Here’s some good news from Laughing Dog Brewing up in Ponderay — Fred Colby’s delicious Dogzilla black IPA has shed its label of seasonal and will now be a year-round product.

First conceived last summer as a middle ground between Laughing Dog’s regular IPA and the Devil Dog Imperial version, the Dogzilla has caught on like crazy, Colby said.

Similar in style to the much coveted Stone 11th Anniversary Ale last year (but not quite as strong in power or taste) the Dogzilla really rocks. The black malt provides the almost opaque look and a mellow but roasty malt sweetness, but the flavor and aroma is dominated by a big citrusy/pine hop presence.

Just putting your nose in a pint is a treat for an IPA enthusiast like me.

The Dogzilla is plenty strong at 6.9 percent alcohol by volume (and 68 ibus), but still drinks pretty easy. I am not alone. Readers of excellent craft beer Web site Beeradvocate gives the Dogzilla an “A.”

I, for one, am stoked. The Dogzilla is my favorite Idaho beer of the moment and this means I don’t have to hoard those bottles I was saving in case of emergency. This flexibility came in handy when my Cleveland Browns got embarrassed by the N.Y. Giants last night.

Colby said he was trying to come up with an new type of IPA last year when he saw a container of black malt and decided to try something a little different.

He was aware of the Stone 11th Anniversary beer and loved it, but wanted to try something similar that wasn’t as strong as the Stone or his Devil Dog, which hover around 10 to 11 percent alcohol by volume.

Now, he can’t brew enough of it — either in 22 ounce bottles or kegs. Colby said the Dogzilla was the first beer to run out at the Bend beer festival earlier this month and he keeps getting orders from all over the pacific northwest.

“Right now, it’s probably our biggest seller,” Colby said Monday.

Colby says business is booming for his Idaho Panhandle brewery, and he plans to add a new bottling line this fall which will allow him to increase capacity.

He also says to be on the lookout for a new beer this fall, the Dogfather Imperial Russian Stout.