Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA - Flying Dog Brewery

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle into tulip. code on bottle states "106B13".

A: very clear, very bright copper color. slightly off-white head is frothy. retention is good and also plenty of foam left behind.

S: apples and bananas. plenty of esters. a floral hoppiness as well. a little bit of cereal. the esters and fruit dominate the nose for the most part. aroma is more like a Belgian tripel, however the touch of hops is appreciated and necessary.

T: plenty of fruitiness starts things off. pears and kiwi. a chalky bitterness throughout. glad that back bone is there to balance the sweet fruit and also remind the drinker this is a BIPA. finish has both bitterness and fruit. finishes with a pear flavor.

M: moderate amount of carb, medium/full body.

D: a style that is a bit tough to hit, at least in my opinion, flying dog does a pretty good job here. I gotta say this is definitely one of their more enjoyable brews and worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 06:58:54 | More by Jimmys

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a snifter glass, colour is a bright, slightly amber, gold, produced a slight creamy white head. Good retention and really nice lacing, nice carbonation.

Smell has strong hop notes upfront, plenty of green, somewhat herbally, nutty notes. Bready malt underpins this. Some fresh and fruity yeast notes also. Quite light and lively.

Taste has a heavy malty feel with a strong herbal hoppiness. Some yeast (green apples) but more on the hopped side, a ton of bitterness. A bit of a smoky oiliness, maybe a bit salty. Aftertaste is really dry, and quite bitter.

Mouthfeel has a rolling soft carbonation, pretty big, oily, bitter body. It leaves a coating as it goes down, on the brash side for sure a lot of sharpness, but pleasing, a bit heady with the alcohol but neatly disguised by the hops.

Certainly quite interesting, but it seemed to have a couple loose ends, some of the belgian style eventually shines through behind the strong hop character. Interesting take, but I think some of the other examples of this style are more balanced and more interesting. Definitely pleasant to drink though.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 23:40:49 | More by mick303

Hopscat

Maryland

4.04/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured bottle bought at the brewery into a FD tulip. Orange/amber color with some haze. Nice off white head dissolves to a thin film with some clumps of foam floating on surface. Nice lacing and legs, with the high abv.
Smell was a funky- barnyard thing , I guess from the belgian style (?) with some citrus hops in the background.
Taste - impressive with sweet biscuity malt quickly followed by more powerful hops bite and a lingering bitterness I favor in IPAs. As it warms there's definitely booze along with complexity here .
Feel- good medium /full body that coated the tongue. Carbonation is also there which made for a nice balance
Overall- very nice IPA which I will definitely look for again . Price is good at $10 a sixer

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 20:20:51 | More by Hopscat

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Raging bitch sports a tall fluffy head over a true amber color ale.
Aroma was pretty good but I could smell a lot of alcohol along with pale malts yeast and spices. No hops.
Taste is dry sweet malts, sharp some hops but not much and yeast and booze.
Drinks thin and sharp and pretty bitter in the aftertaste.
A potent brew with a high ABV, has decent flavor and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 12:55:06 | More by micromaniac129

nUgZ

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle poured into a wine glass.

A: Pours a hazy amber color with a half finger head and light lacing.

S: Fruity and floral hops along with a slight funk.

T: Malty, but with a hop presence. Somewhat sour and funky.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

O: I thought this beer had promise, but I just can't get over the funk...

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:36:54 | More by nUgZ

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer created quite a controversy, mostly because of the label. Good to see this beer out again with the original artwork.

A: Tawny amber with a slight haze to it under a foamy off-white head, about an inch high. Spindly lacing and only a spattering of retention.

S: Trace phenols and herbal hops define a Belgian profile, with secondary effects of caramel malt and citrus. A tad funky in aroma, it’s reminiscent of something Bretty. Smells balanced, but with a pungent character of clove and lemon.

T: Front end of the palate is all malt, though it’s a mild, sweet, biscuity banana flavor – a bit of diacetyl is evident, but it fits. Slight funk ensues before the body dissipates into a showing of lemony, peppery hops, stiffening up the already taut malts. Tastes of clove, grapefruit, and cantaloupe come from this center of the body and extend toward the finish. Aftertaste is very slight: esters are apparent, but it’s mostly overshadowed by a clean wheat fruitiness.

M: Clean and drinkable – quite the tamed animal, showing almost none of the “wildness” heralded on the label. Has a good weight to it, though; with this beer, you know you’re drinking something with some heft.

O: Flying Dog can do the Belgian thing well; that’s for sure. This and Wildeman are enough to prove that. Now, it’s not the most funky, estery, satisfyingly Belgian beer I’ve tasted recently, but it definitely hits the spot. If I could guarantee its freshness, I’d certainly buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 20:40:34 | More by BarryMFBurton

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into tulip glass, color is amber, transparent, good carbonation, great frothy head that laces nicely.

Smell is big hop piney notes intermingled with some belgian yeast spicy profile, phenols mostly.

Taste is more towards a hoppy amber ale, piney hop notes, solid caramel malt note with a belgian beer presence undertone, phenol notes.

Mouthfeel is solid for an ipa and little different than a belgian, nice lingering hop notes but not belgian spice flavors.

Overall, solid brew, more ipa than belgian but some interesting yeast flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 00:26:07 | More by mvanaskie13

Auracom

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. single purchased from MSCM. 4 oz. served in a C&B tulip on November 9th, 2012.

A - Deep orange-golden coloring, white foamy head. Marginal lacing. Light legs.

S - Unfortunately, first note is wet cardboard likely from the yeast. Soft candied sugar, honey, bread, and a touch of a hop/grapefruit-like note.

T - Front palate really doesn't show much, but damn if the mid-palate doesn't explode with big pine bitterness blended with that Belgian yeast character. Brown sugar, sweeter cherry skin, and back-end bread.

M - Medium body, appropriate carbonation, dry finish. Just fine here.

D - Aroma is underwhelming, but it sort of pulls itself together in the end. Just needs to be more robust.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 22:25:12 | More by Auracom

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint

A slightly cloudy orange body with an off-white cap that rises to fill the glass. Some sip marks appear, but they are light. The nose is of citrus and light bready malt. Some pine and yeasty esters poke through with just a faint hint of booze. The flavor profile follows the nose. Citrus and pine with some floral hops poke through up front. Some bready malt through the middle with spicy esters from the yeast. The finish is a touch spicy, with bitter citrus, and some faint warming. Medium body, a bit oily. Smooth. This beer is a little all over the place. Brash in spots and not congruent from one layer to another. Not a bad beer by any stretch, but not as tight and smooth as the best in the class.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 02:51:08 | More by ColForbinBC

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is the gold standard of Belgian IPAs. As you can see by the amount of review this beer has been amazing successful and is the most popular out of all FLying Dog brews. It satisfies the needs of the hop heads out there and also caters to those on the opposite end of the spectrum that like the Belgian.

This beer smells fruity with a higher than average alcohol content of 8.3%. The beer is a dark amber color when poured into a bottle with a heavy amount of white lacing. Flying Dog forces carbonation in their beer so there is heavy head on this beer. It leads to a smooth, crisp heavily carbonated (though not in a bad way) mouthfeel. The taste is slightly sweet due to the Belgian yeast but neither that nor the taste of the hops linger. This is a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:59:34 | More by Ryanm1

bonkers

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I poured from a bottl into a pint glass, deep orange pour, with a moderate white head. The aroma has a decent amount of Belgian yeast, alon with pine and grapefruit. It taste like it smells, very heavy on belgian yeast and grapefruit, lingering bitter/sweet finish. The body is full/medium, moderate carbonation, easy drinking for ABV. Not usually a fan of this brewery, but this one seems to hit the mark. IMO a very good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:13:25 | More by bonkers

Murrhey

Montana

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass in my home in Orange, Calif. Reviewed from notes.

A- Finger width head. Little retention. Golden-orange color.

S- Sweet and floral. This is a punch in the nose. Wonderful smell.

T- Hoppy but with a distinct citrus and champagne sort of flavor. Very smooth and a bitter, dry linger.

M- Smooth and dry. Clean flavors don't linger too long.

O- Weird beer, never had one like it before.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 00:19:23 | More by Murrhey

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Nikki's Liquors in North Providence, Rhode Island.

A- Pours a clear copper body with a somewhat small off-white head and very little lacing.

S- Upfront I get some Belgian funk, yeast, wheat and cloves. Slight citrus from the hops.

T- Starts off quite astringent and resinous, fades to some nice spice and banana notes. Warming malt finish.

M- High carbonation medium body.

Overall, this was a complex, unique brew that you have to taste to describe. Belgian spices with an IPA hoppiness. Complex and tasty. Try if you like either styles.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 19:08:50 | More by gcamparone

GeeL

Massachusetts

2.03/5  rDev -48.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I want to like Belgian IPAs, I really do. This one makes it tough...

A: Hazy. A little filtering would have been nice. My home brews aren't this cloudy.

S: Citrus, musty/earthy, funky like Belgian brews, floral and hoppy.

T: Not balanced. This beer has issues. There is too much competition between the flavors and the styles. I'm going to struggle to finish the 6-pack.

M: Spot on Belgian and IPA... Carbonated but doesn't sting.

O: Not buying this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 23:44:47 | More by GeeL

PhantasIPA

Delaware

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a golden amber color that is slightly cloudy. It pours with a 1/2 inch head and leaves a heavy lacing against the glass.

The smell begins with the caramel sweetness. It is followed by the citrus aromas (grapefruit and lemon) and then the piney aroma of the hops. It is a sharp, cutting scent in general, but not obtrusive. I think it smells like a hearty IPA should smell.

The taste is a classic IPA; it has a heavy sweetness (caramel and molasses), a shrap citrus flavor (grapefruit and lemon) and a biting, hoppy flavor (pine and strong hops). I like the taste a lot. Along with the classic IPA combination of flavors, it carries the 8.3% ABV, which gets the job done well.

The mouthfeel is slightly heavy, I think from the higher ABV, but the carbonation is well balanced and the brew still drinks smoothly. The prevalent sweetness adds to the smoothness of the beer.

Overall I like the beer. I am a sucker for IPA's, so I like the well brewed and classic combination of flavors and scents. I also like stronger beers, so this one is right down my alley. If you like IPA's, are a fan of Flying Dog brewery, or want to try a solid IPA, then this beer would work well.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 18:20:24 | More by PhantasIPA

PaulGE

3.43/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

This is a gonzo beer with too high an alcohol content for no reason. This is why feelings are mixed about its taste. If you need the alcohol like some of the Chimay beers sure do it but not just to be macho.

I am sure they know how to brew a beer, I just think they got carried away with this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 02:56:44 | More by PaulGE

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip- pours a clear, orange/amber color with 1.5 finger head, decent strips of lacing.

Smell is nice- hoppy, sweet, very floral. Incidentally a little peppery.

Taste is fine as well. Lots of floral hops, sweet Belgian taste, mild bitterness. A little bit of a tea taste (perhaps Sorachi Ace was used).

Mouthfeel is all right- medium body, moderate carbonation, a little syrupy. This is an interesting beer, and I think every time I've had it, it's tasted different. Sometimes more of the tea taste, sometimes more resinous and hoppy. I guess it's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 23:28:38 | More by Hopdaemon39

Dave1999

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark amber with a small white head.

The smell is citrus fruits,oranges and lemons in particular.

The taste is orange, bitter hops and candi sugar.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a fair amount of carbonation.

I was more impressed with this beer than I thought I'd be. By far my favorite of the flying dog beers. Very easy to get, they even have it in 7-11.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 01:04:03 | More by Dave1999

Greywulfken

New York

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: beautiful color on this beer - crystal clear pale-medium amber - golden orange; I got a two-finger head with a center pour into a tulip (no threat of overflow); head dropped some lace as it faded into a rough collar and flimsy film

S: fairly warm pour reveals some tropical fruitiness and that distinct Belgian yeastiness

T: on-point hop profile with bright Belgian yeast atop a hearty malt base. Chewy caramel muddles the bitter creaminess of the rich malt; citrus and pine notes linger after the initial sweetness fades

M: nothing that really leaps out here: medium-to-light body, moderate carbonation, slight slick stickiness; thick bitter aftertaste on the tongue

O: Based on this site's categorization and my limited experience with Belgian IPA's (BIPA's?), I'd say it is less Duvel-like than Hop God, and completely different-tasting from Piraat - closer to an "American"/"regular" IPA. It reminds me most of Green Flash's LeFreak, and I get the feeling that these two beers are probably closest to the true character profile of the style. I found it to be similar in feel and spirit to the Anchorage brews, Bitter Monk and Galaxy White IPA, but without the "wet blanket" flavors from the brettanomyces.
I thought this a good, if unremarkable Belgian-style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 01:15:20 | More by Greywulfken

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

No Date on this bottle, and its an IPA..hmmm.

A - Clear dark orange, with an 2 finger off white head. Very nice appearance with great lacing.

S - Not a whole lot of smell on this, but what I get is slight Belgium funk with some citrusy hops.

T - Same as the nose with the Belgium yeast battling the hops for control. This beer is zesty and spicy flavored. A little bit of a mess between the hops and Belgium funk. The more I drink, the hops build up and the Belgium aspect fades. Really nice at first but has lost some of the nice complexity as the hops build. Its really easy to drink because of how smooth it is, not to mention no alcohol presence.

M - Medium full body, but feels slippery and smooth as it goes across and down the back of the tongue.

O - A decent beer that seems to need a little help on the flavor profile. The hops that build up ruin the Belgium aspect of this one, which destroys the complexity. I want more Belgium flavor! However, it is really easy to dink for a 8.5% beer. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 22:52:20 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

phishsihq

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A big, rocky white head sits atop this clear, amber colored brew. Bready malt aromas quickly give way to floral and citrus hop aromas, spices and Belg
ian yeast notes. Some alcohol is also noticeable. Extremely complex on the pallet, this dog seems to change with every sip. Pale and bready malt flavors intermingle with hints of spice, lemon, grapefruit, and orange. Other flavors are there as well, but when we went back to identify them, they were gone, spooky. Medium-high in both body and carbonation, this is one dog that might bite!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 00:36:12 | More by phishsihq

GeckoPunk

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Decent looking beer. Golden-honey with a finger of slightly off-white head

S - The smell, just like the taste, changes SIGNIFICANTLY as the beer warms. If I posted the smell of this beer prior to warming it up, I would have said it has apricot and peach scents, but over time, the smell changes into a malty, alcohol with phenols that aren't as attractive as when the beer was first poured. I was much more impressed by the smell directly after the beer was opened from the bottle. As mentioned in previous posts, I can understand that there is a slight caramel smell/taste in there.

T - Whoa! Bitter hops totally threw me for a loop... After smelling the beer, I was completely taken off-guard when the bitterness hit my mouth like a ton of bricks. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE bitter beers, but DAYUM! When I had this beer, it was directly after Westmalle's Trappist Tripel. I did not taste any resemblance of Belgian beer in it, until... I then proceeded to pour it directly from the bottle into a tulip glass and let the beer warm up. It's the yeast. I can spot it from a mile away. The sour funk rose from the ashes... I did not smell it initally when the beer was fresh out of the bottle, directly from the cooler from the store. When I first drank it, I was like AMERICAN IPA - ALL THE WAY! That changed instantly as the beer warmed up and poured into a snifting glass.

M - Mouthfeel does not have too little or too much carbonation, sticky as the beer warms. It has a little alcohol burn. Almost a syruppy mess. Sorry if that's a let-down. Mouthfeel dramatically diminished after the beer got warm. I apologize, I'm really trying to justify this beer, but it's not helping as this beer is like watching a train-wreck in slow motion. It's all good, until time runs out and shi+ hits the fan.

O - Overall, it's a weird combination. A good one, but not an exceptional beer. I love IPAs. I love Belgian beers. However, to me, this beer is very 1-dimensional. It's bitterness mixed with Belgian yeast. It feels like an American IPA, almost IIPA, using the term "Belgian IPA" as a marketing strategy to gain preference with the craft beer drinkers. I honestly don't know if I'd buy it again. That's not to say I don't like it though...

If I were to rate this beer right after the first sip, I would have given it a 4.0 out of 5. Sadly, It has been downgraded to a 3.7. I have never seen a beer "devolve" like this in the course of 30 minutes.

If you really want to enjoy this beer... DO NOT LET IT GET WARM!

Last thoughts: My mouth still has that lingering bitter, alcohol, chalky, IPA residue on it. Thank goodness I'm home for the night. If I were driving somewhere after drinking this beer, a cop would be able to smell this on my breath for hours after drinking it. I am ashamed to write this review as I genuinely liked this beer on my first sip...

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:23:13 | More by GeckoPunk

c0yk0i

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I really like this beer! I think it's very smooth yet hoppy. Not that this is significant, but the illustration on the packaging is pretty cool. I'm drinking it right now, in fact. My friends and I have been enjoying it this week. I definitely recommend this beer. It isn't too expensive.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 08:20:42 | More by c0yk0i

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

002A13, so best by January 2, 2013

A: Pours a copper color with 2 fingers of head that fades to a cap within a minute, but that sticks around for a while

S: Get a lot of Belgian character as well as IPA character. Yeasty and fruity with loads of pine and citrus hops

T: Follows the nose. Get a lot of grapefruit and pine from the hops, some spicy and fruity Belgian yeast, and a good amount of crackery malts. Everything is well balanced, and doesn't get too bitter. Very well integrated

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly drying, but not too bad

O: Huge props to FD for being able to make this so balanced. The malts, hops, yeast, and alcohol blend so extremely well and makes this a great example of the style. Obviously it leans more towards American versions, but it is relatively tame (or at least it seems like it with the way everything goes together). Worth picking up

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 02:56:19 | More by BEERMILER12

hackmann

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was in a party store the other day and I was thinking about my wife and I ended up with this beer in my hand – coincidence?

Appearance: amber body with a nice one maybe two finger white head that leaves some lacing on the glass. On my second glass I poured an easy two finger head.

Aroma: nice hoppy nose, grapefruit skin, little caramel in the mix,

Flavors: oh I like this one from the first sip. Some good pine notes hit the palate with a little white grapefruit bitterness. Then, the caramel, lightly toasted grains, and fruit mix it up for one interesting IPA. The fruit reminds me of golden raisin and a touch of peach and maybe a hint of mango.

Mouthfeel: fine fizzy carbonation, smooth on the delivery and then the bitterness hits the mid and finish, firm and dry aftertaste – pine and earthy yeast,

To the Point: damn this is one nice ale. I will be keeping this Raging Bitch around too! This is worthy of a six pack purchase. If you don’t like it send me the other five.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 02:59:56 | More by hackmann