Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Imperial IPA

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

22oz bottle. Cloudy, orange-zesty looking liquid you might expect to be an unfiltered weissbier of some sort and it’s topped with a small white head that turns into a ring, but laces nicely in rings and webs. Aroma is like a bouquet of citrus fruit and flowers with honey in a bowl of fresh-cut pine. Mouth is fullish and flatish, with just enough coarse bubbles. A bit syrupy. Rye and lots of hops help dry it out some. Flavor is heavily floral and pine with grapefruit juice, rye, orange zest. Finish is woody pine, rye, grapefruit rind, underlain with caramel, long-lasting. Very citrusy and easy to drink. Unconventional.

Bottle. Pours a light orange amber body with a white head. Notes of pine, grapefruit, and citrus. Strong rye seed and a mild warming. Big ipa.

Bottle; purchased on sale at South Bay DL. Poured a pretty paler than expected amber/dark gold color with a small, short lasting white head. A bit of lacing. Aroma of grapefruit, pine, caramel, spice/pepper, with a bit of sweetness. Flavor was borderline IPA/IIPA. Just really drinkable, which isn’t too surprising based on the low ABV. Not overly hoppy or too intense. Good caramel backing, not too predominant, just right. Hops were mellow, but enjoyable. Hops were piney, citrus/grapefruit and some floral after taste. Soothing finish. Not much sweetness. Very enjoyable.

750ml bottle. Not sure of the age, but at least 6 months old... maybe even a year. Floral initially on the nose with a ton of cedar wood coming to the fore as the beer opens. Citrus zest, lavender, pineapple, pine and cedar. the hops seem to still be quite alive (perhaps lacking a bit of vibrancy) still upstaging the malt base. Pours a thick, hazed peach/apricot with a huge, thick, mouseelike white head. The head’s retention is absolutely amazing and when it does subside, thick, sticky lace drips down the sides of my Darkness snifter. The hops are still quite alive on the tongue as well, but are perhaps mellowed out a bit. Very dry. Citrus rind, cut wood, dried leaves. Grapefruit skin. A surprisingly dry malt profile backs up the zestiness of the hops. The rye definitely gives the beer an adequate dose of spiciness. Medium bodied with lively carbonation. Finishes with tons of woodsy malt and zesty, earthy hops. Damn fine now... now to seek out a fresh bottle... Thanks Eric!

Bomber from South Bay. Fairly dark orange in color. Strong peppery citric hop aroma. Slightly sweet up front. Hop character is somewhat peppery and dry. Good hop character.

Bottle@Home. Very fruity aroma, pineapple, peach, grapefruit and grassy when warming up. Dark yellow/golden color, off-white head, good lace. Sweet, bitter, fruity, grapefruit, grassy, paracetamol in the finish. Light sticky, light dry finish. Very typical flavor.

Bottle. Pours a clear golden-amber with a white head. Hoppy aroma, of pine and a hint of sweeter citrus. Taste starts sweet then picks up more bitterness, of pine hops and sugar. Lingering bitterness. Very tasty IPA.

Tasted on tap. Great floral hop aroma. Heavy with jasmine. Very well balanced and drinkable. Excellent.