Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with resinous pine and citrus peel — grapefruit and orange zest — backed by a firm biscuity malt base that keeps things from tipping into pure hop oil. On the palate, the bitterness is assertive but not jagged, layered over caramel malt sweetness that provides genuine ballast against the hop load. The body is full and chewy, with some alcohol warmth that becomes more apparent as it warms in the glass. The finish is long and drying, with lingering resin and a faint boozy heat that reminds you this is unusually high ABV even for the style.
About the Brewery
Flying Dog is based in Frederick, Maryland, having relocated from Denver in the early 2000s. They've built a reputation on bold, aggressively hopped beers and a gonzo aesthetic — Ralph Steadman's artwork has defined their labels for decades. Their lineup leans into high-octane, flavor-forward beers, and they've been a fixture in the mid-Atlantic craft scene for years.
Food Pairings
The malt backbone and aggressive bitterness here make it a natural match for fatty, smoky foods that can hold their own against the intensity. Slow-smoked beef brisket works well because the fat cuts the bitterness and the smoke mirrors the resinous hop character. Aged sharp cheddar or a hard cheese like Manchego provides enough salt and funk to stand up without being overwhelmed. Spicy dishes — a heavily seasoned lamb burger or a Thai red curry — actually benefit from the sweetness underneath the hops, which tempers heat without erasing it.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial IPA takes the base template of an American IPA — prominent hop bitterness, citrus and pine aromatics, moderate malt — and scales everything upward. ABVs typically run from 7.5% to well above 10%, with the malt bill increased to support the amplified hop load rather than to add sweetness for its own sake. The style emerged from American craft breweries in the late 1990s pushing IPA to its logical extreme, and it differs from its British Imperial counterparts by emphasizing West Coast-style hop varieties over earthy or floral English hops. The result is a beer that is simultaneously more alcoholic and more bitter than a standard IPA without necessarily feeling heavier.