Flying Dog Horn Dog

Tonight was a good night. Picked up 3 different Dogs (other 2 to be reviewed this weekend). The Horn Dog was once a year round flavor, now, unfortunately, it is a seasonal. What is Horn dog? It's a 10.2% barley wine. Why do I not have the Flying Dog goblet to taste this out of? Well, I don't really know the answer.

So to review this beer, I must summon my inner-Gonzo spirit.

The pour is a deep, rich amber color. Slight khaki tone to the light head that forms on top. Chocolate and fruity (almost raisin) tones to the aroma, with some notes of the alcohol. There's also tones of the malt-heaviness that this style is known for. The first sip hits you with so many different flavors, it's slightly overwhelming. There must be a few more in order to pick them out. There are some dark chocolate flavors that meld in with some brown sugar, dark fruit and hops tones, finishing up with some light alcohol notes that leave you longing for more of it's sweet embrace. The mouthfeel is medium, a very light carbonation to this, that really doesn't make a fizz as much as a slight tingle on the tip of the tongue. But you can't put it down. It's like the dark beauty you've pined over for a number of years, dreaming of the things you would do with it, but yet, you're still astounded by it when you finally achieve your goal of getting it, as the sweet, blissful passion does not fade.  OK. Onto the second one, after an interruption or two. The second one drinks as well as the first, only slightly more light headed, not the beer, but the author. The author, the artist, the one whose view is obscured and sees the world in a different way from the supposed norm. I seem to be trailing away from this as Jennie and her dad are loudly talking, clouding my freight train of thought. Bartenders are gods, treat them as such, they are the law, and your judgement is the best judgement in a place of debauchery and happiness. Again, trying to get back on track. This finishes slightly sweet and malty, but some hops come out and make their presence known, as do the dark fruit and brown sugar notes, previously noted. And apparently on the TV, that's cranked as loud as humanly possible, there was some guy who was shot and blah blah blah heart of gold, bullshit media jargon, someone has to know who killed this man, Southwest landlord accused of spanking his tenant, ice storm coming. Can't focus with the sheer volume of the television. Trying to....

Ah, fuck it, it's not going to happen...

Great beer, go buy a six-pack. It's $15, but don't let the price scare you, worth every penny and every sip. And this coming from a man who doesn't really enjoy many barley wines.

4.8/5 caps

-Nathan

^^^What he said.

4.6/5 caps

-Jennie