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Flying Dog Raging Bitch
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February 16th, 2010Beer Reviews, Belgian/Trappist, Fruity Beers, IPA, Pale AlesTerrible beer, great name.
Flying Dog Raging Bitch - orange in colour; orange in taste
Of course not, it’s the other way round. Disclaimer starts here: I love this beer.
I first sampled The Bitch at the Flying Dog UK tasting in Leeds. This 20th anniversary beer jumped out of its take-home tetra pak like a bat out of hell. Its nose blasted my clean out of my seat and before the night was out it was on its way to being a beer phenomenon.
Raging Bitch’s Belgian influence is the first thing that strikes me: it’s fruity esters and yeasty sweetness that only Belgian beers can pull off. Until now.
Massive grapefruit pith and outrageous sour fruit intertwine with a sweet malt finish and a bitter attack from an armada of late hops. The nose is huge thanks to a dry hopping assault by Amarillo hops. You pluck out the names of most of Sainsbury’s exotic fruit aisle if you close your eyes; for me the grapefruit ebbs and flows against tangerine and apricot.
Flying Dog made quite an impression at their tasting session in Leeds last year
There’s moments when this beer doesn’t work. In short, fleeting moments it’s all a bit too much and the flavours clash rather than blend. But in a whisper the contradiction becomes a joy and it’s easy to become engrossed in your own self-indulgence (as your (my) tasting notes may also do).
An IPA this is not. Categorically. A wonder of brewing? Maybe. A great beer? Yep. It’s sublime, it’s mad, it’s uncompromising. It’s a great beer, with a terrible name (copyright Mr Zak Avery, 2009).
Tags: belgian, flying dog, grapefruit, IPA, raging bitch, tangerine
Rick from Bier & Co shows off a carton of Raging Bitch, Flying Dog's 20th Anniversary beer, and my Beer of the Year
6 responses to “Flying Dog Raging Bitch” 
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Rick Kempen February 16th, 2010 at 13:11
If I had not been there that day in September 2009, I would by now have thought you were as crazy as the bats that hover above the Flying Dog brewery when they brew Gonzo Imperial Porter.
But I was there.
And I know you’re not crazy, but in fact, you are absolutely right.
This truly is the Beer of the Year! (Quote)
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FletchtheMonkey March 4th, 2010 at 01:11
I’ve just had another bottle. You can open it and within seconds the room is swimming in grapefruit. It’s better than any Air Wick!
@markdredge I wish I could get this lyrical when I write about Leeds United! (Quote)
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Christian April 15th, 2010 at 12:22
I sampled the aforementioned bitch at the Bishops Arms in Stockholm I am seldom impressed but with this bitch I was taken aback and was well on my way to find out how I could steal the cask and take her home with me. This beer is nowhere to be found in Sweden anymore as it was an anniversary edition a limited amount only was exported to Sweden. Could we perhaps start a lobby group to ensure that this beer finds its way to Sweden on cask and in a bottle ? I feel in love with that beer and I am not one for one night stands like this one turned out to be. (Quote)
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The author
Name: Mark
Web Site: http://twitter.com/fletchthemonkey
Bio: Mark is better known as @fletchthemonkey and started writing about beer in 2009. Mark is editor of Real Ale Reviews and blogs at beeralewhatever.co.uk. When not content with spending all day on the internet working for a digital marketing agency, Mark waxes lyrical at digitalmediamonkey.co.uk and types up match reports for Leeds Guide magazine.
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Barry M February 16th, 2010 at 12:51