The Truth
Flying Dog Brewery

The TruthThe Truth
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From:
Flying Dog Brewery
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,382
ABV:
8.7%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,422
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 9.09%
Reviews:
202
Ratings:
932
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 08, 2024
Added:
Aug 03, 2013
Wants:
  59
Gots:
  291
If this isn’t the perfect IPA, it’s pretty damn close. Over the course of 3 years, The Truth was scientifically-engineered to be the holy grail for IPA lovers. Armed with a mountain of knowledge from our Single Hop Series, our brewers concocted a hop blend so aromatic, so complex, that you’ll almost forget you’re drinking an 8.7% Imperial. Its big pine notes and stone fruit underpinnings pair best with soft cheeses, shellfish, and late night poker games where you lose your children’s college savings.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by deleted_user_1237877:
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Reviewed by deleted_user_1237877

3.87/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look Light copper to orange, very, very slight cloudiness, about a half-inch head in a conical pint style glass. Good lacing on the glass
Smell: I get a light pine and grapefruit smell. Not as potent as other IPAs I’ve had in this category. The bouquet dissipated over the drink or maybe the 8.7% ABV hit me…

Taste: On first blush, I get a crisp pine/citrus on the front of the mouth, smoother and foam on the back of the pallet. First sip was good but not overwhelming to me like other highly rated IPAs in this category. No hard detectable alcohol, the other flavors mask it well. Has a good finish with some long lasting citrus on the back.

Feel: Very good for an Imperial IPA. Not thick or heavy but rather light and crisp. I drank it in the middle of winter and it would be better in the summer on a hot day. Had it with chili and nachos and it was a nice compliment, did not overpower the meal.

Overall: An excellent almost world-class Imperial IPA. In my mind, the only thing missing was a bit more smoothness. For me, Firestone Walker Double Jack is at the top of the heap in this category and The Truth makes a really good stab at knocking it off the top. I will buy more and pass them to friends.
Mar 18, 2021
More User Ratings:
Photo of SheepWBY
Rated by SheepWBY

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
bitter but fresh
Mar 08, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Jan 23, 2024
 
Rated: 4.03 by RBorsato from Virginia

Jan 07, 2024
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Darn near amber in color was the tip-off that this would be a malty IPA. And malt flavor was prominent. But that did not diminish the power of the hop. There's a 5-hop attack to this IPA, very aggressive pine first flavor. Booze and malt deliver a long finish that's pretty satisfying. Wouldn't characterize this as an outstanding beer, but if you want a potent punch-in-the-face IPA, you CAN handle The Truth.
Nov 18, 2023
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Rated by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

2.84/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can from a Flying Dog variety box:

C / AVERAGE
Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by beerrat from Virginia

Nov 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by saymike32 from New Jersey

Nov 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.68 by AndyGG from California

Oct 02, 2023
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

3.96/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A pretty beer. Copper colored, persistent off-white head, some lace.
Aroma is subtle. Sweet malt and pine.
Taste of caramel, bread, pine, and citrus. A hint of peppery spice.
Medium-bodied. Nice closing bitterness.
Sep 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by tux_alin from Romania

Sep 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.79 by kuhndog from New York

Sep 05, 2023
Photo of Oktoberfest
Reviewed by Oktoberfest from Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This was a 19.2 oz can poured into a Tubby glass. $2.99 for the can. I call that a bargain, though not the best I ever had.

This one's been around ten years but somehow I've never before had the pleasure. I see people calling it a throwback IPA, which is maybe why I like it. It's not thiolized, cryogenic, genetically altered, Phantasm-infused, or strained through the Shroud of Turin. Or hell, maybe it is. But it reminds me of beers of yore.
Aug 26, 2023
Photo of jandawil48
Reviewed by jandawil48 from California

3.44/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A bit too caramel and malt forward for me. Definitely a throwback IIPA, but a well executed one. My pallet has gravitated away from the maltier hoppy beers, but sometimes it’s good to come home. I’d never turn one of these down.
Aug 16, 2023
Photo of soxfanben
Rated by soxfanben from Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
I am in an Airbnb and I am forced to drink this out of a giant plastic mug and it is still awesome. I give it nine stars and 3 1/2 thumbs up.
Jul 08, 2023
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

3.77/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Beautiful beer, on the darker side with a nice coppery body. Good head production and retention.

Aroma is mild, but smells like a classic WC IIPA.

Decent amount of banana from the yeast on the palate; I wonder if perhaps it’s not super fresh, but at the same time the hops don’t come across as stale. Caramel grains, cracker, pine, pepper, candied orange, grapefruit peel.

A decent throwback IIPA, but nothing that completely blew me away. Less yeast expression would raise this one up a tier for me.
Jul 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by isaacsbeer from Indiana

Jul 04, 2023
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.79/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the Flying Dog Taphouse at BWI
Brilliantly clear deep amber color with big white bubbled head that shows great retention. Rich bready toffee and caramel with plenty of stone fruit tropical citrus and earthy pine to counter. Nice sipper.
Jun 11, 2023
Photo of adami
Reviewed by adami from New York

4.17/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Again with the pineapple notes? No way. Otherwise, agree heartily (and slightly drunkely) with other reviews here: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Slightly thick head (mostly because I poured impatiently). A pleasant, though not strong citrus smell. But forget all that - it tastes great! Yes to notes of grapefruit & pine. Tippling towards the bitter side, over the sweet - which is fine by me. One of the best IPA's commonly available in NYC.
Jun 01, 2023
The Truth from Flying Dog Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 932 ratings