Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Imperial IPA

Brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Portland, Oregon USA

Getting notebook online. Bottle, Spring 2008. Pours a light copper, with a solid white head. Spicy and sweet passion fruit nose. Same on the tongue. Good hop flavors too. Very enjoyable.

22oz bomber. Pours a very nice, deep gold with subtle orange and a very slight haze. It also has a medium-sized white head that fades quickly but leaves nice swaths of lace on the glass as it goes down. The aroma is beautiful:earthy and citrusy - hint of pine, too - and some honey. It has a touch of rye I think in there, and lots of sweet honey. Nectar to the nose. The flavor is awesome - thick and hoppy with a delectable malt sweetness, some light breadiness - like honey-glazed croissants. The hoppiness is spicy and citrusy - a touch of bitter grapefruit rind. There is some earthiness in there, and I think I can detect some rye flavors, too - though admittedly light. At mid-tongue, the hops dominate - resiny and bitter with loads of fruity, citrusy, spicy hops. There is a nice level of fruity esters and crystal malt sweetness, too, that really balance the immense hops just right. The finish is full and sweet and dried out just a little bit by the big bitterness. The warming alcohol is subtle and nicely hidden. The aftertaste is surprisingly bready and toasty with a resiny pine hoppiness. After about 10oz, an leathery earthiness in the bitterness grows, and the bitter taste of ethanol shows itself a little in the finish. The mouthfeel is vigorously carbonated, but not over-the-top or spritzy. It lends a restrained carbonation sting to the tongue and helps lighten the beers big, chewy, full body. Overall, a very nicely made IIPA. Its strength is more like American IPA than double IPA, but the thick body and double-load of hops do manage to push it into Imperial land.

Bottle and served in GI IPA tulip, golden hue with a small but persistent lasting head with good lacework upon the glassware. The aroma has massive overtones of juicy hop esters of grapefruit and mango, resiny pine, biscuity malts, grains of paradise, and a herbal tone. The taste is hop forward but still restrained enough not to rip the enamel off your teeth. Plenty of fruity twang and caress of pale and crystal malts. I do not get the Rye however which is a shame because that was the main reason for me wanting this beer, more basic peppery finish on this. The mouth feel is sprite and aggressive, metallic finish. All around a very solid IIPA and more than drinkable, I would again if given the opportunity.

22 oz. bottle spring 08 poured a caramel golden color with a thin white head that pulled back to a ring in the glass. aroma has juicy citrus, pineapple, and grapefruit hops. light malt and sweetness make up the background. mouth feel is light with average carbonation. flavor has a nice side of the tongue bitterness, a plentiful mix of hops, and a setting sweetness. flavors are well balanced light alcohol mixing with floral and a slight tang. can imagine a bottle fresh must really have some punch as this one is still fantastic.

Cut my teeth with HOD here. Crushed with Jakebra. Floral hops, fresh as your virgin sister, fill the nostrils. A thing to behold. Flavor is sexy as hell. Hops and hops, but very thin at the same time. Surprisingly thin. A definitely superior DIPA.

Bottle, Fall 2008. Pours a slightly murky orange/brown with a small white head. Aroma of grassy and tons of tart grapefruit. Flavor just like biting into a fresh grapefruit with some light melon and a hint of citrus and orange zest. Light hop bitterness. Nice flavor profile and easy to drink. Yum!

Bottle, fall 2007. Aroma of delectable grapefruit and the freshest green melon scent I’ve ever smelled, from beer or fruit. Huge rich rye and caramel malt there in perfect balance, and by balance I mean that both the hoppy and malty aspects shine in bursting glory without subduing each other. Flavor is the same, and that is a very good thing. Not a hint of astringency, mouthfeel both incredibly rich from the malt and airy and juicy from the hops. Fantastic.

Beautiful peach colored pour with a decent retaining head. Smelled of peaches, mangoes,lemons, and oranges, with a little bit of pine. Mouthfeel was a bit on the thick side. Overall, I would have liked it tad more bite to it. Very pleasant, but a bit weak for the style.