Americans love big, bold, bitter, in-your-face IPAs (I know I do!) but many Belgians do not like overly hoppy beers. Hence the Belgian style IPA. The typical Belgian brew is well balanced with big flavor and not very hoppy. But to keep up with American demand, some breweries are brewing their style of IPA with Belgian yeast to give the telltale dryness and a more cleaner tasting bitterness. Some American breweries are offering the style as well, which brings me to Flying Dog Brewery. I hold Raging Bitch, their answer to the Belgian IPA. The bottle art is by British artist Ralph Steadman, one of my favorite artists who does work for Bonny Doon Vineyard and was good friends with the late Hunter S. Thompson.

Appearance  

It pours a deep honey color with a nice two finger, eggshell head.

Smell

Sweet, bready, pretzel dough and a mild spiciness.

Taste

Biscuit notes and a twang of hop oil on the tongue. The bitterness is lingering and there is an aspirin flavor in the finish. 

Not bad. Flying Dog paid homage to the Belgian style IPA. Some other BIPAs you can find in ABC land include Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild, Green Flash Le Freak, Terrapin Monk’s Revenge and Brouwerij Van Steenberge Piraat Ale.

Adam Shugan, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant - Archer Road, Gainesville

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams