Flying Dog Winter Variety 12Pk

Flying Dog Winter Variety 12Pk is a seasonal 12-bottle assortment of four winter craft beers from Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland, ranging from 6.0% to 6.5% ABV. The pack showcases the brewery's adventurous approach to cold-weather styles, pairing rich stouts and porters with hop-forward IPAs — each bottle sporting Ralph Steadman's iconic Gonzo-inspired label art.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.0%–6.5%  |  Origin: Frederick, Maryland, USA  |  Seasonal Winter Release  |  Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery

Production & Heritage

Flying Dog Brewery was founded in 1990 by George Stranahan and grew to become the largest brewery in Maryland. The brewery's identity is inseparable from the work of British artist Ralph Steadman, who has produced original label art for Flying Dog since 1995 — a partnership born through Steadman's legendary collaboration with journalist Hunter S. Thompson. In May 2023, Flying Dog was acquired by F.X. Matt Brewing Company, with much of its production relocating to New York, though the brand's recipes and irreverent spirit remain intact.

What's Inside the Pack

The Winter Variety 12Pk contains three 12 oz bottles each of four distinct seasonal styles:

Raspberry Milk Stout (6.5% ABV): Fresh, jammy raspberry notes meet dark malt character with undertones of chocolate and coffee. The lactose base provides a smooth, creamy body that tempers the fruit's tartness.

Chocolate Fever Chocolate IPA (6.5% ABV): Dark chocolate and specialty malts deliver a sweet, cocoa-forward opening that gives way to bright, piney hops. The bitterness lingers through the finish, keeping this hybrid style from tipping too far into dessert territory.

S'mores Porter (6.0% ABV): Smoked malts create an authentic toasted-marshmallow aroma before the palate fills with chocolate and graham cracker flavors. The body is smooth and medium-weight, built for slow evening sipping.

Winter IPA (6.3% ABV): A hop-forward seasonal IPA designed to cut through the heavier malt profiles of its packmates. Bright citrus and resinous pine dominate, offering a lighter counterpoint in the lineup.

How to Drink the Winter Variety Pack

Each of these four beers is best served chilled at 45–50°F to let the malt complexity open up without muting the hop character in the two IPAs. The Raspberry Milk Stout makes an excellent base for a Beer Float with vanilla ice cream, amplifying its creamy sweetness. The S'mores Porter works well in a Porter Flip — shaken with a whole egg and a touch of simple syrup for a rich, dessert-style cocktail. The Chocolate Fever Chocolate IPA brings unexpected depth to a Michelada, where its cocoa bitterness plays against lime and hot sauce.

Best For

• Hosting a winter dinner party with a built-in beer tasting flight
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates seasonal and limited releases
• Stocking a holiday gathering with diverse styles that satisfy different palates
• Pairing alongside a charcuterie or dessert spread on a cold evening

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Flying Dog Winter Variety Pack taste like? The pack spans a wide flavor range — from jammy raspberry and roasted coffee in the stouts and porters to bright, piney hops in the two IPAs. The overall theme leans toward rich, malt-forward winter warmers balanced by hop bitterness.

How does the Flying Dog Winter Variety compare to Samuel Adams Winter Classics? Samuel Adams Winter Classics typically lean into baking spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger across most of its selections, giving the pack a more uniform holiday-spice profile. Flying Dog's pack takes a broader stylistic approach, contrasting dessert-inspired stouts and porters against hop-driven IPAs with no reliance on traditional seasonal spices.

Is the Winter Variety Pack good for craft beer beginners? Yes — the four distinct styles serve as an accessible introduction to stouts, porters, and IPAs without requiring a commitment to a full six-pack of any single style. The ABV range of 6.0%–6.5% is moderate and approachable.

Where is the Flying Dog Winter Variety Pack made? Flying Dog Brewery is based in Frederick, Maryland, and was the largest brewery in the state. Following a 2023 acquisition by F.X. Matt Brewing Company, some production has shifted to New York.

What foods pair well with the Winter Variety Pack? The Raspberry Milk Stout pairs with dark chocolate torte, where the berry acidity cuts the richness. The Chocolate Fever Chocolate IPA complements smoked brisket or barbecue, its bitterness balancing fat. The S'mores Porter stands up to bread pudding or pecan pie. The Winter IPA cuts through sharp aged cheddar or spicy buffalo wings.

What sizes does the Winter Variety Pack come in? The standard format is a 12-pack of 12 oz bottles, with three bottles each of four seasonal styles.

Is the Winter Variety Pack worth the price? The pack positions as a mid-range seasonal craft offering, delivering four distinct styles for roughly the cost of two individual six-packs. The variety and seasonal exclusivity make it a strong value within the craft beer category.

Why the Flying Dog Winter Variety Pack?

What separates this pack from other winter variety offerings is its stylistic range — rather than repeating one flavor theme across four beers, Flying Dog pairs dessert-inspired dark ales with genuinely hoppy IPAs. The S'mores Porter's use of smoked malts to replicate toasted marshmallow is a production choice you won't find in most seasonal packs. Ralph Steadman's unmistakable artwork on every label gives the pack a visual identity that no competitor matches. For drinkers who want their winter beer selection to cover stout, porter, and IPA territory in a single box, this pack delivers without redundancy.