromas. Slight amount of woody oak scent to the nose.

One and a half-finger caramel tan colored head.

Spots and strings of lacing on the glass. Head covers til end of glass.

Creamy rich caramelized malt taste with balanced hops in abundance.
Touches of oak and vanilla on back of tongue if left to slightly warm.

Medium carbonation.
Alcohol is well masked; only warmth noted.
Full bodied, not too complex. Rich lingering malts and hops finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 

Burton Baton is made from a blend of an English style Old Ale and an Imperial Ale. The two are brewed (fermented) separately and then blended. Finally, they are aged on wood for one month to impart the oak flavors.


Burton Baton is one great Imperial IPA. I mean, what other beer do you know of that has its own action hero in a movie? And in The Legend of the Ancient Ales, The Reaper certainly digs the skeletal hand still grasped around the unearthed bottle of DFH Good & Evil at 3:44 into the clip. Very good indeed! Muah-haha-haa-ah-haa-haa!


Need more proof? It's so good, that it comes with it's own disclaimer, "Please share it with loved ones and hoard it from the non-believers." That I shall, that I shall, indeed! In fact, if I ever find myself with an executioner's last request, I will ask for this ale. It is only produced 3 times a year, so I might get a stay from execution if it is not available. Bwaaahaha! It's that good.


As to who is/was Burton Baton...the findings are slim on that info. Sufficed to say that he must be that fellow on the label, sitting on the barrel wearing a large cowboy hat and strumming a six string. Those off-centered fellows at Dogfish Head keep us guessing all the time.

Dogfish Head - 120 Minute IPA (2009)

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

120 Minute IPA (2009)

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

6 Cannery Village Center

Milton, DE USA

Est. 1995

www.dogfish.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 18.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 3.0 (On Tap)

Postmortem Brew Review

Amber to orange color with a bit of cloudiness on the pour.

Sweet, sugary scents. A bit of raisin.  Powerfully resiny pine notes. Alcohol detected on second whiff.

There's not much head, but there are legs of lace on the glass.

As with the smell, it is a sugary, honey and candy-like taste. Citrus hops come through after a sip.

Low amount of carbonation.

Lightly syrupy mouthfeel.. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 

Dogfish Head's famous 120 Minute IPA is hard to find in a bottle. It's even harder to find in a keg on tap. But that's the way you'd find it if you attended the 2011 Hoptomic Bitter Beer Festival held on June 18th at the Straz Center in Tampa, FL. This highly sought after, highly hopped (120 IBU's), high alcohol beverage is about as rare as a UFO sighting. But it has equal deer in headlights drawing power.

I was tipped off by a friend at the festival that it would be making an appearance. The first order of business after having my wristband slapped on, was to locate the jockey box's location. It was soon spotted outside, under a tent, tucked away in the corner of the festival. I was allowed behind the pourer's table to snap the photo above, after asking. I wasted no time in stepping up for a close encounter of my own kind.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the beer. All I know is a 120 minute hops boil, achieving 120 IBU's at 45-degree plato and 15 to 20 ABV makes for one helluva big brew. Caution, this is an extreme beer. Indulge responsibly. Muahaaahaahaa!

Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
Palo Santo Marron Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA 
Est. 1995 
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 12.0 % ABV 
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Solid looking, rich thick brown color.
Sweet malt aromas. Bit of woody scents and slightly boozy on the nose.
Small bubbles in the one-finger caramel tan colored head.
Spots of lacing on the glass with each sip. Head simmers to a ring on edge of glass.
Sweet but not too sweet caramelized malt taste. Touches of vanilla on back of tongue.
Medium carbonation.
Full bodied, not too complex, but with a definite heavy alcohol presence. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Not one of your run-of-the-mill brown ales, this one. The first sip told me to sit down. And I did. And it was
consumed by the sip after that. Slowly. Deliberately. Not unlike the process that must have went into building
the most gi-noumous tanks of Palo Santo wood in which, it became a beer.

First sip: Boozy. My oh my the alcohol! But not stinging or warming. Just there...lurking.

Next sip: Enjoyable. Sweet malts rolling.

And the next: Enveloping. Tongue treated to vanilla finish.

Then: Rich. Not dulling. Not cloying. Full, in body. Simple character of malt, vanilla, earthy wood.

Now: Pleasurable. Each sip is taking me further from second thoughts of the 12% ABV. Alcohol still there...lurking...lurking...but not beating up my senses.

I once had a beer. Or should I say, she once had me?

Glass is gone now. This beer has flown.

Sigh. Queue the sitar.

Isn't it good? Paraguayan Wood.

Dogfish Head - India Brown Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
India Brown Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA 
Est. 1995 
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.2 % ABV 
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color with reddish highlights.
Sweet malt aromas mingle with some pungent hops aromas.
One-finger tan colored head that comes and goes quickly.
Spots of lacing on the glass.
Above average balance of hops and malts. Taste is hoppy and malty.
Medium carbonation.
Medium bodied. Bitterness of hops throughout. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
For this one, think - India Pale Ale meets Brown Ale. Yeah, that's the ticket! Dogfish Head's site even throws in Scotch Ale as a third style; you will taste the Scotch Ale signature sweet maltiness along with the hammering hops characteristics of an IPA.

It's a finely crafted balance of borderline aggressive hops (Goldings and Liberty) with clean, sweet tasting malts and organic brown sugar.

This brew has multiple personalities, it's true. But don't think for a minute that this is a case of mistaken identity. According to a video by Sam Calagione on their website, this beer is the "...unsung hero of our year round portfolio..."  Sam goes on to say that it is a "hybrid" ale; one sought after by the staff on "take-home case" days. That's some great insider information. It let's us know that it has a personality all its very own.

A year round ale that is a favorite of the brewers. Sam exclaims, "...we hope you're down with the brown!"

 I am.

Dogfish Head - My Antonia

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

My Antonia Lager 
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale, cloudy golden color.
Sweet surprising pear nose followed by copious hops aromas.
Tightly bubbled, one finger crisp white head with spotted lacing.
Tart and zesty fruit taste. Moderate amount of hops. Drying finish.
Medium carbonation.
Easy to drink, even at 7.5% ABV. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Dogfish Head. You think that name -  you say that name - and you remember their logo label says, "Craft Brewed Ales". Coming from a self professed group of individuals known also for their motto, " Off-centered stuff for off-centered people", we find that as a bunch of radical thinkers, they can surprise themselves with even more radical thoughts. Case in point, this beer is a lager, not an ale. Make that a craft brewed Imperial pilsener lager.

The beer is continuously hopped, blending Noble hops from Germany with West Coast hops from the United States. The German Noble would likely be one of these: Hallertau, Tettnanger, Spalt, or Saaz. And the USA West Coast hops are more in line with those, that make up the major hops bomb beers, from breweries left of the Mississippi River.

The name, My Antonia, comes from an early 20th century novel by Willa Cather. She was a pioneering woman novelist during a time considered to be "a man's world." It was also a time when the old world European settlers were still moving west.  We can draw a parallel as to where the hops were chosen; some from Europe and some from the western United States. Drawing from time periods past and present; the writer and the story, the brewer and the beer, are all worth looking into.

To enjoy the pioneer spirit of writing and brewing, grab the book and the beer.  Then curl up with the pair in your own special reading space, when you have the chance.

Dogfish Head - World Wide Stout

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

World Wide Stout 
Dogfish Head - World Wide Stout
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 18.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (3 oz. sample)

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark syrupy black color.
Roasty, malty, chocolate, slight vanilla, and wine hits on the nose.
Creamy, one finger head. Caramel color that covers to a ring around the glass.
Syrupy textured and complex tastes of the aromas along with raisin/coffee finish.
Fairly thick bodied.
Not overly sweet. Not overly alcohol warming. Nice balance of the two.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This blog post was done live at the first ever Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Boulder Colorado. 108 bloggers were in attendance, from over five hundred identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by 12 brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. 12 beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Round #4

Me & son w/Sam Calagione at GABF

Next up, our gracious server is......Mariah Calagione, wife of Sam Calagione, from Dogfish Head.  Their company slogan is "off-centered stuff for off-centered people".  I have had the fortune to meet both of them on separate occasions this year.  Truth be told, they are actually some of the most down-to-earth people you're ever likely to meet.  Sam was gracious to pause from his busy schedule, and have a photo snapped with my son and I at the Great American Beer Festival.  He even took the time to ask our names and where we were from. Genuinely, a nice guy.

Mariah stopped by our table with some of the World Wide Stout and a plate of nonpareils chocolates to pair with the beer. She gave an excellent review of the beer and stated how it started as a 23% but they backed it off to 18%. Maybe they should call it Wide Eyed Stout! But I digress...

Mariah Calagione w/stout & nonpareils

This is an amazing beer. Any super high ABV will usually have notes of booziness to it.  It was hardly detectable. It was almost too easy to drink. Hmmm, I could get into trouble with a couple of these!

"Fine brews from fine folks" would work equally well as a slogan for them. Thank you Mariah & Sam!

Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head - Life and Limb

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head - Life and Limb
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA USA
Est. 1980
www.sierranevada.com
http://www.sierranevada.com/about/content/life-limb_release.pdf  

Dogfish Head - Shelter Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com
www.dogfish.com/community/news/press-releases/life-limb/limb-life-brews-at-sierra-nevada.htm 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 24.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color.
Roasty malt aromas with caramelized candy sweet smell..
Slightly less than one finger of foamy tan head.
Not much head retention, but there are scant 'legs' of lace like in distilled products.
Dried fruity taste with immediate bit of sourness that immediately smooths to maple sweetness.
More grassy sweetness from the birch syrup and a slight nutty finish with a small bite of hops.
Medium carbonation.
Medium bodied mouth feel. Very smooth and balanced. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Good things happen when good people come together with a passion for beer.  Ken Grossman and Sam Calagione of Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head breweries have come up with this collaborative strong ale.  Made from exotic things such as pure maple syrup from Sam's family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown by Ken's "farm" at the brewery in Chico.  Not your ordinary ingredients in beers and ales, but we aren't talking about your ordinary brewers here.

The counterpart to this brew was "Limb and Life", made from the second runnings and brewed to an ABV of 5%, or half that of its bigger brother.  Limb and Life was available in select locations on tap and meant to be the session ale whereas Life and Limb was meant to be sipped.  I was fortunate to be in the store when their one and only carton of Life and Limb was opened.  I have been relishing sampling this bottle for several months now.

This ale has a unique taste.  I am glad to have aged it for several months so all those flavors could commingle.  It would make a wonderful after dinner sipper.  It goes equally well on a sunny, lazy Sunday afternoon, which is how the gang and I enjoyed it.

As The Reaper,  it's my job to know about life and limb, but it appears these two beer maestros were able to drop some knowledge on me with their "Life and Limb"  Muahahaha.  See if you can't still get your hands on this while it may still be available.

Dogfish Head - 60 Minute IPA

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Dogfish Head - 60 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (On Tap) 

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep golden color.
Hops aromas; citrus.
One finger white head with stringy lacing.
Well carbonated.
Hoppy taste with some malt inclusion.
Medium body with noticeable hops zing.
Sessionable, if you are a hop head. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
60 IBU's, 60 hop additions in a 60 minute boil, and we have Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA.  Wonderful stuff for hop heads.  This IPA has a punch in the nose of hops smell and tug on the tongue of hops taste.  Watch your step if you are timid of hops.  A great brew from Sam and the gang at Dogfish Head.

Also available in 90 minute and 120 minute versions, for the more daring.

Dogfish Head - Shelter Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Dogfish Head - Shelter Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy amber color.
Slight sour taste with nascent hops.
One finger tall, white foamy head.
Hops and malts are in there, but muted.
Active carbonation.
Medium mouth feel with watery finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This is not a hop monster of a pale ale, but sometimes you need an easy session drinker.  It was not so remarkable as to set it apart from the sea of pale ales in the market.  But consider for a moment that it is from Dogfish Head and you know that it is quality brewed.

Nothing more to say.

Dogfish Head - Festina Péche

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Dogfish Head - Festina Péche
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE USA
Est. 1995
www.dogfish.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Cloudy, pale yellow color.
Tart fruit aroma with subtle sweetness.
Fast dissipating, crisp white head with zero lacing.
Ticklish carbonation throughout.
Light, dry mouth feel.
Crisp yet tart/acidic finish and flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Interesting 'summer' brew that was in a sample pack from the jumbo liquor store. Since summer is still upon us in south Florida while others are at or on the fringe of winter's doorstep, we'll give it a go.

First off, this is not a beer in the usual tradition. That is to say in its taste.  Well, what I'm trying to say here is you have to try this for yourself.  It rolled onto the tongue tartly, leaving hints of peach sweetness at the edge of your sensory periphery.  I likened it to Asti Spumante at one point.  See if you don't think so too.

From reading up more about the Berliner Weisse style, I found that it is not produced much these days.  Give Dogfish Head kudos for experimenting with the style and bringing it to our palates.

I really must get around to trying one of their beer beers after sampling some of their more off-beat concoctions.