Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2001-2002)

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

I really wish that I had purchased more of this before I left Idaho. If anyone is reading this, I would love to do a large trade for some more of this. What can I say, this is my favorite barleywine that I have tried so far. This really comes across on the front as a barleywine, but in the back, it is like an american strong ale. This one has lots and lots of hops, and I love that. The pour is nicely golden with a huge head, the lacing in indescribable, taking over the whole glass. Aroma is lightly spicy, but the taste is suitably sweet and pleasing with lots of hops in the aftertaste. A nice bittersweet finish.

Pours a cloudy amber with a huge white rocky head and nice lace. Spice and fruit in the aroma, very pleasing, some alcohol. Hoppy flavors full of spice and fruits, ends a little bit bitter. Nice barley wine.

2002 batch. 12 oz. brown bottle. No best by date. Poured out a bright off-orange color. Huge, billowing, frothy, white head. It slowly subsided to a thick mat of lace floating on top of the beer. I've never seen a head this big on a beer this high in ABV. They must use a ton of wheat malt in their beers. Anyway, aromas are of fresh picked, spicy, resinous hops. Strong malts in the nose as well. Very herbal smelling also. Tastes are out of this world. The malts compete with the spicy hops in a battle royale. The mouthfeel is rich & luxurious. Coats the tongue with hoppy & malty goodness. Finishes kind of bitter. A really well made barleywine in my book. Hard to find, but worth seeking out.

2002 12 oz. bottle...Amber to orange, with a good foam collar, strong aromas of citrus and cedar. A sweet mandarin orange note shows up first, backed up by a quinine like carbonic quality, rinsed off the palate with citrusy, evergreen resin hop acids. I think it's evolving a bit, and I think it's a good candidate for long term cellaring.

12 ounce bottle: 2002 batch. Amber colour with orange highlights and trillions of small bubbles rising from the bottom. Large dense off-white head takes a few minutes to die down to 'drinkable' level. Strong aroma of hops, pit fruit, alcohol, peachie and caramel. Medium-bodied; Full of carbonation. Strong hoppyness, flavours of alcohol, fruit (oranges and plums), malt and spices are very strong. The palate is left with an alcoholic burn, a fizzy mouthful and a slew of bittering agents from the malt and the hops (primarily). Overall, this barley wine has high carbonation (rarer for a Barley Wine), strong alcohol kick (not my favourite for the style), and a good amount of hops (a great addition :-). It's worth a try, especially if you like their other beers! I bought this twelve ounce bottle at Whole Foods in Vienna, Virginia.

2002 version - Sampled August 2003
Soft golden orange appearance. Large white head. Fresh fruit nose with hints of peaches, pears, and nectarines. Very carbonated, prickly and punchy on the tongue and containing a thick syrup feel laced with flavors of honey, apple, and wood. Abrasive alcohol qualities appear towards the end of the drink.

a slightly opaque appearance, like apple cider. The aroma is nutty. The taste itself is bitter with a nutty taste, very hoppy. enjoyable. very bitter

2002: Pours with tremendous carbonation, large rocky textured white head over a hazy copper body. Bready Belgian yeast aroma with western hops and caramel malt. Body is sweet and hoppy with good balance. Smooth refined flavor makes for good drinkability with little notice of alcohol. A pretty good barleywine, but could use some more complexity.