Flying Dog Bloodline Blood Orange Ale 12Pk

Flying Dog Bloodline Blood Orange Ale 12Pk is a citrus-driven American ale brewed with blood orange juice and peel, packaged as a 12-pack of 12 oz cans at 7% ABV. Built on a rye and caramel malt backbone with a three-hop bill of Northern Brewer, Citra, and Galaxy, Bloodline strikes a deliberate balance between bright citrus sweetness and measured hop bitterness that has earned it a loyal following among craft beer drinkers, holding a 3.7 rating across more than 136,000 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7%  |  IBU: 40  |  Origin: Frederick, Maryland (USA)  |  Style: Blood Orange Ale  |  Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery

Production & Heritage

Flying Dog Brewery was founded in Aspen, Colorado, in 1990 before relocating to Frederick, Maryland, where it became one of the Mid-Atlantic's most recognized craft operations. In 2023, F.X. Matt Brewing Company acquired the brand, and production shifted to Utica, New York. Bloodline's grain bill features rye malt alongside caramel malt, lending a spicy, bready depth that separates it from lighter fruit ales. The hop schedule combines Northern Brewer for bittering with Citra and Galaxy for tropical and citrus aromatics. Sweet blood orange puree is introduced toward the end of fermentation, preserving the fruit's natural character while allowing it to integrate with the hop-driven bitterness rather than simply sweetening the finished beer.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh-squeezed orange juice dominates the nose, followed by grapefruit pith and a malty, bready undertone. A subtle floral hop character from the Galaxy addition rounds out the aromatics.

Taste: The entry is bright with blood orange citrus — juicy rather than syrupy — moving into a mid-palate where caramel malt and rye spice provide structure. Hop bitterness and citrus peel sharpness emerge at the peak, creating a push-and-pull with the fruit sweetness that keeps neither element dominant. At 40 IBUs, the bitterness is assertive but controlled.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering grapefruit peel and a dry, lightly resinous hop fade. The rye grain adds a peppery edge that lingers beneath the citrus.

How to Drink Bloodline

Bloodline drinks well straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass at around 45°F, where the blood orange aromatics open up fully. For cocktails and beer-based mixed drinks, it works in several directions. A Bee Sting (beer with honey and lemon juice) plays up the citrus and malt sweetness. A Blood Orange Shandy — half Bloodline, half sparkling lemonade — makes a lower-ABV warm-weather option. A Michelada variation with Bloodline, hot sauce, and lime juice leans into the ale's natural citrus sharpness and spicy rye undertone.

Best For

• Summer cookouts where a bold, fruit-forward beer stands up to grilled meats
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to a citrus ale that balances bitterness with real fruit
• Stocking a home fridge with a versatile, higher-ABV session option
• Bringing a 12-pack to a tailgate or game-day gathering

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bloodline taste like? Bloodline leads with bright blood orange citrus and grapefruit, supported by caramel malt sweetness and a spicy rye backbone. The hop bitterness is present but balanced, making it citrus-forward rather than aggressively bitter.

How does Bloodline compare to Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin? Both are citrus-accented, hop-driven ales, but Grapefruit Sculpin is a full IPA (7% ABV, 70 IBU) built around grapefruit and more assertive hop bitterness. Bloodline uses blood orange juice and peel with rye and caramel malts at a lower 40 IBU, resulting in a rounder, more fruit-sweet profile.

Is Bloodline good for beginners? Its real fruit character and moderate bitterness make it approachable for anyone comfortable with craft ales, though the 7% ABV is higher than most entry-level beers, so pace accordingly.

Where is Bloodline made? Bloodline was originally brewed at Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland, which was founded in 1990. Following the 2023 acquisition by F.X. Matt Brewing Company, production moved to Utica, New York.

What foods pair well with Bloodline? Grilled shrimp or fish tacos complement the citrus notes. Spicy Thai noodle dishes work against the malt sweetness. A citrus-dressed arugula salad mirrors the blood orange character. Sharp cheddar cheese contrasts the fruit and hop bitterness. Barbecue pork ribs stand up to the ale's rye spice and caramel malt depth.

What sizes does Bloodline come in? This listing is a 12-pack of 12 oz cans; Flying Dog also commonly packages Bloodline in 6-packs of 12 oz cans.

Is Bloodline worth the price? Bloodline positions as a mid-tier craft ale — its use of real blood orange juice and a three-hop bill delivers more complexity than mass-market fruit beers, and the 12-pack format offers solid per-unit value for a 7% ABV ale.

Why Bloodline?

What separates Bloodline from the crowded field of fruit-flavored ales is the timing and quality of its fruit addition. By introducing blood orange puree late in fermentation, the brewery preserves the juice's natural acidity and aroma instead of cooking it out — an approach that yields genuine citrus character rather than artificial sweetness. The rye malt component is uncommon in the fruit ale category and adds a spicy, grainy complexity that gives the beer more structure than a typical citrus ale. With Citra and Galaxy hops reinforcing the orange notes from the hop side, every element in the recipe points in the same citrus direction without redundancy. The result is a beer that drinks like fruit and finishes like a proper ale.