Snake Dog IPA - Flying Dog Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on tap at Buckeye Brew Engine. C-hop aroma. Yellow with a thick white head and thick lace. Astringent bitterness but drinkable with the offsetting malts that kick in. 60 IBU, Crystal Malt, Warrior and Columbus hops, and dry hopped with Columbus.Interesting IPA and worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2008 03:30:30 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.3/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Golden amber with a small amount of orange. The crown is ivory in color, average in size, descends to a thick, lumpy cover and leaves abstract patterns of lace at the top, rings in the middle and sheets down near the surface of the beer. The aroma is pleasant enough and features a floral and citrusy hoppiness.

Unfortunately, the flavor doesn't do justice to the nose. The biggest problem is that hops are too far in the background. I've had APAs that were more hoppy than this. IPA? Not even close. Grain-like malts are too noticeable due to the lack of lupulins.

The mouthfeel is not only lighter than it should be for the style, it's lighter than it should be for an APA. Work needs to be done here for damn sure.

Snake Dog's label got me in the mood for a big time IPA, but the beer doesn't measure up. The appearance and the aroma are good enough. Trouble is, flavor and body/mouthfeel are much more important and make or break a beer as far as I'm concerned. This doggy might not be broken, but he's cracked. Or is that neutered?

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2004 19:44:20 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Always have been very anxious to try this, but could not get ahold of it until we finally popped that rediculous cap. Now I can get all my favorite brews and try out some good new ones. Awesome label as all the flying dogs have, and being the IPA lover I am, cannot wait for this one.

A - Poured a deep hazy, almost reddish amber with a big thick white sticky lacey and frothy head. Great retention lead to a thin layer of lace left up on the top. Very nice residual lacing down the sides and great carbonation evident from the streaming bubbles.

S - Crisp clean hops. Notes of pine and light citrus, not overpowering, but very clean and fresh.

T -Yummy, a thick tasting IPA.Deep bitterness hits immediatly. Very nice blend of flavors here. Lots of pine and a thick malt back. You can taste the earthy grain flavors all the way. Very well rounded. Nice dry finish. Touch of grapefruit or pineapple as it warms.

M - Very smooth. A Thick IPA, not the thin taste. Not oily, however there is a touch of resin in it. Good carbonation lets the flavor roll accross the tongue.

D - Awesome session IPA for sure. Has that sipper quality if you want it, but it could be downed all night as well. Not too heavy that it will fill you up too quick, but not that light as water feeling either.

Overall I really liked this and was very glad it was as good as I had hoped. Another classic brew from Flying Dog. I cannot wait to dry the Double IPA, as this was fantastic. A classic sessioner for me that will find its way into regular rotation.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2007 23:28:42 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

G: Poured into a Stone Arrogant Bastard ping glass.

A: Slightly copperish; more the color of grain--doesn't appear as "heavy" as the typical IPA. Decent single-finger head to start off, although this dissipates quickly, leaving a little bit of lacing.

S: Slightly hoppy. Not much citrus, and a little bit of pale malt. A tiny bit of amber as well.

T: Quite malty. I would say that there is a decent balance, although I think this tends a little too much toward malt for the style. With the hops, I'm not getting all that much--I don't know where the 60 IBU's are. The malt is slightly biscuity.

M: Smoothe with light carbonation. Mellows in the mouth.

D: Drinkable enough, nothing too special. I'll try this on tap if I see it, just to see if it's any different.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2009 01:04:59 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.9/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours out an exceptionally bright, clear orange-gold color. The head, though frothy and hearty at first, soon dissipates to a thin, fizzy cap of bubbles.

Smell: A rather lively, energized scent of citrus hops, wildflowers, and a trace of malt.

Taste: A brief hoppy citrus zing followed by a languid malt flavor and a metallic twang. Finish is dry and notably herbaceous. All in all, a rather unexceptional example of an IPA. The smell was misleading.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, though there's a slight oily slickness. Standard carbonation.

Drinkability: Not one of my preferred IPA's. This beer's just not nearly as assertive as I'd like it to be.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2006 01:17:46 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a clear honey color with a modest head that fades rather quickly but does leave a nice pattern of lace

Smell: Vaguely citrusy in a floral way; a nice aroma but a bit underpowering

Taste: Grainy malt flavors at the outset with a growing piney bitterness that has some soapy elements to it; after the swallow, there is a surprising amount of sweetness that fades as the grainy elements take over the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Not a terrible beer by any stretch but there are a lot of IPAs out there that I prefer

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2009 22:14:20 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best before 1/31/13.

Pours a hazy honey orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, and some herbal hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a medium amount of herbal hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is pretty tasty but has a better smell in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 05:36:34 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a bright slightly hazy orangey color ale with a medium size foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of earthy and bitter hops with a lightly sweet caramel malt backdrop. Taste is also dominated by earthy and citrus hops with a bitter edge and a slightly sweet caramel malt base. Body is about average with good carbonation. Good but more floral notes form the hops would have been better in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 18:37:54 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +18%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Aroma: high boquet of florals. Smells of various hops. Mildly malty. Refreshing even to the nose.
Appearance: dark copper colored. Off white, chunky head. Tight and excited carbonation. Decent lacing. Head flatens steady over 5 or so minutes. Flying Dog undoubtedly has the best bottle art in the business.
Taste: Bold hops, spices, and carbonation at the nose. Medium round body. Balances nicely with malts. Mild notes of ethinol. Body and flavor develops through the finish. Finishes drying and refreshing.
Aftertaste: definate hop bittering and flavoring lingers. Continues to dry. Maltiness returns within seconds. Picks up a bit metalic.
Impression: very good beer. Never disapoints. A thirst quencer for those hot summer days.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2005 00:17:09 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep golden with a two finger head that settles nicely,I pick up some grapfruit in the aroma from the large dose of hops with some nuttiness that lingers as well.Taste is pretty blazee,not much going on here some soapiness and some zesty hop in the aftertaste thats it Iam still tryin to get get more from this beer but nuttin.Man Flying Dog really needs to check themselves there beers are pretty lackluster.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2004 00:09:29 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Snake Dog IPA was a disappointment to me. I like most of the Flying Dog beers, but this one just falls short of my expectations. I thought of it more as an extra-hopped amber ale than a true IPA. It's slightly hazy golden body rests beneath a frothy head of off-white that holds fairly well and and leaves some nice splotchy lace about the glass. The nose delivers a caramelish and biscuity malt that's fluffed with leafy and mildly floral hops (seems like Fuggles to me), but regardless, it's very English in nature. The body is medium and it's soft and slightly creamy across the palate; again, very English in nature. The flavor is full and bold, with it's sweetish caramel malts dominating at first; followed by earthy, leafy, and even mineral-like hops towards the swallow and into the lingering finish. The bitterness is well-balanced, however, and once that initial note of sweet malt is reigned in it slowly waltzes to a long and dry hoppy finish. (I keep thinking Fuggles, and I'm not fond of Fuggles.... so maybe it's just me!).

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2004 02:12:39 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

I'm thinking this will be the final beer of the night. It pours a clear amber topped by a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit, light orange zest, very light pine, and rich caramel. The taste holds notes of pine sap, light grapefruit rind, light orange peel, and mild caramel. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a pretty nice IPA, nothing special, but drinkable and enjoyable enough for an occasional downing.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 03:16:51 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beautiful orange color, and a nice, but swiftly receing head. Aroma is terrifically fruity: apricot, peach, tangerine, citrus. This is my first time drinking this in at least a year, and something tastes different, for I don't recall the aroma being quite so vivid.
The label used to read :"Snakes down your throat like a loyal friend", a quote attributed to Anna Steadman, the illustrator's wife?, but the slogan is missing now. It remains a true endorsement, however. Hoppy, but not wildly so . Wonderfully soft and delicious palate. At times, I'm reminded of Anchor Liberty, but it's closer to Bass in smoothness and drinkability. Much less hoppy than many a MidWestern IPA. Ideal as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2003 19:47:46 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.55/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a darker golden color with a nice white head that sticks around. The aroma is piney with a slight mustiness about it. The taste is alright, but not that great. There is decent bitterness and a taste of soap suds or something. There is moderate hop flavor. This taste doesn't really do anything for me. The mouthfeel however is pretty light making it a good drinking beer. As most of their other beers, I probably won't buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2003 14:58:58 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Nice thick head at first, strong hop aroma, the aroma fell away as the head shrank, leaving a steady and persistent head that covered the top of the beer. Carbonation moderate with medium sized bubbles. No lacing left on the glass. Beer was dark yellow / orange in color.
Taste was bitter but not overwhelming, hardly any aftertaste, but the bitterness builds as you drink. Mouthfeel was full and satisfying. I really like this beer. I think its OK as an IPA but a good beer overall. I recommend it as an East coast pale ale. Seems a little weak for an IPA over all, but probably a bit too strong as a pale ale. Check it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2009 01:07:54 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to hudsonphotog for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours reddish-orange with a large white head. The aroma is resiny hops with some citrus notes. The flavor is resiny hops and something that resembles grapes. Low to medium bitterness. Medium carbonation and thin-medium mouthfeel. A decent American IPA, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 04:56:47 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours out an amber/burgandy color with a small, short-lived head. No lacing.

S - It smelled of grassy hops and grain.

T - It tasted mostly of grassy hops and malt. Slight bitterness.

M - It was crisp and a little dry. Light-bodied.

D - Overall, it is an okay IPA. It just isn't hoppy enough to be considered great.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2006 22:23:23 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear copper in color, the beer has a light amount of carbonation visible in the form of rising bubbles. It poured with a thin yet dense white head that has good retention properties and never completely disappeared.
S: There are moderate aromas of citrus and pine resin hops in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the hop flavors really stand out in the taste and are accompanied by a moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: Despite being a hop bomb, this beer isn't that difficult to drink because the bitterness balanced to a large degree by the underlying malts.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 03:29:50 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle Code 119A06, Sampled October 2006
Pours with a lightly hazy, amber tinged, copper color and is topped by an initially two and a half finger thick, billowy, pale tan colored head. The aroma is definitely hop focused with notes of grapefruit intermingled with pine and a sort of raw, almost dank hop note. Underneath the hops is a toasted grain character mixed with a touch of caramelized malt, which gives the beer a sweet finish to the aroma. There really is a sort of musky hop note here, almost like an herbaceous garlic note or something.

This beer starts out dry, and bready with a toasted grain edge to it. It quickly becomes quite hoppy with a bit of balancing malt sweetness. Solidly bitter, but also with flavorful hop character that has touches of pine, a solid citrus-like note of grapefruit, and even some of that herbaceous almost garlic like note. There seems to be a green apple like note here as well, it sort of melds in with the citrus character. The beer finishes with a raw, herbaceous, biting bitterness that lingers on in the palate well after the beer has left my mouth.

This beer is quite a bit more aggressive than I was expecting from Flying Dog, their other beers in the regular lineup are much more subdued. While the flavors may not be perfectly integrated (it does seem a touch disjointed at times) in this beer, I do like the raw, aggressive hop character. This is still fairly light and quaffable, and is certainly enjoyable. Flying dog is certainly turning out to be a better brewery than I have given them credit for.

Purchased: 58 Degrees, Tucson AZ

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2006 20:50:37 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.68/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a dull golden-brown color with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is very fruity and sweet with citrus and some berries. There’s some of hops in the background, but very little for the style.

T: Just like with the smell, the taste starts out with very fruity citrus flavors. Again, the hops flavor is only in the background and isn’t the more prevalent flavor as you would expect from an IPA. Even as the beer warms, what hops flavor that comes in is quite pale and only stays for the after-taste as the sweetness finally fades.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is sticky and dry.

D: Not very tasty, goes down ok, not very filling, this is definitely not a beer that I would continue to drink or even start drinking, if I had another decent choice.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2007 03:33:28 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Color:
Nice amber color with good God almighty head retention! !!!

Nose: All I can smell is hops, some morehops, .. & then some malts///

Taste: Tastes of hops malts & vallhalA

moithfeel & drinkinesesss....tHE LAST 2 COLUMNS ARE SUMMED UP AS.... yum& then some yummmm...

l

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2005 06:10:20 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew was better the second time I had it. This beer poured out as a nice looking copper color, it had a white soapy head on top that had a decent lacing. The smell of the beer was moderately hoppy with some malts in there too. The taste of this beer seemed hoppier to me the second time over the first time I drank it. The bitterness was pretty good in this one. The mouthfeel had a solid crisp feel to it along with a good dryness in the back. Overall this beer was pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 05:18:29 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

2.6/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a light amber with a medium fizzy white head. Solid retention, some big spotty lace.

S: Booze and melon rind, smells like a light Double Dog.

T: As with the nose, booze and melon rind. Light astringent hoppy flavours. Some minor malt character.

M: Medium-bodied, frothy carbonation, boozy and astringent.

O: A mediocre IPA is what it is. Awkward and disjointed, the ethanol takes over, making this feel a lot more alcoholic than it actually is.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 06:24:22 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A beer i've somehow managed to avoid all my life until now.
Bottle printed with date code "272 11" on the bottom, making the bottle 3-4 months old at this point.

Glowing saturated candy orange tone, lasting white cap of foam that leaves behind a delicate halo of lacing. Lazy trails of rising carbonation.

Smooth and sweet with caramel and bready malt flavors. Hops come across as dried citrus fruit with minimal bitterness. Aroma is a dull sweet malt/vague fruity hop combo. Medium bodied, slightly watery, light and fairly easy to drink, though I wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 01:41:55 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This IPA poured a amber color with a decent head that sported big bubbles and created some nice lacing on the glass. There was a mellow floral aroma. The flavor was basic, mostly malt and hops with a tinge of citrus. The hop bite did not ride the tongue for long after swallowing. Slight dryness in the mouthfeel.

This is a medium bodied beer that is sweeter than other IPAs, but the hop bite still shows up. Definitely drinkable and a little above average in the IPA world.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2004 20:11:13 | More by Gavage