Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA (through 2007)

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

Aroma of a spruce forest, with earthy tones and floral hops. Medium to darkish amber color with a fair head. Medium body with a nice finish (if you like hops). I like this beer a lot, but I’m a confirmed Hophead. Its pronounced hoppiness may put off some people, but hey, it’s IPA after all.

12oz bottle from Florian’s - first time I’ve seen it in ME. Translucent amber-red body with a good inch of off-white head that sticks around. Citrussy hops with a good bit of caramel malt. Citrussy hops and caramel malt equally share the flavor. The mouthfeel is mid-range, but borders on syrupy which hurts the drinkability IMO. Not my favorite IPA, but a fairly solid one nonetheless.

An average IPA. Weak aroma of piney hops. Nice dark amber color but no head. Taste was too sweet for an IPA. Lots of malt that actually overpowered the hops. Thick mouthfeel with medium carbonation.

THOUGHTS: A beautiful looking beer. Smells pretty good too. A bunch of citrus hops. And then I tasted it. The sweet parts of this beer are watered down and you are left feeling like you are sucking on a mouthful of pennies. Rather thin mouthfeel too. I didn’t care too much for this one flavor wise. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Dogfish Head, but I think this is a poor IPA. The initial flavor was pleasant enough, but the finish was way too harsh for me. It does get better as you go along but it’s still not great. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, medium orangey copper with an average to large, off-white, creamy head fully lated and left excellent lacing, that almost competely coated the glass. There was also tons of beautiful carbonation. The aroma was lightly malty, and heavy orange and a liggle grapefuit hops. The Initial flavor was lightly sweet and bitter, while the finish was moderately sweet and harshly bitter with an average duration. The body was light to medium, a little dry and creamy with a metallic finish.

Beautifully transparent copper coloured pour with a light head from a 12oz bottle. Furuity. Mainly a grapefruit taste, much like the rest of the strong IPAs in the world. I don’t what pine tastes like or raisins smell like. I just know this was a damn good beer.

Bottle. Clear copper with a small head. Nice hoppy aroma with grapefruit and apples in the lead. Also a hint of raisins. sweet maltiness initially to be countered by steadily more pronounced bitterness. Citrus flavours are predominant. Medium body, rather flat. Highly enjoyable IPA that is just a bit too weak to receive standing ovations.

Aroma is very subdued but hops can be found with some effort. As expected, flavor is hoppy and piney but neither are overpowering. Malt is deep down and was first noticed by some residue found while licking my lips. A bitter aftertaste screams hops. A late taste is honey that is unique and pleasant. Snake Dog started out as a weak IPA but soon grew on me with its subtle quality.

Pretty weak for an IPA, but still decent. Piney flavor, light aroma. Less hoppy than the flying dog classic ale.