Flying Dog Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo

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

I’ve heard reports of alot of bad bottles of this, but mine couldn’t have been any better. This one had about 6 months of age on it, and it was sublime. Pours thick and viscous like the regular Gonzo, but this one had a massive, foamy, tan head. Thick patches of lacing coat the glass entirely. The first things you notice about the nose are the heavy whiskey and oaky vanilla scents. Both are strong, though the aroma still manages to show all the baseline intricacies of the regular version, including dark chocolate, molasses, caramel, raisons and figs. Flavors follow suit, with each of the aforementioned characteristics showing a strong presence. Complexity is a strong suit here. Everything works very well together. The mouthfeel is big and viscous, but quite a bit dryer than the regular, seemingly from the oak aging. Finishes long, chocolaty, and woodsy, with plenty of whiskey overtones. Excellent brew. Wish I had more of it.

I’m not good enough to rate this beer. Just plain too much and overwhelming for my bad taste buds. Roasty whiskey laced porter. Burned coals from a campfire that was recently extinguished. Barely any carbonation. Big black appearance with chocolate mousse head. Plain old whiskey aroma. Overall a little scary.

750 purchased at some lil’ hole in the wall in Charleston, SC. At least this one didn’t explode on me! (I kid, I kid . . . well, not really.) It’s certainly promising based on the viscous pour, the dense head/lacing, and the fairly nice (if understated) oaky aroma. But the beer is a disappointment, quite frankly. A trace of hops is there at the outset, with most chocolate malts (which I really have enjoyed in the regular Gonzo) long gone. What quickly dominates are sour, spoiled dark fruits, combined awkwardly with a bitter baker’s chocolate. Flavors clash - dry and dank, burnt malt and vanilla - and it’s just a bit of a mess.

Pours a dark brown/blackish color with a massive dark tan head that stuck around for along time! The massive head almost made it look like I was about to drink a chocolate shake! Aromas were hard to obtain due to all the foam,but eventually whiskey,chocolate and alcohol aromas arise. Flavor is of oak barrel whiskey,chocolate,vanilla and malts. Mouthfeel is smooth as silk though. Nice smooth ending. Thanks Brewblackhole for sharing this one!

Got the whole box gift set. This puppy was way overcharged ,poured two glasses slowly and got massive heading in both,hard to get a true reading on aroma when your dealing with so much foam. Eventually you start getting a lot of the oak, and then the whiskey becomes evident and at long last some of the chocolate and vanilla comes through.Given all that carbonation,the mouth feel is as smooth as silk, Taste is oak laden malt, and bitter bakers chocolate as well as bittering hops, and a good share of alcohol,actual bourbon taste not that noticeable. Despite the smooth palate,there was a harshness to it,like there was an overabundance of something,or perhaps it sat in the barrels to long. Big and bold,still very enjoyable as a winter sipper

On tap Vintage Estates Boardman Ohio. Pours heavy black with a beige head. Vanilla, oak and bourbon with hints of roast and chocolate on the nose. Massive boubon and oak on the palate with sweet malt, roast, chocolate, and hops. Finish is very balanced and very enjoyable. If you have had the chance to have this, please, enjoy!

750 Ml big ole bottle. This is a rare find in this area, store had one and I had to try it. Pours really thick with that wonderful "glug" sound and an enormous frothy head. The aroma is as described, chocolate, oak and a little dark cherry. The flavor is much like the aroma. Full and very complex, with a texture that really coats my tongue. Alcohol very well hidden, but I think I will be hammered after this bottle is done.

very rich deep tan head. stately. pleasant aroma of hops and oak and chocolate. the oak aging adds to the complexity without dominating. there could be no better combination to the already well balanced brew. taken up anotch with the oak aging.