Hair of the Dog Fred

Fred is and has been for some time the best of its kind I’ve had, though what its kind is I’m less certain. It appears to be classified as a barley wine here but it must surely be some sort of Barley Belgian, or perhaps a Dubbel Wine (or maybe a Barley Dubbel, or Belgian Wine?) Enough of that. Aroma is rich with sweet fruit (apples, dark berries, grapes, plums). The pour is dark orange-copper and cloudy with little foam, and the flavor develops roasted grains, raisins, and figs, balanced by a suitable hop bitterness that lingers but doesn’t overpower. Good stuff.

Batch 69. An amalgamation of different beer styles. Pours an orange amber color with a huge pristine white head, similar to a Belgian Strong Ale. Aroma of alcohol, yeast, hops, and malt. A lively hop bouquet; citrusy (grapefruit, orange, apricot) like an IIPA and peppery/spicy similar to a triple. The yeast of a triple/Belgian Strong Ale. And the candied fruitcake, syrupy, feremented-fruit, malt and alcohol of a barleywine. Extremely sweet. The finish is bitter and astringent with a roaring crescendo of rubbing alcohol and resiny citrus (lemon). Mid to full bodied and highly carbonated. Very strong. Every bit the 10% ABV listed on the label. Complex, interesting, boisterous, and adventurous. But I’m in no rush to drink another. Just didn’t gel. Parts worth more than the whole.

Poured a light brown and is very cloudy. Head is pretty large, with plenty of lacing. Aroma of fruit, spice, citrus, and a little booze. Taste is of caramel & fruit. Finish is lightly bitter. Mouth is a little sticky. Not really sure this is a barleywine. It’s delicious either way.

Batch 70. I really enjoyed this one, not a typical barley wine. Pours with a creamy, off-white head covering a hazy, darkish, orange-brown body. Aroma of figs, spiciness, sugar, mandarin citrus, alcohol and perfume. Taste is of sweet fruits, savory, then caramel everywhere. Great strong alcohol presence in the taste throughout, which I like a lot. Creamy mouthfeel, perfrect level of carbonation, with some warming on the finish. Great beer by Hair of the Dog.

Wow, outstanding, I can’t wait to pick up another bottle to age. The intial aroma on this was sour, much more sour than i expected and the flavor had almost no sourness to it, the ultimate sweetness of the beer revealed itself in the next wiff. The palate is perfect, avoiding the stickyness i find in many barly wines. I can’t say Ill be drinking this often cause I am not huge on barly wines, but this was great, the thick white head was beautiful. A bit more bitterness to balance out the sweetness would have made this near perfect, but overall I am thrilled by this beer

Hazy mahogany, some amber head. Big malty nose with caramel and strong roast character. Slight alcoholic aroma and very estery. Very sharp alcohol flavor, some sweetness, light caramel, some higher alcohols (though not too many), and some esters. Probably more estery than I think, but the alcohol masks them. Light and playful, but somewhat thick, palate, perhaps because it is hardly carbonated.

small white head with a little bit of lacing. clear burnt-orange pour. very smooth flavor. touch of alcohol noticeable. dark fruits evident. little bit of black licorice or anise.

Bottled, Batch 61. Poured a lovely shade of medium honeyed raspberry golden with a substantial cap of fluffy beige head. The aroma was very nicely layered with medium-skinned fruits, bready notes, and rich caramel upfront, spicy rye and white pepper close behind, and a warm, alcohol-amplified smattering of hop influence rounding out the back (pine, citrus, floral, and earthy notes all make an appearance). The flavor was centered around honey, caramel, and bready notes with rising rye and black pepper toward the back (left a grainy, memorable impression on the warm finish).. moderate citrus and perfumey bitterness also hit back there.. tasty and well-balanced. Heavier-bodied on the palate with creamy carbonation cascading the brew through the mouth.. fine bubbles popped as it rolled along, just coating every square inch with flavor.. one of the best mouthfeels I’ve encountered. This was an awesome beer!