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Updated 12/15/07
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Re-visited this after 6+ months in the cellar – still nasty IMO. Close to undrinkable.
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Original Review 05/04/07
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Cloudy, rusty orange colored pour with a big initial head that fades to give a minimal head and ring on the surface of the beer.
Plenty of soapy hops in the nose and not much else.
Astringent bitterness up front that lingers and lingers. Resinous, biting pine and not at all balanced. Malts are waaay too limited to hold up such a huge hop presence. Finishes with more bitterness, a slightly cloying mouthfeel, a burning alcohol presence and some nasty soap.
Drinks more like an American Barleywine, this beer is out of balance and horribly overloaded with messy alcohol and hops. A surprise for Flying Dog which is usually much more reliable. Maybe aged it will mellow out, but for now it’s not good.