Flying Dog Snake Dog 6Pk

Flying Dog Snake Dog 6Pk is a Colorado-style IPA from Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland, sold in a six-pack at 7.1% ABV and 60 IBUs. What distinguishes this beer from the crowded IPA field is its aggressive use of more than two pounds of hops per barrel — a blend of five varieties — producing a layered, West Coast-inspired hop experience that balances bitterness with genuine fruit complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.1%  |  IBU: 60  |  Origin: Frederick, Maryland, USA  |  Style: Colorado-Style IPA  |  Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery

Production & Heritage

Flying Dog Brewery, founded in 1990 in Aspen, Colorado, before relocating its operations to Frederick, Maryland, has long been associated with gonzo-spirited, boundary-pushing beers — a legacy tied to its collaboration with artist Ralph Steadman. Snake Dog IPA leans into that ethos by deploying five distinct hop varieties — Citra, Mosaic, Warrior, Simcoe, and Columbus — at a rate exceeding two pounds per barrel. The Warrior and Columbus hops anchor the bittering backbone, while Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe provide the aromatic and flavor complexity that separates Snake Dog from more one-dimensional IPAs. The result is what the brewery calls "a more complex breed of West Coast IPA," bridging the piney, resinous traditions of the style with modern tropical hop character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Orange and tropical fruit lead the nose, followed by slightly piney, resinous crispness. There is a persistent citrus brightness — grapefruit especially — with herbal and spicy undertones emerging as the beer warms.

Taste: The entry is medium sweet with plentiful fruit up front — apricot and yellow plum are identifiable alongside bitter grapefruit. The mid-palate shifts toward strong, prominent bitterness with spicy and herbaceous hop notes building into a full, assertive hop punch at peak intensity.

Finish: Dry and decisively bitter, with pine resin and citrus pith lingering on the palate. The bitterness is sustained but not abrasive, closing clean enough to invite the next sip.

How to Drink Snake Dog IPA

Snake Dog is best served cold — around 45–50°F — in a tulip glass or standard pint to concentrate the aromatic hop oils. Its 7.1% ABV and firm bitterness make it a strong sipper on its own, though it also holds up well in hop-forward cocktail applications. A Hop Shandy (Snake Dog with fresh lemonade) tames the bitterness while amplifying the citrus. A Hop Drop 'n Roll (IPA layered over a shot of citrus vodka) plays to the tropical fruit notes. A Beer-a-Rita (IPA substituted into a classic Michelada template with lime and hot sauce) leverages the grapefruit bitterness against heat and acidity.

Best For

• IPA enthusiasts exploring West Coast-style hop complexity beyond single-variety beers
• Summer grilling sessions where bold hops complement smoky, charred meats
• Introducing a craft-curious friend to assertive-but-approachable American IPA
• Building a tasting flight comparing West Coast, Colorado-style, and hazy IPA traditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Snake Dog IPA taste like? Snake Dog delivers bitter grapefruit and pine up front with a sweeter undercurrent of apricot, orange, and tropical fruit, finishing dry and firmly bitter at 60 IBUs.

How does Snake Dog compare to Stone Ruination IPA? Both are aggressively hopped American IPAs, but Snake Dog's five-hop blend produces a smoother, more fruit-forward finish compared to Ruination's more intense, unrelenting bitterness. Ruination also runs higher in both ABV (8.5%) and IBUs (100+), making Snake Dog the more approachable of the two.

Is Snake Dog good for sipping neat? Yes — at 7.1% ABV with balanced malt sweetness behind its hop bitterness, Snake Dog is sessionable enough to drink across an evening while still rewarding slow, attentive sipping.

Where is Snake Dog made? Snake Dog IPA is brewed at Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland, though the brewery was originally founded in Aspen, Colorado in 1990, which informs the "Colorado-style IPA" designation on the label.

What foods pair well with Snake Dog? Spicy buffalo wings — the bitterness cuts through the heat. Fish tacos with mango salsa — tropical hop notes mirror the fruit. Sharp cheddar cheese — the fat tempers bitterness while hop resin amplifies the cheese's tang. Grilled burgers with pepper jack — the char and spice align with the piney, citrus backbone. Pad Thai — Snake Dog's grapefruit bitterness contrasts the dish's sweetness.

What sizes does Snake Dog come in? Snake Dog IPA is widely available in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles or cans, and may also be found in individual cans depending on market availability.

Is Snake Dog worth the price? Snake Dog positions as a mid-tier craft IPA — neither entry-level nor premium-priced — and its five-hop complexity and 7.1% ABV deliver strong value relative to single-hop or session IPAs in the same price range.

Why Snake Dog?

The defining feature of Snake Dog is its five-hop architecture. While many IPAs lean on one or two showcase hops, the combination of Citra, Mosaic, Warrior, Simcoe, and Columbus at over two pounds per barrel creates layered bitterness that shifts from tropical fruit to pine to herbal spice across each sip. With a Craft Beer & Brewing score of 78 and over 200,000 ratings on Untappd, it has proven itself a reliable, widely enjoyed West Coast-style IPA. For drinkers who find single-hop IPAs too monotone and double IPAs too punishing, Snake Dog occupies a rewarding middle ground — assertive, complex, and genuinely drinkable.