Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2001-2002)

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

2002, rated in 2009
Golden-amber with a light head. Smells great - flowery, peachy and with a full maltiness. Beautiful. Flowery taste with cotton candy, peach, dried fruits and abundant herbs. Nice balanced - this has really rounded into form beautifully. 9-4-8-4-18 = 4.3

Original rating
Pale amber; flowery, perfumey, firm, peppery, malty, bready, dry, spicy, yeasty - a lot going on, but it doesn’t come together as well as it should. Nice enough beer, though. 7-3-7-3-14 = 3.4

Cloudy copper with minimal head. The aroma is both citric hoppy and sweet malty. The flavor is bold -- crisp hoppy and caramel malty with pleasant alcohol hints. There’s a nice combo of flavors bursting out -- think pale ale squared.

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: 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.

(12oz bottle, 2002 vintage, courtesy of BMan1113VR) Pours a murky amber with a small off-white head. Aroma of toffee, caramel, bread, pepper, raisins, and cherries. Flavor of caramel malt, some noticeable oxidation, raisins, florals, and herbs.

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.

Cloudy, light golden ale with a small, creamy, white head. The aroma is of buttermilk, caramel and toffee. The flavor matches the aroma. Medium-bodied with a dry mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Short, dry, astringent finish. Very nice brew!

Bottle. Yeasty belgian style ale. Christmas spice, toffee/apple, some raisin, Sweet start, but a spicy, peppery, dry, yeasty finish, very nice indeed. Complex.