Laughing Dog Dogzilla Black IPA

Brewed by Laughing Dog Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Ponderay, Idaho USA

THOUGHTS: This was my first beer from Idaho. It was truly unique. I’m really enjoying these dark, hoppy beers I’ve been trying like this, Boulder Flashback and Troegs Flying Mouflan. I think citrusy, piney hops in an imperial stout ruins some great beers. They are nice but not great impy stouts to me, but these dark, so called IPAs with tons of are great. They are like chocolate covered citrus fruit or like having fruit with an iced coffee at brunch. This one definitely reminded me of the other two beers I mentioned. Finally everyone is catching up with Dogfish Head India Brown Ale, one of my favorite beers. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a very dark, clear red that was tinged with black. It was like ox blood shoes with a large, off-white head that mostly diminished, but left excellent lacing. The aroma was moderate, roasted, toasted and nutty malts; moderate to heavy floral, and grapefruit hops; along with cherry, chocolate and cherry cordials. The initial flavor was rather sweet, acidic and bitter; while the finish was sweet, rather bitter and acidic with a long duration. The flavor was great initially, but then the hops walloped me until I couldn’t enjoy all the malt. There was nutty and roasted malts, citrus and floral hops, chocolate, slight coffee, and cherry cordial that was incredible at first, but the hops started to become a little metallic after the constant beating and the cherry cordial flavors were eventually hidden. The medium body was a little syrupy and grainy or gritty, almost sandy really. It had soft carbonation and a chalky and slightly metallic finish.

22 oz. bottle courtesy of a trade with ditmier. Pours a very dark, clear brown that allows light to pass through with a massive brown head. The head actually very much reminds me of what you would see on a root beer float. Pleasant aroma of malt, sugar in the raw, chocolate and grapefruit. The flavor is malt and chocolate with a bit of tobacco, followed by some astringent hops that carry very little flavor. I wasn’t crazy about the mouthfeel of this beer mostly because after each sip I ended up with a big wad of phlegm in the back of my throat that I had to eject. Very attractive when sitting with a group of people. Not something I would look to revisit anytime soon.

(Draught at Oliver Twist, Stockholm, 20 Sep 2009) Dark ruby colour, almost black. Brief beige head. Fruity, malty nose with notes of black-currant and fresh hops. Fruity, malty taste with black-currant, fresh hops and a hint of raspberries in the finish. More than medium body, mainly dry. Spritzy carbonation. Nice and tasty beer with a twist of berries.

Tap at OT. Thinn lace. Deep dark red color like a full bodied red wine. The aroma is dominated by black currants and violets. The taste is fruity with a long lasting bitterness that is balanced.

Draught at Oliver Twist, Stockhol, Sweden. Dark brown, small off-white head. Fruity and hoppy aroma with pine needles, citrus, and some dark chocolate. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Dry with medium bitterness.

Bottle split with Pat & Pwn3d. Pours a dark dark brown, nearly black body with light brown head. The aroma is strong hop presence. The flavor tastes like a delicious ipa with a mild roasted malt flavor in the finish.

Courtesy of PatrickFannon. First Dogzilla i’ve tried. Pours dark brown. Hop prensence over top deep malt, chocolate, and caramel. Good brew, better than I expected.

Bottle. Pours deep, dark brown, nearly black, with a biege, foamy head. The head is almost solid, with crags and peaks. Solid body with a crisp, smooth finish. Interesting dark IPA. Almost like a stout. Very good.