Hair of the Dog Fred

Thanks to HogtownHarry for sharing with me at Volo. Rich, deep amber. Chalky nose is fully of dark sugars, caramelized fruits, and peach fuzz. Wow. Deep dark sugared fruits like stewed pears. Fuzzy like a barley wine but smooth and happy. Freakin excellent.

12oz. bottle. just finished putting together my new apartment, watching the colts get crushed. perfect. I hate the colts. Pour is a Murky cidery gold. Rich sediment flows from the bottle. The off white head dissipates quickly. Aroma is sweet with some honey and citrus, hops are earthy and a woody aroma is detectable as well. First mouthful reveals a lot of what was in the aroma. Woody, hoppy and sweet. Creamy mouthfeel is interesting. Very tastey and ballanced brew, the alcohol is not very noticeable until the finish, which is a woody alcohol burn which remains in my throat for a few minutes. Damn good beer.

Bottle purchased in Oregon - Well, middle of the road taste and rather mild body. Was a decent pour, nice amber orange and small off white head. The dry sweet citrus notes seemed acidic although combined with the earthen hops and rye malt keeps the ABV in check. Maybe the overall package is keeping me from rating this higher. During a sampling one taster said he would prefer hepatitis?! Ah, yea a little over zealous but funny though. Willing to try again.

Rich bronze with a large yellowish head that paints the glass with lacing. Sediment creates a brown gamut from sandy sepia (bottom) to golden tan (top). Nose is sweet and malty with caramel, raisins, and real minor alcohol. Flavor is similar, but less sweet and more floral, some wood, larger alcohol, grapefruit hops lingering in the aftertaste... a tasty combination! Palate is rich yet smooth, though a little alcoholic and cloying in the finish. Still, a great beer!

12oz. bottle from batch 62 purchased in Portland at Belmont Station. Pours a beautiful golden amber with an ever-increasing bubbly white head. Fred advertises itself as Golden Special Ale, and it’s much different than fellow barleywine "Adam". The rye really comes through in the aroma and is upfront in the flavor. This is a fantastic beer. Coupled with Blue Dot, 2/3 of the HotD beers I’ve had in Portland are great!

Thanks to Dansting. 12oz bottle, Batch 71. Served in a Duvel tulip. Bottle conditioned. Poured a hazy reddish gold with a thin white head. Spicy aroma with burnt sugar sweetness. Also a little alcohol. Full bodied and rich mouthfeel. Great malt complexity. Raisiny fruit. Some yeast esters. Maybe a little oxidation. Hop bitterness is restrained. Alcohol is warming. Definitely a sipper. Unique beer, very enjoyable.

12 oz bottle. Pours a nice clear amber gold with a yellow-white head. Strong rye nose balanced with a pleasant hopiness. Sweet caramel and strong rye come through clearly with an underlying hoppy bitterness. Very full body and a nice dry finish.

Poured a big, beautiful head from a 12oz bottle. Sweet smell hits you as soon as you pour it. Strong alcohol warmth, but its balanced by a sturdy hop taste. The hop bitterness hit me before the malt sweetness, but it certainly wasn’t overwhelming. Tasted a bit of raisin and definitely sugary syrup. Above average carbonation, especially for a "barley wine." Overall decent complex tasting beer you can’t necessarily afford to have too many of.