Hair of the Dog Fred

The first bottle of Fred I had was suicidal, and jumped out of the fridge to his demise when my wife was looking for water next to him. A big thanks to avengedpoet for snagging me another bottle, Fred is no longer dead. Pours a slightlysyrupy hazy caramel color with a small bubbly white head. Aroma is caramel and malt forward with a lot of hop aromas, citrus, caramel and some rye. Flavor is caramel, subdued yet still bitter hops, lilac, sugars, spices, fruits, almost smoky. Bitter floral syrupy finish, quite complex too. Fantastic beer.

Great flavors but amazing sweetness. Was not expecting a barley wine based on the bottle, but thats an accurate label. I really wish they had coaxed the yeast to eat up some more sugar and make another % or 2 in abv, but the sweetness is ok. Excellence in malting, cant really put my finger on why this got a < 4, but its not quite there.

What a colour-far beyond golden as the bottle suggests...bright glowing amber orange with bubbles visibly riding skyward to a heavy thick head of foam. Alluring smell of pumpkin, glazed carrots, yams, soda candy, blood orange, brandy-soaked tangerines...good lord! Mouthfeel is so creamy, slightly syrupy, but also incredibly light. Complex flavours abound: cinnamon, smoke, figs, lilac, sweet pine, strong tea. Finish is sweet and lingers gently, leaving a touch of syrupy booze sweetness on the lips. This is a remarkable beer that deserves to be a lifelong classic...it almost has a hallucinogenic, mythical appeal. Is this what Nina Simone had in mind when she sang of "Lilac Wine"?

Picked this up @ High Time, they seem to be getting some constant stock on it somehow! Pours dark golden, with a slight haze. No head at first, developing a white, lacing head. As I pour it, I can already smell the northwestern hops. Other aromas may be citrus, honey, floral. You can taste the candied sugar, 10 hops provide a slight aftertaste of bitter. The alcohol is well hidden except a slight warming in my stomach reminding me this one is 10%. Medium bodied, smooth and quite drinkable.

12oz bottle courtesy of mfielden. Pours a hazy golden caramel color with a massive bubbly white head that settles slowly and heavily laces the glass. Aroma is sweet and malty with notes of floral hops, caramel, candy sugar, hints of honey, flowers, ripe citrus. Flavor is sweet and malty with a subdued and smooth floral hop presence. Vigorous carbonation with notes of candy sugar, cotton candy, caramel, honey, hints of ginger and spice. Generally medium body with more significant hop notes on finish.

Bottle at Stone Bistro. Pours a hazy amber color with minimal head. Smell is pretty malty and sweet with a pretty good little hop kick. The flavor is pretty sweet but the bitter hops kick in quickly and balance out very nicely. Sweet fruits meet a citrusy hops and make for one hell of an aftertaste. This was a damn good way to wrap up a very nice dinner.

Bottle from Kihoskh, Copenhagen. Amber colour with short lasting head. Sweet barley and a hint of smoke. As it got room temperd the sweetness took over. No alcohol in taste, but you feel its presence.

Bottle. Pale amber colour. Smells sweet of raisins with a touch of soy. Big taste! Sweet with a touch of smoke. Lots of dried fruits. Hops.