Review – Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale

Contributed by Jeremy B from the beer blog Ruination Press!

Flying Dog Brewery’s Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale – 12 oz bottle – 5.5% abv.

The American Pale Ale is a great take on the classic European Pale Ales and a staple of most craft breweries in the U.S. American Pale Ales, or APA’s, have a great balance of hops and malt and less of a fruity aroma and taste than its British cousin has.

Flying Dog began its life in Aspen, Colorado as a brewpub in 1990. As popularity began to rise, they opened a 50 barrel brewery in Denver Colorado. A standard for years in Colorado craft brewing, Flying Dog has a reputation for their own take on classic beer styles. In 2006 they purchased a second brewery in Frederick, Maryland and have now shifted all production to their new brewery located in Frederick, Maryland. They do maintain their corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado. So they are mainly an East Coast brew with ties still in the West.
Flying Dog’s Pale Ale pours a medium amber color into a pint glass; it has a minimal head that dissipates too quickly, although it leaves a nice lacing.

Hops dominate the aroma with spices, a mild malt undertone, and a hint of…citrus?

As soon as it hits your mouth, the hops and spices explode filling you with wonder. The spice is not as prevalent upon tasting as they were in the aroma though. The longer it lingers in your mouth, the more the hops come out.
Overall, this brew was hoppier than most regular Pale Ales and at 5.5% ABV, it’s east to have more than one. It paired quite nice with the grilled chicken over brown rice I had with lunch.