Flying Dog Imperial IPA - Simcoe Single Hop

Brewed by Flying Dog Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Frederick, Maryland USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Serving: On cask at Fireworks. I was told only three casks were made initially, one going to Fireworks, one going to Fireworks II, and the other going to the Old Brogue.
Aroma: The nose is all Simcoe hops. No malt at all. Lots of fresh herbal and grass notes. Very bright and delicious!
Appearance: It pours a cloudy amber brown with a small frothy white head. Both acceptable considering it was cask conditioned and dry hopped.
Flavor: The taste is almost minty with big hops up front but a surprisingly clean finish. There is a light honey note that reminds me of mead due to the high alcohol content. There is just a bit of tropical fruit and citrus on the back end.
Palate: Light to medium bodied with low carbonation and a very clean finish for a IIPA.
Overall: Simply outstanding. I am usually not the biggest Flying Dog fan, but this was the best beer I’ve had from them by far. It’s not you usual sticky sweet IIPA, but a lighter well balanced brew that calls for consumption.

12 ounce bottle purchased at Best Damn Beer Shop ($2.39). Pours a golden orange hue with lots of small suspended particles. The two fingers of off-white head leaves some decent lacing. Aroma is somewhat faint but includes notes of watery grapefruit, rainy pine forest, and semi-sweet caramel. Flavor of tropical fruit (pineapple, passionfruit) and pine resin with some caramel and slightly metallic notes. The significantly amped up malt profile provides a nice balance here that might otherwise be overly bitter from the Simcoe. Slightly bitter finish. The high alcohol is fairly well hidden. (61, 690)

Hazy golden with a medium white head. A medium malty DIPA with a lot of fruit, mainly pineapple,orange and grapefruit. The alcohol shines through more than I would like to. The flavors are all there, but not just tuned up as much as wanted. Altogether, a good but not extraordinary DIPA.

Las IPAS a mí siempre me parecen cervezas extrañas; esta tiene un regustillo amargo que la hace muy personal y solo para paladares especializados.

Bottled @ UDRM. The aroma has tropical fruits, grapefruits. Clear, golden coloured beer with a nice, off-white head. Looks quite good. The taste is moderate bitter, quite fruity, citric/grapefruity, little malty. Quite full.

Ar: sweet fruit. Candy, grapefruit, pineapple, passIonfruit, sweet malts, citrus, warming finish. Ap: Amber colour, medium off-white head, lacing. F: sweet malt backbone, big bite passionfruit, grapefruit, pine, perfume, alcohol, Not as much tropical fruit as I’m used to find from my favourite hop, but still pretty darn good. M: Smooth and fresh. T: really good, more tropical fruits and it would have gotten an even higher mark.

At Christian Firtal a while ago. Golden with a small white head. Mild peachy hop aroma with malt in the background. Sweetish malty and alcoholic flavour with a hoppy and bitter finish

Another Flying Dog ale from a friend. This Imperial IPA is subtle. The IPA poured a hazy golen orange with a frothy head about one inch with nice lacing down the glass. The high alcohol of 10% is disguised very well. There is an alcohol warmth that is very appealing. The Simcoe hops offers the citrus flavors and bitterness. This medium body IPA has a soft carbonation and long finish. The malt provide some sweetness to the beverage.

Clear amber gold colour, white head. Very hoppy aroma, floral, passion fruit and citrus, malty background. Bitter hop flavour, citrus, some malts. Bitter finish.
(From 35cL bottle @ DRBM 2011, courtesy of erickok)

Bottle@Home. Light malty and typical Simcoe aroma. Golden color, white head, good lace. Sweet, Simcoe flavour as well, bitter. Very nice aroma but flavours are a bit boring.

Golden, clear and white head. Floral, rich and citrus. Smooth, low carbonation. A lot of character. Bit of character.