Flying Dog Bloodline Blood Orange Ale 6Pk

Flying Dog Bloodline Blood Orange Ale 6Pk is a 7% ABV fruit-forward ale brewed with blood orange puree, rye malt, and a trio of American and Australian hops. What sets Bloodline apart from typical citrus ales is its late-fermentation addition of sweet blood orange puree, which rounds out hop bitterness with genuine fruit character rather than relying on extracts or peels alone.

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

Production & Heritage

Flying Dog Brewery, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, has long cultivated a reputation for bold, boundary-pushing beers under the unmistakable gonzo artwork of Ralph Steadman. Bloodline is built on a grain bill of rye and caramel malts, hopped with Northern Brewer, Citra, and Galaxy varieties, and fermented with an American ale yeast. The defining production step is the addition of sweet blood orange puree toward the tail end of fermentation, allowing the fruit sugars to integrate naturally without overwhelming the malt backbone or dulling the hop profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a pronounced burst of grapefruit and fresh citrus zest, quickly followed by softer blood orange sweetness. A subtle caramel malt undertone grounds the fruit-forward aromatics.

Taste: The entry is bright and citrus-driven, with blood orange sweetness meeting a mild rye spice on the mid-palate. Citra and Galaxy hops contribute layers of tropical and stone fruit bitterness that stay balanced against the caramel malt, with neither element dominating. At 40 IBUs, the bitterness is assertive but never harsh.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, moderately dry close. Lingering notes of orange pith and light caramel fade alongside gentle hop resin, leaving a refreshing impression.

How to Drink Bloodline

Bloodline drinks well poured into a tulip glass at around 45–50°F, where the blood orange aromatics open up without the carbonation becoming too aggressive. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Blood Orange Shandy by combining it half-and-half with fresh lemonade for a sessionable warm-weather drink. It also works as a base in a Michelada, where its citrus and rye spice complement hot sauce and lime. A beer float using blood orange sorbet leans into the fruit character for a playful dessert pairing.

Best For

• Summer cookouts and backyard grilling sessions where a hop-forward but fruit-balanced ale shines
• Introducing hop-cautious drinkers to bolder ales through accessible citrus flavors
• Pairing nights focused on spicy or smoky cuisines
• Building a craft beer sampler alongside other fruit-forward American ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bloodline taste like? Bloodline delivers a prominent blood orange citrus sweetness balanced by rye malt spice and moderate hop bitterness from Citra and Galaxy hops. The overall impression is fruit-forward and medium-bodied with a clean, slightly dry finish.

How does Bloodline compare to Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin? Grapefruit Sculpin leans heavier into hop bitterness at 70 IBUs compared to Bloodline's more restrained 40 IBUs, and uses grapefruit rather than blood orange as its citrus component. Bloodline's rye malt backbone and lower IBU count make it a softer, more malt-balanced option for drinkers who find aggressively hopped citrus IPAs too bitter.

Is Bloodline good for craft beer beginners? Its prominent fruit sweetness from real blood orange puree and moderate bitterness make it a solid gateway into hop-forward ales without the palate shock of higher-IBU IPAs.

Where is Bloodline made? Bloodline is brewed at Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland, one of the largest craft breweries in the Mid-Atlantic region.

What foods pair well with Bloodline? Grilled shrimp tacos work well, as the citrus in the beer echoes a squeeze of fresh lime. Pulled pork with a vinegar-based barbecue sauce complements the rye spice and caramel malt. Thai green curry benefits from the blood orange sweetness tempering the chile heat. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the fruit character nicely, and dark chocolate with orange peel mirrors the ale's dominant citrus note.

What sizes does Bloodline come in? Bloodline is commonly available in six-packs of 12 oz bottles or cans, and may also appear in single-serve formats depending on regional distribution.

Is Bloodline worth the price? Bloodline positions in the mid-range craft ale tier, and the use of real blood orange puree rather than artificial flavoring gives it a genuine fruit intensity that justifies its place above mass-market fruit beers.

Why Bloodline?

The late-fermentation addition of blood orange puree is the single most important detail separating Bloodline from the crowded field of citrus-labeled ales. Where many competitors rely on hop-derived citrus character alone or add juice as an afterthought, Flying Dog integrates the fruit directly into fermentation, producing a more cohesive flavor. The grain bill's inclusion of rye malt adds a spicy complexity uncommon in fruit ales, and the hop combination of Northern Brewer, Citra, and Galaxy covers a wide aromatic spectrum from earthy to tropical. With over 136,000 ratings on Untappd averaging 3.7 out of 5, Bloodline has proven its durability as a year-round staple rather than a seasonal novelty.