October 15th, 2012
Flying Dog
Review: Flying Dog Wildeman Farmhouse IPA
From Flying Dog: Staying true to its name, Wildeman is a beast of a farmhouse IPA and has a lot going on. Citrus and spice greet the nose, followed by sharp hop bitterness. Wildeman’s a great complement to bold, rich and and spicy dishes, like Schezuan and Thai proteins. It’s also great with dark chocolate, especially made with orange peel.
The Wildeman pours a very bright orange rind / light amber hue with a thick two finger head with a frothy consistency with excellent retention. Super sticky head leaves a thick band of lacing, leaving a remarkable impression. Initially, a dominant hop aroma caught our attention, reminiscent of sorachi ace hops. Very inviting Belgian aromas, consisting of banana and sugar candy with subtle pepper notes. Faint alcohol presence, with a soft burning sensation. The initial taste is tart with a distinctive Belgian character, that quickly moves to a more assertive sour/bitter finish that maintains the Belgian quality. Light to medium in body with a watery mouthfeel leaving an oily film. Active carbonation with a warm alcohol presence. Over a long duration, our mouths were left pretty slick with a peppery tingle.
Delivering on its word, the Belgian characteristics are front and center in the Wildeman. While it is billed as a Farmhouse IPA, make no mistake that this beer is primarily a farmhouse ale that’s hopped up. The parallel we drew was to the Stone Cali-Belgique IPA and that had a more pronounced hop character. If you enjoy a solid Belgian beer, the Wildeman will not disappoint.
Aroma 7/10 Appearance 4/5 Taste 7/10 Palate 3/5 Overall 21/30