Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

Bottle. Huh....this is one unique brew from start to finish. Garnet colored with just a hint of a soapy head, nearly flat. Massive nose of oiled leather, scotch, rich fruits, and a few notes of red wine. Really sweet flavors of syrup, honey, tobacco, and a lovely warming sweet bourbon filling the mouth at the end. It’s really impressive how there is zero alcohol burn or heat left in the mouth with a beer this strong and this flat. Typically it takes carbonation to hide this burn, but not here. Weird, unique, almost more like a super sweet bourbon than a beer, but really enjoyable.

2006 bottle acquired via trade with kegbear...thanks Craig!!! This brew poured a rich ruby red/garnet with absolutely no head and only minimal carbonation bubbling up from the bottom of the glass. Aroma is dark candied fruit, toffee, caramel, and brown sugar. Nice natural sweetness, the hops have all but melted away with aging as has the alcohol burn. A very nice beer...would love a fresher bottle for comparison.

12oz bottle from new beer distributors in manhattan. pours a dark red-brown color with a medium head that stick around. aroma of citrus hops and fruity dark candy caramel malts. aroma still somehow comes off as more of a dIPA than barley wine. taste is sweat caramel, apricot and light alcohol. syrupy medium texture. nice light bitter finish. a really well balance brew. could be my favorite barley wine so far. K-8

Appearance is a murky ruby red/amber hue with a modest layer of creamy white head, fair lacing on the glass. Smell is a range of hops, mostly floral/grassy/citrus, sweet toffee and caramel malts, dark fruits, brown sugar, oak, and booze. Taste is initially dark fruits, booze, brown sugar, vanilla, oak, and caramel malts, transitions to sour and piney hops, finishes with sweet honey and raisins with alcohol warming. Mouthfeel is full-bodied, thick and oily texture with a prickly feel from the carbonation and alcohol presence. Drinkability is moderate, this is a lighter yet more flavorful barleywine than what I’m used to, a great mix of taste sensations in the overall profile and a not-overwhelming alcohol presence, another solid offering from HoTD.

Tasted @ Higgins in Portland.
I’ve had the Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws 2007. Very nice barleywine. Orange colored. Aroma is sweet, hoppy and fruity. Herbal, hoppy, creamy, sweet caramel flavors. Flavor shifts during tasting, very nice smooth brew.