Hair of the Dog Fred from the Wood

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

Serve in Snifter

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UPDATED: JUN 24, 2006 6/23/06. Poured out of 12 oz. bottle, obtained from Liquid Solutions via mail order 6/9/06. RateBeer Release. RERATE. Lightly hazy orange caramel color with a moderate-to-thin, mostly tightly-formed light cream head, fading slowly to a thin surface dusting. Lacing is average-- spotty, uneven, but finely sanded and somewhat sticky where it falls. Aroma is wicked as ever, but not quite what I remember-- extremely fruity, yeasty, hypnotically woody with a waxy, sweet-and-sour vanilla essence. The caramel character is even doughy like cinnamon cookies. Flavor is a little rough in comparison, plenty of tobacco (a mixture of sweet, soft new cigar and spent ash-- there’s a definite ashen prickle to this) and still featuring the wax-wood and vanilla, but also met with a bubblegummy and prickly hop presence, just a bit too raw at this stage (although with the sourness hinted at in the nose, I’m really not quite sure how this will age). Mouthfeel is outstanding-- fine carbonation is fluffy, fuzzy and tingling, intertwined with the snippy alcohol bite and gentle warmth, all surrounding a full body that packs an astoundingly dry, sappy finish. Vanilla, dry wood, faint vinous sourness and fruitiness, over-toasted sugar cookies where Mom forgot to add the sugar. Still, quite a treat. Thanks, Mom! 9/3/8/5/17/4.2 ORIGINAL RATING: 8/28/04. Poured out of 1.5 L bottle, sampled at Dr. Bill and Steiny’s 8th Annual 12-Hour Beer Festival in Orange, CA 8/28/04. Pours a lightly hazy orange-caramel color. Slight head that lingers in a rocky ring. Not much lacing at all. Lovely round caramel nose and a very mellow, subdued wood character. Very subtle and inviting. Touch of sweetness and bitter hops. Huge body. Touch of wood sourness masking an awesome velvety sweetness and then finally a dirty bitter malt. Perhaps too much wood, but only slightly. Amazing body. Slight carbonation tingle, big alcohol and very dry, numbing finish. It actually seems HIGHER than 10% ABV, but in a very good way. A bit of pith in the flavor, a bit of caramel and brown sugar. Thick, viscous and chewy. 9/3/8/4/18/4.2

Thanks to Enjoyit. Pours amber with a tiny beige head. Aroma is wild honey, caramel, darker sweet fruits, sour berries, syrup, oak, vanilla, sugary, weak oxidized, raisins and some fainted hops in the background. Taste is sour berries, honey, syrup, alcohol, very dry wood and some fainted hops in the background. Yummmy ..

Bottle courtesy of Enjoyit. Clear amber pour, small rim of head. Aroma has spicy bourbon and wood, vanilla, lots of honey, white raisins, nuce malt conplexity. Red currants, fudgy malts, toffey, very sweet over all. The taste is much like the aroma, very sweet, lots of toffey and bourbon, light hints of dal fruits and white raisins, figs. Light carbonation, chewy mouthfeel, light hops in the finish. Good one.

2008 vintage. The screams of drink me coming from the bottle proved to be too much tonight. Pours a clear deep amber/copper color with a huge beige head that persists forever and leaves lots of sticky lace on the way down. Smells of caramel, brown sugar, alcohol, slight bit of sherry, lightly earthy and sweet dark fruity. Taste is caramel and sugary sweet with an earthy herbal edge and a distinct bit of alcohol presence. I could sip on this thing all night long if only that damn bottle wasn’t so small. Medium to thick body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. Wood aged, but I get very of that in the aroma or flavor. It’s a damn fine barleywine just the same. Maybe the wood was subtle and has faded, but I’d drink the shit out of these if I could.

On tap @ the brewery - 2008 vintage. Deep amber pour with a sparse head. Aromas of brown sugar sweetness, oak, vanilla, toffee, and a hint of pine. Flavor is warming with lots of rich malt and some wood.

2009 vintage. The beer pours an amber color with a off-white head. The aroma is full of oak and dark fruit, with a little bit of cherry coming through. The flavor is a lot more complex. I get some oak and wood notes, as well as some cherry and cinnamon. There is also a strong yeast character, as well as some caramel malt. Overall, the oak is quite strong. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Glad I got to try this one.

08 Bottle. Clear amber gold, thin head. Aroma of oak, dark fruit, light berry tart, toffee. Taste is sweet toffee, some tart fruit, earthy, funky, lots of wood (insert splinter reference here). Medium body, soft carbonation, lemony finish, awesome, complex beer.

33 cl. / 2009 Vintage bottle split @ home with Belgbeergeek: A: dark amber / red fruits with a small white head, smell is bourbon going into a sweet barley wine, caramel, slightl vintage, above all lots of sweet caramel, T: über sweet caramel, lots of fruits, dark grapes, apricot, sweet burbon, vintage, dark sugar, very slight bitter aftertaste, B: nicely, slightly sticky with low carb, most likely even better fresh

Bottle @ Armin’s house. Hazy, brownish orange appearance with an off white head. Very rich, fresh oaky, organic woody, grassy, dark fruity, apricot, rich, amazing aroma. Pretty strong, fairly boozy flavor but incredibly rich with a shit load of fresh oak, dark fruits, citrusy fruits, tangy, rich, fairly caramelized sweet malty flavor. This baby is a winner.

12oz bottle, 2007 vintage. Pours a dark amber color with a thin white head. Aroma is sweet, oaky, vanilla. A bit heavy on the palate with nice, smooth carbonation. Flavor is sweet, woody, oak, vanilla, a little smokey, Tobacco, with a sweet, smokey finish. Excellent.

Bottle shared at RBWG- Nose is vanilla, coconut, wet wood...Taste is chewy malts, vanilla, oak, coconut, honey..Palate is thick with some heavy sweetness..