Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2001-2002)

Formerly brewed at Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

I decided to rate this beer as my number 200 in honor of my dog. Pours a vibrant red color with a small even head. Excellent lacing. Aroma is hoppy with wonderful malty/yeasty notes as well. Flavor is hoppy, sweet and peppery. Like a great cesear salad the flavors are perfectly balanced. A good beer.

12/3/03. Poured out of 12 oz. bottle, bought at Stuffed Sandwich in San Gabriel, CA 12/3/03. Big head that fades. Medium brown-amber color. Aroma is very lovely. Menthol?? Flavor is minty, sweet, bitter bitter but very smooth. Incredibly complex and full body. Burn and bitter hops with richness that lingers. Finish is surprisingly smooth and no less complex. Just a terrific brew all-around, and I was surprised to find that it wasn't more highly-regarded on the site.

2002: It initially pours orange, almost clear with a monstrous off-white head, bubbles could be better cut off though. When pouring the (lots) yeast, it becomes a dirty river light brown, very cloudy. Aroma is heavily hoppy (spruce, grapefruit, coniferous, herbal, flowers). Big notes of pepper also. Well-hidden alcohol (best hiding from HOTD imo)Bread, orange and pepper are followed by a considerably dry bitter finish and a spicy aftertaste. Overall good, but not as interesting and unique as the other Hair of the dog products I've had, perhaps a little straightforward.

(1-year-and-a-half-old 2002 bottles) : Unanimously magnanimous pink grapefruit and lemons house benevolently redolent black currant bushes...A mindblowing tower of sticky foam rotundity protects the herbal bouquet profundity within...A decorous chorus of rosewater sweetness elevates a fragrant fragment of vagrant sour candies...A sensitive, spicy hop collectivity lauds its connectivity with the embedded, extra-dry flower petals...Hair of the Dog’s idiosyncracy, an autocracy of uniqueness in passion, reigns supreme in this hugely tasteful eyeful...Gaïa gloriously garrisons this gorgeous, garrulous glass...4.3/5

A 2-and-a-half-year-old bottle has softened quite a bit, still offering complexity and desirable flavors, but is slowly fading away from its earlier glory...4/5

Bottle. It sits hazy, cloudy brown in the tulip glass (sorry, no snifter) with highlights of red and orange when held to the light. The aroma is heavy with alcohol, dark roasted malts and pronounced hops producing sour fruit, citrus, spice and coffee scents. The flavor is complex, sweet and sour, bitter and astringent all wrapped up in a thick, almost syrupy package with a definite alcohol bite. Mouthfeel is smooth and round with little carbonation. As a fan of barley wines, I must say that this one is unique to my experience. Think I'll go get another bottle to age as well.

RERATE 2002 12 oz bottle shared with Tom at our little tasting: The appearance is lessened with a more oily character. The aroma ROCKED with notes of sweet marzipan, sea salt like twang, honey, sharp acidity and still some hop catty notes still around, and yes DILL (like a pickle almost). The taste is lush and twangy with candied orange peel over grains of paradise. Bready aged grains working with leafy hops. Once again there is a strange DILL like bite upon the finish (no pickle around). THIS IS A WOW!! I love it when you risk aging a beer and it works, the nose is so good I am bumping my overall score +2 and aroma +2, appearance -1 and palate +1. YOU MUST TRY SOME!!!

2001: Dark amber hue with big creamy tan head and very good lacing. Heavy malty aroma with hints of apple, spice, pine and grapefruit. Smooth yet complex tastes. Starts sweet and mildly fruity, almost Belgian like. Picks up a dry woody and spicy finish with mild alcohol character. My only knock on the brew is it’s a bit rough on the palate. Still a darn nice beer that I look forward to trying again.

Big, beutiful aroma. Notes of hops, spices, nutmeg, and alcohol. Very Christmassy aroma. Beer pours medium brown bith big creamy off white head that is fully retained. Flavor is very rich and fully developed. This one does not taste like it needs to spend five more years in the cellar. It is ready to dring. Flavors are initally malty sweet, there is a moderate hop presence to balance the sweetness and some wonderful spices to keep your taste buds dancing.

Awesome holiday treat, folks. Devine sweetnes, smacks of pineapple. Unbelievable head, as with all HOTD beers. Honestly, HOTD beers have just the best heads on the planet. Gorgeous! I'll never give a HOTD less than a 5/5 rating for appearance. Vibrant and complex holiday cheer in a bottle.