*Pairs well with a guilty pleasure game, your favorite annual release.
Welcome to another craft beer review for Games And A Glass! This week I am reviewing a beer from Flying Dog Brewery located in Frederick, Maryland. The beer for this week will be their Lucky SOB, an Irish red ale, fitting for Saint Patrick’s day! But of course, before going into the review, let’s talk about Flying Dog.
The history of Flying Dog can be found on their site, and it has an… interesting story. The funky art that goes along with the story illustrates the unique history with this brewery’s founding members.
“IT’S A TRIP.
More than 30 years ago, a group of oxygen- and alcohol-deprived amatuer hikers convened in a Pakistan hotel room after summiting the world’s deadliest mountain. There, Flying Dog was born.
A RENAISSANCE (AND MOUNTAIN) MAN.
George Stranahan — a PhD in physics, founder of the Aspen Center for Physics, professional photographer, writer — lead that expedition to the summit of K2 in 1983, at the age of 52. In 1990, George opened a brewpub in Woody Creek, Colorado with Richard McIntyre, a man who continues to be well ahead of his time.
GONZO MEETS BEER.
“Ralph, please. I beg you. Please do a quick beer label or maybe two for George. Your label must include one of my quotes about wisdom and drink. OK.” – H
That H stood for Hunter S. Thompson, a longtime friend and tenant (who never paid the rent) of George. The Ralph? The one, the only and the inimitable Ralph Steadman.
GOOD BEER, NO SHIT.
Live on the BBC, Ralph scrawled those four simple words across his canvas and our mantra was born. We embrace the weirrrd and view craft beer as an art form unlike any other.
AND FUCK CENSORSHIP.
We live in a world where people are coddled, messages are muddled and ideas are squashed in the name of political correctness. When the Thought Police closed in on us, we went to Federal court to defend our right to free speech and expression.”
Some of Flying Dog’s year-round beers include their Raging Bitch Belgian IPA and their Double Dog Double IPA. As for their seasonal and more limited releases, this includes their Fear imperial pumpkin ale, this week’s Lucky SOB and their Gonzo imperial porter that’s aged in whiskey barrels.
Their description for Lucky SOB reads “Irish style ale brewed with four-leaf clovers.”
And now onto my thoughts!
Nose: I smell caramel and the sweetness is pleasant. Its presence is just right in that it’s not a heavily sweet caramel smell but it’s not faint either. It finds a nice balance in the beer and as I explore its dark red color more, I start to notice its maltiness. It leads me to believe there will be a sweet character to the taste, and I’m excited to see how it transitions and is reflected on the palate.
Palate: It’s crisp and I’m a fan of the sweet taste that is present. This is my first experience with this style of beer and I’m happy with it. At 5.5 percent ABV, it’s light and very easy to drink. I enjoy a sweet taste and it’s the right amount to me. You get the maltiness to go with it and I think this is just a solid, tasty beer. I think the smell does a good job to preview what this beer tastes like and I’m happy with it. Simply put, this beer gets the job done on the taste.
Overall: This is a very good beer! It’s malty, tasty and I can picture myself enjoying this with a burger or some pizza while watching a sporting event. It’s a fitting beer for the upcoming excuse for people to get drunk this weekend. If you’re looking for something other than Guinness, this is a great choice.
I’d like to thank you for reading my craft beer review. If there’s ever a craft beer you’d recommend I try and/or review, please let me know and I will try, to the best of my ability, to acquire it! And remember, like a fine alcoholic beverage or a memorable video game, please enjoy in moderation.
Video Games | Craft Beer | Liquor 