When Flying Dog first announced that they would release a beer made with Old Bay seasoning, DCist was skeptical. We love the Frederick brewery’s beer and the Maryland spice — but together?

Flying Dog was kind enough to send DCist some of the Dead Rise summer ale, which we consumed earlier this week. Our reaction is below.

Sarah: Although I really love Flying Dog beer (hey, Raging Bitch), I was unsure about this. I’m not huge on Old Bay, which seems like a prerequisite for liking this creation. But I was actually pleasantly surprised from the first sip how well the Baltimore spice blended with the beer. Yes, Dead Rise has a distinctive briney taste, but it doesn’t overpower the brew.

My roommate first described the beer as “very strange.” “It’s like drinking Old Bay,” he wisely added. “It might just be placebo effect.”

On his second tasting he detected a hint of onion.

We both agreed that the beer would best be paired with crabs and isn’t really something we’d want to drink regularly. But for a summer beer — perhaps consumed at a nearby beach with a mallet in one hand? — it’s pretty perfect.

Flying Dog’s Old Bay Beer Taste Test from DCist on Vimeo.

Matt: I’m not a fan of beers that combine flavors from other franchises for the sake of novelty. Have you tried Rogue’s Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale or the Chocolate, Banana, & Peanut Butter Ale? How about Full Tilt’s Berger Cookie Chocolate Stout? No? Good, keep it that way. They’re all terrible.

So when DCist learned that Flying Dog was making a summer ale that uses Old Bay seasoning as its key flavor ingredient, I was skeptical. It sounded like horrible Dr. Moreau-like experimenting in craft beer. Luckily, I was wrong. The strong Old Bay seasoning gives the crisp beer a kind of savory kick. But the Old Bay flavor grows stale after a while, and you’ll craving something less, uh, salty.

Still, it’s a fine beer and I’m sure everyone in Maryland will lose their shit over yet another thing commandeering the state’s signature spice.

OldBayTasteTest from DCist on Vimeo.

Dead Rise will be available this month through September in the mid-Atlantic. Draft launch May 15 at ChurchKey. Proceeds will benefit True Blue, “a restaurant certification and consumer awareness program that promotes sustainably harvested Maryland Blue Crab and rewards restaurants that serve Maryland crabmeat.”