Why Are They Here?
Flying Dog Brewery

 

From the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. This solid red ipa pours a chill hazed reddish amber with a
very nice head of white foam that settles to a thick ring, thin clumping layer, and displays some
very nice lacing. Nose of caraeml, citrus notes of grapefruit and orange zest, spicy hops, and
pine hops. Flavors follow the nose with spicy hops, pine hops, caramel malts, toasted malt, pine,
pineapple, grapefruit, and orange zest. Mouth feel is medium, medium carbonation, smooth,
and finishing pleasantly balanced between caramel toasted malts and pine/citrus hops that
ends moderately dry.

Overall, a SOLID IPA!

Cheers!

Hazy orange-ish color. Malty and lightly bitter hop aroma and flavor; fairly strong with some piney notes. Good balance but definitely leans malty. Medium bodied with a malty dry finish.

More of a deep gold than an amber. Light haze. Caramel malt aroma with some vague hoppiness. Flavor is lightly sweet and malty, balanced by piney hops. Filling but not viscous. Hard to dislike a 9% beer that hides its alcohol.

A very close relative to Double Nugget Nectar. Sweet, piney, grapefruit forward, red malts, and rather viscous. A decent brew, but borders on cloying overall. Dial down the sweetness, and Flying Dog has something here

Poured from the bottle into a Libby style pilsner glass.

Pale bronze with a nice red to copper hued body color. Mostly clear with just enough to see a fine line of rising carbonation throughout the body. Fluffy topped khaki colored head, with fine bubbles. Pretty good staying power for a three finger head.

Decent aroma, if a little small. Slight touches of caramel, with little much noticeable of anything else going on if some pine muted hop action. Luckily at a 9% abv it at least doesn't smell boozy. Maybe a minimal touch of whipped light chocolate senses that keeps things interesting.

Palate hits nicely. Good solid body depth as the abv and sugars seem to create a more noticeable presence. Nothing too syrupy, but a decent sweetness cut by a very noticeable pine hop bitterness that gives a strong edge. Mid palate warms with touches of grapefruit rind but more of a pith bitterness than juicy fruit flavor. Finishes sharp but controlled and even some graham cracker sweetness to go with it.

Decent amber that even at a large imperial presence is quite drinkable.

Poured into a goblet: color is amber, head is light tan, head presents one finger thick with fine bubbles, head dissipates to thin ring along the glass sides, scant lacing.

Smell is a little subdued but presents with some warmth - light caramel, toast, pine, herbal notes, hint of citrus, grass.

Taste is similar with strong malt and caramel, some toast, followed by pine, earth, citrus, grass.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness.

Overall a solid strong amber ale with quality malt and hop strength.