Flying Dog Extra Special Gonzo

Brewed by Flying Dog Brewery
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Frederick, Maryland USA

Unlabeled bottle at Falling Rock. Called Gonzo Brett. Pitch black with absolutely no head. Thick oily legs ooze down the glass. Nose is wine, tart fruits, hints of vinegar and muted roastiness. Taste is thick roasty malts, tart fruit flavors, wine, light hops, faint coffee and sourness. Body is leaning towards medium-full and has some oily and slick feels about it. There’s also some moderate astringency to this. Ends with more wine, tart fruits, chocolate, roasted malts, and more sourness. This, overall, was especially sour with a lingering lactic tartness throughout the finish.

Much like everyone else...sampled at the GABF this year. Dark black color..there was a hint of a head nothing more. Big vinous tart nose....slight hint of roasty malt, but had to fight to find it. Full-bodied, thick mouthfeel....flavor wasn’t as pleasurable as I’d hoped...vinegary, sour roastiness...definitely burnt offerings. I see where they’re going with this, and that’s sort of interesting...just not my style.

Unlabled 750ml @ Falling Rock and more @ GABF 2006: I love Brett. Poured black with a minimal head. Awesome tart funk leather aroma over orasted malt and coffee. The flavor was tart, funky, and notes of coffee. Full bodied but silky soft.

#1700: Pour is black with no head...chocolatey bretty aroma...some subtle bourbon too...nice chocolatey funky flavor with some sourness and bourbbon hitting the finish...there is too much going on in this beer for it to really be enjoyable...

Bottle...Mid-GABF ’06 at Falling Rock Tap House, Denver... This beer rocks!... Pitch black ale with no head. Lots going on in the aroma and flavor... heavy notes of black cherries, wood, vinegar, dark fruit, dry red wine and a hint of coffee. Full-bodied and oily with soft carbonation. Pungent and burnt with coffee grounds in the lightly bitter finish. World class experiment!

GABF 2006. Bottle. Pours to a slick black body with no head. Nice viscosity. The aroma is hugely vinous. Sour lambic and interesting chocolate. Goes really well together. Intense chocolate and light sweet bourbon-like alcohol, nicely balanced acidity. Tart. Insanely balanced. Nice over powering tartness. Rich full feel. Bonus points for uniqueness and ability to pull it off.

black pour no real head actually starts to lace a bit. Aroma made up of prunes choclates sour lambic notes hints of funkiness wood present w/ touches of vanilla... very odd and very nice. Well coated lightly tart nice pucker affect. Puckeringly sour fruit notes alcohol in the swallow light roasty malts hints of whisky and chocolates still. very different and very good.

(750ml bottle) Pours a dark brown body with a moderate tan head. Aroma of oak, orange, lemon, and roasted malt. Rich, dessert-like flavor of butter, vinous, brett, vanillla, and a hint of cocoa with a sticky mouthfeel. Truely an unique twist on a baltic porter. Thanks for sharing Lumpy!