Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA (through 2007)

Formerly brewed at Flying Dog Brewery
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Frederick, Maryland USA

I kind of feel that this beer is underrated. In the right setting I think this beer would be fantastic. It has plenty of lemon and grapefruit and some pine, which are perfect for the summer. The reason I feel this beer is under rated is that it offers many tasting notes to one gulp.

aroma of hay, hops and some corn. taste is rather bland for how it smells. you feel left with a somewhat empty feeling. It was recommended to me, but I am not very impressed. I won’t buy this again, but I would drink it if it was offered to me for free.

Pours a very lightly hazy, glowing medium orange-amber color. A small, foamy, off-white head settles to a thin film with a small edge. Minimal, scattered traces of lace dot the glass. The aroma is quite nice, showing bright orange hops, grapefruit, and sweet melon notes over a creamy, caramel malt base. Some resinous hops sneak in on a deep inhale, though they play second fiddle to the fruity, citrus element. The flavor is more of the same, however a disappointing influx of cereal grains dulls things down a bit. Well balanced between hoppy and sweet, this one sports a smooth, medium body and mouthfeel. Finishes quit bitter. This is a nice, easy drinking, run-of-the-mill IPA.

Bottle at home ... Nice sharp light copper colour ... strong american hop ... tart pine little sweet ... juicy american hop ... decent enough but just not got the balance. little bitterness in linger.

Bottled (4,7% ABV). A lightly hazy amber beer with a medium sizes and not much persistent white head. The aroma is rather hoppy, with citric fruits notes and with some caramel malt. The flavour is hoppy, though less bitter than many other American IPAs. Usual notes of grass and grapefruit. Light to medium body, lively carbonation, dry finish with medium to high bitterness. A nice IPA, perhaps less extreme than others, though quite intense.

A nice beer, Good appearance, strong flavours of citrus and a slight touch of pepper.

I’m almost embarrassed to say that this bottled American beer was probably better than anything I had on cask at the Derby Winter Beer Festival. It’s similar to Goose Island IPA without being as complex, but still thoroughly enjoyable, full of citrus fruit and hop flavours. I’m confused about the ABV, which I’ve seen listed at different amounts.

Brown and copper in color. No head, but plenty of good lacing. Smell is hops, mostly piney and "cleaner" in smell. Taste is bitter hops with some decent basic malts helping out. A beer that you would expect on draft at a sports pub. Where the focus isn’t on the beer, but it’s along for the ride. Eh.