Hair of the Dog Matt

Brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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Served lightly chilled around 55ºF / 13ºC
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass just produces a fat-one-finger thick, nicely browned, dark tan colored head. The beer is quite dark, almost black really with perhaps a touch of brown to it. When held up to the light the beer shows brilliantly clear, deep, dark ruby highlights. The aroma is quite smoky, phenolic even; the smoke character doesn’t have the richness that I associate with beech-wood (Rauchbier) or alder-wood (Alaskan Smoked Porter) smoked beers, instead it is a little thin, though really this might be because the smoke is not nearly at the same level as those other smoked beers. The smoke here combines with a distinct fruitiness that reminds me of raisins, prunes and even some brandy like notes along with a touch of warming alcohol. At times the alcohol can be quite noticeable in the aroma, especially after I have started to drink the beer. The fruit character becomes very rich and interesting if you concentrate on the nose for a bit. There is also a touch of roast malt character noticeable after a bit as well. Not a bad nose, but the up front smoke character is a little thin and sharp at times, though it does have a nice underlying richness.

The beer is creamy and viscous feeling with only a faint carbonation that supplies a very soft prickle. The beer is fairly sweet, which accentuates a dark, concentrated fruitiness, but both of these are offset somewhat by a sharp malt influence. Roast grain notes provide a burnt-bitterness to the finish, perhaps a touch of acrid notes as well as a touch of burnt acidity. The smoked malt is a bit fainter than it even was in the nose, but it does provide a subtle smokiness that provides some richness to the beer as well as a hint of sharp smoke phenolics that is just noticeable at times. The rich fruitiness is the most noticeable part of the flavor; notes of prunes, raisins and roasted berry notes are all quite noticeable. Subtler fruit notes of caramelized apples, a touch of dates as well as some not so subtle rich, Brandy-like fruitiness. Alcohol is evident, but donesn’t get past supplying a nice warmth and a bit of spiciness. While rich feeling on the tongue, the beer isn’t overly heavy and in fact is a bit more drinkable than might be safe.

For a beer that has a fairly middling aroma to it, the flavor has turned out to be quite nice. This is definitely a sipping brew and I am really enjoying the rich, concentrated fruitiness here that is just supported by roast malt notes and a hint of smokiness. After a slow start, this ends up being quite an enjoyable brew.

Pours black with no head. Very little carbonation. Smell is pretty big bourbon and vanilla, some toffee . Some fruity notes like a barleywine. Taste is very sweet, very complex, very little alcohol. Chocolate front, fruity middle, alcohol burn in the back, along with sugar, toffee, caramel and vanilla. Amazingly drinkable for the abv. Great, great beer.

Bottle from BuckeyeBoy, shared by KyotoLefty. Big thanks to both. What a complex aroma! Port wine, prunes, raisins, and .... Looks kinds ugly, prune juice. Verrry sweet, smoky, and sherry-like flavors. Some phenolic notes and wood, too. Myriad flavor changes through initial, mid, and final. It goes on and on. Completely flat, smooth, warming in the mouth. This is a heady brew. So rich and complex.

Bottle, a gift from BuckeyeBoy. Thanks, Jeremy! Almost black, with some orange, flat. Fruity nose, caramel, apple, light smoke, and some barrel. Fruity apple flavor, chocolate, smoke. Very fruity, port, champagne, wood. Amazingly complex, all kinds of flavors going on, yet holds together greatly. Wonderful stuff.

Bottle through recent trade. Pour has a very dark brown color bordering on black with basically no head and a somewhat still look in the glass. Aroma has rich malt, light roast, some complementing oxidation, brown sugar, brandy, and some barrel wood. Wow, a truly wondurful aroma with light fruited touches and such depth. Mouth feel is thick and oily and there is a slight bit of carbonation but not much. Flavor has plenty of malt, a bit more roast/smoke, brown sugar, toffee, molasses, dark fruit, vanilla, barrels, and light bourbon. This is really complex and rich with a bit of heat at times warming you through the glass.

Bottle to oversized snifter (thanks, waltersrj). 2010 vintage. Looks decent; black with no CO2 or lacing to speak of. Smells great; malty and bourbony. Tastes great too; much like it smells. Nice on the palate. This is incredible beer!

12oz bottle at the brewery - 2010 vintage. Deep mahagony brew with very little head. Aroma is crazy awesome - apples, oak, smoke, bourbon, vanilla, and caramel. Some sweetness in the flavor with lots of wood, bourbon, and a bit of fruit. Chocolate and caramel finish. Wow!

Bottle: Thanks to VsXsV: Vintage 2010: No head, a dark to blackish light ruby brown colored beer. The smell is absolutely amazing: butter, vanilla, bourbon, dark fruits, liquor alcohol, ice cream, caramel, toffee, red wine. If I could give the smell an 11... Definitely! Taste is another piece of art: soft, gentle, smooth and balanced mix of buttery barley malt, seduced hops, tasty bitter, toffee, oak and light vanilla, barleys sweets, dark buttery fruits, spices, light alcohol, delicious. After the taste it starts to gently burn in your mouth with a spicy touch than goes into a nice aftertaste of dark fruits like raisin, toffee, vanilla and sticky barley malts Low to no carbo, soft light vicous velvet mouthfeel, full body and a sticky texture. This is almost divine! Good grace...

12oz bottle at HotD. Pours a deep, dark brown color with a thin with head. Aroma is fruity, apple, vanilla, oak, just a hint of booze. Thick on the palate with soft, creamy carbonation. Flavor is sweet, malty, bourbon, oak, vanilla, sugar, apple, a touch of alcohol, with a sweet, malty, apple finish. Absolutely fantastic.

12oz bottle shared with the local guys thanks to 5000. Pours a dark ruby brown with a small tan head. The aroma has smoke, port, caramel, cherry, plums, apple, vanilla, wood, and honey. The flavor has apple, wood, port, cherry, smoke, caramel, toffee with a wonderful finish of ash, and chocolate. There is very little carbonation with a full body. The alcohol is noticeable at times, but does not take away from the experience. This is a real treat!

I was not too sure what to expect from this, but I was overjoyed to experience it. Fantastic notes of raisin, honey, some black currant, with Vanilla and a lingering bit of Maple that comes out in the finish along with some oakiness. A great deal of complex flavors in this that keep the beer beyond interesting. This may be a new favorite. Very unique and well balanced.