Tasty Seafood and a Tried-and-True IPA (Tastin' the Nation)

Ah!  Yet another tasty edition of "Tastin' the Nation" here at The Ferment Nation.  Over Easter Weekend, Citizen Elizabeth and myself had the pleasure of spending some time in Cape May, NJ.  Located at the southern tip of New Jersey, it is a scenic destination for anyone who likes white sand beaches, Victorian architecture, and seafood!

For the first night in Cape May, we had the luck to walk by The Merion Inn (pictured left in a watercolor painting by Patricia Rainey). Reading over their menu, their unique combination of flavors, a penchant for Asian flair in their cuisine, and seafood selection intrigued us enough to come back and eat there.

I ordered the flounder in a sauce whose name I forget, but it was delicious.  The fish was topped with artichoke hearts and capers.  Truly memorable.  I also had the one good craft beer on their menu, Dogfish Head's 60 Minute IPA.

In my mind, the 60 Minute IPA is a true classic.  It has just enough hoppiness, just enough body, and plenty of flavor.  Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA can cause issues as they are very easy drinking and 9.0% abv, and let's not even talk about the 120 Minute.  But I thought the 60 Minute IPA had enough bite and body to stand up to the flavors of the fish and sauce, but it didn't overpower the meal.  It let the dish speak for itself.  

Citizen Elizabeth enjoyed scallops with really tasty sides of wasabi mashed potatoes and a spicy Asian slaw.  You can see the 60 Minute IPA bottle in the shot below.  I have to admit that I tasted her food, and it was quite delicious, too.  I will let her tell her own version of the story, but maybe I will let Citizen Elizabeth take the lead in an upcoming review of The Cape May Brewery (will be posted soon!)

The Merion Inn had an "adult" elegance to it.  They had a beautiful bar, live piano music, we had great service, and it was lovely looking.  The one criticism of the place is that they need to invest in more craft beers for their menu!  Your patrons will thank you for it, Merion Inn.

Crossroads Russian Imperial IPA

Yeah, I just made up a new beer. "Crossroads" Russian Imperial IPA. It's half DFH Hellhound and half NC Old Rasputin. I can't even describe how complex it is. Ok, I'll try: smooth up front, the malts converge and invite you to the crossroads. Roasty and malty... Ok, let's go. Then a confluence of bitterness churns atop your taste buds, with the grapefruity citrus bitterness converging with the cocoa and coffee to create a whole new experience. Lured in, you take another sip. Not a good idea.

Perhaps the individual RIS and 2xImp IPA are more enjoyable by themselves. NC Old Rasputin is one of the best RISs (if not one of the best beers) in the world, and the Hellhound from DFH is known as a double Imperial IPA, which speaks volumes... Drink one then the other. Or... Mix them together and tempt fate.

DFH Hellhound on My Ale

Startlingly smooth, the 100 i.b.u.s and the 10% abv remain deep in the shadows. A shadowy figure stands at the Crossroads, ready to buy your soul for a pittance. Actually, just drink a few of these brews and you'll willingly hand it over. The hops are a touch citrusy and floral with a grapefruit essence, but supremely balanced.

Ya know why some people hate on Dogfish? Because they're spectacular. They produce extreme beers with extreme flavor and most of those end up extremely drinkable. Yeah, they're on tv. They took the craft beer industry by storm and continue to do so.

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale at Giumarello's

What: Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
Where: Giumarello's Haddon Twp., NJ
When: Saturday, April 9th, 2011
What-have-you: So smooth and groovy. Rich and malty with just enough hops to dry it out a bit. Not usually a brown ale guy, but this one is rockin'. I wouldn't mind putting this up against a Boulder Flashback IBA in a head to head tasting.

DFH Indian Brown Ale

Dogfish Head Namaste at PJ Whelihan's (Presidential Brief)

What: Dogfish Head Namaste
Where: PJ Whelihan's Haddon,  NJ
When: Friday, April 15th, 2011
What-have-you: Ultra cloudy with some citrus notes and a pleasant tartness. Perhaps some white and black pepper in the nose and finish, drying it out just a bit. I kinda get french fries in the aroma and some metallic zing at the end. If Magic Hat No. 9 and Allagash White had a genetically engineered love child, Namaste would beat him up on the playground.

DFH Namaste

Dogfish Head Festina Peche (Citizen Review)

What: Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score 4.0 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Sara B.

Dogfish Head Festina Peche (Citizen Review)

What: Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-Have-You: "Sweet, sharp, the tiniest bit sour, as befitting its inspiration. Nicely bubbly. much better in draught. Reminds me of: The best fruit soda ever."

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style Points: .75

Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score 3.75 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Jack W.

Dogfish Head Burton Baton (Presidential Brief)

What: Dogfish Head Burton Baton 10%abv
Where: The Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 7, 2009, 11:48PM
What-have-you: Like 9O Minute IPA with a touch of Raison aged in a cask of magical wine.

Read a review of Burton Baton (in bottle)

Read a review of Raison D'Etre

--From the office of the VP

Dogfish Head Black & Blue

Dogfish Head Black & Blue:

Starts off like a Belgian strong ale. Flemish sour comes on... then just before you say, "Well, that's just not quite my thing..." the sour turns to tart and the fruit emerges (currants?). Kinda like a Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale with a tremendous set of cujones.

Served in a chalice, this sweet-tart-rich ale is worthy of a special occasion. Medium bodied magic happens when flavor pops like a berry between your teeth. Trouble is... here we linger between beer and wine and mixed drink. Tor true ale lovers, this is something tart and different but pretty strong fruit flavors prevail. Fruit beer drinkers need to be aware of the possibility that the ale-ish-ness may have the final say. Flemish sour lovers may be left not puckered enough, though ale lovers and hop heads could find it too much for their tastes. But this beer is too good to be left homeless! I'm not sure to cry tears of joy or sadness for Dogfish Head Black & Blue. The reason I love it is the reason others may turn away.

Different as anything. But Dogfish Head is always doing the experimental brewing with crazy results. Embrace the twist that Dogfish Head puts on beer. Subtle to mind-blowing, Black & Blue does not disappoint. But it may confuse you if you're not ready. By the way, I'm not sure but I think DFH B&B is somewhere between 9-10% abv. Another kick in the pants. Expect high style and preference scores, but a little low on the accessibility scores.

Dogfish Head Black & Blue:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .79

Style: .975

Personal Preference: .895

Total Score: 3.66 Flags

Dogfish Head Punk

Dogfish Head Punk:

Rich and punkiny with a truly groovy warming quality which lends itself to maxin' on a chilly rain-soaked night. Medium to full-bodied. That's what a lot of pumpkin beers lack: body. Dogfish Head, however, throws down the gauntlet and unleashes their usual assault on our tastebuds. The fruity essence of pumpkin with stern yet mellow spicing gives a wine-like quality to this beer that Dogfish lovers have come to find as one of the signature features of their off-centered ales.

Not like pumpkin pie at all. Totally off-centered, as usual, in the lineup of pumpkin ales up for review in the weeks approaching Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Just a little dry while maintaining fruity goodness, Punk is a blood relative of Raison D'etre and Aprihop in presentation and spirit. Playful yet serious. Classy but on the edge. The kinda beer ya take home to mom...

(Click HERE to see the results of the Ultimate Pumpkin Showdown!)

Dogfish Burton Baton Imperial IPA

Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA:

Tremendous! Once again, Dogfish Head craftsmanship takes the art of brewing to a new level. So many IPAs are overcrowded with hops that they only appeal to a certain crowd. I'm a hop-head, so I enjoy the occasional smacking around of the taste buds. Generally speaking, though, the hoppy bitterness overtakes and eliminates smoothness. Not always, of course, but let's be honest with ourselves: Crazy hoppy beers aren't always the most drinkable for the long haul. But the Dogfish Head artistry has proven once again to be the stuff of legend.

Burton Baton appeals not only to hop-heads, but true ale lovers as well. Great body, clean finish, and beautiful complexity. There is a lot going on in there, but the drinker is never confused. That is, unless he or she has more than one. 10%+ abv is powerful good! Let this puppy open up in a wide-mouth glass or snifter. This also allows for adequate nose-room to get the fragrance involved. And be patient... warming it up just a tad will do a lot to release the complex flavors.

If you are not familiar with IPAs, I wouldn't recommend starting here. Work your way through the spectrum so you know your boundaries. Maybe start with Troegs Hop Back and Nugget Nectar. Check out Victory Hop Devil and Hop Wallop. Kick it up a notch with Weyerbacher Double Simcoe or Stone Ruination. Sample what you can, and then appreciate the grooviness of Burton Baton.

Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA:

Representation: 1.0
Style: 1.0
Accessibility: .90
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total: 3.9 Flags

Raison to Live

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

One of my all-time favorites! Dogfish Head Brewery holds nothing back when they brew their "off-centered ales for off-centered people". Sometimes subtle, often over-the-top, Dogfish Head challenges beer drinkers to open their minds. Raison D'Etre is hard to describe because it is so near to perfection.

Raison D'Etre is a "deep mahogany ale brewed with Belgian beer sugars, green raisins, and a sense of purpose." The sweetness comes from raisins; this provides a deeper, fruity essence as opposed to a sugary one. There is a dry, wine-like quality that counteracts the sweetness, however, so the brew is dry and crisp -- not syrupy.

Around these parts, Raison doesn't usually appear on tap, but I've had it at Dogfish's brew pub in Rehobeth, DE. That is an experience. That taste is so distinctive that bottle or draft, you know you're drinking Raison!

This ale is entirely unique. It is a masterful fusion of fruit and beer and magic. From aroma to finish and right into your next beer, Raison D'Etre stands alone in its individuality. If you're trying this beer for the first time, hold onto your hat. The flavor forces your tastebuds into action right away. Your lungs struggle as Raison steal your breath. You heart breaks when the glass is empty. But stay alert -- your brain needs to know that Raison is 8% abv.

If you love beers that take a chance with bold flavors, drink Raison D'Etre. If you dig a good belgian tripel and an ale with a good body ... if you like the complexity of a dopple bock or a weizenbock ... perhaps the refreshment of a fruit beer ... dryness of a wine ... This beer has it all. Bold and beautiful.

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre:

Representation: 1.0
Accessability: 1.0
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 4.0 Flags.