Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA (through 2007)

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

Amber color, very miniscule head. Hoppy aroma. Not too strong, though definite hop flavor with an earthy, floral feel. Not terribly bitter. This would be a nice introduction to IPAs for someone who may get scared off by a stronger, more hoppy example. Call this a relaxing, almest session IPA.

Bottle Poures a slightly hazy amber with a very large fluffy off-white head. Aroma is a strong hops smell witha little sweet honey. Lightly roasted grain. Flavor is of wood, grass and hops but not so sharp. The malt balances it out I think pretty well. I imagine IPA purists would think it weak but I rather like it. Feel is very smooth, leaving me with a slight bitter remonder at the end.

Bottle. A light amber coloured beer with a thin off-white coloured head. The aroma has great piney hops. Grapefruit bitterness in the nose draws you in, and makes you long for the taste. The taste is also nicely hoppy. There is asuprising sweetness though. Long finish. Sometimes a hoppy beer is just what the doctor ordered so this went down a treat, but in truth it’s only an average IPA.Score 3.6
Subsequent rating also scored 3.6.

I enjoyed having Goldings in the aroma instead of just PNW hops, and of course Chinook hops derive from Northern Brewer. Snake Dog pours with a small head but with plenty of retention and hop lace. This is a very hop-forward ale, which many Ratebeerians have found unbalanced. Although the malt is reticent, it contributes almost enough roundness and sweetness to soften the hop’s edge. The dry hopping strongly asserts itself in the finish. This probably resembles the historic IPA’s actually exported to India. Since I live near D. C., I’m probably drinking the Frederick, MD version, which is very well made.

Bottle (mine says 6,4% ABV). Lemon peel, pine, soap in the aroma leading to a malty flavor with good balance between the different parts: Orange marmalade and caramel Long bitter "grapefruity" finish with hints of alcohol. Very clear copper colored with lasting cream colored head. Very nice and drinkable IPA with firm bitterness. Some more aroma would be nice though.

12 oz. bottle from Plaza Liquors - Pours a clear amber color with a one finger thick off white head. Light lacingAroma is esters and floral hops. Flavor is light toasted malt and hops. Medium body. Fairly smooth with a slight bitter bite. A good, easy drinking IPA.

Pale copper with a weak white head. Lovely aroma of caramel, resiny english hops, quite piney and good malt complexity and strength to live up to the IPA tag. Nice full caramel body, strong hopping with english hops, with a nutty toasted untertone. Quite sweet, but reasonably balanced by the assertive bitterness. Comes together so well to make one of the better English IPA’s that I can remember tasting.

Pours amber caramel into the glass, with a nice head, retention and superb lacing. Nose is decent, typical of style with grapefruit and pine present. Good grapefruity citrus quality to this one. Not quite as much sweet malt as I would’ve expected, but the pine comes forth in the finish, a well-bittered dry pepper that lingers just long enough. Floral accents from beginning to end, the bouquet to the finish. The mouthfeel is a "light round", satiating but cleansing, and Snake Dog’s mild complexities make for a decent traditional offering.