TASTING NOTES: Flying Dog's Double Dog

The availability of US craft brews has increased dramatically, which is no bad thing. The jealously felt by myself reading reviews and tasting notes of huge IPA's, barleywines and imperial stouts from inaccessible brewers left me champing at the bit. I have sampled many of Flying Dog's current offerings and so far they've all been very solid, their Snake Dog IPA is a fresh lively little ale however their Gonzo Imp. Porter shines above everything and is still one of my all time favourite brews.

On this occasion we have Flying Dog's Double Dog Pale Ale. Essentially its a 'double' version of their standard pale ale, a barleywine really with reasonably high IBU's of 85. At 11.5% its a big one, huge malt bill and lots of fresh cascade and columbus dry hopped also.

355ml bottle, served slightly chilled

It pours with a rich lively red hued amber body. Frothy nicotine stained head, lots of tight little bubbles on top forming

a creamy rich head.

Huge whiff of rich brandy alcohol on the nose, christmas pudding and alcohol soaked fruits. There's also a lovely citric hop character, lemon and orange rind and a little bit of muscavado sugar too. Sweet, syrupy malt character also

Smooth rich silky alcohol drenched fresh cascade hops. Caramel and toffee malt pushes back against a dry, quinine bitterness from the hops. A few tannins floating about in there too. A touch of fresh herbs and lavender in there too, permeated by a whack of crisp lasting bitterness on the finish. Little bit of alcohol on the breath but not in anyway overpowering, deceptively quaffable.

The yanks certainly have their own take on a traditional style. As we've seen over the last few years they know how to push the boundaries of a beer, adding more in everyway and to be honest with you I really can't say no to a huge abv IPA or barleywine such as this. It has enough depth and flavour to stick around on your palette for an eternity, you'll have fresh dry hopped cascade breath till the cows eventually get their asses homeward. Its a pretty well balanced brew considering, the hops don't overpower things as the malt bill and alcohol ensure things stay in control.

More to come soon. Next time, Brewdog's Zeitgeist black lager and Physics red ale. Plus, 24th November is Brewdog tasting night just a stroll away. I'll update with all the tasting that goes on...