Brew Review – Flying Dog Raging Bitch

Brewery: Flying Dog

Brew: Raging Bitch

Style: Belgian IPA

ABV: 8.3%

IBUs: 60

Price: $13.99 (64 oz growler)

Their Take: They don’t say much on their site, but here’s some more info: Raging Bitch is made with 60L Caramel malt, along with Warrior, Columbus, and Amarillo hops. It is fermented with El Diablo yeast, which I believe is a house Belgian yeast.

My Thoughts

Raging Bitch is my first taste of a Belgian IPA. The beer pours a beautiful copper color with a nice head on it that sticks around. It starts with a very nice, slightly hoppy flavor (I’m thinking the Columbus is what you’re tasting here, but I could be talking out my ass), yet not as strong as I would expect out of an IPA. However, as the beer finishes, the alcohol taste overwhelmed me, without enough flavor to take that alcohol bite away. It didn’t have the usual hop kick I’m used to from an IPA, but then again, it’s not your standard American IPA. The IBU’s are toned down from what I would expect, again I think due to the Belgian influence. I love IPA’s, and, from what limited experience I’ve had with them, I enjoy Belgians. But combining the two styles just didn’t work for me. Not enough of a hop kick for an IPA, and I think the yeast it was fermented with really threw me off on the flavor. I drank it on a couple different days, and every time it just seemed…wrong.

Rating: 5/10 – just not for me, but hey, you may enjoy it.

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