DogZilla Black IPA
Laughing Dog Brewing

DogZilla Black IPADogZilla Black IPA
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From:
Laughing Dog Brewing
 
Idaho, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
77
Avg:
3.36 | pDev: 20.83%
Reviews:
286
Ratings:
518
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 08, 2023
Added:
Aug 02, 2008
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  23
True to its IPA roots Dogzilla has a massive hop presence that is Piney and Citrusy. A malty backbone, along with the dark malt gives it a bit of a roasty finish. Brewed with Simcoe and Cascade Hops, Pale Malt, Munich, and Black Barley.

69 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mikechance:
Photo of mikechance
Reviewed by mikechance from California

3.45/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A --- Dark with a nice amount of foam

S --- some hops, some dark fruit, figs, plums, yeast

T --- malt, dark fruit, fig, little acid aftertaste

M --- light body, decent carbonation

O --- it's a nice beer, but weak compared to the other Black IPAs available in the market
Dec 22, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. bomber. Almost black, clear dark brown with humongous beige rocky head, fluffy lacing, head at leas 1 inch over the lip of the glass. Floral, citrusy hops with some roasty malt in the background. Wonderful!
Feb 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by heysuz from Indiana

Oct 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Oct 29, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.81/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes and I received this in a trade. This was poured into a pint glass. The appearance was a nice jet black color with a one finger white to off white foamy head that must have sat there for a good minute before it decided to even make an effort to dissipate. The lacing was a nice spiderwebbed show in its entirety. The smell was such a nice allocation of roasted dark malts to coffee tones to the citrusy hops - all combined and leading into a nice satisfying aroma. The taste was exceptionally balanced between the citrus hops to the roasted coffee tones to the roasted dark malts. There was a nice citrus/coffee aftertaste and a long dry bitter coffee finish. On the palate, it sat about a medium in body and tried to show somewhat of a sessionable quality about it, however, I found it to be more of a sipper. The carbonation was fairly smooth and was mainly good for the style. Overall, in my opinion, this was a nicely done American Black Ale, well worthy of having again.
Jun 27, 2017
Photo of leefx
Rated by leefx from Arkansas

2.46/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Damn near a drain pour for me. Just not great at all.
Jan 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.53 by Treycotton from Oklahoma

Nov 21, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.39/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
I can see why they stopped making this one, it had some real variation issues, then when Total Wine got it, it just sat on warm shelves for months.

Very black color, drops light tan head. Aroma is the best part of this one, pine and orange/citrus together, some grapefruit.

Taste has around 50ibu, some from roasted malt, not too roasty. Simcoe hops. Without the pine and citrus this feels run of the mill, I've enjoyed it far more on tap than in bottles. The body isn't all that heavy or roasty, so maybe this is that dehusked patent malt. Either way, when its in its prime, its in that 2nd tier black ipa, when it isn't its just average stuff.
Aug 13, 2016
Photo of braker649er
Reviewed by braker649er from Washington

2.47/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Reviews are varied. Is it possible bottles are varied, too? I hope so, because mine was poor. Anyway, it has been retired, and I can't say I'll miss it. I wanted to like this for its black IPA ambition, but it was not to my taste, and that's putting it kindly. Trying to break it down fairly, the look was dark and cool, decent head. But the smell started to hint to me that this one wasn't going to work out. Taste was dank in a not-good way. Vegetal, like hop leaves. Something seemed to have gone wrong with the combo of the hops and malt on this. I did not taste citrus. I wonder if the bottle I drank was old? But it couldn't have been great to begin with. Mouthfeel was fine. But I still didn't make it through my bottle.
Jan 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.14 by chuckgietzen from Michigan

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.28 by Big_V from Maryland

Dec 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by GatorCoop from California

Aug 16, 2015
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From the 650 ml. bottle. It was bottle 03/11/15. Sampled on August 11, 2015.

The pour is a deep dark brown color to just about black with a foamy mocha head.

The aroma has a hop characteristic but more of a dark malt characteristic. Charcoal might be one word for it.

Mainly smooth and medium body.

The taste is of dark roasted malts leading to a moderate to bigger hop finish. Lingering. It has some Black IPA characterisics.
Aug 11, 2015
Photo of KomodoDragon
Reviewed by KomodoDragon from Virginia

3.77/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
One of those black ales where it's black put it up to the light and you can see thru it. Cream head, nice lacing.

Not much to smell. some raisin, maybe some tobacco leaves.

Nice roasted malts, subtle and a quick bitter finish.

too carbonated for my liking.

Drinkable, but just meh.
Jul 23, 2015
Photo of Oleyomoleyo
Rated by Oleyomoleyo from North Carolina

4.59/5  rDev +36.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Does not disappoint! Nice black IPA.
Jun 28, 2015
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 22 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of roasted malts, chocolate. Taste is roasted malts, smoke, some chocolate, hops are present, but in the background, finishes dry. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer.
May 20, 2015
 
Rated: 2.77 by miggs3030 from New Mexico

Apr 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.55 by ScaryEd from New Hampshire

Mar 30, 2015
Photo of Charlie_Mops
Reviewed by Charlie_Mops from Oregon

3.54/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Color was more of a dark amber than a full black color.
Head retention was exceptionally good, leaving almost a fine sea foam after sitting for 20 minutes.
Nice hop aroma and flavor, but lacking in maltiness.
Overall a nice beer for the price, but not one I'm dying to have again.
Feb 28, 2015
DogZilla Black IPA from Laughing Dog Brewing
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 518 ratings