Abita Turbodog

I have really had a thing for dark beer lately. I never used to like the darker stuff, as it was too strong and flavorful for me on the advent of my interest in beer, but dark beers really are one of those acquired tastes that everybody talks about all the time. The more dark beers that I tried, the more that I began to like the stuff, and it didn't take long before dark ales and stouts became my favorite types of beer. 

I had seen Turbodog in stores for a while before I finally decided to give it a try at a favorite bar of mine a few months ago, but I avoided it for several months because the name "Turbodog" gave me this totally unjustified feeling that it might have been a "bro beer," and I subsequently put it towards the bottom of my need-to-try list. However, I am glad that I finally got around to trying one, because I really like it. 

Turbodog is an American brown ale that is brewed with a combination of malts, giving it an interesting dark chocolate-like flavor. Turbodog also boasts a unique toffee flavor that at first I did not recognize, but after educating myself with the bottle and returning to my glass, it seemed almost like a no-brainer. The toffee taste is subtle, but I think perfectly so. Once you know that it's there, it is fairly easy to pick up. Overall, the flavor of Turbodog is strong, pronounced, and homogeneous. It's not necessarily bad if a drink's flavor is not homogeneous, but there's just something about the harmony of a good, well-balanced taste that makes the drink go down so much more smoothly, particularly with regard to beers. 

I really like Turbodog. So much so, in fact, that it has become my new "exit beer" (the predetermined last beer of the evening, so as to guarantee leaving on a good note) at one of the local bars that I frequent. If you are not a fan of dark ales, then you may just want to steer clear of this one, but if you like the darker side of beer, or are looking to expand your beer horizons to include some of the more strong and flavorful stuff, this is definitely one to check out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Corley's Market and Grill [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl.oz. [355 mL]

Price: $8.99 [Six-pack]