Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2001-2002)

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

Big ol’ 2001 bottle shared at the RB City Beer party, pours attractive opaque ruddy brown with thin cream colored head. Flavorful and sweet with an earthy finish that was a bit hot.

2002 vintage. Thanks Jason! The beer pours to a hazy glowing amber body with a coating off-white head and spotted lacing. The aroma is complexly caramelized and oxidized hops. Very nice however. The flavor is malty with some soapy hops and earthiness. The palate is medium bodied and has a slightly bitter hop to it. Nicely textured.

In short: A tired smooth fruity strong ale. Past due date.
How: Vintage bottle, post-Dark-Lord-Day 2008 party. Unknown generous soul.
The look: Murky orangey body topped by an off-white ring of foam
In long: Sugary sweetness and a lot of fruity flavours with no specific fruits really coming out. Less oxidized than most beer its age but the beer is passed due date. If there was a hop bite it is long gone and the body/mouthfeel/carbonation felt very tired. Alcohol well concealed. Didn’t fell like a Barley Wine. I had put away the notebook but despite my advanced drunken state I had to pull it back out when that rare threat showed up unexpectedly. But with a rare beer like that opportunity only knock once, if I hear a second knock it’s probally a Jehovah’s witness.

12oz bottle. 2002 vintage. Poured a medium orange color with a huge sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, dark fruits, some oxidation but not really detracting, and nuts. Tastes of caramel, dark fruits, toffee, nuts, and lightly earthy. Alcohol content well hidden. I think this one has seen better days, but not bad as it is.

2002 12oz bottle. Poured deep caramelly-copper with a short cap of beige head. The aroma picked up spicy and floral hop notes (quite restrained) with deep, well-aged caramel and fruit maltage.. the cat pee from the Amarillo was stretched out and gave a bit of a sour impression.. too old, but I dug it. The flavor showed greater signs of oxidation.. toasty caramel and fruits at the core with a bit of cardboard and spicy herbal notes around.. the back-end found some soap and more fruits. Medium-plus bodied, spicy, and oxidized on the palate.. definitely lost something over the years.

Doggie Claw vertical years 2007 - 2002. Thanks to drewbeerme for bringing all of these years. All from 12 oz bottles. This one was one of my least favorites of the night. So much oxidation killed this one. Poured a hazy orange with a tiny white head. Nose of fruit, caramel, toffee, dough, caramel, and paper. Red fruit flavors that aren’t as sweet as some of the other vintages. Charred, burnt notes with lots of that paper oxidation. Must drink this beer fresh.

botlle (2002 vintage) thanks to andrew for sharing this (wish i could have stayed for the remainder of the vertical).... poured a medium orange brown with a thin soapy white head.... aroma of sweet sugary caramel, dark fruit, and old paper probably due to oxidation..... flavors certainly have mellowed out and not as chewy sweet and robust as recent vintages. dark fruit, caramel malt, soft pine. quite a bit oxidized. carbonation is still pretty apparent and had a nice level of smoothness.

12oz bottle, 2002 vintage. sampled along with an 02-07 vertical. pours hazy amber with creamy white head. an oxidized nose with sherry, nutty, bready. flavor are oxidized and doughy with some alcohol. past its prime. a medium body with smooth carbonation. this vertical showed that Doggie Claws is best fresh and hoppy.