Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

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

From the bottle. Pitch black with a tall, appetizing tan head. Thick, rich aroma of chocolate/cocoa, some dark fruits, a bit of coffee, and roasted malts. Rich, strong flavor, lots of roasted malt, coffee, some chocolate and fruit, a bit of sour. Very nice, although the alcohol is a bit too apparent. Finish of alcohol, burnt malts, and a touch of sour. A rich, flavorful porter that got better as it warmed.

Sampled at Brew at the Zoo at the National Zoo in Washington DC. Pours a slightly oily, slightly watery opaque black with a creamy, lacing white head. Nice malty aroma, toast, licorice, brown sugar, dark, roasted grains. Flavor is similar, more toast and licorice with some molasses, slight coffee but plenty of distinguishable grain. Slightly thick and oily on the tongue with just a touch of heat. Very nicely balanced.

Bottle. Black beer with a light head. The aroma is lightly roasted and lightly liquorice. The flavour is bitter, and lightly espresso coffee. Overall a good beer.

Bottle. Had to revisit this one for rating purposes after a friend reminded me of how great it is. When I first got into craft beer, it was too strong for me. I had a hard time finishing it. Now it’s wonderfully enjoyable.

It straight up looks amazing. Dark black with a huge head and great lacing. Strong roasted malt aroma leads into a huge roasted malt flavor. I used to think this was a "smoked beer" but now I realize it simply contains large amounts of roasted malt. Also has some chocolate in there. Hop bitterness shines through in the finish. So much flavor that it actually completely turned me off of porters early on in my tasting adventures. Now it just gives me new respect for the style. Excellent porter.

I normally don’t partake in porters too much but this one crossed my path and i was very impressed. Smells like a stout, coffee, and roasted malt. Tastes like tons of malt and very little hops. Normally this would discourage me but this is so smooth that it makes up for it. Overall a great beer and I would recommend this to anyone looking for great and interesting flavor.

Pours a black/dark mahogony color from the bottle with a trim tan head. Faint cocoa and charcoal on the nose with flavors of mixed berries (primarily rasp and blue) blended with slightly burnt coffee. Pleny of heat from the alcohol content on the finish. Unique, but not impressive.

12oz bottle. Pours a pitch black with one finger dark tan head and sticky lacing. Nose is milk chocolate, toasted smoky malts and mellow coffee. Taste is smoke, dark chocolate, salty roasted nuts, some dark fruits mixed in, and a bitter coffee hoppy finish. Medium-to-full creamy mouth feel. Gets a little boozy as it warms. This is the best beer I’ve had from Flying Dog – very good.

Bottle. Pours the color of dark chocolate with a fine looking tan head with decent lacing. Wow I was not expecting to get this bouquet of hops in the aroma blending fabulously with rich roasty malt. Flavor is very good as well but not as surprising. Good sweetness matched well with bittering hops. Palate is very smooth with a medium to full body, light carbonation, and a good aftertaste. I’ll definitely get this again. Nice surprise.