Laughing Dog CSB - Laughing Dog Brewing

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - almost clear deep brown orange, respectable tan head dissipated slowly leaving random lacing
S - toasted grain, plumb and sour apple, toffee and light spice
T - toasted bread and sunflower seed, herbal and piney hops, but the fruitiness of grapes and apples give it a slight Belgian quality making this a unique ESB
M - fairly light body, tart and sweet moving to a pleasant bitter and somewhat bready finish
O - my first experience with Laughing Dog is a win, this is a solid ESB with a unique fruity twist, a definite stand out that I will purchase again if I can find it

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 02:07:54 | More by joemcgrath27

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

05-07-2013 21:41:41 | More by dalepryor

boartfield1

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +20.7%

02-10-2013 02:06:07 | More by boartfield1

aleslover

Florida

4/5  rDev +13.6%

02-10-2013 00:51:16 | More by aleslover

pknyc

New York

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

02-03-2013 13:26:58 | More by pknyc

leedorham

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

01-21-2013 16:28:42 | More by leedorham

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%

01-12-2013 03:08:42 | More by WDJersey

raffy313

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

01-11-2013 02:43:21 | More by raffy313

cliff1066

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

12-29-2012 04:52:27 | More by cliff1066

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -43.2%

11-23-2012 12:56:31 | More by ejimhof

st9647v3

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13.6%

11-15-2012 20:59:32 | More by st9647v3

KajII

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]

The pour was a clear reddish brown with a light orange hue and a large (2-3 finger) light tan creamy head that had great retention and produced excellent sheeting of lacing.

The aroma was of a sweet dark bread malt and a earthy Brett yeast with notes of caramel, citrus (lime), a mild spiciness and a slight fruity ester.

The taste was malty sweet with notes of caramel and citrus from the start, and then progresses with a slight tart yeasty presence, a mild fruitiness and a light bitter peppery ending. The flavor lasted an average time following consumption with a mild tart spicy taste left to linger.

Mouthfeel was just under medium in body and extremely creamy in texture with a nice soft carbonation.

Overall this was an exceptionally well made brew that was bold, flavorful and possessed a nice sweet, spicy tart flavor. And you gotta love the name...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 19:16:48 | More by KajII

BryanCarey

Texas

3.73/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Laughing Dog CSB Extra Special Bitter is a copper/burnt orange colored brew with a medium body and a nice nose that is caramel- like with added toffee, spice, and yeast. The body of the beer is medium with a slight haze and a good pour produces a rockey head of foam that leaves behind plenty of lace as you drink.

Laughing Dog CSB Extra Special Bitter has a taste that meets expectations, based on the nose, but then surprises the consumer with a few twists. The taste you notice first is the caramel malt flavor, followed by the spice, but there are other flavors present as well, like citrus fruit, earthy notes, herbs, and toasted malt.

Tasting this beer, the flavor I didn’t expect was the fruit. Extra special bitters often have flavor characteristics such as caramel, toffee, and toasted malt, but the citrus flavor took me by surprised, and in a pleasant way. The fruitiness is a little noticeable in the nose, but it is most pronounced in the flavor. This is one of the beer’s many pleasant surprises. You don’t really notice the fruit so much at first, in the aroma, but you certainly notice it once you take a sip.

Laughing Dog CSB Extra Special Bitter is a less bitter beer than other ESB and its hop flavor is rather subdued. It does manage one final bitter sensation in the finish, but the taste remains sweeter overall with an aftertaste that is one of toffee/caramel malt and herbs. It has many interesting things to offer and while it may not rate as a classic, it still has enough good taste to earn a recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 02:31:09 | More by BryanCarey

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled 3/23/2012. Pours slightly hazy red-orange color with a nice 2 finger fairly dense cream colored head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some foamy spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of orange, lime, caramel, toast, herbal, floral, biscuit, and light spiciness. Nice aromas with good strength and balance; pretty typical ESB aromas. Taste of orange, lime, caramel, toast, biscuit, floral, and herbal spiciness. Fair amount of herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of light fruits, toast, biscuit, caramel, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Nice flavor balance, with no cloying flavors at all. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and smooth mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice ESB offering. Nice flavor balance, and very smooth to drink. This is quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 05:45:02 | More by superspak

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

07-22-2012 02:00:39 | More by rolltide8425

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

07-06-2012 09:48:38 | More by schnarr84

Hopmodium

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

06-05-2012 23:09:38 | More by Hopmodium

Mister_Joshy

California

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

05-29-2012 08:04:26 | More by Mister_Joshy

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -29%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Laughing Dog CSB
Laughing Dog Brewing
Style: Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV: 5.50 %

LOOK: Light brown/amber colored brew with a khaki colored, short livid head and a little lace down the glass. Looks the part of an ESB.

SMELL: Sweet malts, toffee, slightly sour smell, and light floral notes as well.

TASTE: Sugar sweet malt upfront, almost like extract was used. Lemony citrus sour hop character adding a moderate level of tang to the beer and hints of infection. Sweet, tangy, kind of messy ESB.

FEEL: Medium to full bodied, slick, chewey, with a low-medium carbonation.

OVERALL: A few steps away from being a serviceable session beer. The odd twang from the hops is a bit out of place, and more bitterness is needed for the near cloying sweetness. This was OK but really does need cleaned up.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 17:25:38 | More by Stinkypuss

redraiderme2

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%

05-13-2012 03:08:31 | More by redraiderme2

allengarvin

Texas

3.55/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer, with a cute but crude label, pours a light copper-amber color, with not much of a head. The nose offers some notes of toasted malt, but sharp, with an odd acidic note. I think, from the taste, it's the hops that make for the acidity, but it's still out of place and not appropriate for the style. Bitterness is pretty high relative to the malt, and it's very dry.

I was planning to give it an extra presentation point for the corny, cute label, but this just isn't that good of a beer. I won't be getting it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 03:57:22 | More by allengarvin

Drinkerofales

California

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Looks like a somewhat hazy light copper, with golden highlights. A large tan head quickly dissipates to leave moderate lacing.

Smells of caramel malt, and a bit of nuttiness. Not much else.

Taste is a bit lacking, lightly roasted malt, a hint of caramel, and lightly bitter on the end.

Highly carbonated and light. Very crisp and easy to drink.

Just a bit underwhelming, I was expecting bitter, and only got a hint. Thin and light, bordering on fizzy.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 18:20:14 | More by Drinkerofales

Calculat0r

Japan

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

04-27-2012 14:45:15 | More by Calculat0r

clb

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

04-27-2012 03:42:17 | More by clb

brockdidntslide

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

a disappointment as the beer lacked any real bite and ended flat. plus it poured an absurd amount of foam. thought i had mistakenly picked up a can of reddi-wip instead of beer. not bad, but i said "average" to be kind and considering all of the crap that's out there this might rise to the mean all beers considered.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 02:53:45 | More by brockdidntslide