Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2001-2002)

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

Orange body medium sized white head; Very DFH-like character to the aroma, ripe pear and malt is standing out; Big carbonation in bitter sweet balanced body; Sweet bitter long finish, ripe pear, pineapple aroma. Has aged very well. Thanks Jeppe.

2001 bottle. Pours a hazy deep orange color with lots of head - easily 2/3 of the glass is foam when first poured. Lace clings to the sides of the glass as it recedes. I expected more of a hoppy/alcohol smell, but it really wasn’t there. Traces of maltiness and maybe some spiciness in the aroma. Shoved my nose in the glass and sniffed again as it warmed a bit and the foam disappeared, the alcohol scent is there faintly now. Tastes wonderful. Pungent hops hit me first, followed by a malty sweetness. Hmmm... what kind of hop flavor? Floral, citrus, and piney all at the same time. A sharp and sparkly (tingley?) mouthfeel. Now, a couple of minutes after finishing the glass, a piney and citrusy hoppiness flavor still coats my tongue, which still feels somewhat tingley. A bit of sweet maltiness is there on the roof of my mouth too.

In Tokyo @ Popeye’s (one of the best beer bars bar none). Very complex aroma of sweets and torrefaction, roasted/baked good stuff. Almost no head and light on the carbonation. The Flavor is a kicked up barley wine for sure, extreme stuff, and very potent. We went back the next day for more and almost finished their little keg.

I’m not a huge fan of barleywine. This beer is more than well received. It is incredible. My second of this vintage in as many weeks, I am in awe. Hair of the Dog come back to VA.

2001. Enjoyed Nov. ’06. TITW-II. Slightly hazy amber with a medium sized, off-white head. The aroma is caramel, toffee, slight oxidation, some pine and light citrus. The flavor is toffee, oxidation, and resinous pine. Medium/full body with lively carbonation and a warm finish.

12/02/06 Walk the Line Barleywine Festival, Dunedin, FL. 2002 vintage sampled from 12oz bottle. Hazy orange color with off white head. Very light aroma with some mild malt sweetness and a hint of maybe citrus. Tastes a bit tart with pale malts, pine and citrus hops.

Sampled at Dutch 70’s "Tasting in the Woods; Part Deux". Thanks to TheBeerLover for bringing this huge bottle. Pours clear copper with suspended particles and an off-white head. Brown sugar, caramel, noble hops, booze and pleasant oxidation in the nose. Flavor has notes of caramel, plenty of grassy/herbal hop bitterness, cookie and bread. Very big, yet balanced. Pleasant alcohol presence. Medium bodied with a smooth texture and lively carbonation which settles down over time. Very nice stuff.

TITW Part Deux - 1.5L bottle, 2001 vintage, courtesy of TheBeerLover! Reddish-orange appearance; off-white head with great retention and lacing. Huge aroma, slightly oxidized: candy sugar, maple syrup, caramel and hints of citrus. Full mouthfeel: belgian candy sugar and maple syrup, nice reserved bitter hops; good levels of carbonation. Medium finish showing candy sugar and tea-like malts.