Flying Dog Backyard Ale

Brewed by Flying Dog Brewery
Style: Smoked
Frederick, Maryland USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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Got this on clearance at a local beer store last fall, reading notes from tasting in November. Poured into sniffer a bright orange. Aroma was smoke, caramel and sweetness. Taste was mostly smoke and and roasty malts. Personally would not buy again, maybe for BBQ but probably not. Not that bad but not that great either. Guess being tied to a TV winning chef doesn’t mean great beer?

12oz bottle. Poured clear, fiery orange with a well-retained, sticky off-white head. The aroma picked up sweet, peaty smoked malts with bready notes and a touch of honey beneath.. some fruity notes way deep down.. not terribly complex, but I enjoyed it. The flavor found caramel and lesser fruity notes at the core, with peaty smoke emanating outward.. tart smoke and prickly carbonation on the edges.. finished with more of the same stuff, and in great balance. Medium-bodied with higher, most-of-the-time rolling carbonation on the palate.. just a touch too sweet for my liking, but it was a mighty smooth drinker.

Amber appearance. Aroma is smoky. Flavor is that smoky bacon flavor you get in many smoked beers. Can’t imagine pairing this with anything smoked, as it would just be totally overwhelming. This actually isn’t a bad beer - just totally not my thing.

12 ounce bottle from Wooden Keg in Hagerstown and shared at the 16th Richmond Ratebeer Gathering, 11/5/11. Pours a clear amber color with a thin head that fades quickly. Aroma of caramel, smoke, sugary notes and tea. The taste is sweet caramel malts, smoke, nuts and chocolate. Medium bodied. Nice.

Bottle. Light caramel color. Smoky aroma. Reminds me of gouda. Nicer smoky flavor with some sweetness.

Clear golden amber pour with ring of offwhite head. Nice smokey character on top of a good amber base beer. Fairly well done. Has a weird marshmellow finish. Good stuff, but not the best i’ve had.

Bottle from SL. Pour was dark dark amber to brown, thin white colored head that dissipated quickly. The aroma lacked the smoke depth of the flavor, although it was there with some caramel and faint fruit notes. The flavor was rich and strong smoked meats (canadian bacon, bacon, beef jerky, etc...), some ashy elements, caramel, fruits, and bread. Mouthfeel of moderate body and moderate to weak carbonation. This was very well done in the rauch style, imo, and I’m not a big FD fan normally.

Pours a very clear amber with a medium light tan head...very nice lacing. Aroma is faint but has smoky notes and some earthy/caramely malt. Flavor is earthy up front and quickly turns to smokiness...slightly antiseptic tasting. Mouthfeel is somewhat light and lively and the finish is dry and smoky...also a bit antiseptic.

Bottle. Pours a deep opaque copper with a big white head. The aroma is peat-smoked malts alcohol. Slightly fruity. Taste is smoky with a touch of sweetness to it. Dried fruit flavors come to the surface. Very smooth and ceamy. Soft carbonation and medium mouthfeel. I’ve tried this on draft and found it to be a better drinking experience from the bottle while grilling some meat. This beer pairs well with grilled meats but otherwise doesn’t stand up on it’s own.

Draft. Mild aroma, slight malt. Amber color, clear, light white head. Tastes like an amber until you swallow and then the smoke releases in a big way. Next time I will try with grilled foods.