Dogfish Head 60-Minute India Pale Ale

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The Pride of Delaware

Anthony Says:

Delaware. One of the original 13 states that participated in the American Revolution and the very first to ratify the Constitution. Yet, most people can’t even name the state capitol (is it Wilmington?), let alone speculate as to its beer brewing pedigree. Since its founding in 1995, however, Dogfish Head Brewery has single handedly put the Diamond State on the craft-brewing map, both national and international. And with little doubt, the diamond in the Dogfish tiara is its excellent array of IPAs. Dubbed according to the amount of time they are left to boil, these are some of the hoppiest beers you will find just about anywhere. Despite having the shortest boil of the Dogfish family, and thus the least amount of hopping, 60-Minute IPA is no exception.

Pouring a rich, dark gold with a light cloudy head, 60-Minute gives off a powerful aroma that seems to leap out of the glass. The nose is a complex variety of appetizing hop scents: flowery, piney, sharp grapefruit undertones and hints of tapioca pudding. While I’d like to say that this beer holds some hidden surprises, what you see (or smell) is pretty much what you get: rich, earthy hops flavor. The use of Warrior bittering hops imparts a sharp, tart bite that doesn’t linger long, and while citrus flavors are pronounced, the spicyness characteristic of some other American IPAs is fairly subdued. Perhaps more than anything else, I was slightly taken aback by how pleasantly crisp and smooth 60-Minute is, despite of a chewy almost starchy consistency imparted by the malts.

Combining high quality ingredients with excellent craftsmanship, 60-Minute not only stands out as one of the better American IPAs, but also demonstrates that heavily hopped ales can be equally as accessible as the light lagers that dominate the North American beer market. Moreover, in doing so, 60-Minute does much to disprove the popular trope that craft beers need sacrifice drinkability in favor of quality and complex flavors.

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Gatlin Says:

It is almost hard for me to review this beer. I’ve been purchasing 60-Minute consistently since it arrived at the liquor store and it has become my usual go-to brew. All I have to say editorially is: if you live in Ontario, hop on down to the local LCBO and pick-up a six pack. This is really a great beer.

Technical Rundown:

• Container: 355 ml brown glass bottle
  
• Alcohol: 6% by volume, 4.8% by weight
  
• Colour: 10 SRM
  
• Bitterness: 60 IBU

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Off the pour emerges an amazingly bright, white head that slowly reduces to a small-bubble film that leaves some decent lacing. The body is a perfect orange-copper colour with moderate visible carbonation. The smell is full-on, up-front hoppiness. Beautiful floral and citrus notes are followed quickly by a very intriguing vanilla / oak maltiness. The combination reminds me slightly of root beer.

The taste is once again an up-front hoppiness which is both floral and citrusy. On the back end comes in a well developed malt base with the same vanilla / oakiness evident in the smell. The finish is a little dry and reminds me slightly of naphthalene, but in a pleasant way…. although I may be over thinking the finish. In terms of overall drinkability: as I said, this is my usual go-to beer.

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Some Final Thoughts

Anthony Thinks:

Pros

• Dynamic range of hop aromas & flavors
  
• Pleasantly crisp & dry aftertaste- highly drinkable for a beer this flavorful
• Very accessible beer

Cons

• Slightly on the expensive side
  
• Distribution outside of the USA is a little spotty
  
• Not a particularly well balanced beer- this one is all about the hops
  

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4½ stars. While perhaps not the most complex beer, Dogfish Head accomplishes what is sets out to achieve: provide a hoppy IPA brimming with flavor. Scoring high on quality, taste and drinkability, 60-Minute is a beer that should appeal to beer drinkers across the spectrum

Gatlin Thinks:

Pros:

• Quality craftsmanship
  
• Big flavours & bitterness
  
• Super drinkable- despite the big flavours
  

Cons:

• Hmmm…. Price? Availability? Maybe I’m biased on this one
  

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This is a 4 star American IPA overall. Big flavours and drinkability- I’m in. This is a great buy for just about anyone; the quality is so good a non-beer drinker may well enjoy it

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So, What’s On Your Mind?

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