Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

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

Bottle thanks to Suzygreenberg. Pour is cloudy red/brown with a very small but persistent tan head. Aroma is surprisingly hoppy with a nice toffee and caramel malt aroma. It’s very bright and enticing. Flavor is sweet and tart up front. Hops are notably less intense in the flavor than in the aroma. Flavor also has a nice port wine and honey flavor that lingers. It’s complex, well balanced and really delightful.

My 700th Rating. 2006 vintage Big thanks to a great guy Odeed.... Saved this one for a special milestone. Poured carefully due to the one inch of sludge at the bottom of the bottle (really wasn’t sure what to do, either pour it out or not), pouring carefully this came out a dark reddish brownish color a bit hazy, very little carbonation, almost none. Aroma is very sweet malty with a hint of hops and dark fruits, honey, molasses and toffee. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a long to average duration. Taste is very cognac like – very sweet dark fruits with a funky earthy aftertaste. Body is medium to full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft and the alcohol had mellowed nicely. I did end up pouring out the sludge with the last 4 oz and gave it a light swirl this turned the colr almost like a cocolate milk like substance, the chuncks were not enjoyable, almost undrinkable. Overall I was pleased with this barleywine pre-sludge and thought it aged nicely too. Thanks again to Jake for this gem.

Thanks to Ditmier for the bottle. Hazy dark orange pour with an off white head. Caramel malt, toffee, and a big citrus hop aroma. Smooth caramel malt and citrus grapefruit hop taste. A really nice blend of english malt toffee and nice bursting grapefruit bitter american hops. Stunningly good beer. A winner.

Bottle. 2006. No pfffft at all when opening the bottle. Very little foam in the beer. Toffee/amber colour. Aroma from butterscotch, heavy malt and caramel. Big malty flavour, with wood, toffee and light chocolate. Bit cellary in flavour, with flat-ish, dead mouthfeel, despite the big maltiness. Berries come to mind. Hops are long gone - in aroma as well as in bitterness. Definitely not perfect at this age.

A Mes rate. Bottle at home.
Shit the bed folks. This one is a real winner. Dark naughty amber with a thin but lasting off white head. When I say lasting, I mean it’s there until you drain the glass. Fuckin’ excellent. The aroma really stops you in your tracks. The Amarillo is just about there in the background but this one is all about the Simcoe. A fuckin’ superb hop and this one really shouts its praises. Backed up by some stunning sugary caramel malt and just the right amount of fruit along with some ridiculous but loveable peppery alcohol notes. Shit, I really could take a good while sniffing at this. The flavour is just as spank my arse and call me Mabel excellent. This is full on loopy juice. Bring on the madness. Big malt, some honey, some faint tangerine and a shit load of sugary alcohol. This is one of those take over the world beers. Marching juice for the jilted generation. Fanfuckintastic.

Bottle. It pours a nice-looking clear, copper body under a small, off-white head. Vinous nose with alcohol, caramel, dried fruits and lots of balancing (well, sort of) hops. Alcohol, dried fruits, caramel sweetness and a nice bitterness in the mouth, warming and full-bodied. Bitter finish with both dried fruits and caramel sweetness. Some alcohol also shines through. Yet another lovely beer from this brewery. 090619

2005 bottle opened by JW77...thanks man! Amber pour. Big tan head. Caramel, raisins, prunes and some hops on the nose. Sweet and raisiny. Caramel notes...good stuff!!

Bottle 2004 vintage. Dark amber colour with a beige head. Aroma is Alcohol, licorice, caramel. Flavour is alcohol, hop, licorice. A beer to drink slowly. Nice beer.