1001 Beers: Gonzo Imperial Porter

Beer Number 30: Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

So, Once I got out to North Carolina I kind of went on a little Flying Dog binge... It was not a bad thing and I was able to find their beers back in LA, but something about seeing them out here just made me go crazy I had to try them all. This happened to become one of my favorites.

After author Hunter S. Thompson committed suicide in 2005, the Flying Dog Brewery chose to honor his memory the best way they knew how--by making a limited edition beer. The first batch of Gonzo Imperial Porter, named with a nod to Thompson's 'gonzo' style of journalism, was 9 percent abv. It proved popular enough for Flying Dog to make it a regular release (although they did drop its strength to 7.8 percent). Ralph Steadman, who illustrated much of Thompson's work and began creating Flying Dog artwork in 1995, drew the label with a skeletal portrait of Thompson and a voice bubble saying, "OK, let's party!"

There is some more interesting information in there as well. Talking about the days when they used to be in Denver and the ties to Thompson, and trouble the brewery had with simple things like Steadman's label. Interesting for sure.

The dark black beer with the big tan head was pretty cool. Wish I could have tried the 9% version but I really wonder how much different the beer way. The beer had an extremely malty and thick feeling to it and a lot of dark, roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and a bit of hidden alcohol... or a lot. But it bit you in the ass on the nose. In 2008 this beer took home a Gold medal in the World Beer Cup. Good stuff. One of my favorite of their releases.

971 Bottles Of Beer To Go!

Cheers!

1001 Beers: In Heat Wheat

I figured it was time for me to try some more Flying Dog from the collection that I have acquired. And what better way to do it than with some of their wheat beers. Particularly, Beer Number 20. In Heat Wheat.



They say that this beer, more so the man who designed this beer; Eric Warner, Literally wrote the book on Wheat Beers. "German Wheat Beer, published in 1992. Wheat beers that were made in America were crafted after this book supposedly. This is one of the best wheats I have had in a while. I always liked the style but I thought that my palate was straying away from them because it has been pretty hard to find some that I can come back to time and time again, but In Heat Wheat changed that story. The strong citrus nose, banana, and carbonation level really work well into this beer and a bit of spice really define this Bavarian style wheat... or err, German, I guess.

We didn't brew this German-style Hefeweizen with its award-winning flavor just so you could wing a lemon slice in it for showmanship. You're not getting style points from us. Germans don't drink it that way, so save your attention-grabbing tactics for the karaoke stage, OK? OK.

This got me thinking, and with everything I already had from this brewery, why not break into another one in a similar style. Woody Creek. I really need to work on that whole focusing the iPhone thing.

Flying Dog Brewery found George Stranahan is widely considered to be the unofficial mayor of Woody Creek, Colorado. George and his collection of social misfits known as "Woody Creatures" are the reason this mountain community has morphed into Gonzo Ground Zero. This unfiltered and traditionally spiced Wit Beer pays tribute to the hotbed of progressive thought.

This beer also has an interesting story on the website if you want to check it out. Again, the bananas, cloves, yeast, and citrusy spice melded very well and into a really creamy, tasty brew. Flying Dog just keeps winning today.

I had the Classic Pale on my last visit, so why not try the Double Pale this time. And a quote, from Ralph Steadman.

For that other night, that other goddamn night.

I am not completely sure what he is referring to, I am sure there is a story behind that as well but this is something that makes me think it could relate to each and everyone of us. Time after time, night after goddamn night. At least we have good beer to celebrate it with. A very clean pale ale. Light bitterness, grassy, a little citrus that blends into the finish.

The last beer here is Old Scratch, an Amber Lager.

Tom Walker and his wife loved money more than life, so they surrendered their souls to Old Scratch. And when her liver and lung were found lying on the forest floor Tom forever feared a certain rapping at the door. Knock... Knock... Knock.

I had to look into this one a bit and see if the story of Old Scratch has something to do with this beer. Pretty chilling if you ask me. A beer with a light, up front bitterness, very clean and a tad of toast being named after the devil... What to do??? Though, it was pretty hard to find anything about this... I guess I will have to go to the brewery and find out the full story behind this one...

981 Bottles Of Beer To Go!

Prost!