Single Hop Imperial IPA (El Dorado) - Flying Dog Brewery

MysticRuler

New York

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy amber color. Nose is musty an round with an dollop of booze. Taste is very different from most Imperial IPAs in that the hop profile doesn't have many of the tropical, resiny elements typical to the style. All in all a good effort, but could throttle back on the alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2012 15:27:13 | More by MysticRuler

tdm168

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at World of Beer at North Hills

A - hazy orangish yellow; soft white head; decent retention

S - oranges, citrus

T - citrus, orange, grapefruit, faint pine, warm alcohol

M - medium bodied, warm, crisp

This is a fantastic DIPA. It has a tremendously orange-like hop character and a fantastic drinkability for 10%. It's smooth, balanced, and very enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 00:46:57 | More by tdm168

drabmuh

Maryland

2.8/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A lot of single hop beers floating around these days, El Dorado would not be my first choice. Beer is a little orange, hazy, wispy head, served in a goblet.

Aroma is sweet and a little fruity.

This beer is sweet, then almost nothing, then it hits you in the back of the head with a frying pan made out of hops. Really bitter and dry finish, shockingly dry really. Harsh. Hard to drink. The separation of the sweet start and the harsh finish are shocking and palate wrecking. In a phrase, not a fan.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2011 17:39:34 | More by drabmuh

nimrod979

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draft @ the Axe. Kinda dim in here to notice the color but I'd say it's a pretty clear copper color with a average sized white head. Aroma citrus hops and dried fruit. Flavor is a hops overload and I love it. Overwhelming Sweet fruity hops flavor with a sharp hop bite to finish. Medium body with a sticky texture and only a hint of the 10% it carries but I love this single hopped beer and I can't wait for flying dog to release the next one in the series.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2011 23:10:16 | More by nimrod979

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a honey gold color with pretty good head retention and fair lacing. Really don't get too much on the nose, just some dank earth and light honey. The flavor profile is better, but this is still not a strong effort from Flying Dog. On the palate, I get considerable honey and vanilla, which is then pushed aside by an impressive wave of hoppy bitterness. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, with a fairly long, very bitter finish. Drinkability isn't too bad, but the combination of honey, noticeable alcohol and considerable bitterness on the finish is just not a great one.

While decent, this is just not one of the better beers I've had from flying dog. The simcoe version of this beer was much better.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 21:35:57 | More by johnmichaelsen

gillagorilla

Maryland

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

12 oz. poured into a pint glass

A: Quite bronze that pours a 3 inch head that dwindles to a remaining 1 inch head.

S: A much different IPA smell that is all citrus with something that I can't place but is very sweet smelling.

T: Mellow with a low but steady hop profile that is almost stronger in the aftertaste.

M: Smooth with almost no bubbles or mouth abrasion.

O: Nice for my first single hop varietal. The El Dorado may not be the IPA of promise and gold, but it is still a great IPA. I do prefer the Centennial single hop varietal from Flying Dog though.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 13:21:35 | More by gillagorilla

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice looking pour. Light amber with good clarity. Thick creme head. Nose is heavy pine and resin. Flavor is much of the same with a punch and burst of bright pine and woody tones. Earthy with a salty kind of thing on the back. Pretty smooth feel. A nice drinker. Even though it's consistent, I wouldn't say it's entirely balanced, since the flavor profile seems to lean to one side.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 22:51:13 | More by RblWthACoz

ckollias

Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a small snifter glass.

A: Pours a clear golden hue with a thin white head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace with a partial trail down the sides.

S: Sweet malty aroma with some citrus notes.

T: Equal mix of sweet malt and bitter hops. Finishes on the dry side of tart.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: This was a well-balanced double ipa. Usually when an IPA goes imperial it loses some of the hoppy characteristics – but this tasted like a typical ipa only a little sweeter.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 01:15:38 | More by ckollias

metter98

New York

3.71/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear yellowish orange in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger and a half high off white head that died down, leaving a thin head covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of grapefruit and orange citrus are present in the nose. As the beer warms up, hints of alcohol also become detectable.
T: Similar to the smell, the overall taste is mostly citrusy with flavors of grapefruit and oranges. This is coupled with a light to moderate amount of bitterness and hints of alcohol.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of visible carbonation.
O: This beer has nice citrusy aromas and flavors, but the presence of alcohol is a somewhat detracting.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 01:53:10 | More by metter98

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a snifter

Appearance – Pours a beautiful crystal clear golden-orange color with a one finger white head. The head fades rather fast to leave a light level of lace on the glass.

Smell – The aroma is massive of citrus notes with a big sweet tangerine and bitter grapefruit and lemon smell. Mixed with these aromas are rather strong aromas of other tropical fruits with mango, pineapple and some papaya. There is the slightest grassy hop aroma that rounds out the sweet and hoppy citrus making for a very delicious smell.

Taste – The taste starts out with a thick bready flavor mixed with a decent grapefruit hop bitterness. There are stronger notes of tangerine sweetness and a small amount of tropical fruit upfront that slowly diminishes throughout the taste as it advances to the end. The middle of the taste brings with it a tiny grassy hop taste, some lemon, as well as a slight taste of alcohol. As the taste advances to the end the alcohol gets stronger, and with the sweet dwindling, the grapefruit hop actually getting stronger a dry and bitter citrus flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the thicker and creamier side with a carbonation level that is just below average to average. The thicker body is quite good for putting the citrus hop and tangerine flavors on the forefront. The body with the lower carbonation coupled with the alcohol boozy taste make this one a good sipper.

Overall – A rather tasty imperial IPA with a great dose of citrus and a wonderful smell and feel. A nice one to sit back and sip.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 01:51:11 | More by Darkmagus82

tchenery

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a straw golden color with a ruby tint. Head is nice and bright white but doesn't last long. It does lace the goblet though.

Smell is zesty from the front to the back. There is a bit of lemon zest and other citrus notes. The beer has a slight grapefruit aroma to it on the back end and almost a little bit medicinal.

The taste is round and sweeter than I expected. It coats the tongue all the way down and the El Dorado hops are grassy and herbal. The beer has a crisp finish that is almost minty in mouthfeel, not flavor.

Overall this is a fantastic beer and an exemplary double IPA. I love the single-hop beers for their ability to hone in on one specific flavor. Definitely an educational experience.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 00:34:37 | More by tchenery

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.01/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Bottled on January 9, 2013. Review 2 for the series (in bottles).

A - Pours a light amber with perfect clarity. Initially, about a finger of soapy white head sits on top. The head dies pretty quickly leaving behind a thin film of carbonation. Decent lacing.

S - Tart grapefruit is the most prominent aroma. Candied fruits, papaya, and caramel malts sweeten the deal. Fresh cut grass and lemon zest are also present. Noticeable alcohol on the nose.

T - My initial reaction is that the flavor is "tangy." Tropical fruits, white grapes, and obvious grapefruit all contribute to this. Some pineapple sweetness midpalate. Slightly bitter grassy hops on the finish, but no booziness. Very flavorful while remaining mellow.

M - Effervescent with a body a touch lighter than is typical for a big DIPA.

O - This is not a hop strain I am very familiar with but I really enjoyed this beer. A unique blend of citrus, tropical, and grassy flavors. It is light and bubbly with a refreshing flavor profile. I wish this came out in the summer because this would be a perfect poolside DIPA. Definitely a hop strain I will seek in the future. I love this single hop project Flying Dog is conducting and hope it continues in the future.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 01:20:22 | More by NoLeafClover44

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Crystal clear golden-orange, 2 fingers white head, great lacing.

S - Pineapple, orange peel, juicy hops, hint of bubblegum.

T - Orange rind, sweet apple, pine, soft caramel, moderate bitterness.

M - Medium-full body, moderate carbonation.

O - First beer with El Dorado hops, very unique. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 01:01:06 | More by Rickythejeweler

vandemonian

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Flying Dog Single Hop Imperial IPA (El Dorado) is a tasty single hop DIPA. This one seems to emphasise burnt malt and sweet, citrus hops.

A: Cloudy orange colour with a 3 mm head. Looks like it's going to be tasty. Some sediment. 4

S: Sweet citrus hops. 3.5

T: Burnt sweet malt and mild spicy hops. Yum yum. 3.5

M: Foamy. 4

O: 3.75

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 04:01:32 | More by vandemonian

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a hazy looking golden color with a white head on top. There was a good amount of floating specs in the beer. The retention and lacing were really good on this. The smell of the beer had a decent hop aroma with a bit of malt in there with some booze on the nose too. The taste follows along the same path as the nose. The mouthfeel was medium bodied, nicely carbonated also. Overall this beer wasn't too bad, A little too much booze heat but other than that it was good.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 00:23:53 | More by Knapp85

beer2day

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy orange gold, leaning more towards yellow. 2 fingers of light cream head. Not much in the way of retention, but laces well enough. Doesn't say bottle conditioned, but quite a bit of particulate matter in the glass. Guessing that's remnants of the hops.

Nose is relatively strong with hop esters and malt backbone. Decent pine component. With it being a single hop, I'm thinking that's all you can ask.

Nice robust flavor with pine, resiny hops, mild tart tangerine, and a tart dry finish. Alcohol is very present.

Feel is resiny, oily, and pretty delicious. Maybe the best part of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 02:12:42 | More by beer2day

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a shaker pint: Honey-gold body with what I thought was loads of nucleation but turns out to be loads of sediment floaters, under 2 fingers of dense, rolling head that retains very well.

Aroma is orange bubblegum, a combination of simple citrus & a clear sweetness. Or Orange Julius, like a creamy, yogurty kind of sweetness. Simple, but good.

Smooth, mild sweetness starts off, like a muffin, then grows into some orange flavor & a little bitter pith, then sweetening again into that orange bubblegum character, turning boozy in the finish & holding up a long, lasting bitterness into the aftertaste. Nowhere does the bitterness get too assertive, remaining present but restrained.

Full, creamy mouthfeel, dries out toward the finish but far from a palate wrecker.

I'm a fan of this one. Though it's not what I expected, much milder & sweeter, it's neither cloying nor punishing, like many DIPAs. I'd put this more in the Double Pale Ale category, if that existed.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 20:02:04 | More by OneDropSoup

kylehay2004

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Single finger head with excellent lacing on a clear orange copper body. Very malty with a stronger booze presene than I like. Citrus and candy sugar as well. Flavor borders on barleywine bitterness and maltiness with orange peel, earthy hops and metallic finish. Medium body and moderate carbonation. The drinkability isn't what I want for the style. I like barleywines but when I want a DIPA that's what I want.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 03:05:27 | More by kylehay2004

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in tall lager glass

A: cloudy dark orange; thin head (creamy); very nice carb action
S: sweet, aromatic with hops dominating (pine, bubblegum overtones)
T: very hoppy, boozy IPA; nice balance of intense bitterness against intense malt (medium level of roast); semicomplex

Nice, decent beer; good way to have two IPAs at once.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 00:25:32 | More by Arithmeticus

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not sure how old this is since they brewed it once and Carnivores has a bunch in the mix and match section. Never had it so I picked up one.

A - Pours a bright clear amber brown with a 1/4 inch of sticky white head.

S - Well being a single hopped beer there is little noticeable malt but a great bit of sweet pineapple and citrus hops.

T - Ok so it's a tad old so the hops are not as pronounced ad they should be. Still quite good with some lemon and citrus rind bitterness, cracker malt, and a well covered ABV (most important part)

M - As stated this beer drinks with a medium body.

Overall these imperial IPA's are brewed quite well and should be made again/fresh. Even aged they hold up well next to the competition.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 02:37:15 | More by DrDemento456

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a bright and glowing burnt orange with floaties suspended throughout...the head was white and stood two fingers tall...the retention was nice and good lacing was left behind

S - The nose is bursting with notes of bright citrus (grapefruit, orange, lemon)...there is a mix of fresh pine lingering in the nose as well...this is a single hop beer for sure, seeing as there is only a little malt backing

T - Citrus flavors are present, but they come across with a fruity rind flavor and they aren't very fresh...I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just different from the nose...the malt adds some bready notes that help to balance (briefly) out everything on the palate...piney notes join together with the bitter citrus rind to create a long, bitter finish

M - Medium bodied...chewy, bitter, long lasting, alcohol burn

O - This is the third in the Single Hop series that I've had and I would rank this second...much better than the Centennial version, but not quite as good as the Simcoe one

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 19:33:06 | More by thain709

WoodBrew

Illinois

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

A light amber color, cloudy and showing off lots of white floaties with a solid white head and very nice lacing. The aroma is an herbal tea and citrus hop with a rice-wheat grain idea to balance. The hop is pretty sharp and a bit “dank”. The flavor delivers much of the same with sharp swampy pineapple and herbal citrus hops. Quite bitter and it lasts as it coats your tongue with thick citrus and fermented grain. Alcohol gradually takes more of a front seat here which hides the hop beauty a little. This stuff is just shy of being full bodied with a moderately cloying feel. The carbonation is sturdy and brisk. This started really good but somehow it ends up being somewhat more grassy and boozy. This may be one of those beers that hits you a little differently depending on the day and mood. But ultimately it’s really pretty decent, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 03:10:21 | More by WoodBrew

Pencible

Virginia

3.43/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a clear gold with lots of white head and some sediment.
S: It smelled like faint citrus and biscuit.
T: It tasted like faded citrus zest and sweet honey and bready malt. It had a clean and bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was slightly thick with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This had a pretty mild scent and taste for a modern 2IPA. The body was ok, and the alcohol was decently hidden, so it was pretty easy to drink. Not an impressive brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 19:26:42 | More by Pencible

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Single Hop Imperial IPA (El Dorado)
Flying Dog Brewery
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
ABV: 10.00 %

LOOK: Pours a bit syrupy and in an orange glow with a small, yellowish head and plenty of lace. Looks like a big mean double IPA.

SMELL: Citrus, melon, tropical fruits, honey, brown sugar, booze. Smells sweet and intoxicating.

TASTE: Follows the nose with some mango, orange, herb and pine notes; with a solid bitterness as well. Alcohol is present but not distracting. Piney, mildly tropical, bitter and tasty. A more than worthy double IPA.

FEEL/IMPRESSION: This full bodied ale really packs it in with hop flavor. Well carbonated, flavorful and strong. Whats not to love?

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 17:53:00 | More by Stinkypuss

smakawhat

Maryland

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A bit of a hazy orange amber, but a real nice fluffy and off white head on top, three finger deep with lots of retention and space. Big bubbles in the head, but really frozen solid and going nowhere. There are some yeast chunks though floating around.

Juicy nose, mushy filled with citrus and a great spirtzy Italian orange soda sense. Fruit basket filled, and citrus zesty of orange goodness. Impressive!

Creamy palate, cream malt sensations oozing to a good thick malt body. Finish brings lots of hop orange, and a controlled juicy mush that lingers on. Texture is rich and creamy, not prickly and not syrupy. No sense of alcohol heat on this at all. Small astringinet squeezed lime bitterness ever so slight on the finish.

Overall, woah I did not expect this beer to be that good, but it is, really liking this, it's almost a marriage of a good cream ale (Anderson Valley Summer Solstice) and a solid orange hop citrus bent melded together. Great JOB!

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 03:12:23 | More by smakawhat