Over a Pint Episode 23 with JT Smith of Flying Dog
Yup. Here we are with another episode of Over a Pint.
This one, our 23rd (JORDAN!…You know, cause of number 23. Get it?), we spend with JT Smith of Flying Dog Brewery.
JT was in town to debut their 20th Anniversary Ale, the Raging Bitch, and also to support a slew of SXSW shows.
We met up with him at the Flying Saucer for the official TX launch of the Raging Bitch.
First is first. The Raging Bitch, their Belgian Style IPA. It’s good. It’s got the grain and hopping of an American IPA, is fermented with their house Belgian yeast strain, Diablo, and then nicely dry hopped with Amarillo hops.
It’s yummy. It’s delicate and dynamic then huge and hoppy. And it gets hoppier as you drink it.
JT talks about how they came upon the idea, and it’s birth as a pilot brew.
Informative stuff.
And if you were lucky enough to find yourself at one of the Flying Dog sponsored shows during SXSW, it was flowing free.
Yikes. At 8.3% ABV, it’s just a little change of pace from the other free beers you may have been slinging that week.
Makes for some intense day time drinking.
They also launched the Woody Creek White, a Belgian style wit. It’s sounds great, but after drinking the Raging Bitch, it was a bit hard to taste.
We also talk about Flying Dog wiping the floor at the Great American Beer Festival this past year being named the Midsize Brewing Company of the Year, with head brewer, Bob Malone, being named Midsize Brewer of the year and winning three golds and one silver. Horn Dog Barely Wine 2007, Gonzo Imperial Porter, Dogtoberfest all took gold with the Barrel Aged Gonzo taking a silver (and he mentioned we may be seeing some of that in TX… fingers crossed!)
JT and I are drinking the Raging Bitch and then (unwisely) move on to the Woody Creek White. So if you can, crack open a cold one and join us over a pint.
Enjoy!
Thank you guys for all the craft beer advocacy you are doing! And most certainly thank you for taking the time to interview myself on behalf of Flying Dog. We love to support the growing culture of American Craft Beer and will continue to brew great beer for everyone’s enjoyment! Talk soon, gents. Next year, SXSW… round 2?
-JT
Thank you, JT.
Any word on getting us those Barrel Aged Gonzos?