Ferro's Liquid Lunch: Dogfish Head's Burton Baton Imperial IPA

Joe Ferro @FranchiseFerro

Back when I started enjoying this wonderful world of craft beer, the guys from Dogfish Head blew my socks off. I was intrigued by the hodgepodge of unusual ingredients and recipes they used to produce beers that were more along the lines of an alchemy project. Midas Touch was one of my first experiences with them. I'm some what of a history geek so when I learned this was their first in their "Ancient Ales" line I was excited. A 2700 year old recipe from the tomb of King Midas? Sign me up.

Now this is all to show that these guys don't mess around with their beer. The fact of this was hammered home for me when I found a show on Netflix called Brew Masters featuring the founder and head of Dogfish Head, Sam Calagione, going around the world to find quality ingredients and unique methods of brewing (see episode "Chicha" where everyone in the office has to chew corn to make an ancient corn based beer).

Now onto the BEER!! The Burton Baton Imperial IPA does not disappoint. Let's get something down right off the bat though, if you don't like big, hoppy, high ABV beer, please step away from the vehicle. This can and will put a hurtin on you. Now don't get me wrong the oak hides the high ABV well, which means the Burton Baton can sneak up on you. BB is a blend of young and wood aged Imperial IPA. It has a beautiful copper color, decent head with nice lacing. On the nose its spicy hop all day. Taste is raisiney with hints of cocoa. This is not a beer for a hot day. The high ABV does make it quite heavy, but I say screw it, blast the AC and line em up. Overall this beer is reminiscent of the 90 Minute IPA with a few surprise taste notes. 

This gets a Ferro Factor 4.5 out of 5 all day.

Check out Dogfish Head HERE!!


CHEERS!!!

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