Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

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

This was great. Nothing comes through in the nose but that vaguely dark chocolate and sour malt smell I get from most porters. The taste is remarkable. Smooth sweet chocolate with only faint coffee outlines, and an unbelievably smooth, creamy milk chocolate texture. So thick and rich! Even the Young’s ice cream float at the Yard Houses don’t taste like this.

I love it when light can’t make it through the glass and the creamy head crowns it like it is royalty. The aroma is rich and sweet just like its flavor. This porter seems to be just right.

12oz bottle from Jans Wine and Boos #2 (Tampa, FL). Pours a dark brown to black color with thick and creamy one finger tan head that settles slowly and heavily laces the glass. Aroma is roasted malt and floral hops with notes of coffee, toffee, ripe dark fruit, hints of molasses. Flavor is sweet and malty with notes of floral hops, dark ripe fruit, caramel, toffee, coffee, hints of honey and grapefruit. Generally medium to full body with a pleasing chocolate coffee malt finish.

Pitch black coloured body with a thinnish brown head. Aroma of hops (surprisingly), malt, coffee and prunes. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong roasty maltiness with some chocolate and coffee in the taste. Aftertaste bitter and roasty - fairly nice, albeit not too sweet. Overall - a dcent beer - roasty and nice. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased at Total Wine in Chantilly, Virginia on 23 November 2006 (Thanksgiving).

Vintage 2005 Pours opaque black with a half inch head of tan. A slow retreat left behind some smeared lacework and a 90% skim coat on the surface. Aromatics are chock full of dark fudge, chocolate, espresso, and Kahlua. Almost doughy in character, with a large, luscious promise for the palate. A chewy, robust, and thick mouthfeel. Full bodied and creamy. Dark chocolate, brownie batter, and soft fudge start off the palate. Extremely rich and almost velvety. Pressed coffee grounds and Hershey’s syrup follow through. A hint of vineousity steps forward as the beer finishes with lingering rich chocolate and dark fudge. Wow. Three years in the cellar has really brought this beer to the next level. More please.

Bottle at home. Very powerful, black-colored porter. The chocolate taste is very strong, with licorice, toffee and coffee flavors. The label by Steadham is a wonderful homage to this wonderful writer. R.I.P.

12oz bottle. Pours black with a minimal tan head. Heavy carbonation. Aroma is of wood, chocolate, alcohol, roasted malt, and hops. Tatse is of chocolate, dark fruit, bitter hops, hints of vannila, wood, alcohol, with a roasted, almost woody malt backbone. Huge alcohol bite in each sip. Lingering chocolate taste. Light, yet sticky mouthfeel.

330 mL. Pours almost pitch black with a small tan head that lasts and lasts settling to a nice film and leaving good lacework. Aromas of vanilla extract, raisins, malted milk balls, chocolate malt, caramel. Taste is perfectly smooth with lots of vanilla, resiny hops like an IPA, cocoa, dark chocolate. Brilliant! Great warming finish from the 9.2%- dry almost IPA aftertaste.