By Jack on August 27, 2010
Snake Dog is an American IPA that clocks in at 7.1% ABV. It is sold as the brewery’s ‘Hop Monster’, so I was keen to taste it.
Look
Snake Dog IPA is pale gold in colour, and pours with a moderate, tight head. It doesn’t leave a lot of lacing.
Smell
The aroma is fruity/citrusy/piney, but is not overpowering. There is a little bit of malt, but not enough to really notice.
Taste
The first hit is all hops, and the bitterness lasts from the first sip until well after the last taste. Some malt comes through in the middle, but it is a bit thin. The finish is an aggressive hop blast.
Feel
Snake Dog is medium bodied with low/medium carbonation. A bit of bight from the hops.
Drink
Reasonably drinkable for an IPA. The hops would become overbearing pretty fast if you were planning on having a few.
Posted in Beer |
By Jack on August 24, 2010
I’m a fan of coffee in beer, especially when it is a dominant feature. I’ve also always been impressed by Rogue’s offerings, so I was pretty sure that this would be a good one to taste. I have a few other bottles of Rogue beers that I’m planning to taste soon (Double Dead Guy and Shakespeare), and always seem to have something of theirs in or near the beer fridge. I drank this one at four in the afternoon on a sunny balcony in Waikiki, and it was delicious.
Look
Rogue Double Mocha Porter is thick, opaque, and black. It pours with a substantial tan head that sticks around, and leaves substantial lacing.
Smell
This is a coffee beer from the moment you open the bottle. Coffee dominates the aroma, and is supported by dark chocolate.
Taste
Again, lots of coffee comes through, then roast malt and dark, bitter chocolate. Some hops are present, but not a lot.
Feel
Body is medium to full, and it is highly carbonated. It feels like you just had a shot of espresso – the coffee lingers. Smooth bitterness comes through in the finish.
Drink
A deceptively easy drinking beer. Double Mocha Porter is exactly what you would expect a coffee beer to be – lots of coffee in a tasty, slow drinking porter. Perfect for desserts, or any other time you feel like a coffee with something extra :)
Posted in Beer |
By Jack on August 23, 2010
I have had a few beers from Flying Dog, they never disappoint. I remember an afternoon in Amsterdam sitting in BeerTemple, tasting my way through their healthy supply of American beer, while the rep for the brewery was there talking about the trouble they’d had getting the name/label approved for Raging Bitch (a Belgian IPA). This was one of my favourite beers while I was there, so I got another bottle to try.
Look
The Double Pale Ale Deep is golden to amber in colour. It pours with some head, which doesn’t last, but leaves thick lacing.
Smell
The aroma of Double Dog is well balanced between hops and malts. Rich, strong, caramel to start out, followed by fruits (citrus) and pine. Some alcohol also comes through.
Taste
The taste begins with thick, bitter, piney resinous hops. The sweet caramel balances the bitterness nicely, then the alcohol flavour comes through. Finally the bitterness returns in full force, and stays with you.
Feel
Full bodied, smooth, and rich, with a low carbonation, and some alcohol warmth. Hop resins and bitterness are strong and dry.
Drink
If you are a hop lover, it is a great sipper. At 11.5% ABV, you won’t want too many of them – one (or half one – I split this bottle) is enough for a pretty long drink.
Posted in Beer |
