Flying Dog Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo

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

Sampled on tap at Brixie’s 75th anniversary beer tasting in Brookfield,IL. Poured to my fluted fest glass a thick looking black/brown hue,with a lasting dark tan, foamy head, and tight, clingy lacing. The aroma was roasty, a hint of oak, sweet cocoa,and creaminess. The flavor added to these a touch of vanilla bean and warming alcohol. Thick and creamy, and the biggest brew of the tapping.

08-AUG-2009, bottle @home. Wonderfull nose... First the very oily, very dark look. Not much head. And then the nose... This is how I would like a barrel aged beer to be. The wood is there, but not overly dominating. Loads of english liqouorice, vanilla, chocolate and tar. Bitter and slightly alcoholic, but all in all very balanced. A sipper.

Bottle. Near black colour with a pale brown head. Aroma: sweet and malty, whiskey, roastiness, dill, alcohol. Flavor: roastiness, sweetness, coffee, chocolate, whiskey, dill, dry oak, alcohol. Too much oak influense in this beer.

Bottled@ChrisO. Rubyish red colour, small brown head. Aroma is very beautiful oak, vanilla, plum, sweet malts, liquorice and mild roasted notes. Flavour is even more oaked, slightly plummy and mildly syrupy. Balanced and lovely.

<i<courtesy of Pascal Sauser - dark black colour with a little beige foam; solid woody aroma with notes of pralines and black chocolate; fair hoppy notes behind; full-bodied, thick and oily, very tasty, a bit lactic and very bitter, woody and chocolatey finish, very hoppy with some sweetness in the background

A Mes rate: bottle at home thanks to Tom.
A bloody good looking beer. Black as night with a pretty solid coffe with milk coloured head. It’s rather heavily boozy on the nose but it’s still bloody excellent. Loads of chewy dark chocolate, bitter roasty coffee notes and plenty of barrel showing but not so much whiskey. The flavour is pretty similar but with a big slew of tobacco. Sadly it doesn’t work too well for me. However there are plenty other goodies to enjoy. Just a hint of vanilla complements the bitter chocolate notes well and along with the whiskey it works really well. A little hot in the finish but it’s not really a spoiler. lengthy wooden notes in the aftertaste. Good stuff but not outstanding.

RBESG Sheffield 2009 Grand Tasting at the Harlequin. Black colour, light off white head. Aroma of vanilla, bourbon, caramel, very sweet and a bit boozy. Flavour is sweet, vanilla, bourbon, coffee, alcohol, bit of liquorice. Very alcoholic. Medium bodied. Lacked the aggressive flavours of the regular Gonzo imo.

Bottle. Black beer with a strong head. The aroma is deeply bitter and coffee, and the flavour is very bitter, smoked and roasted. Overall a good beer.