Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch
Although I had a lovely Belgian IPA earlier this year, it was a divided affair. You’d have to love lemons, hops, and belgians (possibly in that order) to enjoy Stone’s Cali-Belgique IPA. I thought it was an excellent beer, and I wished that there were more examples of the style. My drinking partners, not so much.
As if Flying Dog heard my lamentations, they produced Raging Bitch for their 20th Anniversary. And, to top it off, I think it’s a much better (and less lemon hinted) beer. Quite frankly, I think this beer is possibly everything that is good about beer in single bottle:
- An amazing hop aroma (my beer disliking wife compared it to tea roses)
- Balanced Belgian start (ripe fruit, but free of over ripe banana flavors that so many dislike)
- Lovely malt midplane (“balanced to perfection” is the only way I can describe it)
- Wonderful hop finish (bitey and clean, but if you don’t like IPAs do not apply)
I’ve field tested this beer on four different people now to make sure that it isn’t simply my love of the brewery and the faux-style driving my appreciation, and it stands up in other’s eyes. The most uncomplimentary thing I’ve heard so far is “I want to have it again because there is so much going on.” Admittedly, this test group all appreciated very hoppy beers.
If you like Belgians and IPAs, you should stop whatever you’re doing and go to the store now and try to find this beer. I have only seen it at crazily affordable prices (for a beer of this caliber) in six packs. It is possibly hiding at your grocery store, especially if they carry Flying Dog Ales normally.
