Comments on: Tactical Nuclear Penguin: Failure to Launch

By: Guest Post: Tasting Tactical Nuclear Penguin and Sink The Bismark Back-to-Back « Beer & Whiskey Brothers

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:13:59 +0000

[...] Penguin and Sink The Bismark back-to-back earlier this week and has lived to tell about it. And (unlike me) she appreciates these beers for what they are – a raw, visceral head-pounding good time. Her [...]

By: Elliot

Elliot — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:59:41 +0000

@Brian

120 is a good beer on its own, but it tasted more like brandy than a beer. I didn’t think it was swill, but I do agree that the 90 is much more drinkable. I know more than a handful of people that will never try or drink 120 again. However, I thought DFH was completely outdone by Bell’s HopSlam. I’ve reviewed both:
DFH120 -http://www.beersurfing.com/blog/2009/12/10/of-hop-and-hefs/ HopSlam -http://www.beersurfing.com/blog/2010/02/03/hopslam/

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:39:26 +0000

I was lucky to get a taste, that’s for sure. I probably would have cut them more slack if I hadn’t tried Utopias first.

I’m a fan of imperial anythings and I’m always drawn to high ABV beers, but they have to taste good. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Maybe Brew Dog will get it right for the next batch.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:34:43 +0000

I agree that compromises were made to get the DFH 120 to top 20% ABV, Brian. But it’s drinkable. I actually have a friend who gets a craving for one now and again. It shows that DFH has standards, even if the 120 doesn’t suit everyone’s taste.

I’d rather have a DFH Fort. That’s one tasty big ABV beer. Those raspberries are put to great use. Reminds me of Mad Elf.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:24:21 +0000

I’m glad you brought up Dogfish 120, because I actually think it’s swill. For 10 bucks a bottle it’s definitely not worth it. I’d much rather drink 3 bottles of 90, than one of the 120. It’s drinkable, certainly, but the 90 is the better beer.

By: Michael Reinhardt

Michael Reinhardt — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:19:05 +0000

I’m envious that you got to try it. I’d love the chance to be disappoint, in this case. Oh, well. I’m brewing a really big beer right now that I hope will be pretty damn huge (but taste great).

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:02:10 +0000

It’s definitely worth trying, but I’ve come to the conclusion that any brewery (or homebrewer) can make an ultra-high ABV beer – making one that tastes good is the hard part.

Dogfish Head’s 120 walks up to this line and doesn’t cross it (very drinkable for a 20+ ABV beer). I’m sure they could make a 240 (or whatever) but wouldn’t want their name on it.

There’s something very frat boy about TNP that’s bugging me…

By: nate

nate — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:55:40 +0000

I kind of had this suspicion of TNP. I was actually going to write an article (and still might) about the alcohol race. Seems a bunch of breweries are just in competition to hold the title as “worlds strongest beer.” Does one become a brewer to make “great” beer or does one become a brewer to make “strong” beer? I’d prefer the former.
I still want to try TNP though.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:32:54 +0000

I appreciate your POV, but I can’t say that I agree. I think my comparison is spot on.

Fist off, TNP can cost over $100 a bottle when you figure in cost (£35 is roughly $70), plus shipping (up to another $50), etc. It’s super pricey, putting it in the same league as Utopias, even if it’s not more expensive per ounce.

Secondly, the first rule of brewing should be “make great beer.” This one isn’t even good – it’s just tolerable. Other breweries could probably acheive the same thing (these guys didn’t split the atom here) but might not want their label on such an unbalanced brew.

But you’re right in saying it’s like comparing Dogfish Head to Bud Light. One is a well crafted beer brewed with passion, the other is a driven by business considerations (profit for Bud, publicity in the case of Brew Dog).

I understand that the approaches might be different, but Brew Dog “took on” Utopias for the title of Strongest Beer In The World when they crafted TNP. They may have acheived that goal, but it was at the price of taste, and ultimately, the person drinking the beer.

I think we can all agree that’s not the way to go.

By: Don

Don — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:19:35 +0000

I think the reason Jim did that comparison, and he can explain more too, is because the same person gave him a glass of each brew. So in his mind they are linked. You make a good point, and basically the same one Jim made, that TNP was a stunt beer, and Utopias is a well thought out and lovingly crafted brew. High alcohol content is not always everything it is cracked up to be.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:09:29 +0000

Great review, but are you really surprised? You’re comparing a $35 beer to a $200 one. TNP is specifically designed to maximize the alcohol content (ie, they freeze the water out and leave the alcohol), while the Utopias are intended to be one of the most elegant beers ever created. With TNP, the alcohol is the target; in Utopia, it’s just a byproduct.

This is like comparing Jose Cuervo to Cabo Wabo, or (in beer-friendly terms) Dogfish Head to Bud Light.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:18:18 +0000

It’s a phrase that popped into my head when I first ran across Dogfish Head’s 120, which has an ABV of around 20 or so. It’s an interesting brew, but you can taste that the beer was designed to hide the alcohol flavor. It’s the kind of beer that you dare to try, hence the moniker. Use it in good health, Chad!

By: @BeerPoet

@BeerPoet — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:06:14 +0000

The beer might not be worthy but the moniker “stunt beer” is priceless! I may have to use that one, Jim.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:47:05 +0000

Yeah, I have a few Brew Dog selections in the garage, and I’m looking forward to trying them. But I have to say that after my TNP experience, a little of the luster has been lost.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:45:20 +0000

It’s definitely worth a try of course, but I was really disappointed. You’d think a beer with an ABV this high wouldn’t be hype-worthy if it wasn’t tasty, too.