Flying Dog Single Hop Citra (2013)

Yes, we've reviewed this brew before (actually, it was our first review here). But, that was last year's keg only release. This year, they've released it in bottles. So this is the Single Hop Citra 2013 release. It's kind of cool to look back at out first review, and then roughly 150 reviews later, how much we've grown in both our comfort level in our writing ability and our descriptions. But enough sentimental BS, you're here for the beer. And as this is getting late (11:50pm) and I'm sleep deprived, I'll try to keep this shortened, but giving good points.

This pours a beautiful golden orange color, with small amount of white head that doesn't stick around. The aroma is citrus and something like pineapple, there's some slight tones of sweetness. It's faint, but it's there. The taste is nothing but hops. Oh, Hopsus be praised! Piney and citrusy swirls that leave a nice resiny feel to the finish. At first it's crisp and clean with decent carbonation to make it refreshing, then the resin mouthfeel takes hold and starts puckering your mouth a bit. This is what an Imperial IPA should be. There are also some tones of tropical fruit to blend with the lemon, grapefruit and piney notes of the hops. Yeah, Citra. If only I could have this year round.

5/5 caps

-Nathan-

Wait just a minute here. Did we just make it through a Flying Dog review from Nathan without a single Hunter S. Thompson reference? And why, dear Hopsus, why should it be on me to provide it???  I'm not the fanboy here... I appreciate The Good Doctor with all his Gonzoisms, but I'm not nearly the fanboy that my partner in crime is. With that, I offer this, from The Great Shark Hunt:

Myths and legends die hard in America. We love them for the extra dimension they provide, the illusion of near-infinite possibility to erase the narrow confines of most men's reality. Weird heroes and mould-breaking champions exist as living proof to those who need it that the tyranny of 'the rat race' is not yet final.

That pretty accurately sums up this beer for me. It's mythical, it's legendary (or at least it should be), and your ability to obtain it is a near-infinite impossibility. And it proves to me, at least, why Flying Dog is still a stalwart in the rat race that is the craft beer industry in America today. Although I could tell you where there remain two six-packs of this nectar of Hopsus. But shall I? Or should I save that little nugget of knowledge for when I'm alone some afternoon, wandering up and down Indianola Ave. while Nathan toils his weekday away?

I can't decide. So let's talk about some beer. This wonderful beer in particular. I actually pick up a great malt backbone in here... along with some additional sweetness, almost like brown sugar or maybe some Belgian candi sugar. These perfectly complement the hop characteristics that have me head over 6" platform heels in love with this series from those rascals in Frederick, MD. I don't think it's overly resinous, as opposed to our friend at Savor Market and Nathan. Our love of the citra hop is well documented, and Nathan has done much justice to it above. I just find it a tad more cloying and malty than he does, it would seem. Oh! And there is the fabled wisp of lychee that this hop strain is noted for. Yuuuuuummmmmmm. I don't find this overly puckering or overly hoppy. It's a great demonstration of what this hop strain has to offer us mere peons.

I am really hoping they send some of their Single Hop Sorachi Ace this direction. Hint, hint: Erin and Flying Dog crew. I love pineapple in my beer. And now I'm off to dream about brewing a pineapple IPA. Huh.

4.98/5 caps, because their Simcoe of this series is still one of my all-time favorite brews, and this is just shy of that.

-Jennie