Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

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

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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Fundet på ølbaren i Elmegade Kbh på fad. Sort og svagt humlet, fantatisk eftersmag. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Darkbrown / black. Darkbrown foam. Complex aroma, well balanced between sweet and bitter. Aroma of dark fruits, chocolate and coffee. Nice beer!

Numerous bottles over the years. I was first attracted to this beer by the Hunter S Thompson association and Ralph Steadman artwork that adorns the bottle. But this is actually one of Flying Dog’s best beers. Kind of like a mix between a baltic porter and an imperial stout with lots of chocolate, and dark fruit type flavors, along with light notes of vanilla, char, and coffee.

(Let me go ahead and give a disclaimer: this beer may be really old, for it was found in the back of a liquor store’s walk-in cooler.) HST himself would be happy with the aroma of this brew, for it is a pure mixture of smoked malts and booze; also, the appearance of this beer combines a black color, large grain sediment, and a large tan head. The taste is mildly bitter, mildly sweet, and slightly umami, and the mouthfeel combines a medium body, slick texture, soft carbonation, and a bitter finish.

Look, I don’t like Porters. This isn’t an acquired taste, It’s rich dank and chewy. Very thick and foreboding. That said? You need to drink a couple to get your palate acclimated to this odd-ball monster. There’s little in the way of hops in the traditional sense, but wait? after the 3rd of these I’m getting the hang of what’s up here. Chocolate (dark) and an anise flavor (liquorice) and more. Has a very nuanced cognac flavor. I’m liking this more and more as the night wears on. Damn good stuff.

355 ml bottle at home. Poured into a snifter. ABV 9.2% Pours a totally black beer, with two fingers of deep beige head, thick, with very good retention. Few traces of lacing left on the glass. Fantastic aroma, I thought it would smell of roasted malts but instead the aroma is very fruity and hoppy, lots of tropical fruits, a bit of vanilla too on the background. Taste is nicely bitter, the alcohol notable but not in an offensive way, acts more like a warning, to drink this beer slowly no matter how tasteful it is. Quite hoppy taste too, with more of citrus fruits now. Thick on the body with good carbonation. Great beer!

with massive head that lasted for ages, this was a great beer. rich alcohol was immediately apparent which reminded perhaps of red wine of some sort, or at least of dark fruits. velvety chocolate supported it and it finished with slightly yeasty hop bitterness. molasses were obvious as it warmed up. all in all quite fantastic.

A clear favourite, pours with a rich head. Very dark in the glass. Fruit and spice on the nose. Plenty of lacing. Very satisfying taste, full bodied and rich with fruit. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Malt, spice, chocolate, toffee and fruit. a combination of delicious chocolate and fruity spice on the palate with a sharp bitterness and deep body. carbonation low, by winey esters balance.

Bottle->shaker. Black with thick tan head. Chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla. Sweet, descending to a lingering bitter aftertaste. Very good.