- Style: Belgian IPA
- Bitterness: 60 IBU
- ABV: 8.3%
- Malts: Not provided
- Hops: Warrior, Columbus, Amarillo
- Sampled: 12 oz. bottle
Description: "Raging Bitch was brewed in commemoration of our 20th anniversary. It quickly became one of the hottest craft brews of 2010. And once you've let a Bitch out of its cage, there's no controlling it. Raging Bitch became part of our regular Canis Major lineup in 2011." — Flying Dog Brewery
Random thoughts: I had a quick taste of Raging Bitch last fall at a Beer Bloggers Conference. I enjoyed it and wanted to re-visit it as part of my IPAs Gone Wild! series. If you haven't already noticed, Flying Dog features some very interesting label artwork. In March, Flying Dog sued the Michigan State Liquor Commission for banning Raging Bitch based on its provocative label.
The tasting: Golden orange in color (hazy) with a huge frothy off-white head that dissipated slowly, leaving lacing all over the glass. Spicy aroma of clove, black pepper, and coriander. The aroma reminds me of a Belgian Golden or Wit. The flavor starts with grapefruit hops, citrus hops, and slightly sweet caramel malt. It's followed by black pepper and clove. The spices are more potent in aroma than they are in flavor. A bit of alcohol is noticeable in the middle. Raging Bitch is medium bodied, with an effervescent mouth feel. The bitter grapefruit hops kick into high gear in the finish. The alcohol is very well concealed!
Rating: 4 star. Really Good! I want this again! This beer is an amazing combination of two styles. In aroma, it's all Belgian. In flavor, it leans heavily towards IPA. I appreciate how it balances characteristics of each style in distinct way, without muddling them together. If you like IPAs and spicy Belgian ales, give this one a try!
Have you tried Raging Bitch or any other Flying Dog beers? What do you think of the label artwork?