Flying Fish: Imperial Espresso Porter

My last coffee/porter hybrid try (see Rogue's Mocha Porter) was such a success that I figured I should make my way back into the genre. Deciding I'd stay local this time (Flying Fish is out of New Jersey), I grabbed Flying Fish's offering, notwithstanding the "Imperial" tag.

If I had to pick one word here, it would be "sweet." This is definitely one of the sweetest beers I've had outside the fruit/lambic category. Caramel and vanilla are the principal flavors; they are there from the moment it hits your tastebuds, and they linger well into the aftertaste phase. The coffee is there too, showing up somewhat late in the taste, though they don't do much to knock out the sweetness. Hops come through just barely at the very end.

Fortunately, the carbonation and light mouthfeel keep the sweetness from becoming cloying, though all in all this is definitely sweeter than I prefer. I will give this beer props for masking the alcohol content though: while it's listed at 8% ABV, you can't taste the alcohol anywhere.

Flying Fish: Belgian Style Dubbel

Flight. Dogs. Fish. Apparently, these words are supposed to be evocative of "good beer." I've already reviewed a beer by "Flying Dog" Brewery and a beer by the "Dogfish Head" Brewery. So what combination of these terms is left? Flying Fish. So here we go: Flying Fish Brewing Company's Belgian Style Dubbel.

Belgian beer is a breed unto itself, boasting a variety of genres that really don't fit nicely into general categories. But the dubbel is a classic genre if ever there was one, and Flying Fish's version is certainly respectable, if not particularly novel. The classic caramelly malts, almost nonexistant hops, and subtle hints of sugar, fruit, and earthiness are all present, making this beer pretty tasty. It's fairly thin bodied and has ample (though not by any means excessive) carbonation.

In my opinion and my experience (limited as it may be) American breweries often have trouble replicating genuine Belgian genres. So, for example, I don't think that any American brewery has really put up a witbier that stands up to Hoegaarden, and I don't think I've tasted a belgian amber/ abbey ale that stands up to Leffe. That being said, Flying Fish's offering, while not a standout, is definitely respectable. If you like Belgian ales and want to try something new, pick one up; but if you are looking for the top shelf stuff, stick with an import.