*** If you would like to skip straight to the beer review and miss my history lesson, skip to the 5th paragraph after this disclaimer****
So, this is somewhat vintage. It was bottled around March 27th, 2012 (according to the "best by" date code on the bottle, which is 226A12. 226 being the 226th day of the year (August 14th), A being an internal code, 12 being the year. The 'best by' date is 140 days after bottling, which if one IPA and one American Adjunct Lager in, the math would equal to March 27th, 2012).
This beer has SO much history in the Gonzo world, here's a quick run down. Dr. Hunter S. Thompson was good friends and neighbors with Flying Dog's founder George Stranahan. Thompson, known for his Gonzo-style of journalism, brought on a British illustrator, who was known for his dirty drawings. That illustrator, Ralph Steadman, had been working with Thompson since 1970, on Thompson's article "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved." The Steadman artwork has been a mainstay with Flying Dog since the initial artwork in 1996, which was Road Dog. At the launch of Road Dog, Thompson wrote (taken from Flying Dog's website):
"Ale has long been the drink of thugs, convicts, rowdies, rakes and other depraved outlaws who thrive on the quick bursts of night-energy that ale brings. In the 17th century England gangs of ale-crazed fops would often fight to the death in all-night brawls on public greenswards, which terrified the citizenry and left many of the infamous "youngblood horseman" chopped up with grievous sword and dagger wounds… These were the Wild Boys of Olde English story and song, rich sots on horseback who amused themselves in London by riding out at night, ripped to the tits on strong ale, and "popped old ladies into empty booze-barrels and rolled them down steep, cobblestone hills with crazy screams and shouts." If you must roll old ladies down hills and you don't want to pay the bills, try to be nice and clean off their lice with a powerful Road Dog Ale."
The label has been shrouded with controversy and a long, 4-year battle with censorship. The reason being the proudly proclaimed "Good Beer, No Shit" that is displayed on the label. The label has been through changes throughout the years, but the Steadman artwork remains, as does the 'controversial' quote. Retracting any statement about the more recent battle about That State Up North trying to ban the sale of Raging Bitch because of the name, or Ohio trying to ban the sale of Cardinal Zin wine (also Steadman artwork) because it portrays a member of the clergy on a bottle of libations.
But, now with the history lesson/ boring the masses is out of the way, onto the beer review. This beer is no longer made by Flying Dog. I have no idea why. I do believe this is one of the last batches that they bottled (about summer-time last year, they took Road Dog off their product list on their website and when they switched over their labels to their new design, this one did not make the cut, unlike Tire Bite, which was replaced shortly after by Under Dog Atlantic Lager).
This pours a dark, dark amber. The only amber color that is noticed is when it's held up to a light, other than that, it's the color of soy sauce. This used Crystal (not sure the lovibond), Chocolate, and Black malts, with Warrior and Cascade hops. 6% ABV, 31 IBUs. The aroma, after being aged for a year, is roasted tones blended with some dark fruit and chocolate. The taste, oh sweet Jesus, the taste. Roasted Malt, slight woody tones, hints of chocolate and coffee. Smooth, velvety mouthfeel, like kissing a velvet Elvis painting. You know the kind of painting that your bitch ex-step-mom had hanging above the couch, idolizing some washed up, over-rated pop singer who's big breakthrough was 5 years before she was born. Wait, that's not a good analogy for this beer. This beer is smooth. Smooth like fresh out-of-the-package fleece sheet. That nice, warm comforting feeling instead of that creepy look, staring at you from the wall as you try to zone out and pretend you're not sitting near the biggest waste of flesh that ever existed. That whale-like human that sucked away your dad's life essence, and tried to do the same to you. Bitching you out for everything you did, but yet letting her shithead kids do whatever they want. Yelling at you for drawing and not playing with her shithead degenerates, belittling you for every movement you make, making you feel like a utter piece of shit because you're not her kid, meanwhile treating her rotten pieces of shit like gold. Well, cunt bag, who's the one that doesn't have warrants and felonies? Huh? Any of your kids? No? Oh, well, it must fucking suck to know that your ex-husband left you cause you're the worst waste of air ever, and that he's the happiest he's ever been in his life with his new fiancee, and that your former step-son hasn't been to jail and isn't a registered sex-offender or drug dealer. Go fuck yourself and your creepy velvet Elvis.... wow.... I seem to be way the fuck off topic. Um... shit. Where was I?
Oh yes, Good beer. No Shit.
4.8/5 caps
-Nathan-
So, how is the White Devil supposed to follow up that???? Love the history of the beer and the artwork. If you're not familiar with Nathan's art, he's highly influenced by Steadman. Maybe let's get back to the beer, although he nailed it. Dark fruit in the nose? Check. I find, after sitting while he ranted about history and ex-stepmonsters, stone fruit comes out even more. There was a nice little off-white head that perched atop the brew two hours ago. OK, I exaggerate a little, but not by more than a half hour. In the taste, it's more stone fruit, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. Bittersweet, like Nathan's review.
Now I like porters. A lot. Clean, dark, heavy tones without the heavy feel. I can't stop looking at the Velvet Elvis painting without laughing. Coffee and chocolate tones come out much more when this is cold and I haven't killed three Genny Cream Ales between high-test brews. Every now and then, you have to switch up your broke/everyday beer. And Genny tastes much better after an imperial IPA. But I think we've had enough digression for one evening. This porter is pretty damn great, and like I said, I like porters. And in my humble opinion, this is one of the best on the market. Or at least used to be. Who knows, we may have the last six-pack in Columbus. Please, Flying Dog, reconsider removing it from the lineup? I know that you have another fantastic porter with Gonzo, but this is a killer everyday porter.
4.75/5 caps
-Jennie
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