Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

Brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

Bottle, 2004. Ruby reddish, amber color with a beige head. Nose is hoppy, sweet, malty, fruity, vanilla, hint of alcohol, very awesome. Flavor is bitter up front and at the end and sweet in between... vanilla, pear and apple notes. Palate is fresh but thick and buttery. Well balanced, sweet (a tad to sweet, if I can make any complaints), an excellent beer. Rerate... different bottle, same vintage. Way woodier and spicier than I remember. Definite bourbon notes. Also, big caramel-ey malts and an almost tart molasses like smell. Really fruity and alcoholic. This is a really fun beer, but it is unbalanced, even if in the ways I like (I lowered my rating a bit). Rerate: 2007 bottle. This is one great beer. A lot of the same elements but so, so balanced. Awesome nose, good bitter finish. I’m going to find a case of this and age it, it’s going to be incredible.

04’ Version. Pours a dark ruby/brown with a thick lasting head that eventualy retreats to a small island and leaves a nice sticky lace. Intense hoppy nose, caramel, sweet malt with a touch of alcohol and some woody notes. The first sip is WOW! Big grapefruit hops and plenty of sweet maltiness to balance it out, the alcohol is noticeable as it warms the throat on each sip. Thick rich mouthfeel. An absolutly fantastic barley wine. I may have to aquire more.

Bottled. Pours a hazy dark copper with a fluffy, lacy sand-colored head. Sweet aromas of nuts, toffee, fruit and molasses. Full body with light carbonation. Nuts, toffee, fruit, ginger and molasses in the taste. Spicy, bittersweet and nicely warming finish.

"Poured a cloudy brown, small head. Aroma was of dark fruits some cherries. Flavor was much the same little sweet, cherries and some hops. Mouthfeel was a little syrupy. Good but needed better balance."

(Bottle from 2003 at Akkurat, Stockholm) Pours extramely beautiful red. Perfect barley wine aroma of dried fruits, Sweet heavy malt and some citrusy tones. Marzipan, glue and fiery in nose. Notes of raisins and dried plums. Toffee and spices in flavour with hints of coffee beans. Leavs a perfect well balaced lingering sweetness of toffee and fruits combined with a sharp aftertaste from the alcohol. Medium to high, rasiny bitterness. Some gingerbread and cinamon. Thick and smooth mouthfeel. Pretty big body. A well handcrafted, nerly perfect barley wine.

’04 bottle from notalush via beer swap. Actually not quite as hoppy as I was expecting. They certainly are there, but the malt covers us the majority of the hop flavor. There is certainly a good bit of bitterness left over. Harsh, strong bitterness all over the back of the mouth. Otherwise, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, oak and vanilla. Prunes and dates. Buttery, smooth palate. Lots of alcohol at times, leaving it very hot. I only get excited about a barley wine when it’s hoppy as hell, and this one comes close. I’d love to try it younger and see how those fresh hop flavors come out, but as it is, it’s still a real good beer.

mostly clear ruddy amber color. frothy & foamy tall medium tan head. aroma is hoppy for a barley wine, dried grapefruit rind, a bit of dried cherries too. flavor is bitter like a IIPA and some alcohol heat like a fairly clean vodka. strong malt is there, but more on the dry side. some dark fruit flavors in the background, but also more citrus rind. heat is not too bad but it’s there. I normally don’t like hoppy BWs but this is done well. dry hoppy bitter finish and a little spicy heat in the aftertaste.

Big ups to after4ever for this one. Sad that it was also my first gusher. I was able to salvage about 2/3 of it so no worries. Cloudy copper color. Intense aromas of caramel and apple. Taste is slightly alcoholic. Nice sweet sugary caramel tastes as well. Reminds me a little of molasses with how thick this drink is. Very complex, very good.