Chris Makes Colin Drink – Flying Dog Brewery

Flying Dog Brewery, 4607 Wedgewood Blvd, Frederick

Guava Juice IPA

Double Dead Rise Summer Ale

House Rules Extra Pale Ale

Road Dog Porter

This is the seventh installment of “Chris Makes Colin Drink” and I know, without reserve, that you already knew that. In any case, if we are to go to area breweries, it kind of amazes me that it took us six columns before we got to what has to be Frederick’s premiere craft brewery, right? People from all around the world go to Flying Dog. And yet it took us about six months to make it there. I blame Chris.

I really, really wanted a beer. The thing that I’m realizing about these trips, however, is that tasting flights kind of suck. And if you split them with another person … well they REALLY suck. Why? Because I want to drink, damn it! I don’t want to have a “taste” and then go back for more, only to know I’m half-kissing Chris with the way he slobbers all over the glasses.

It’s Flying Dog. You know the vibe already, don’t you? Modern. Industrial. Wooden. That chalkboard where someone is trying to be clever about who’s cool and who’s not. Ralph Steadman art. Popular music that could be described as nostalgic playing in an ironic manner over the speakers. Or hipster music that could be described as modern playing in a not-as-obvious ironic manner over the speakers. It’s Flying Dog, man. You know.

“It’s dark,” Chris told me about the Road Dog Porter. “Like your soul.” I don’t think this is the first time that quote has been used in this column. And this only the seventh installment.

I don’t know. If I’m being honest — and that’s my job, isn’t it?! — then I’d have to say that this was probably the most disappointing outing we’ve had thus far. We grabbed only four beers and one of them amounted to little more than a canister of Old Bay Hot with a dash of alcohol in it. Chris, though — he loves that House Rules, man. In fact, he loves it so much, he said, “you are objectively wrong if you don’t like it.” True love, indeed. As far as I’m concerned, though, I’m getting awfully tired of whatever the hell guava is. I feel like we’re three months away from Natty Both Guava, in which case we’ll know we have about six more weeks of drinkable beer before the entire industry collapses on itself.

I would imagine we will be going back eventually. Flying Dog does a lot of neat things and I personally love The Fear. Here’s hoping nobody is toying with the idea of Triple Dead Rise Fear. In that case, I’d be left with no other option than a Natty Both Guava.