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As someone who posts monthly about books and beer and who reviews beer books for Beer Paper LA, I don’t much like book banning.
For that reason, this new beer from Flying Dog strikes the right chord for me.
A bold and juicy 11% ABV IPA that nods to the novel Fahrenheit 451 through the beer’s name and artwork.
I think there is a sub-trend lurking amongst the nitro beers and fruit IPA’s and it is the cocktail themed beer….
Following on the heels of their Pumpkin IPA from last year and their cookie beers from Christmas comes this Mint Julep beer from Flying Dog. And I gotta say that I think the label is one of the better ones. Not as cluttered as the usual and I do hope to see this beer here in L.A.
Flying Dog Brewery is our next stop in Maryland. Easily recognized by a large distribution footprint as much as for their iconic Ralph Steadman artwork on their labels.
Since their beers are seen around the country (and this column is ostensibly to promote people traveling to these breweries), I have chosen from the “rarer” side of their beer ledger for my taster tray from this Frederick based brewery, starting with:
Lemongrass Rice Ale
“This beer was inspired by the unique spice blends in Thai cuisine and is as versatile in matching up with those flavors as a Thai menu is (often) overwhelming. You know what to drink, so the trick will be deciding on what to order.”
Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale
“Dead Rise was brewed to highlight the indelible, bold character of OLD BAY with citrus hop notes and a crisp, tart finish. Pair it with tables piled high with shrimp, corn, and Maryland Blue Crab.”
Kujo Imperial Coffee Stout
“With the perfect balance of roasty stout and chocolately coffee notes, Kujo’s bark is just as big as his bite. Flavor notes: Subtle earthiness with prominent coffee, vanilla, chocolate, and toffee flavors Pairs with: Anything nutty, chocolately, or toffee-flavored”
Woody Creek Belgian White
“Woody Creek is light and refreshing for a reason, so be careful not to overpower it with heavy foods. Flavor notes: Refreshing and light citrus notes with subtle wheat, coriander, and orange flavors Pairs with: Light cheeses; Asian foods with wasabi and ginger; light shellfish; fruity desserts”
Today I am doing a West coast vs East coast beer smackdown. But instead of doing an IPA, I am comparing lagers.
On one side is the new Anchor California lager and from the east is the Underdog Atlantic Lager from Flying Dog of Maryland.
The Anchor pours a dark yellow and has a sweet wheat aroma. The flavor is a touch to sweet for me and could use a burst of carbonation to cut through some of the slickness in the mouthfeel but it is a solid beer. I also love the backstory on how this is a re-creation of an old Gold Rush lager. So it has great history behind it. And I think the bear on the label would kick the ass of the Underdog on the Flying Dog label. But the beer is more sweet than refreshing.
The Underdog Atlantic lager pours a very light yellow with plenty of both foam and bubbles. There is really no aroma at all. There is no sweetness at all and has a tiny bit of metallic at the back. A bit dry as well. Very crisp.
The winner?
I have to go with the Underdog. It seemed more of a lager to me. The Anchor sweetness reminded me of the overly sweet industrial lagers though obviously light years ahead. I preferred the simpleness of the Underdog.
From the “just when you think you have them pegged” file…..Flying Dog and BrewDog take a different tack
“Our combative collaboration with BrewDog – International Arms Race Zero IBU IPA – pits brewer against brewer in a battle of the brewing arts. Unlike your standard collaboration, each brewery will craft its own version of the beer, guided only by common ingredients.
These “terms of agreement” highlight the human element of the brewing process. Even with agreed-upon ingredients, the hands that craft it are hugely influential.
Another challenge in this collab? Hops, a brewer’s best weapon on the IPA front, are banned from there battlefield.
To create a Zero IBU IPA, we all agreed on a list of ingredients – spearmint, bay leaves, rosemary, juniper berries, and elderflower – to replace the bitterness typically imparted by hops.”