UnderDog Atlantic Lager - Flying Dog Brewery

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

355ml Can from Peckhams, Glasgow (£2,29):
Light, slightly hazy amber colour with a half centimetre tall and foamy looking, white head that settles to a thin layer on the surface after about a minute.

Pilsner hops aroma with a lot of floral notes and some sweetness on top. There is a definite tropical fruits aroma and some nice, light malts along with a touch of spice.

Floral hops kick things off along with some spice and again the strong tropical fruits make themselves known. There was also a lot of citrus and lemon zest in the taste.

Smooth and a touch spicy with some floral bitterness and a dry yet refreshing beer with a crisp finish.

This one was a nice and pretty refreshing beer that was a good lager with a twist. The tropical fruit flavours were something different and a nice touch with the finish quite a nice and crisp one. This would make a great session lager.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 20:02:38 | More by flyingpig

JKuras

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Slightly hazy and peach-colored. A nice layer of sudsy head forms at the top. Good lacing and carbonation present throughout.

Smell: Very clean, fresh smell, light grains and flowery hops.

Taste: Bready malts and some slight lemon peel quickly followed by a spicy, bitter hops that nicely balances everything.

Mouthfeel: Good amount of carbonation, drinks very easily. A bit heavier mouthfeel than the average lager.

Overall: A good beach beer, and one of the last I had leftover from my summer stash. It goes down easy and is perfectly drinkable as a session but isn’t particularly memorable. A solid offering from Flying dog.

Serving type: can

11-10-2012 02:58:51 | More by JKuras

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

2.85/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 fl oz can.

Appearance: First things first, I am not a big fan of Flying Dog's label artwork. I take that back, I like the artwork, just not on a beer. It's distracting in my opinion. Beer pours a cloudy pale lager yellow with a thick head and lots of carbonation.

Smell: Delicious lemon smelling hop aroma. Unusual for a pale lager. Very nice!

Taste: This where the beer loses it for me. The smell is great, but the flavor is too muted and earthy for me. Almost like an English IPA. The hops seem to die on the vine (or is it bine?)

Mouthfeel: Not bad, a little too creamy if anything. I like my lagers crisp!

Overall: Not a fan of UnderDog. All bark and no bite.

Serving type: can

10-27-2012 18:55:44 | More by JednoPivoProsim

Theheroguy

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

At first glance this beer looks and smells very much like a czech pilsner only slightly dark in color. The aroma of the perle hop is very present, nice and floral smelling.

This beer is crisp but not very dry, it is wonderfully refreshing. This a noticeable hop bite, not too much malty flavor to speak of.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: can

10-23-2012 00:00:57 | More by Theheroguy

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

You've probably heard the one about the guy who walks into a bar. No? He says, "Ouch!" Bro. Woody went to Ardmore last Saturday to see what he could see and walked into a bottle shop. He said, "Yay! Look at all of these new CANs in furtherance of The CANQuest (TM)!" It is called The Beer Shoppe in Ardmore Plaza and for those that do not live in PA, you have no idea what a rare bird it is to find a quality bottle shop, especially one that provided me with no less than five (5) new CANned beers on my first visit. This is one of those beers.

From the CAN: "Don't be an underdog in this crazy game called life. Now is no time to be a pawn. The kings and queens rule the board, so that's who you've gotta be. Keep your head up, stand tall, and carry on. We're pulling for you."

Oh, man. Ralph Steadman art on a CAN!?! Marketing is all and even if the beer is schiesse (it shouldn't be), it goes in my cooler. Then, the spent CAN goes on my Shelf of Cool-Looking CANs.

Another brimful craft CAN on the Crack! I love my life. The inverted Glug garnered a finger of dense bone-white head that held up in defiance of gravity, my desire and everything and everyone. Color was an oh-so-slightly hazy lemon-yellow. Nose smelled of grassy hops. I was sent! Talk about a lawnmower beer - this would pair perfectly with the scent of newly mown grass. Mouthfeel was medium-to full, with a great Saaz hops bite on the tongue. Finish was dry and refreshing, just the way I like my lagers. Get the unwanted adjuncts out of the way and gimme dem Czech hops, grrr. Woof! I'm doing it doggie style! Get outta my way!

Serving type: can

10-14-2012 17:46:22 | More by woodychandler

JohnFatAss

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was a pleasant surprise.
It poured a bright golden color. Almost clear with a white foamy head.
Pretty lacing was left on the sides of my glass.
This beer is on the lighter side of being medium bodied.
Has a grassy smell, some lemon comes through.
Tastes like a pilsner to me - The citrus hop bitternes is the dominant flavor, and has a crisp dry finish.

This would make for a nice spring time or summer beer.
It went perfectly with my grilled salmon dinner.
This would be a great beer to have with salads or lighter meals.

Serving type: can

10-13-2012 01:08:34 | More by JohnFatAss

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a can into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, crystal clear, lemon yellow and gold coloring with a thin, white, foamy head that coats the surface. Aromas of toasted grains, citrus highlights, and a light, floral hops presence. Flavors are hop forward, with a bitter and green character, followed abruptly by a heavily roasted grain profile with a tangy citrus overtone. Sharp, light mouthfeel that fits the palate perfectly. The aftertaste is tangy, floral, and resiny bitter. Crisp, clean, slightly bitter finish that dries slightly. Very smooth and flavorful.

Serving type: can

09-27-2012 01:01:00 | More by GarthDanielson

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a crystal clear paler gold, with several fingers of thick bright-white head. This retains with a big frothy dollop of foam in the middle of the glass, which hangs heavy swathes of lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma is fresh and grassy, with a splash of tart lemon and green citric character. The malts sit along the back with a toasted bready presence.

The taste is has a crisp and leafy citric bite the whole way through, with a complimentary splash of lemon flavor and then a tight neutral graininess across the back. This is dry and lightly bitter and spicy on the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp up front with more of a smooth and creamy feel as you swallow.

This was a great first beer to put in a can from Flying Dog. It’s fairly hoppy for a Pale Lager but that just gives it some extra crisp quaffability that pairs up nicely with that already smooth Lager body. This is a great one to take on the go with you. Especially in the summertime.

Serving type: can

08-23-2012 16:21:26 | More by Kegatron

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Always glad to give another Flying Dog beer a go.

A- Underdog looks like a pale lager alright, it's bright yellow with a hint of gold in there and clear as a whistle, a nice bright white head leaves some nice marks.

S- And this one is a malt bomb in scent, just picking up some trace whiffs of lemon but all in all [pale malt out the wahzoo. A biscuit presence comes up with some caramel towards the end.

T- Very straight forward and to the point. Most that will try this will just write it off as BMC tasting because it is rather light, but it's a step up from that stuff i swear. Pale biscuit malt, the lightest of fruits juice squeezed, but you cant hide from the malt it's there, no extract though, that's the rub! Earthy hops, a lot of straw

M- Light and grassy, light carb

D- One and done.

Serving type: can

08-19-2012 01:04:11 | More by onix1agr

jjboesen

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"There's no need to fear, Underdog is here..." said the heroic supercanine of the 1960's cartoon - with voice supplied by Wally Cox. (Yeh, I guess I should get out more often.) This beer comes from a can decorated with the unique artwork of Ralph Steadman; the lager pours out a cloudy froth: there is a spongy, glistening, head atop a translucent pool of light amber that is home to a furious school of carbonation bubbles racing to the top.

The nose emits a whiff of grass, followed by a lemony feint. The palate is treated with a crispy layer of mild hoppiness - very mild, since the 28 IBU rating won't appease the lust of the hophead. C'mon, this is a lager! That said, it is one that I found airy, crisp and refreshing - a superlative option on any given hot day. It is your basic low maintenence lager style. Nothing complex; no need for any furious debate among beer geeks: simply put, a worthy lager from a damn fine brewery. Not every Flying Dog beer need be a raging bitch.

Serving type: can

08-11-2012 23:07:10 | More by jjboesen

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a bright, golden yellow body that had a lot of carbonation bubbles...the head was foamy, pillowy, and white in color as it stood about one finger tall...decent retention with decent lacing

S - Nothing exciting here...there is a faint citrus hop presence, but it fades quickly to a big bready aroma

T - There is a little more going on with the flavors...the citrus aspect stands out more than the nose suggested...it never becomes bitter, it's just more of an accent to the lager base...the lager base is a good one, with a small touch of caramel, a big dose of bread, grainy and grassy, all with a crisp finish

M - Light bodied...crisp, some citrus still lingers through

O - I opted for the can over the bottled version, just because...this was what you would expect from a lager, just with a nice addition of flavoring, citric hops

Serving type: can

08-08-2012 11:59:01 | More by thain709

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in flared glass

A: spritzy bright orange yellow; very nice head that dissipates quickly
S: bright, lemony aroma; mostly malt, but a bit of yeast too
T: very good flavor for a pale lager; it's complex, from the strong ensemble of hops; grassy, a bit buttery; even in the aftertaste

An excellent craft-beer version of what in other instantiations is normally dishwater.

Serving type: can

06-20-2012 01:46:41 | More by Arithmeticus

drabmuh

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can gifted by the other Matt in an in person trade the other day before a beer tasting. At the time of this review, this is #13 on the "Top Beers - American Pale Lager" on beeradvocate.com. Served in a goblet of sorts. Beer is yellow and clear with a thin white head of small bubbles, low retention, some lacing, looks good.

Aroma is yeasty, sweet, and has this hoppiness to it that is pleasing, smells good.

Beer is light and bitter with a mild sweetness and nice finish. I like this beer and it is a wet, easy drinking, summer lager with a nice yeast body and a clean finish. Not enough craft lagers and this is one of the better ones.

Serving type: can

06-12-2012 01:29:29 | More by drabmuh

EStreet20

New Jersey

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

12oz can into a 16 ounce pilsner.

A - A nice golden yellow, white head that stays around and laces a bit.

S - Clean, some bready malt.

T - A nice, subdued, malt forward lager. Hops provide good balance, and then the beer finishes with a bready taste, but stays refreshing.

M - Nice, light body, with just the right carbonation. Mot overboard like some session designed lagers.

O - Flying Dog nailed it here. A session lager, keeping with the old school "no frills" lager beer that remains flavorful and easy drinking, but definitely exhibits quality with every sip.

Serving type: can

06-10-2012 00:55:05 | More by EStreet20

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.3/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. can poured into a pilsner glass. Drank this side by side with Prima Pils.

A: Pours a light golden straw color with a bit of yeast haze muddling the clarity slightly. The head is kind of ugly, a two finger off white color with huge bubbles and poor retention. There's a little bit of lacing left on the glass.

S: Quite fruity for a lager, with notes of pineapple and grapefruit aside the malts. It's kind of subdued and hard to identify, but it's not terrible by any stretch.

T: Compared to how hop driven the Prima Pils I had before this, this one is pleasantly malty. The malts are very biscuity in flavor - it almost drinks like liquid biscuit at times - with some well incorporated diacetyl, and a crisp, grassy finish. Rather simple (as expected), but it's quite pleasant with decent flavor.

M: Slightly heavy, which renders it a little less drinkable than it could be. Heavy carbonation with a slight lingering biscuit aftertaste.

O: Flying Dog has done a good job of stepping their game up lately, and this is a very solid (if not quite exceptional) lager that's a big improvement over Tire Bite (which this replaces). Not my favorite by any means, but I'll gladly chug this one down while picking crabs.

Serving type: can

06-09-2012 20:15:57 | More by ThisWangsChung

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up some cans direct from the brewery last night.

The beer is transparent and appears a golden orange color, like a sunset. The head is a half inch thick, and leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

The aroma offers grass, hops, floral notes, lager malt. Smells nice.

The beer is light in body with plenty of flavor. Not thin, but definitely sessionable. Floral hops come through nicely. A nice balance of lager malt, light citrus, and hop character.

Sitting on my deck in the woods and reviewing beers...somebody pinch me.

Serving type: can

06-03-2012 22:47:59 | More by Huhzubendah

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour – light straw color in appearance, extremely clean and clear with a nice thick, tight brainy like white head on top. Very commendable as far as look are concerned. It certainly has the makings of a good beer.

Aroma – some grassy and herbal notes along with faint hints of spicy, earthy and citrusy hops. A little cereal sweetness as well. Not overly aromatic but more so than many other lagers.

Taste – first sip is a mild rush of lemony citrus, graininess and a dry finish. Slightly sweet maltiness with a lasting tangy flavor. This is definitely one to put in the "refreshing" category as its easy drinking, light-bodied and the sharp, dry finish really is nice on a dry palate. Say what you will but this is tasting really good while its really cold.

Overall - crisp and clean with a sharp bite in the finish (not as painful as the bite occurring in the artwork below, see the can on the far left). You've got to hand it to Flying Dog for putting this one in cans. It should be a great summer brew and one that should appeal to the masses. So, if you've got some folks who are lager drinkers and aren't ready for anything else, see if they'll give this one a shot. It's certainly several steps up from some of those industrial cans filling a lot of summertime coolers.

Serving type: can

05-05-2012 17:27:59 | More by indiapaleale

Offa

California

3.3/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This is a decent American pale lager, but not great.

Pale golden, slightly hazy, it has a medium-big white head steadily shrinking.

Aroma is ripe grain, apples, mint, green grass, and metal, most a bit vague but good.

Taste is grain, white bread, grass (a bit sharp), hint of peppery-grassy bitterness. It has light sweetness but is on the dry and bitter side. It's reasonably good but not great and a bit tiresome, too sharp to be really enjoyable alone as a warm-weather or lighter session beer but good enough to drink with easygoing food.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 18:48:14 | More by Offa

KTCamm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours clear golden with fluffy white foam. Some lacing. Modest malt nose, some buried below. Small citrus taste backed with a mild hop. Light bitter holds out. Very tasty pilsner flavor. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:11:17 | More by KTCamm

JG-90

New Jersey

3.59/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into glass gives a small pure white head, recedes to a thin film on top with foam around the edges. Color is a light straw that is perfectly clear. Leaves moderate lacing.

Faint aroma consists of hay, stale sourdough bread, and floral, with just a bit of citrus hops. The flavor is stronger than the aroma, with the hay and stale bread throughout, and with a stronger than expected floral finish, with a touch of lemon at the end. Crisp and clean finish. Medium body with above average carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 21:20:23 | More by JG-90

BeerYoss

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Appearance - Pale gold in color. Very clear. Almost pure white one finger head quickly dissipates to a thin layer which is there till the end. Lacing is present but does not cling for long.

Smell - Sour apple

Taste - Hit of carbonation accompanies sour apple which quickly gives way to bitter hops. Aftertaste of that bitterness lingers.

Mouthfeel - Light and watery. Pretty heavy on the carbonation.

Overall - It is a pale lager, but still... too light for my taste. Too bitter for my taste if I'm reaching for a lager. And seriously lacking in body, depth and flavors, let alone balance. From what I've had from Flying Dog, this was the weakest offering.

served in a goblet

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 00:36:25 | More by BeerYoss

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

"Don't be an underdog in this crazy game called life. Now is no time to be a pawn. The kings and queens rule the board, so that's who you've gotta be. Keep your head tall, stand up, and carry on. We're pulling for you. Brewed in the style of an American Pale Lager. Date on bottle is 010413.

Served in a pint glass upwards of 48º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a creamy white head with an average retention quality. Pale golden yellow body color, very clear. Very mild, limited carbonation. Lacing is medium and clingy. 3.75

(Smell) Clean pale cracker malts with a mild airy sweetness and a mellow grassy bitterness. Aroma is very mild on potency. 3

(Taste) Pale, musty malts with a mild grassy hop character on the very striking dry finish. Sweetness is almost where it should be for the style, as evidenced by the finish. 3.25

(Mouthfeel) Carbonation is rather mild for the style, and the dry finish is very prevalent. Body is light+ for the style and light overall. Alcohol presence is mild. 3.5

(Overall) I find this lager a bit shallow on malt body, despite having a pleasant bitterness. It could have managed a more substantial flavor profile throughout. 3.25

Flying Dog Brewery's
UnderDog Atlantic Lager
3.25/5.00

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 22:31:07 | More by Jadjunk

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Flying Dog "UnderDog Atlantic Lager"
12 oz. bottle
No apparent freshness dating on the bottle but the case is marked "7 2 13"

Appearance: A clear golden body rests lazily beneath a short head of white foam, steadily releasing small bubbles that dart upwards, eventually reaching the surface and helping to maintain the finger-thick cap. As is characteristic of th drops but then maintains a solid surface covering and thicker ring along the edge of the glass. The lacing left behind is better than average for the style.

Aroma: The bright, clean aroma offers a combination of malt and hops that's lightly grainy, grassy, surprisingly spicy, and softly floral. It's not overdone, and it's pleasant and welcoming.

Taste: Not surprisingly, the flavor mirrors the aroma. The spiciness is quite unique. There's just enough that you are well aware of it without it going overboard; and it helps to balance it alongside the median bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light in body. Crisp with a median carbonation.

Overall: A clean, balanced, and crisp lager with unique character. Although it doesn't quite have the strength at just 4.7%, and the malt isn't exactly "pilsner" in character, I think I would compare it mainly to a Dortmunder-export style lager. Enjoyable and refreshing; and well-brewed. I've noticed an improvement at Flying Dog as of late, and this is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 21:56:00 | More by NeroFiddled

rangerred

Tennessee

2.89/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

My thirst thoughts after pouring this was this is infected. Pours with a huge billowy three finger head that I have only seen in some Belgians. Also tons of sediment in the glass.

The aroma is a little tart but doesn't scream infection. Some noble hops and light citrus along with a touch of hay. Nothing spectacular but ok.

More spicyness in the flavor along with a tiny bit of bready malt but everything is very faint. A little tartness leading to a moderate bitterness and a very dry finish. Tons of carbonation.

Overall, this beer is far from impressive. I did notice the best before date was about three months ago and I can tell this beer was on its last legs. Still I can't imagine it being too impressive even fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 00:24:10 | More by rangerred

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.09/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

One of the few remaining Flying Dog beers I have yet to try; the mainstream ones at least.

This is, okay. At best. Too tangy with a sweet edge that doesn't work. Seem to be a fair amount of malts in there, but the carbonation interrupts the flavor delivery. There really isn't anything showing that is doing it for me. Eh.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 03:00:35 | More by RblWthACoz