Flying Dog Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo

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

A nearly viscous pour of ultra-dark brown was pinned beneath a mammoth tan head that was rocky and slow to dissipate. Good lacing. The aroma was roasted malt, wood, whiskey, vanilla and chocolate. The flavor was roasted malt, chocolate, light coffee and some definite hints of whiskey. No boozy heat, just some defined flavor. The mouthfeel was medium to thick in body and super smooth. Quite enjoyable.

Super thick pour with huge head. Lots of chocolate in the nose, along with coffee and maple. Burnt bitterness lingers in the finish. Clean and highly pleasurable. This stuff can only be described as "king-hell" good. You do my man Hunter S. proud.

Black pour with a thin brownish head. Nose is sweet malt, whiskey and a touch of oak. Flavor is almost like a chocolate liqueur, with lots of nice vanilla character as it warms. Very enjoyable.

WOW! I loved the regular Gonzo, but this is a new experience altogether! Pours black with a dense brown head. Heady aromas of chocolate, coffee, whiskey, and leather. Big in the mouth, heavy and silky. Chocolate and oaky vanilla are complimented by a spicey and subtley hoppy finish. There’s coffee and licorice notes to be teased out as well. Not nearly as hoppy as the regular Gonzo-- a totally different beer in my experience, and one that I paid $24 for a bottle but worth every single penny!!

25 oz bottle, via Odeed. Pours a flat black body under a very large fizzy brown head that outlasted my patience. Lots of active carbonation. The bourbon is pretty subtle, more oak than spirit actually. Heavy roast, licorice, bitter chocolate, and a slightly sour note. The flavor is very heavily roasty and fairly dry with alot of oakiness. I don’t really get much bourbon at all till the late finish. Bitter chocolate, coffee, and some hefty bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a lot of fizzy foaming carbonation. A little bit of clinginess on the finish. Overall, I really liked the original beer, but this barrel aging did nothing for this.

Pours very dark brown with a ridiculously large light brown head. Basically the whole first pour was head, out of control. The aroma has some chocolaty notes but a citrusy fruitiness interferes negatively. The taste is way off, ok base of generic roast barley notes, but a lot of alcohol and serious sourness, just plain inappropriate for the style. I could be convinced of a whiskey flavor to it, but this is a serious disappointment after a good string of barrel-aged imperial stouts I’ve had. Stick to the regular gonzo porter, it’s much better.

Um thank to eagle? This was a train wreck. Poured black and way to carbonated. Out of control couldn’t keep it in the glass head. Aroma was way off sour maybe some diacetyl. Flavor good not at all. Sour astringent just plain awful.

3-2-08 bottle shared at tasting
Black color with a great lasting tan head. Smell is lemon pine roasted nuts. Hops are faded but it has an oaky and interesting flavor profile. Nice body that is rich and fitting. Overall, one of the better strong ales I’ve had.