I have mentioned on several occasions the concept of ''crown jewel'' beers in our better beer world. These are the beers that are almost, if not completely, perfect. They manage to hit the nail on the head on every important stylistic trait, and in turn, manage to be some of the most delicious creations known to man. And while many may want to argue me on some of my ''crown jewel'' choices, there is one in particular that is almost unanimous no matter who you ask: The 90 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head.

In the glass, its perfect. What? You're not gonna let me get away with that? Fine. It takes on a hazy amber brown coloration with about a fingers worth of eggshell colored head on a hard pour. Give it a few minutes and you still have a very nice film floating on top that leaves great lacing throughout the session. Considering that it gets its name from being continually hopped for 90 minutes during the brew process(and not to mention being dry hopped after that), it should be no surprise that the aromas coming from the glass are completely hops dominated. It is very herbal, earthy, pungent and non-stop. At times pine resin rules, but with a swirl of the glass it becomes very fruity and floral. Think fresh pineapple and peaches, and you are on the right track. And laying beneath the abundance of hops is a slightly sweet, but mostly bready malt backbone that shockingly manages to give it what all imperial IPAs absolutely must have: balance.

When you go in for the first taste, you might be surprised by how remarkably drinkable this hops bomb is. In balance one can find true beauty. Write that down. It's a good life lesson, but a very important beer lesson. Dogfish Head has made no secret of the fact they are giving you a bottle of hops ruled liquid, and yet it is smooth, far from aggressive, and amazingly well balanced. Yes, all of the hops flavors are there, but not once do they ever become overpowering. Oily pine resin is upfront, with the earthy hops close behind, and then the fruity layer seems to take control until the subtle but sturdy malt layer comes though in the form of light caramel and fresh baked bread. There is a bit of a hops tingle on the tongue and in the mouth, but it will never be mistaken for a full blown sting, and some alcohol burn can be sensed at the back of the throat and in the nostrils as things finish up. Toss in a slightly sticky mouthfeel and an herbal hops aftertaste, and what you end up with is sheer beer perfection.

I feel like I should have written 10 times as much as I did in this review to adequately describe it, but the 90 Minute IPA ends up being once of those instances where words have a hard time getting the job done. You really need to experience this one first hand to be able to fully appreciate it. Granted, those with a less seasoned palate might have some difficulty with a beer this big, so steering clear of it might be temporarily advisable. Dogfish Head makes it year round though, so when you finally work your way up to it, there will be plenty to go around. Those with more experience in the better beer world, and yes the hop heads especially, should fully take advantage of its year round availability. And if you need help working it in somewhere, just tell your boss that you are taking a 90 Minute lunch break and give it a spin. Technically you could have one in an hour, not be guilty of a lie, and odds are it would make the rest of your work day a lot more enjoyable...BrewChief style.