Heat Series: Shishito Rice Ale
Flying Dog Brewery

 

I've only had a few beers styled like this one. I never really liked one until now.

This doesn't look normal in a glass. There is little head and it is clear golden colored. The aroma has a distinctive smokey character. It totally works.

The taste is of fresh ale at first, but the strong chili flavor bites in later. The finish is then dry.

This is still not a style I will pursue. Don't buy any more, Bob.

 

 

 

 

I just conducted a small horizontal of Flying Dog's beers back in mid-January & now it becomes incumbent upon me to keep current with their latest offerings as they become available. Note that I am the one responsible for the initial add, the Notes & the approved pic. I am even getting in the first review.

From the bottle: "Ale brewed with hot peppers."; "The fresh, yet smoky spice of the Shishito inspired us to change it up. Brown rice over malt. Ale yeast for sake. We could go on and on."

I Pop!ped the cap & began a gentle pour, in keeping with my New Year's Resolution and my Lenten denial. Aggro pours from bottles are now (mostly) a thing of the past. I am really coming to embrace a vigorous in-glass swirl since it is much less likely to bungle things up. This one was kind of defiant, forming a brief finger of fizzy, foamy, bone-white head that acted like pop & disappeared very quickly. Color was Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a light spiciness, reminding me of something, but I could not conjure it forth. Mouthfeel was thin, kind of watery, definitely nothing to get excited about. The base rice ale was so innocuous that it did not really register much flavor on its own, but it did allow the peppery heat to shine. It was a mild heat, though. I think that yesterday's Cherry Bomb was hotter. This was a pleasant, easy-to-drink beer, but I would have liked to have registered higher on the Heat Scale. Finish was dry, peppery and tasty, but I just felt unfulfilled.