#159 Flying Dog - Wild Dog Horn Dog

Wild Dog Horn Dog is part of a limited release from Flying Dog, only 725 12oz bottles were made. This Wild Dog is made by aging Flying Dog’s Horn Dog Barely wine in Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey barrels for 13 months. The alcohol dropped from 10.5% in the original Barley Wine to 10% in this Wild Dog. This beer is only sold at the Brewery and was given to me by Stephanie from Flying Dog. Had I realized this was a limited release I might have saved it for a special night.

This beer has a complex aroma, I am getting an strong musty earthy aroma, with plenty of dark malt notes. There is also a hint of a sour, wild yeast smell. The color is basically black with brown highlights, can't see thought the glass the edges are a more brown than black. There is also no head on this beer, just the lightest foam on the side of the glass.

The start to that taste is a malty roasty barley wine flavor with some sweetness. Then the earthy flavors start to set in with some woody barrel flavor. There is also some floral hop flavors to the beer which is unexpected. The finish is slightly sour with light astringency. The finish leaves my mouth watering. The mouthfeel is silky and smooth. There is a touch of alcohol warmth but it blends with the barrel flavor becoming reminiscent of whiskey.

This is quite a beer. I don't like sour beers, and this beer has only a very slight sour note in the finish. With the smooth mouthfeel and the complex mix of flavors, I really enjoy this beer. At Shclafly's Cabin Fever I had a similar beer they called a Milk Stout or Milk Porter, it was made a similar way with putting a beer back in a used barrel.

I feel bad drinking it all myself on a lazy Tuesday when only 725 bottles were made. I am tempted to re-cap the beer and share with others but I am worried the beer might not be as good if and then it all would be wasted.

Thank you Stephanie and thank you Fly Dog.