Nuclear Smile
Flying Dog Brewery

 

Flying Dog Brewery "Nuclear Smile"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle coded "FOR OPTIMAL FRESHNESS ENJOY BY 09.05.23"
$3.29 @ Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE

Notes via stream of consciousness: So what is this? A hazy double IPA at 10%!!! Wow. It's hopped with Mosaic, Azacca, and Sabro hops. It's poured a lightly hazy amber colored body with visible particulate in suspension. I'll assume those are little specks of hops. The head is a finger's width or more of white but it doesn't seem like it's going to be around for too long as I can see it starting to dwindle. The aroma isn't that bright but I get the alcohol clearly, as well as some sweetish malt and a light bit of dull citrus. The taste reminds me of a hard candy, perhaps something like pineapple flavored LifeSavers. It's sweet but balanced by the alcohol and a firm bitterness so it finishes mostly dry. The fruitiness offers pineapple, tangerine, strawberry, peach, apple, and passionfruit. There's probably more there if you keep looking but the sugar and alcohol is throwing me off. It finishes with some dry woodiness lingering, and I think a bit of coconut and vanilla as well. It's an odd combination with the alcohol and the sweetish malt and dull fruitiness, and to be honest I think it's the alcohol that's the problem. You know who would like it? Russians. Russians love strong beers with the alcohol showing. In the mouth it's medium-full in body and smooth except for the light slap of alcohol. I appreciate that they were trying to do something exciting here, and going for a very strong beer, but it just didn't work out in my opinion. The alcohol is too clear, and that kills the head retention and lacing, and also causes a weird mix between the malt and the hops.
Review #8,908

Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped goblet: color is murky gold, head presents briefly at 1/4 inch thick then dissipates to nothing, limited lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is muddled and odd in a way - slight booze, some wheat paste, hop notes of citrus pith and berry, light earth and pine.

Taste is more booze and wheat, hopping is citric, muddled berry and earthy notes, maybe some herbal quality.

Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness, lingering presence on tongue.

Overall a boozy, big DHIPA - feel like there is a heavy wheat component that softens the hops/booze while creating odd aroma/flavor notes; drinkable but different.

 

 

 

Hazy amber appearance with a small off white head and sparce lacing. Plenty of tropical fruit in the aroma along with some notes of orchard fruit. Taste also stays focused on the tropical fruit. Getting some coconut in the aftertaste. The high abv keeps things mellow while adding depth to the flavor and body. Decently carbonated, full-to-medium bodied mouthfeel.

Pours an effervescent gold with a thumb eggshell colored head. Alright head retention & lacing

S: Melon rind, breadyness, pears

T: Green melon, breadyness, passion fruit, dryness & a little booze bite, a touch of white grape skin up front. Boozey grapeskin & green melon, a touch of papaya and a little dryness once warm. Finishes dry, with papaya, green melon & faint Blood Orange notes

MF: Fairly thick with moderate carbonation, alright balance

There is nothing wrong with this. but it doesn't compare favorably to the Titans in this genre' and had a little bit of a rough edge

Wanted to like it but it’s just not working for me. Very sweet too sweet cloyingly sweet just not. Working for me. Like these guys and some of their beers but this is not one that’s working for me.