Flying Dog Snake Bite IPA

[brewmonkey]

Pours a luscious amber with a pillowy white head that hangs out as you drink the beer.

Citrusy/grapefruit aroma with a touch of malt with what appears to be hints of green apple (acetaldehyde).

First sip is crisp and almost tart. Bitterness quickly overpowers the malt leaving a lingering bitterness on the tounge, almost grassy bitterness.

Some malt with a hint of the fruit in the flavor, hint of carmel in the background.

Overall I am quite dissappointed with this beer. It is not the best example of an IPA IMHO. The bitterness overpowers all the malt and it lends to the somewhat grassy bitterness in the mouth. Nonetheless it is a clean beer and I was impressed with the color and the head formation out of the bottle.

As a big IPA fan this one just did not cut it for me as a whole. More malt to carry the hops would have been nice.

[steveh]

Thanks for the review - helps cross one (at least) IPA off my list.

S.

Hmm, pillowy - I need to remember that one - a descriptor I've been searching for!

[skahtboi]

Steve:

Don't cross Snake Dog off the list yet, unless you have tried it. I happen to like this particular brew, and while I agree that it is not the "best example" of an IPA, it is a darn good one. Yes, for American IPA's I would prefer a Pyramid or Lagunitas (never had the Dogfish Head versions), but this is a very drinkable beer.

[brewmonkey]

This was the first of Flying Dog's beers that I have not liked, I agree that their other beers are good beers.

[steveh]

Originally posted by skahtboi
Don't cross Snake Dog off the list yet, unless you have tried it. I happen to like this particular brew, and while I agree that it is not the "best example" of an IPA, it is a darn good one. Yes, for American IPA's I would prefer a Pyramid or Lagunitas (never had the Dogfish Head versions), but this is a very drinkable beer.

That's just the problem - there are too many IPAs these days, not even counting the IIPAs. It's good to hear when one or two are more mediocre than the others.

Too many micros, too little time! (and cash :/)

S.

[Beaver]

Keep in mind that one man's trash is another man's treasure.

I feel the need to try everything personally, b/c tastes are different. :)

[hops99]

I just finished a sixer of this myself, and I'd say I pretty much agree with Brewmonkey. After HopDevil, I can't get excited about an IPA if there isn't a strong malt presence to complement the hops.

While it's not a bad beer, and it's certainly an IPA I'd drink again if pressed, it's not one that I'd seek out. The labels sure are polarizing, though...

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by hops99
The labels sure are polarizing, though...

You can say that again. Have you seen the one for "Tire Biter" yet? It is a mock up of another Colorado craft brewer, New Belgium, and their perennial best seller, "Fat Tire." Its hilarious!

[hops99]

Yep, it's pretty clever - a great inside joke for those of us in the know.

I have nightmares about the "In-Heat Wheat" label...

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by skahtboi
Steve:

Don't cross Snake Dog off the list yet, unless you have tried it. I happen to like this particular brew, and while I agree that it is not the "best example" of an IPA, it is a darn good one. Yes, for American IPA's I would prefer a Pyramid or Lagunitas (never had the Dogfish Head versions), but this is a very drinkable beer.

I took some member's advice & gave Dog Fish Head a second chance this past weekend. If you remember, I deplored Raison d-Etre(sp). I sampled DFH's 90 minute IPA.
Not expecting too much, I wasn't let down. Very little taste of any malt. The hops were overpowering, but pleasant. Pleasant, because as soon as you opened the bottle, the hop aroma hit me. It was that aroma that you get when you crush up the cones prior to adding to your wort. That peppery, spicy smell that diminishes after the boil begins.
Although it said 9.0% ABV, you wouldn't know it. I have had weaker beers (GL X-Mas Ale, Molson XXX) that the alcohol taste was more prevalent. Possibly the hops took over. At the end of the day, it reaffirmed me that DFH can make a decent product. I just have try more.
What's the deal with microbrewerys making overly hopped IPA's?
Is this just a trend, or are they seeing how much IBU's we can take before we squirm?

[Beaver]

Originally posted by unkle bik
What's the deal with microbrewerys making overly hopped IPA's?
Is this just a trend, or are they seeing how much IBU's we can take before we squirm?

I think it has to do with the fact that we are an extreme culture. Bigger is better.

[unkle bik]

Just doesn't seem true to the form. Maybe they should call it something besides an IPA. I just can't imagine what the 120 min IPA can be like.
(but what the hell do I know?)

[Caffinehog]

Originally posted by unkle bik
Just doesn't seem true to the form. Maybe they should call it something besides an IPA. I just can't imagine what the 120 min IPA can be like.
(but what the hell do I know?)
The 120 is hard to describe. It's not an imperial IPA by my standards. It's like sweet hop juice... hop flavor, but no discernable bitterness against the overly sweet and mildly malty background. It's actually incredibly balanced! It's got a mouthfeel like apricot nectar... thick, very present, but smooth. The alcohol doesn't hit you as strongly as a barleywine... at least not until it warms up in the back of your throat. Then it hits like a ton of bricks! Any description of this as a beer is purely technical.

[steveh]

Originally posted by unkle bik
Just doesn't seem true to the form. Maybe they should call it something besides an IPA. I just can't imagine what the 120 min IPA can be like.
(but what the hell do I know?)

Actually, they are calling them something else nowadays: Imperial India Plae Ales...but that just sparked another conversation tangent. ;)

S.

Sorry - looked quickly for the thread, but no luck - any help out there?

[Beaver]

Originally posted by steveh
Actually, they are calling them something else nowadays: Imperial India Plae Ales...but that just sparked another conversation tangent. ;)

S.

Sorry - looked quickly for the thread, but no luck - any help out there?

Here's the whole "imperial" discussion:

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2951

[steveh]

Originally posted by Beaver
Here's the whole "imperial" discussion:

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2951

Ahh, yes. Should have remembered, Imperial PILSNER -- :P

S.

[ratman03]

I lived in Colorado for almost four years and tried most of the great beer available out there. For some reason, I never bought any Flying Dog. I dunno why... I just didn't. Maybe hops99 is right -- it was the labels!

I've got to chime in and agree that hops flavor without malty balance can be too much of a good thing, which is why I've started to shy away from a lot of the American-style pale ales out there. To answer your question unkle bik: Brewers are trying to break new ground. The American craft brewery scene has been around in earnest for over a decade and brewers, in their quest to stand out in a crowded market, are stretching out (e.g., Dogfish, Stone). While these efforts are commendable, they don't always result in the most 'practical' beers. I'm glad that people brew 9.0% ABV Double IPAs, but I just don't see myself drinking them a lot. I've had the 60 Minute from Dogfish and liked it, but I asked myself why the heck would they need to make a 90?! I do however enjoy Rogue Brutal Bitter and Stone Arrogant Bastard; their malty base keeps them from being just hop nectar.

[Brownbeard]

I think for a well balanced hoppy brew, Three Floyd's Alpha King is really tasty. As for the brews that are hoppy and unbalanced, the Anderson Valley Hop Ottin could use a little more malt profile.

[chazwicke]

Alpha King And Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale are both very good beers.