Flying Dog Road Dog Porter

Flying Dog Road Dog Porter:

Another sneaky offering from Flying Dog. The Road Dog porter has a surprising abv at 6%. That's not a very strong beer but it could really do some damage if you fall victim to the easy-drinking Road Dog. The accessibility of Road Dog is its best attribute by far. Not a bad porter to start with if you're just an adventurer who isn't used to dark beers. But the veterans know better.

El Presidente is a staunch supporter of free speech -- and while we at the Ferment Nation choose to keep the language mostly family friendly, we support Flying Dog's right to plaster a "naughty" word all over the label. The only problem I have with it is that the bold claims of being dark, rich, malty, and the best I'll ever try go largely unsupported. I mean, they've made a good attempt and a decent porter but not hardly in the same category as the other porters I would choose over Road Dog (like Yards George Washington, Smuttynose, Anchor, Sierra, Sinebrychoff... just to name a few).

The flavor and the body are both on the light side, which as previously noted, makes Road Dog quite accessible and drinkable. There's a subtle hint of smoke or coffee or something, a gentle tug on the tastebuds, but not very stylish. Flying Dog does have some successes but this porter leaves me a bit underwhelmed.

Flying Dog Road Dog Porter:

Representation: .75

Accessibility: 1.0

Style: .75

Personal Preference: .75

Total Score: 3.25 Flags

Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale

Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale:

This reddish-brown winter warmer has a pretty apparent malt flavor, but is just a bit light on the body. It isn't weak, however, since the hoppy bitterness creates an interesting finish. The aftertaste is bitter and lingers quite awhile.

Flying Dog has some good stuff (like Gonzo Porter and Double Dog IPA), but they have a lot of brews I'm not 100% enthused about. K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale is pretty good but I prefer my malty beers a bit maltier and my hoppy beers a bit hoppier. Some exceptions exist, but those are extremely well-balanced brews that don't pop up all that often. I feel that Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser would be really on the money if it had a bit more malty body and just a touch less bitterness. Then it would be approaching my perfect winter warmer scenario. Actually I may get a K-9 Cruiser and a Gritty's Christmas and pour them into the same big-ass mug and see what happens.




Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser is worth a try if you're a beer geek on a winter ale kick, but don't put it in front of a newbie. Stylistically sassy, the flavors don't blend together smoothly enough to convert a non-craft drinker.

Like other winter beers: warming in your belly (6.4% abv does the job).
Unlike other winter beers: no other tell-tale spices or flavors.

Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale:

Representation: .90
Accessibility: .80
Style: .95
Personal Preference: .875

Total Score: 3.525 Flags

Read our other [Winter Beer Reviews]

Man Bites Dog - Flying Dog Double Pale Ale

Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale

Well, well ... what have we here? Double Dog is twice the beer that Snake Dog is. Hoppy, dry, and bitter, this pale ale packs a punch. The aroma is light and citrusy. The flavor plays out the same in the middle of the sip, when the beer is on the back of the tongue, ready to go down. Finally, the finish is extra hoppy. The dryness and hoppy bitterness hide out for a second then materialize like they were just beamed up from some distant planet.

But wait, we're not done! The citrus notes come back at the very end and clean things up. The hops can then call out to the taste buds, "Hey, remember me? Hops. Go ahead, have another sip. I'll take care of things." Which is cool considering some hoppy ales tell your taste buds, "Shut up and sit down."

Alright, Flying Dog is back on my list. I was a bit disappointed in the past but the Double Dog is on the right track. When things aren't going the way you thought they would, double up on the hops. Success! This beer is for intermediate hop-heads and advanced drinkers. Double Dog is friendly, but he nips if you pull his tail. 10.5% abv gets your tail to waggin'.

Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale:

Representation: .85
Accessability: .75
Style: .85
Personal Preference: .85

Total Score: 3.3 Flags

Flying Dog Snake Dog

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA:

Flying Dog Snake Dog is not bad. Straight out of the bottle, it starts off a little too mellow for my tastes. Which might make one think that it would be a good beer to try if you've never had an IPA before. But just then, the finish hits: really dry and kinda hoppy with a slight bitterness. The finish sort of lingers on the back of the tongue. Be advised: I didn't know that the abv is 7.1%. The alcohol is very well masked, so don't get a false sense of sobriety when you kick back more than one.

So really what we have here is a jokester. Ha ha, I'm easy drinking. No, wait, I'm for advanced hop-heads. Nah, not really.

I don't want to bash this beer because it's not straight up stinky. But goodness, there are so many better ones out there, I can't rightly throw this one a parade. I'm not deporting Flying Dog just yet. I feel that they're putting forth an effort so I'm willing to try them again.

If you're searching for an IPA with even flavor and clean finish, here are a few which will be reviewed in the not-too-distant future: Victory Hop Devil (the ultimate), Troegs Hop Back, Lancaster Hop Hog, and Stone IPA.

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA:

Representation: .70
Accessability: .75
Style: .70
Personal Preference: .70

Total Score: 2.85 Flags