Barrel-Aged Gonzo
Flying Dog Brewery

Barrel-Aged GonzoBarrel-Aged Gonzo
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From:
Flying Dog Brewery
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
Ranked #81
ABV:
11.3%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,647
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 9.66%
Reviews:
405
Ratings:
1,038
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 10, 2023
Added:
Apr 14, 2007
Wants:
  185
Gots:
  198
Aged for months in oak whiskey barrels from A. Smith Bowman, our deep and dark Gonzo gets even more mysterious with notes of vanilla and whiskey warmth.

Malts: Caramel, Black, Chocolate
Hops: Northern Brewer, Cascade
Yeast: American Ale and English Ale
85 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.84 by not2quick from Missouri

Dec 10, 2023
Photo of tradershmulie
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Ordinary pour, dark color, small dissipating head.

Nice smell.

Very smooth. Much much better than the regular version. The barrel aging takes the edge off the bitterness.

Very good beer, glad to have bought it.
Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania

Jul 17, 2023
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark black color with a nice tan head and lacing.
Aroma has a nice whiskey and vanilla hints
The taste has nice whiskey and vanilla notes
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Imperial Porter
Apr 11, 2023
Photo of KT3418
Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This just wasn't as dope to me as I'd hoped, but overall still solid, easy feel for the beer still despite the abv percentage but I just found it a little meh honestly. Pretty high floor though still would have again
Mar 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Jdells09 from New Jersey

Mar 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by NappyB from Illinois

Oct 02, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Lukass from Ohio

Oct 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by Gkruszewski from New York

Sep 03, 2022
 
Rated: 3.74 by vfgccp from New York

Aug 31, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Vintage 22A

I remember hearing about OG Gonzo being an awesome beer when I first joined BA. I looked around for it for a while but never ended up finding it. Fast forward 4 years and I end up finding the barrel aged version instead. Let’s see if it can live up to my expectations from all those years ago

Pours nearly pitch black with 2 fingers of tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing

There is a hefty bitterness to the nose here, just really intense. I’m picking up on aromas of herbal hops, toasted oak, cacao nib, earthy whiskey, burnt toast, toffee, and light vanilla

It shows a similar bitterness in taste, but it’s nicely done. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting cocoa powder, burnt coffee, dark toast, earthy whiskey, herbal hops, light caramel, and molasses. The swallow brings notes of burnt toast, herbal hops, earthy whiskey, toasted oak, cocoa powder, toffee, brown sugar, and light raisin

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a brisk and bitter beer. Finishes slightly sticky but goes down remarkably easy for the abv

It’s nothing amazing like I was told it was back in the day, but it’s a very solidly done beer in the old school fashion
Aug 25, 2022
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Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, 2022 vintage

pours an extremely dark but not quite jet black. tan colored head. big aroma of bourbon and dark chocolate. taste has those elements but is pretty oaky and roasty. drier finish. medium bodied.
Jul 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by doctorgary from New York

Jul 04, 2022
Photo of BuxMontBeerLover
Reviewed by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Purchased at Wegmans in Warrington, PA. $20.99/4pk (12oz bottles). Limited Barrel Series listed on the label. Vintage 22.

Pours a deep, deep brown, almost black color. A thick, frothy, mocha-colored head on the initial pour. Fades to a scattered thin coating on top of the beer.

A roasted, malty aroma with hints of whiskey.

A delicious porter. Tastes of chocolate, roasted malts with a distinct bourbon taste from the aging. Slightly acidic, bitter aftertaste. The 11.3% ABV is well hidden but it’s definitely lurking there. Not a brew you’ll want to rush through.

A medium consistency beer with medium carbonation.

Overall, a great barrel-aged porter. I’ve had other Willett Bourban barrel-aged beers and this is a true winner. Nice job, Flying Dog…Cheers!
May 15, 2022
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.07/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Solid black appearance
Medium light carbonation with about an average body.
Aroma is wood,earthy, roasted malt, boozy with some dark chocolate.
Taste was almost dry otherwise stayed true to the aroma.
This was very good,more dry than expected
Apr 27, 2022
Photo of MutuelsMark
Rated by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.31/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours dark as coal. Nice tan head. The bourbon comes through in the nose and taste. Nice warmth afterwards. Very good stuff.
Apr 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.03 by Dougwillhike from New Jersey

Apr 09, 2022
Photo of SawDog505
Reviewed by SawDog505 from New Hampshire

3.81/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass never sure when it was bottled with Flying Dog. Pours a very dark brown with a finger plus light brown head that leaves thick streaks of lace with excellent retention. 4.25

Aroma is woody oak, char, leather, vanilla bean, dark chocolate, and bourbon. 3.75

Taste follows the bourbon hits first, oaked vanilla, char, leather, and dark chocolate. 3.75

Mouthfeel is above medium, soft carbonation, a little dry, and at 11.3% you know you are drinking something from the barrel. 4

Overall the barrel totally takes over and for my preference a little boozy with plenty of other flavors, but they kind of get lost. 3.75
Apr 04, 2022
Photo of dbl_delta
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

4.37/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle dated VINTAGE22A (whatever that means) into pint glass. Pours a quite dark brown with a persistent light tan head. Initial impression is a quite complex blend of dark chocolate, roasted malts, bourbon, oak, and a hint of molasses. Mouthfeel is medium - slightly too thin for a Stout, but damn close. Finish is clean and a bit boozy. Overall, this is one of the best Imperial Porters I've had.
Mar 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4.6 by selekt0r

Feb 20, 2022
Barrel-Aged Gonzo from Flying Dog Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 1038 ratings