Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

Brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

2004 bottle consumed 12/29/07: Pours brown with some sparse carbonation. Smells of raisins, lots of sweet citrus, elements of resiny pine and sweet malt. Taste is refined with some nice chewy toffee like character. Very enjoyable and not much in the way of booziness.

12 oz. bottle. 2007. Pours a cloudy caramel brown with a moderate off-white head that faded to a ring before mid-glass. Very bright aroma of caramel, pine and grapefruit. The flavor is initially caramel and is semi-sweet. This is quickly washed over with pine and grapefruit flavors that are as bright and fresh as the aroma. Nearly full bodied with some silkiness to the mouthfeel. The alcohol is well hideen with only some slight warmth at the end. I will definitely pick up a few more of these for aging.

12oz bottle from Santa (crizay) I think... 2004. Aroma of rich, sticky caramel malt. Bright minty and herbal hops. Much more malt forward on the nose. Pours rich mahogany with sticky lacing. Flavor is balanced nicely between toffee malt, pine sol like hops, mint and alcohol. Creamy. Mostly full bodied. Finishes with a melange of flavors: alcohol, herbal, minty and grassy hops and toffee. Nice.

12 oz bottle, 2004. Murky brown with a thin tan ring. Nose of grassy caramel with a touch of smoke and spices. Body is soft and silky, almost syrupy with a sprinkle of zesty carb. Strawberry jam and toffee play off elderberry and grilled grapefruit. Wonderfully fruity and toasty with a rustic feel. Yum!

11-11-07 (2007 bottle)
Muddy sand color with no head - very unique appearance. Smells of heavy alcohol. Tastes very similar to a B-52 shot. Heavy alcohol and quite creamy at the same time. Difficult to swallow because the heavy alcohol. Unique overall - just not big on Barley Wines.

Tasted 11/26/07. 2006. 12oz bottle. Hazy with a ruby hue. Large bubbled head. Musty alcohol nose. Aromas of cocoa and toast. Woody dank and musty. Full bodied with a big palate and big alcohol. Dried fruit flavors and a tingling bitter acidic hop profile. Ebbed yet sweet. Touch woody. Good Juice! Nice melded hop flavor. Fruity notes mixed with sweet cinnamon and caramel. Viscous and rich. Tasty!

2007 bottle. Currently enjoying this one in a brandy snifter. I can definitely pick up on the honey that was used in this brew. This is the first beer I have ever sampled from Hair of the Dog. This one is awesome, and I hope I can age my last bottle for at least a year. /But I doubt I have the patience.

Updated Rating 12/30/08: 12 oz. bottle - 2008 vintage; same old doggie claws pours flat with thick aromas of hops, yams, candy, brown sugar and grapes; very strong and aggressive; dank, banana, caramel, sugar; wow, i just love this stuff and can’t wait for the pending 01-08 vertical tasting

Original Rating 12/27/07 (4.4 overall): 12 oz. bottle (2007) - pours a very hazy amber with off white head bringing out the fruity aromas; also mixed in are hops, sugar and caramel; slight hint of alcohol in the flavors, but it doesn’t interrupt the smooth flavors and buttery texture and malty finish; head remains faint throughout and overall becomes even better as it warms up; this is one tasty brew and it will be hard to keep the other bottles i picked up in the closet