Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter - Flying Dog Brewery

Jason

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

02-02-2013 03:39:32 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine June 2007.

What happens when you age Gonzo Imperial Porter for three months in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels? This beer.

To call this "opaque black" would be an understat- ment. Its crown is a massive foam head that rises three to four fingers in height and takes an eternity to settle; but as it does, traces are left behind. Aroma is roasty, with layers of wood, chocolate, burnt raisin, vanilla and an oaky sourness. "Smooth" would be an understatement, too--this beer is silky and fluffy on the palate, but what lies beneath is not: an acrid roastiness that sharpens the deeper you quaff. Flavors or coffee, brownie, wood, juicy ripened raisins and earth also come into play. Nice back note of caramel, too. Oak flavors blend with the roasted characters, exaggerating the sharpness a bit more and giving it a raw and green twang. Notes of whiskey only become detectable as the beer warms, residing for the most part within the retro-olfaction alcoholic fumes and the lingering semi-boozy and spicy finish.

Personally, the fact that the whiskey is subtle is nice, but Wild Dog seems to be a bit over-carbonated--which tends to lift and displace many of the beer's po- tential nuances off the palate. Overall, though, this is a tasty treat from the wood meant for a snifter at room temperature, which is when this beer really opens up.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 18:41:48 | More by BeerAdvocate

Brown120

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-20-2013 13:47:37 | More by Brown120

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 22:01:29 | More by Photekut

tigho

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-10-2013 23:08:02 | More by tigho

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-09-2013 02:36:15 | More by Phillyz

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-08-2013 19:29:56 | More by vicsju1991

troegaarden

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +20.2%

05-07-2013 01:15:26 | More by troegaarden

joefuzz

New York

3.91/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml caged and corked bottle. No date but I think it is the most recent batch. Pours just like regular gonzo, deep brown with a small light brown head. Smells of choclate caramel and booze. Taste is very malty, lots of caramel and molasses and a slight hint of hops with a very nice bourbon vanilla aftertaste. Mouth is on the thicker side with light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:37:24 | More by joefuzz

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-02-2013 18:50:21 | More by skaboom420

beerdrifter

Germany

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at my favorite beer store in Belgium, Dranken Geers. Dark brown, nearly black pour with a quickly fading half finger caramel-colored head with nice lacing. Sweet, earthy, whiskey-dominant nose with hints of oak, dark chocolate, licorice, and vanilla. The barrel-aging really comes out in the taste. Lots of oak and whiskey along with hints of vanilla, leather, cola, dark chocolate, and just a touch of black cherries. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly syrupy with medium carbonation and nice dry, bitter finish. Overall, this had decent body for a Porter and the barrel really came through nicely. Glad I picked up multiple bottles of this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 17:30:28 | More by beerdrifter

Howlader

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-28-2013 01:55:13 | More by Howlader

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-27-2013 07:04:40 | More by mportnoy

jsanford

Georgia

2.75/5  rDev -33.9%

04-25-2013 23:37:38 | More by jsanford

danwho

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

04-24-2013 04:14:22 | More by danwho

JandJMD

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-24-2013 02:55:43 | More by JandJMD

drgonzo2k2

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-21-2013 15:03:51 | More by drgonzo2k2

lonewolfcry

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-20-2013 07:05:18 | More by lonewolfcry

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-18-2013 23:13:06 | More by randylangford

Jd2391

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-18-2013 18:32:59 | More by Jd2391

jsurfs82

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-18-2013 02:50:55 | More by jsurfs82

bmur112

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-17-2013 10:59:06 | More by bmur112

Wakey

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-16-2013 17:28:56 | More by Wakey

EricTheRed

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-12-2013 22:55:40 | More by EricTheRed

tewaris

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from a 12 oz. bottle purchased sometime in 2011 so approximately 18-24 months old at this point. Pours nice and dark with a good head. Smells fantastic with plenty of vanilla, barrel and stout underneath. Silky and smooth without any overpowering note... balanced roast and absent tartness is an instant hit in my book.

Wasn't expecting it to be that good because Flying Dog hasn't done it for me lately but this was an absolute delight. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 05:14:09 | More by tewaris