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

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Rustico - Alexandria. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a cloudy light apricot color with a really great white head and an incredible amount of lacing. The nose hits with quite a bit of hops and zero malt. It is a bit tropical with light citrus and herbal characteristics lingering in the background. I will say that after having a few El Dorado beers now, it's not a great hop. The character is there throughout, but I don't really enjoy what it brings to the brew. It's not too bad, but certainly not the hit that Citra is. The flavor is just about the same as the nose--the flavor is all hops, but the hop character isn't my favorite. This is a good effort, and I can't fault them for anything other than selecting this hop to make a beer with. Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation for the style. A bit too hot as it warms, with the alcohol becoming a detraction.

Serving type: cask

03-28-2011 00:30:40 | More by Thorpe429

oberon

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into an oversized wine glass a hazed burnt orange tinged golden with a thinner but lacy white head atop.The nose is a little dissapointing really with faint citrusy fruity hops and sweet alcohol as the main components,the alcohol is bigger than the hops frankly.Caramel and sweet alcohol are big on the palate with some light resiny and tropical-like fruity hops,but again I think the sweetness wins out here.I haven't had El Dorado hops until this offering and I can see some promise there,this offering though is more of a sweet alcoholic bomb and very average.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 20:40:33 | More by oberon

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

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

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

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

Jason

Massachusetts

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

12oz brown bottle with a bottle code.

LOOK: Tall head, golden orange haze

SMELL: Orange peel, kumquats, peppery, rose water, grapenuts, green tea, nutty, dragonfruit, alcohol

TASTE: Smooth, bitter, tea, herbal, peppercorn, tropical fruit, warming alcohol, pineapple rind, resin, faint pine, blood oranges, bitter semi-dry finish

A solid example of a DIPA, very unique hops and they definitely work on their own. Personally hope they brew more with this hops / bigger crop next time around.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 02:12:18 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness info, I purchased 2 single bottles, cuz the sixer was something like $18! (At Decicco's in Ardsley, NY)

Pours lighter amber, and mostly clear, until the late pours that add some yeasty sediment and the companion haze. Off white head, tiny bubbles and leaves a thick colar and fine film as well as respectable spots of fine lace.

Agressive hop nose, leads to a pleasantly hoppy DIPA, with citrus, pine and hop resins flowing all over the palate. Moderate head, with some lime and gin notes from the alcohol.

Enjoyable hop bomb, large and heady brew.

The beers from Flying Dog seemingly get better and better as each new offering comes out. (IE: Raging Bitch, Kujo, Wildeman and now this one in recent memery)

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 03:52:37 | More by Billolick

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a hazed golden copper (with some suspended oils and a surprising amount of yeasty chunkies) and several fingers of foamy white head. This maintains a rich ¾ finger that soaps the sides of the glass with lacing that clings to the sides of the glass in a sticky latticework. The aroma has a strong grapefruit presence, with a fresh leafy feel and touches of pine, spice, herbal tones, and lemon zest here and there. Doughy sugars from the malts soften up the edges of the nose a bit.

The taste is zesty grapefruit flavor that is intertwines with herbal notes and a smack of tart lemon. This is balanced by a neutral bready sweetness that keeps the focus here on the hops. The finish is dry and very pithy with some light lingering resins. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied, with a lively carbonation which matches that initially foamy pour. It’s not over carbonated but definitely fills the mouth up while an underlying oiliness from the hops that help keep this smooth on the tongue. There is moderate warmth present from the alcohol but this is overall pretty drinkable for 10%.

Not bad. I don’t have too much experience with the El Dorado hop but I like what this single-hopped DIPA showcased. Lots of grapefruit and lemon flavors with supportive notes of herbal and leafy character. Solid drinkable body on this as well. It gets docked a bit for the floaties in the pour but I’d definitely try this again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 19:29:00 | More by Kegatron

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

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

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy yellow to orange-ish in color with an off white head. In the aroma, a light, and small orange citrus hop. In the taste, orange citrus, and a mellow pine in the end. A smooth and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry orange citrus hop in the aftertaste. Not much nose, but nice hops and ahides the alcohol quite well.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 17:14:15 | More by OWSLEY069

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

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

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

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

Durge

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

06-25-2012 18:37:48 | More by Durge

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

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

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

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Golden tangerine color with a sparkling white head of two fingers that holds like a rock. Lacing all down the sides of my tulip glass. Exceptional look.

The aroma on this one is interesting. It smells bitter with muddled pine and citrus notes. Nothing really stands out. Nothing really jumps at you. For a single hop IIPA, this one is pretty evened. It's slightly floral with some hidden grapefruit suggestions.

Oh my! Burningly bitter, but short of astringent. Rugged leafy hop flavors that carry floral and mild pine notes out front-and-center. Never enjoyed an all-out floral IIPA such as this one as much before. The malts are way overpowered by the hops, and it'd be an understatement to call this one hoppy; but there's an agreeability and frame on this beer's flavor that is understated in its self.

Drinks kind of thin, but with a great bubbly presence. A little biting and boozy. I'm still sold.

Boosting the score on the overall, because I'm seriously impressed. Well-made and fascinatingly hoppy without the obvious citrus or fruity notes. Packs an almost-saturated level of bitterness to threshold, but as a single hop IIPA, you have to respect this one and only hop.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 05:24:44 | More by thecheapies

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

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

Nice DIPA, hits nice notes with an approachable if a bit generic range.

Presentation: 12 oz brown capped bottle. Back the an identifiable and unavoidable Ralph Steadman label illustration with a bat-winged Gonzo skull. Brief side narrative going over intent and brewing spirit. Notes batch code (279A12), and 10% Alc. by Vol. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Lightly hazy medium to deep amber/orange pour. Tall frothy head, good retention, nice surface memory and fair lacing.

S - Nice nose, fruity, resinous, not very pungent but pleasing with some light tropical notes...

T - And the taste follows with a nice bitterness, mild but rich with hints of tropical fruit, grapefruit, hint of resin, nice counterbalance sweet flow in the second plane.

M - Medium body, soft carbonation with a rather easy flow that masks well the Alc.

O - Slightly generic but rather pleasing… Not a hop bomb, but not a DIPA that lacks the character. Pleasing if one likes this bracket for the style.

Notes: As far as single DIPAs go this is nice, and sure enough a different animal from their Simcoe offering, so no point to miss it here… Are we going through another shortage this year? Not a substitute by any means but El Dorado makes for a pleasing DIPA, which probably will hold its ground on its own. And price-quality ratio around her make a six-pack of this ale rather attractive.

I have had the luck of having this one a couple of times on cask since this bottle review, and it sure shines with a longer complexity and feel. The hop profile is far more pronounced and stimulating with longer tropical notes. The grade goes significantly up on cask.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 14:58:12 | More by Daniellobo

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

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

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-cloudy orange with a thin white head

S-very citrusy. Not a strong scent though. It's mild.

T-comes in with a pretty decent taste of tropical fruits and grains. It's a very hoppy taste. It's a unique and refreshing ipa. Good matching after-taste. 

M-medium creamy carbonation with a crisp finish

O-this is actually a pretty decent ipa. It's a fun ipa to drink. I wouldn't mind having more of this.  I actually also can not believe this is 10%. There's no way. It drinks like a single ipa.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 16:21:31 | More by AdamBear