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Flying Dog's Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale has been seeing high demand in Maryland, according to Erin Weston, brewery spokeswoman.

(Provided photo)

Flying Dog's Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale isn't coming to Pennsylvania anytime soon.

Last week, the Maryland-based brewery determined local demand was too great to send to its neighboring state above the Mason-Dixon Line, said Erin Weston, brewery spokeswoman.

Since demand for the beer is much greater than expected, Weston said the brewery wasn't able to give a timeline for when Dead Rise might reach Pennsylvania. For now, Dead Rise is only expected to be available in Maryland, D.C. and northern Virginia.

"Dead Rise has been a true game-changer for us. With this area's Old Bay obsession, we knew it would be the kind of beer that both craft beer aficionados and those unfamiliar with craft beer would want to try," Weston said. "But the demand — even before the beer was released to now — was beyond what we could have ever predicted."

Weston said Flying Dog is brewing as much as it can to keep up with the demand through the summer. The seasonal beer should be available through Labor Day.

Lucky for us in the Harrisburg area, the Maryland border is only 45 minutes or so away. If you have an afternoon to spare — and a feast of steamed crabs and corn on the cob slated for dinner — this brew is worth the extended beer run.

To find a store selling Dead Rise just across the border, check out Flying Dog's beer finder. Weston also suggests calling ahead — "It's been selling out within hours of some stores getting their deliveries."

The 5.6 percent ABV beer commemorates the 75th anniversary of Old Bay. According to the brewery, a quarter pound of Old Bay is added during the brewing process, which "gives the beer a bold aroma and subtle flavor" of the well-known seasoning.

After trying a bottle Flying Dog shipped to PennLive, I can attest that iconic seasoning is ever present in the beer's taste and aroma. Essentially, my mouth felt like an all-you-can-eat crab buffet without the molten butter.

When I burped, it tasted like Old Bay, too.

The beer is smooth and pleasant. A bitter hops flavor mingles with the spiciness of the seasoning, which gives it a bit of a kick.

My partner in tasting questioned whether this would replace Natty Boh as the ultimate beer to pair with steamed crab, but he agreed it's a good match and the perfect brew for a raw bar.

No matter where you are, this beer will take you right to memories of your favorite summertime crab shack or seafood joint at the beach. After a half glass of Dead Rise, I could nearly smell the salty ocean breeze and feel the sand grinding between my flip-flops and toes.