Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Double IPA

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

Very hazy pale gold color with a huge fluffy white head. Fresh hop pellet nose. Tons of malt in the IIPA. It is not the hop soup that most IIPAs try to be. Lots of toffee and dark caramel sweetness under a complex hop bitterness of pine resin and red grapefruit. Well balanced. I feel every bit of the 7%.

On tap at HDG. Gold in color with a nice thick white head. Citrusy hoppy aroma. Fruity notes. Apricot and pineapple. Hoppy flavor. Citrusy hops. Not too sweet. Finish is dry. Medium bodied. Well balanced. Smooth. Very nice beer.

Hazy apricot. Thin creamy wisp of head. Surprisingly tame herbal and citric hop aroma with hints of honey, baked apples, and spruce. Loose and prickly carbonation. Poorly conditioned. Hop character is initially mushy and vaguely defined, with a raw and oily pungency. Juicy orange explosion briefly quells the peppery aspects and gives way to a tight coniferous assortment. Somewhat airy, with the faintest note of lightly toasted malt sweetness which underscores the honey-drizzled apricot sweetness. Not a lot of bitterness, unfortunately, and the lack of vibrant hop flavors or lasting succulence fails to compensate. As the flavors progress, the hops become overly brash, peppery, and acidic, which further weakens the body. Despite the bottle being settled for more than two days, it’s still rather yeasty and, to make matters worse, slightly phenolic. Finishes leafy with a soft, rounded edge of bitterness coupled with a peach-fuzz dryness. Somewhat redeems itself with a flavorsome burst of pine and citrus hop burps, but the phenols, while subtle, manage to resurface and taint any brightness that might remain. Something’s undoubtedly amiss here: Unlike all other HotD beers, where a gentle pour raises a sustained mound of meringue, vigorously pouring this generates but a thin wisp. Also lacks that hallmark HotD creaminess. Considerably dull. Thanks, chriso420.

Thanks to Goldtwins for sharing this! Pours a clear orange that holds up an average sized sticky white head. Citrus dominates the aroma with a good malt back up in the distance. Lots of malt, but the hop bitterness over rides it in this brew. Stays nicely bitter all the way through to a good dry finish.

Bomber, pours cloudy copper with a lacy white head. Sweet resin and citrus nose. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Sweet toffee and citrus taste with a resinous finish.

22oz. bottle from the brewery. Aroma simply bursts with fresh citrus, plenty of juicy grapefruit and tangerine, with further notes of pine, freshly-picked leafy herbs and flowers, along with hints of pale, grainy, honeyish malts. Hazy medium golden color with a lasting, creamy head and fine lace sheeting the glass. Flavor is very softly sweet and floral up front, but sees the hops increase in intensity thereafter, becoming more dominant and reaching a crescendo at the finish where the sweetness is thoroughly overridden by bitter hop resins and citric, resinous, leafy hop flavor. Some faint lemony spice from the rye and fading hints of peach. Overall, mouthfeel is semi-dry, oily and smoothly effervescent, body is medium-full. Lip-smackingly hoppy aftertaste. Refreshing and drinkable. Nicely done.

Cloudy yet bright tawny orange body. Small ghost of a head with a bright hoppy-malty nose. Refreshing floral, slightly citrus flavor. Mild cidery finish with notes of sticky candy.

Bottle: Shared by nolankowal: Hazy orange color with a small off white head. Aroma, citrus and spicy hops, some yeast, grapefruit. Flavor, spicy, citrus, lasting bitterness, and enough malt to keep some measure of balance.