Jeff Eggleston
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery really needs no introduction to anyone that at least knows something about the industry. Started in 1995 by Sam Calagione in Rehoboth Beach, Del., Dogfish Head is at the top of its game when it comes to pushing the limits on what odd ingredients can be added to the mash and produced into amazing, innovative and over-the-top brews. Of course, its slogan fits its beers to a tee, Off-centered Ales For Off-centered People.
Some of its brews have contained unique ingredients ranging from lingonberries to hawthorne to even scrapple, yes, scrapple ! and have pushed the limits on abv with releases like 120 Minute IPA, Raisin D’ Extra and Higher Math clocking in in the 18-20 percent range.
Burton Baton Imperial IPA is one of it’s year round releases. A blend of an English style old ale and an imperial IPA, the two styles are fermented separately in stainless steel, removed, blended and aged in oak barrels for approximately 30 days and bottled at a strong 10 percent ABV.
Poured from a 12-ounce bottle with no visible bottling date, the color is a semi-deep amber with very light touches of burnt orange, a creamy white head with awesome retention, and average spotty lacing strewn all over the glass like paintball blasts.
Aroma is bold, with touches of slightly bitter hops, freshly mowed grass, yeast rolls, honeysuckle and lots of caramel and the taste has some of the same attributes as the aroma with the predominant flavors being sweet malt and yeast with essences of flowers, light herbs, spice, pine, hop bitterness, pineapple and overripe tropical fruits.
Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a lactose feel and a cool coating of the mouth with a slight soapy feel. Carbonation is light yet adequate and alcohol is somewhat subdued at first and emerges slightly as the beer warms.
