A blind tasting panel of experts, including the New York Times’ Chief Wine Critic, has named Dogfish Head 90 Minute I.P.A. their favorite strong India Pale Ale. In an article entitled “A Taste for Brews That Go to Extremes,” the paper’s esteemed Chief Wine Critic Eric Asimov explored the growing popularity of what he dubs the “exaggerated I.P.A.,” an ultra-hoppy, strong India Pale Ale. Mr. Asimov also gathered a panel of experts, including Florence Fabricant, dining columnist for the New York Times, Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery, and Phil Markoswki, brewmaster at the Southampton Publick House in New York. Of the panel’s results, Mr. Asimov says, “Our favorite was the robust 90 Minute Imperial I.P.A. from Dogfish Head, a beer that balances its exaggerated caramel and chocolate sweetness with a bracing bitterness derived from hops.” In an interactive feature on the New York Times’ website Ms. Fabricant adds, “My favorite was the Dogfish 90 Minute I.P.A…. I thought it was particularly balanced and elegant.” When it comes to strong India Pale Ales, balance between the hop bitterness and the sweetness imparted by the malt is especially important to make the beer enjoyable. The style of beer exemplified by the Dogfish Head 90 Minute I.P.A. has exploded in popularity here in the United States in the past decade as the palate of the American beer drinker has demanded more and more flavor. For drinkers with a mouth for what some call ‘extreme beers,’ Mr. Asimov suggests another Dogfish Head beer, “If you sneer at the 90 Minute, Dogfish also occasionally issues it 120 Minute IPA, which at 20 percent alcohol, may well be, as the brewery contends, ‘the biggest IPA ever brewed.’” We truly appreciate the Times' coverage of the strong I.P.A.s and their love of Dogfish Head 90 Minute!!!!!!!