Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

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

12 oz. bottle from asteele8 , dated 2006. Unfortunately, it seems that htis was among the bottles with "caping difficulties." Pour was a clear deep amber with absolutely no head or carbonation. There is a wonderfully fruity aroma, cherries, raisins, and other dark fruits, followed by spruce and citrus. Medium body with a mildy resinous character, but the lack of carbonation detracts. Rich malty sweetness is blancec by a tangy bitrus peel bitterness. The flavor and aroma certainly does not seem to have beenadversely affected by the capping problem and lack of carbonation. Were it not for that, I weould have rated this higher. I’ll need ot get another example to re-rate, either a 2007, or a pre 2006.

Bottles 2004 and 2005. both were similar. Pours a hazy light amber/orangey copper with a dimishing head. Aroma is moslty new american hops like simcoe and amarillo- lots of grapefruit, citrus, orange peel, some mango, but gets to be a little catty, and solvent-like when fresh, when aged though it loses some of the harsh hop character and smooths out nicely. Tons of hops in the flavor with more simcoe to dominate but also has a ton of malt backbone, toffee, and moslty caramel malts. Fruity flavors in the middle, apple, dark dried figs, and finishes with a nice rouded bitterness. The 04 destroys the 05 though.

Bottle: Pours a dark, musty copper color with little to no head. Moderate lacing. Aroma of citrus and floral hops, some sweetness detected. Taste is citrus and floral tones, some dark fruitiness, raison, and a sweet malty sensation. Alcohol warming in the finish. Delicious!

Dark mahogany with a medium off-white head. Smell is sweet and alcoholic, with caramel, honey, and berries. Flavor is sweet, with caramel, honey, hops, and roasted malt. Too sweet for me. Mouthfeel is fantastic; luscious and creamy. Not my favorite barleywine by any strecth, but decent.

red color, brownish head, nice refreshing flavor, fruitiness, i like it and i give it a good rating.

old, flat hops, orange color, i was drunk and dont remember much. but it was damn delicioso.

12 oz bottle. Pours a cloudy orange-brown with a one finger off-white head. The aroma is of hops, malt, yeast (sweetbread), citrus and smoke. Sweet creamy taste of hops and honey. Smooth and hoppy with a carbonated finish. Very good.

(Bottle) Obtained in a trade with Blankboy. Thanks. Pours a headless deep mahogany body. Nose of smooth creamy malt, bread, and cherry. Flavour is smooth... very smooth. Great malt character and a mild hop tinge to counter this malt monster. Lovely stuff. Is it worth the price... iffy, but good beer ain’t cheap.