Bloody Mary Ale
Flying Dog Brewery

Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is gold, transparent, head is off white and presents 1/2 inch thick dissipating quickly to thing top, limited lacing on the sides.

Smell is mix of ale and lighter bloody mary mix - spice, pepper, horseradish, lighter tomato.

Taste is similar with a near harmonious blend of base ale and bloody mary mix that then quickly goes hot and burning to the stomach; notes of peppers, hot sauce, horseradish, tomato, celery all come to mind or is that just me thinking this is a different drink than presented?

Mouthfeel is low carbonation, low sweetnes, finishing with a hot burning present down the throat.

Overall this is a spicy but also flavorful ale - hotter than in fuller way than many/all chili beers I've tasted.

 

This was my least favorite beer I've ever had, glad it is retired.

I really love going out to The Beer & Beverage Shoppe on Roseville Road, off of the Fruitville Pike, but it can be problematic for me. They always have a deep selection & I am usually on the bus, so it becomes a matter of how much can I carry + the monetary outlay. My latest trip was with a buddy who has wheels & he had never been, so it was def worthwhile. On my last excursion, I found three of the four current beers in Flying Dog's Heat Series, but I do not know if I glossed over this one or if it was awaiting shelf space. Either way, I am glad to have it for drinking, rating & review.

From the Bottle: "A collaboration with George's Bloody Mary Mix"; "Garnishes may include (but are not limited to): Old Bay (R) rim, lemon wedge, lime wedge, celery stalk, green olives, mini gherkin, full-size gherkin, cheddar cheese cubes, jalapenos, jalapeno poppers, bacon, pigs in a blanket, cocktail shrimp, crab cake, brisket slider, bacon quarter pounder with cheese."

Well, that list did nothing but make me ravenously hungry! I will try to quell some of that hunger by Pop!ping the cap & performing a C-Line pour into the awaiting glass. That only worked to a small degree. I am still hungry, but I got a finger of fizzy, foamy, soapy, tawny head from my efforts, which quickly faded to wisps, leaving a modicum of lacing in its wake. Colorwas a gorgeous Deep Amber/Light Copper to Copper (SRM = > 13, < 17) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had an interesting tomato, horseradish and pepper aspect, kind of reminiscent of Bud Light Lime Chelada, but MUCH more palatable! This smelled like something that I might actually be able to drink without my gag reflex repeatedly kicking in. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste began with a solid spicy tang in my mouth and on my tongue, slowly building in intensity as I began to feel the burn. Whoa! I really began to get horseradish & just as I swallowed, the habaneros took 'hold. Phew! Once again, I could trace the length of my espohagus as it made its way into my belly where it lit off like a furnace. I will readily cop to being kind of wimpy in these matters, especially as compared to my younger brother & a couple of local imbibers, the latter of whom grow their own peppers to spice things up. Still, I found this to be just what I expect from & look for in the style. It was not overwhelmingly hot to the point of being painful, but it definitely had my attention. Remember, kids, rate to style, NOT to taste! My next mistake (?) was to lick my lips since it also really set them to tingling. Finish was spicy hot & quite dry. I would not want a steady diet of these beers, but I am always glad & happy to try them. YMMV.

 

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before 8/9/2018. Pours slightly hazy golden orange/amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tomato, horseradish, garlic, lemon, lime, citrus zest, dill pickle, celery, habenero pepper, Worcestershire sauce, peppercorn, cracker, white bread, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of bloody mary mix, peppers, lime, and bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big big tomato, horseradish, garlic, lemon, lime, citrus zest, dill pickle, celery, habenero pepper, Worcestershire sauce, peppercorn, cracker, white bread, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pepper/horseradish spiciness and light herbal/grassy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tomato, horseradish, garlic, lemon, lime, citrus zest, dill pickle, celery, habenero pepper, Worcestershire sauce, peppercorn, cracker, white bread, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of bloody mary mix, peppers, lime, and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from spiciness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and moderately bready/grainy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol for 6.8%. Light-moderate increasing pepper/horseradish heat through the glass, but not overwhelming. Overall this is a very nice spice/vegetable beer. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of bloody mary mix, peppers, lime, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and east to drink with the modestly spicy/drying finish. Was not expecting the big horseradish aromas at first, but it grew on me through the glass. Well balanced bloody mary mix, peppers, lime, and bready malts. Nothing overwhelming, just a little weird at first. A very enjoyable, unique, and well made style example.

This beer pours a clear copper with a minimal head. The aroma is spicy and savory, with roast tomato and pepper flesh notes, as well as herbs like basil and time, and Worcester sauce. The flavor starts with a sweet roast pepper and cherry tomato quality, followed by a good kick of heat and black pepper, finishing nice and tingly. the mouthfeel if full and sweet upfront with modest carbonation. Overall I really enjoy this beer - I was worried, because I actually do not like bloody mary's, but there was none of the Tomato Soup quality I cannot stand in the beer. Spicy and rather fun.