Hair of the Dog Adam

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

Bottled (Batch 66), courteously included in a trade with tever, thanks dude! Some seriously kick ass appearance! Huge frothy light brown head with darker amber swirls in the center. I chose to pour this one into a snifter despite the suggested glassware...and it payed off. Lovely aromatics going on; malty brown sugar, leather, slight tobacco and raisin. Flavor is a smoky blend of earthy chocolates, toffee, lots of plum and toasted bread. The finish is nicely bittered and leaves a strong roasted note to linger for a while. Warming alcohol is noticeable, but well balanced. Beautiful thick and chewy mouthfeel. Delectable and unique to its style.

Aroma is very big. Some smoked malts and caramel with some spices. Taste is more spices and clean balanced malt flavors with some smoke and a hint of bitterness.

July 2006 - Batch 63. Man, what a beer! The aroma on this bad boy was more complex than the flavor of most even good beers. Pour was wonderfully dark with a foamy head that kept hanging around and that tried to climb out of the glass (nice lacing!). Aroma was caramel, chocolate and roast as well as some dark fruits. A smokiness surrounded all the flavors, but a pleasant smokiness. The flavor was more of the same. Wonderfully sweet, wonderfully complex. It would have scored higher if there wasn’t a flavor in the back end that reminded me of the adhesive on a band-aid. Smooth mouthfeel. Warming as it goes down the hatch. Go get yourself one of these bad boys.

12 oz. bottle. Poured into snifter with a big head. I thought this was going to be stout-like with the aroma of chocolate/dark fruit/caramel/sugar, but the taste was pretty surprising. Tasted of chocolate/plums/sugary with a bit of a kick at the end. Can taste the alcohol in this one but I was very impressed. My first HOTD beer and definitely not the last.

Obtained at the Red in Santa Cruz. An aggressive pour into a snifter yields a nice head/beer ratio, the thick black liquid settling beneath a creamed coffee colored head of over 3 fingers. Head reduces to a cap that stays around forever, lacing is minimal. Aromas of brown sugar, chocolate, alcohol soaked dark fruits, brandy. Flavors of dark roasted malt, fig, raisin, brandy, baker’s chocolate, espresso, burnt prune. Finishes a bit bitter and boozy, but by no means is it overwhelming or distracting. Beautifully complex. The carbonation is so perfect that you don’t even notice it. Roasted malt dries the finish nicely, but alcohol taints it a little. At 10% I could easily have another but no more than that. A bomber of this stuff would be perfect. Great beer.

Bottle Batch #68. Jet Black color, with a monster head, that sticks around For-ev-er! Smells chocolaty and fruity. Taste has a coffee, lots of dark fruit, chocolate and smoke flavor. Nice little alcohol burn in the after taste. Also warms up the belly feeling as well. Perfect creamy texture. Super smooth, blended together so well. Overall, Hair of the Dog says it is a great dessert beer but I disagree, this is a great anything beer! Wish I could score this more often, but thanks to Big Fern (NYC) for hooking me up. Cheeeeeeersl

Wow is this a complex and unique beer. Aroma of dark fruits. Pour was a gusher. I poured this beer and the head ran over the glass. Nice dark brown with a huge overflowing tan head. Taste was many things blended together. Dark fruits (plum/raisin) are in the front with an almost vinous feel. Dark malt comes in and out as it warms. The aftertaste is very strong. Alcoholic a bit but almost a licorice like taste. Well carbonated which is a plus for me. Wish I could get their beers here in PA.

Batch 65 whatever that means. I haven’t seen a head expand like that since chouffe trippel and that was a playful foam. Once it finally settles down the head adds a creamy texture to the brew. Aromas of liquorice, plum, and leather. Mainly leather and plum though. At first there is a smoky flavor that gives way to a red fruit and roasted malt flavor. The finish is quite long with some sweetness and leaving a roasted malt flavor in your mouth for a while. This one is near the top for me. I’m pretty blown away with the complexity, balance, and simple deliciousness.