K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale - Flying Dog Brewery

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark Amber colored body with an off white head that just leaves some bubbles.

S- Mostly caramel malt with some roasted malt.

T- Similar to the smell, just a malty beer without a whole lot going on.

M- Medium bodied, medium carbonation, pretty good.

O- Drinkable, but nothing mind blowing.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2012 19:09:55 | More by stephenjmoore

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-dark whiskey colored with a thick cream colored head

S-sweet barley. strong smell but it really smells off

T-comes in with a very adjunct taste of honey and barley. then comes a weird bitter taste. after-taste is matching. this really isn't too good.

M-creamy medium carbonation with a dry finish

O-if i didn't know better, i would say this is a boozey BMC version of a winter warmer...except the only BMC winter warmer i've had (winter's boubon cask ale) was a lot better than this. its just harsh. i tried it because i've been seeing it everywhere i go, but now i can't understand why any bar would want this.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2012 01:13:07 | More by AdamBear

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on tap at winghearts burger joint in downtown pittsburgh. pours a slightly cloudy cherrywood red color with a dying head. smells fairly basic, malty and seasonal, a little sharp from the alcohol. flavor is slightly spiced, malt driven, and subtly hopped. its very dumbed down for a winter warmer, nothing over the top, which makes is very drinkable i suppose. overall it was a well made beer but fairly unremarkable in terms of excitement.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2011 15:54:16 | More by StonedTrippin

Teddbeer

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +21%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I tried this beer in a restaurant that I had been looking forward to trying for some time. The barmaid was having a bit of a time getting a good pour(turned out it was her first night on the job) We were patient, and our patience was, eventually rewarded.

I thought this beer was very good. Most reviews don't seem to agree so I'm guessing that the fact that my beers were drawn from the tap makes all the difference.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 00:28:48 | More by Teddbeer

ThaCreep

Belgium

3.33/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Amber color. The nose offers a bit of light coffee nose with touches special yeast and oats. The body appears extremely complex and the flavors are sometimes too many present and affect the consistency of the drink. In the mouth, and spices - especially cloves - but they are directly offset by the bitterness of the roasted malt and a citrus aftertaste.

The body is more or less the balance of flavors - which sometimes tend in the brewery, to go in any direction - but we feel that this balance is right and it is undoubtedly one of best beers of the brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 21:35:51 | More by ThaCreep

david18

New York

3/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had a twelve ounce glass of this at the amsterdam ale house on the upper west side of manhattan. It was one of three or four winter ales on draft at that time and I'm not sure what the appeal is of these beers. The base beer is often very interesting but is ruined (in my opinion) by the spices.

Color is a dark, reddish brown. Aroma is malty but also cinnamon and cloves. Flavor, again, spices and malt. Not the most wintery of winter beers but definitely in the category.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2011 16:36:21 | More by david18

Kendo

New York

3.9/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got it on tap at the Lionheart in Albany.

A: Dark but clear coppery-amber in color with a small sand-colored head that leaves behind solid lace. Looks good.

S: Faint in the nose; perhaps it was served a bit too cold. I get a bit of sweet malt (brown sugar) and a touch of generic hop bitterness.

T: Solid malt backbone tastes of caramel malt, brown sugar and a hint of toffee. At the middle of the sip I get a nice citric hop bitterness that provides a nice counterweight to the sweeter malt. Lingering hob bitterness on the palate.

M: Light-to-medium in heft with an active but fine carbonation.

D: Solid. I had a pint, switched to another beer, then came back to this one.

Notes: The bartender said this was an ESB. I see other reviews here treat it as a Strong Ale. It seemed a bit dark and sweet to me for an ESB, but reviewed as a Winter Warmer makes better sense, even if it is lacking in spices. It was nicely balanced, however, between malt and hops - just like a good ESB should be. So call this a hybrid winter ale and go with it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2011 17:42:32 | More by Kendo

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mad Mex Robinson, pours a deep caramel ruby amber hue with a light cream head, leaves behind speckled lacing. Aroma has upfront malts with a bit of xmas spicing, nothing outweighs one or the other a cohesive force of bready malts and christmas spices. Flavor is upfront with cramel sweet malts, a nice herbal spice and piney hop finish complements the whole experience leaving behind a dry finish vesurs your typical bread dough version of this same style of Christmas ale. Mouthfeel is medium bodied easy going carbonation glides across the palate defintitely doesn't cloy or make the experience sour. A smooth drinking go to Christmas ale that I will revisit in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2010 17:32:33 | More by WVbeergeek

jchow79

New York

3.63/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this at the WaterFront Ale House.

I enjoyed this beer as I'm not too familiar with this style.
For some reason the alcohol seemed hotter in comparison to other beers of similar ABV. Perhaps its that winter warming aspect of it.

I think that this is quite enjoyable by the pint. I'm not sure I want more than one.

I picked up notes of caramel and there was also a subtle herbal taste to it.

Like I said, I'm not familiar with this style of beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 18:16:32 | More by jchow79

weller1js

West Virginia

3.48/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

appearance: pours a reddish brown, moderately carbonated, lighter foam and lacing.

smell: light maltiness, with a pronounced sweet undertone.

taste: balanced on three parts, with a tangy hop flavor yet sweet, as well as with the bold maltiness.

drinkability: enjoyable to drink, has something to offer for everyone and appropriate for the season.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 23:24:30 | More by weller1js

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Sunswick in Astoria, NY.

Pours a slightly hazy dark copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of citrus and pine hops with a rustic caramel malt backbone.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Grainy caramel malt flavors up front are joined quickly by loads of pine and citrus hops, more pine than citrus. The hops carry through to a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I didn't think this was a winter warmer but I can't penalize it for that - it's labelled as a "winter ale" which in my opinion is undefined (see Bell's Winter White). I found this to be a nice hoppy ESB, worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2010 18:48:25 | More by glid02

phattysbox

New York

2.3/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Sampled this brew from the Pony Bar in NYC.

Pours a deep brown color with a rather small head, lacing keep however throughout the glass.

Smell is non-existent. Strange since it is labeled as a winter warmer I was expecting some sort of spice. Just blah - nothing... Do I have a cold?

Taste: Heeellllooo.... Winter warmer??? Where are you? This brew is NOT a winter warmer, but rather a hoppy brown ale. resiny hops dominate throughout the brew followed by sticky malt profile. Diacetyl notes are clearly noticable in the beer and seems as if they did not give the yeast enough time to clear up by-products. Just a messy taste profile. Mouthfeel is on the full side and carbonation is decent.

Overall, this beer doesn't know what it is... Brown ale? American brown ale? Pale ale? Definitely not a winter warmer and shame on Flying Dog for labeling it as such.

I'll pass on this one... You should too...

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2009 18:01:50 | More by phattysbox

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Flying Dog's K-9 Cruiser, poured on tap into a pint glass. A rich brown in color with a decent head and some lace.

Aroma is primarily malty with a hint of some fruit.

Flavor follows the nose with a very malty brew. Hops are there adding an earthy bitterness. Grapefruit and citrus flavors actually overpower the malt. Buttery diacetyl riddles the brew.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and fairly smooth.

A drinkable winter warmer without a whole lot of frills or complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2009 14:46:08 | More by Stinkypuss

GoalieRon33

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A- Looked nice, with a medium to dark brown tint. White head, that hung around for a while

s- smelled malty, a little strong. Sweet smelling.

t- some maltiness, with a little molasses mixed in. Almost a buttery taste, which from other reviews I have found is due to a by-product of the yeast. The buttery flavor does make it a little much.

m- medium body, somewhat light for what I expected considering the abv. I feel that it could use a little more carbonation

d- not an easy beer to drink. While I didn't hate it, I did get tired of it about 3/4 of the way through the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 22:16:17 | More by GoalieRon33

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Mahaffey's (and not impressed).

The beer pours an amber copper color with pretty good head retention and lacing. The beer doesn't look all that bad. On the nose I get almost nothing. I kept on going back to this beer and, well, nearly nothing. There is some light spice and bit of sweetness, but otherwise that's it. On the palate, this beer is no better. There is some very light underlying sweet malt with some spice, and there's some hoppiness in the finish, but this beer really doesn't have much flavor. It has a fairly dry finish, and has a pretty light mouthfeel. Drinkability would probably be OK, except there's really very little enjoyable about this beer. Really, not very impressed with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2009 21:34:51 | More by johnmichaelsen

BeerSox

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap into pint glass.

Hazy brown with burnt orange highlights. The head is about one finger and light tan. Rings of sticky lacing. The aroma has some light burnt malts giving a little caramel and some light spices. The spices come out in the flavor as clove-like. A little brown sugar is in there as well. The hops are on the low side, barely detectable. Full bodied.

An enjoyable beer on-tap. Some caramel and brown sugar with a little bit of spice. Served me well on a slightly chilly day in Athens, GA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2008 18:29:43 | More by BeerSox

BeerLover729

New York

3.9/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark opaque beer with small frothy tan head that last for a short period of time out of a tapered 16oz glass.

S: Dark and roasted malts fill the nose.

T: Crisp and robust with prominent roasted flavors and no real detectable bitterness.

M: Full bodied brew with a pleasant thickness and viscosity.

D: Smooth on the palate and tantalizing on the tongue this one goes down with ease.

Notes: Vintage 2007. Drank in 2008.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2008 17:32:28 | More by BeerLover729

beckje01

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- A dark amber see through color. A nice thick 1/2 inch head.

S- Crisp smell no malt.

T- Burnt malt flavor cut by a bit of hops very nice a surprising good flavor for how it starts when it first hits your taste buds.

M- Good activity nice thickness.

D- Slow drinker but good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2008 06:45:34 | More by beckje01

ndekke39

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at the Rumba Cafe. Poured in a pint glass with about two fingers of head. Great retention, lots of lacing. Deep ruby color. Smells and tastes are pretty simple: nice malt backbone with some warm spices. Medium body. Very drinkable, nice example of a Winter Warmer, but not the most dynamic one I've ever tasted. Still, it fit the purpose and I enjoyed it!

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2007 05:17:10 | More by ndekke39

jjboesen

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted a four ounce pour at the recent Mid-Atlantic Holiday Beer Tasting at Brewer's Art in Baltimore; this was not the best one of the event.

The head was weak and the lacing was minimal. Nice copper clarity, though. Despite the brewery's hound dog imagery, the nose was nil - could'nt detect any smell at all. K-9 did posses a nutmeg sweetness with a good support from the hops.

It was nicely balanced, offering a finely structured body of well-balanced malts and hop. All in all, I would drink one if offered, but not necessarily as a "winter" ale.

NOTE: I beleive Flying Dog now brews in Maryland, which will make it more accessible for us in the East. Woof!

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2007 22:33:04 | More by jjboesen

kennyo

New York

3.18/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had it on tap at Alternative Brews

Beertenderess recommended this as one of her favorite christmas beers, so I took one for the team.Dark amber beer with a nice foamy head, not much of an aroma. Taste was malt with some spices and some friutiness. It is medium bodied and had a nice mouthfeel.

I enjoyed drinking this beer, was tasty and really didn't offend. Wouldn't be dissapointed if i saw this on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2006 03:52:33 | More by kennyo

Wildman

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Okay, so far in bottles, the Flying Dogs have been crashing and burning. But sometimes on tap they manage to stay in the air. This one arrived a very dard amber color and formed a small off white head with some nice lace. The aroma was slightly of hops and malt. The taste was of hops, malt and some caramel. The finish was medium and had elements of malt and caramel.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2002 19:18:59 | More by Wildman

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

2.96/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Bottle from Good Spirits Co, Glasgow (355ml, £2.40):
Rich looking copper colour with a large and foamy looking head that is a light brown colour. Retention isn't too bad with some lacing left on the glass and minimal reduction in size.

Earthy with some light malts and a touch of sweet caramel and toffee. There is some spice and darker fruits but these aromas are kept to a minimum. Not all that exciting and lacking depth to be honest.

Earthy malts and some caramel ones too, I could also detect some darker fruits but like the smell these were at least partially masked throughout. There is some spice and lighter hops but everything just seems to blur together.

Medium with a sweet, warming alcohol taste and some touches of earthy bitterness but not a lot. The carbonation is quite mild and the beer comes across as a basic one with a very smooth mouthfeel.

A basic and unexciting taste that is out of character for Flying Dog as their beers are usually always interesting and worth trying. This one started pretty slow but did have some nice caramel malts and some fruits somewhere around the middle but it wasn't enough to save the drink I'm afraid.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 09:40:27 | More by flyingpig

mpyle

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

App - Rich amber color, brilliantly clear. Pours a fairly large just off-white head with good retention.

Smell - Smell has trouble escaping the lingering head! Sweet caramel malty aroma, a slight metallic smell.

Rich malty flavor up front, some chocolate. Fairly assertively bittered leading to a balanced, slightly bitter finish. A big malty beer that isn't overly sweet.

MF - Medium body and carbonation, some alcohol warming but it is under control.

Overall a very pleasant beer with a strong malt character. Would be an awesome beer to sip by a roaring fire during the winter.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 21:55:01 | More by mpyle

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Brilliantly clear with smallish dark head. Nice red amber.
Malt aroma with slight aqueous quality.
Straight out malt flavor. Quite a bit of malt drying on the finish, which is quite long. Slight dark fruitiness. Soft hop flavors and some bittering too (cutting some sweetness).
Really kinda' light body, but fullness is aided/added by the carbonation.
Not sure why this rates so low of a score. It is better than that.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 00:40:34 | More by garymuchow