Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout brewed by Flying Dog Brewery - Frederick, Maryland  

A dry stout brewed with local oysters, Pearl Necklace was the brainchild of Flying Dog, Rappahannock River Oysters, and Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen. “Both Rappahannock and Woodberry were great partners in educating us on the oyster issues facing the Chesapeake Bay,” our Brewmaster Matt Brophy told us. “When we became fully aware of how crucial oysters are to the Bay’s fragile ecosystem, we knew we needed to do more than just brew a beer.”
      
 

Proceeds from Pearl Necklace will benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership, which coordinates and conducts large-scale oyster restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay. Both Woodberry Kitchen and Rappahannock River Oysters work closely with the Partnership on shell recycling programs and more.
 
Beer Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance: rich, dark ruby-brown hue with a thick finger of frothy, dark tan foam. Quite attractive.

Aroma: rich, chocolatey aroma with a hint of spiciness. I'm not getting any oysters in the aroma, but it's still a nice-smelling stout.

Taste: great chocolate malt flavor with some caramel notes and an almost creamy sweetness. No oyster flavor up front, but way out in the distant aftertaste there's definitely a shellfish character. How interesting! I've never had an oyster stout before, but I like the subtlety and restraint with which the ingredient is handled here. Good stuff.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a really fantastic creaminess. Wonderful texture -- love it.

Overall: I was a little apprehensive of trying this beer, but of course I needn't have been. This is a tasty and subtle brew with a wonderful texture and good drinkability; I'd definitely have this beer again.

  
 
The Flying Dog Story
In 1983, a series of events in the Himalayas involving under prepared hikers, an unfaithful Sherpa, a scared-shitless donkey, and quickly consumed contraband led to the creation of the Flying Dog philosophy.

That's right, philosophy. It wasn't until 1990 that beer came into the picture.

From a brewpub in Aspen, Colorado to a full-fledged Denver brewery, and then to a state-of-the-art brewing facility in Frederick, Maryland, Flying Dog stands for not only extraordinary beer, but also for standing tall, doing great things, and not letting anyone make you eat shit.

For the past 20 years, we’ve done just that. We produce world-class craft beers and continue to push the envelope with experimental brews and limited-edition one-offs. All the while, we continuously pay homage to our Gonzo Godfathers – George Stranahan, Hunter S. Thompson, and Ralph Steadman.

Most importantly, we have a lot of fun doing it. And we never take ourselves too seriously.