By the Beer Professor JW Faulkner @EngProfJW
One of the hardest parts about reviewing beers is finding a chance to review your favorite brews when you have so many favorites. The beer I’m enjoying this weekend is one that I haven’t drank in some time, evidenced by the fact that I cannot stop drinking it. This weekend Flying Dog Brewery’s Snake Dog IPA is What’s on Tap!
Flying Dog Brewery is known for brewing fantastic beers that are given dog-centric–sometimes tongue-in-cheek–names: Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout, Horn Dog Barley Wine, and, my favorite, Raging B*tch Belgian Style IPA. In 2011, Flying Dog sued the state, yes the whole state, of Michigan, when the Michigan Liquor Control Commission banned the sale of Raging B*tch. Any brewery that has the cojones to stand up for their first amendment right and sue a whole state is a brewery to be recognized. The fact that they brew awesome beer is another huge plus.
Snake Dog is an IPA that leans more on the citrus flavor and hop notes than earthy ones, though a hint of pine does come through. Each sip is filled with grapefruit, hints of lime and orange and has a sweetness taste to the backend. What I love most about Snake Dog IPA is the lingering bitterness I tasted well after each sip, fantastic! Though I would classify Snake Dog as more of a sipping beer, because of its higher ABV and flavor profile, that did not stop me from having multiple pints.
Snake Dog’s bitterness and citrus profile make it a great beer to pair with spicy food. I am grilling some chicken quarters that have been marinating in a sweet and spicy cayenne pepper maple syrup sauce. With each bite of the chick you get the initial sweetness but then the cayenne pepper kicks in; it can be a tad spicy but Snake Dog should not only cut the spiciness but should compliment it as well. So cheers to a brewery that fights for its right to sell great beer, is a proponent of the first amendment, and a brewery that brews damn good beer!
Cheers!
Beer Stats
Style: Indian Pale Ale
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.1%
Bitterness (IBUs): 60
Color: Light Red Amber
Hops: Warrior, Columbus
Yeast: American Ale
Malts: 60L Caramel
