Alpha Dog Imperial IPA - Laughing Dog Brewing

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Mikro in Hamden, Conn.

A: Hazy, golden orange with copper highlights and a long-lasting, rocky head of white foam. Carbonation seemed lazy in the muddled clarity of the brew.

S: Full, spicy, citrus hop nose, with lots of grapefruit, orange oil extract and tropical funk to go with the yeasty aroma.

T: A somewhat doughy, chewy malt flavor adds a bit of balance and body to the otherwise chaotic hop profile. Bitter, fruity citrus flavors rush together with peppery, herbal hops an a tropical fruit overtone. Lush, juicy and enjoyable DIPA, although not well-balanced.

M: Full-bodied, sweet and a slight alcoholic burn amidst the lingering hop bitterness.

D: I enjoyed the deep, complex hop profile of Alpha Dog, but wonder if there aren't just better examples of wildly unbalanced DIPAs out there already? Nearing 9% ABV, it's a big, fruity hophead's delight. Others might dog this one for not utilizing its malts more carefully.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 01:17:31 | More by Gambrinus1184

scottyu27

Virginia

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-22-2013 13:19:20 | More by scottyu27

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-22-2013 04:54:32 | More by Kmat10

Hoptimus-Prime

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -27.1%

05-21-2013 00:44:32 | More by Hoptimus-Prime

Dyelawn

Maine

3.25/5  rDev -13.8%

05-20-2013 23:03:38 | More by Dyelawn

Trish

Florida

3/5  rDev -20.4%

05-17-2013 18:01:17 | More by Trish

ajtorres311

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-16-2013 15:56:31 | More by ajtorres311

Tom-Peters

California

3.25/5  rDev -13.8%

05-16-2013 15:31:43 | More by Tom-Peters

Zimm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-13-2013 00:18:43 | More by Zimm

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-12-2013 21:35:01 | More by twenty5

Bitter_Echo

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -13.8%

05-09-2013 01:22:43 | More by Bitter_Echo

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-08-2013 19:44:48 | More by blknikon

Kelp

New Hampshire

2.75/5  rDev -27.1%

05-04-2013 23:30:42 | More by Kelp

gmcsierra91

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

05-04-2013 20:45:07 | More by gmcsierra91

m0unds

New Mexico

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

05-04-2013 03:05:29 | More by m0unds

JandJMD

Maryland

4/5  rDev +6.1%

04-14-2013 01:16:36 | More by JandJMD

TriageStat

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.1%

04-03-2013 01:02:56 | More by TriageStat

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3.31/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

I see this beer all the time at Total Wine & More, but have never bought it. Nothing from Laughing Dog has impressed me. But as I was reading this, and seeing how bitter is was going to be, I started to get excited. IBU stands for international bittering units, and this beer has an IBU of 127. That is REALLY high, considering most double/imperial India pale ales are around 100. The Palate Wrecker from Green Flash is 136 (some say 137 depending on the year) and that will pretty much destroy your palate. Regardless, 127 is enough to get me excited!

This is the only beer on the list from Laughing Dog Brewing. Let's hope the author picked a good offering from them. Bottoms up, people!

In the Glass: I would wait until the head goes down before I started reviewing this, but that might take 20 minutes! I did a hard pour on this bottle, and the head is a few inches tall. The suds are just sticking to the side of the glass like glue, too. Nothing beats an IPA with a thick sticky head! (So many things I say on this blog could be taken the wrong way… but trust me, always about the enjoyment of the beer.)

Nose: Today is April 1st, 2013. This beer was bottled on April 8th, 2012. The ABV is big enough this beer should have aged well, but I would love to try this fresh. Nothing beats a fresh IPA. For a beer with 127 IBU, I expected the aroma to be a little more powerful. Don't get me wrong, it still has a great aroma. But it isn't the hops that I was expecting. I will say, for the ABV and the size of this beer, $4.99 is a good value regardless of the flavor. Speaking of the flavor, let's drink!

Flavor: There are the hops I was expecting. They aren't overwhelming, but they are abundant. The flavor profile actually changes a few times over the course of a drink. At first, the hops are balanced and boring, but then toward the back of the palate the piney dryness kicks in and as you swallow it becomes almost grapefruit sweet. Then, as you continue to swallow, the hops begin to taste like pine cones. The dryness is really nice, leaving me begging for another sip. If you said, "Is that a double IPA?" I am not sure I would be able to tell you… again, not as powerful as I expected. I bet Sheryl hates it. She isn't into hops like me!

Mouthfeel: At first, it's boring. There isn't much going on at all. Then, as it slides across your palate, it begins to open up. As you do swallow, the flavor really explodes and a nice thin layer of bubbles leave your palate excited for a second (or third) drink. I swished the beer around, and the flavor, especially those sweet grapefruit notes, REALLY come out. That is actually a much better flavor. If you are drinking this, I highly recommend swishing it around in your mouth a little bit. You're welcome!

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is piney at first, but then it begins to turn a nice drying bittersweet flavor that I like in an IPA. I still wouldn't call this a double IPA, but I wouldn't call Hop Stoopid a DIPA, either. That beer has an IBU of 103, and it tastes like a boring pale ale. One of the only beers that brewing company makes that I dislike.

This is a good beer, don't get me wrong. But this is NOT a typical DIPA in my book. I asked Jazz if he has had this, and he didn't care for it. I am picky when it comes to barleywines… but I am REALLY pick when it comes to an IPA. But hey, I can't like them all. Where is the fun in that? Cheers, people!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 21:35:18 | More by rickyleepotts

Murrhey

Montana

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a standard pressure-cap bomber into a pint glass. No best-by date. I purchased it several weeks ago. It might be past the best date.

A- One-finger white head. Thick and sticky looking head. Cloudy amber color. Pretty low clarity. Nice looking DIPA.

S- Floral and honeyed. Nice smelling. Floral and sweet but with a definite alpha hop oil twinge.

T- Not a very aggressive DIPA, quite subtle and extremely well balanced. Honey and floral.

M- Medium bodied and semi-viscous.

O- Surprisingly good. Like really good. I was worried about drinking it too late and not getting the best out of it. I enjoy Laughing Dog quite a bit, and this does not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:56:36 | More by Murrhey

Cvescalante

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%

03-19-2013 20:24:44 | More by Cvescalante

6thstreetbrewpub

District of Columbia

2.75/5  rDev -27.1%

03-17-2013 21:09:38 | More by 6thstreetbrewpub

Hopmeplease

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -27.1%

03-15-2013 22:15:54 | More by Hopmeplease

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

03-12-2013 01:30:53 | More by DaPan

JeffSuttonTX

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

03-11-2013 01:38:40 | More by JeffSuttonTX

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

03-10-2013 19:46:53 | More by schnarr84