Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

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

Very deep amber in colour with a long lasting beige head, good lacing. The aroma is very rich with lots of malt, caramel, gingerbread, light alcohol, dark fruits and figs. The flavour is a bit oxidized, more alcohol is noticeable then in the aroma, gingerbread, stale hops with a moderate bitterness. Warming mouthfeel, medium body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes long, malty and quite warm.

I found this one weird. Definitely starting to show some age. High bitterness makes it a bit harsh at times, I would like to see this a little smoother.

355ml bottle obtained in a trade with 5000, thanks Andre.
Opened on November 28, 2008.
Vintage 2003.

Liked this one better than HOTD Adam. gotta find a way to get ahold of some dave though. this beer smells great. opens up the room. with they made hard of the dog doggie claws cologne or something

2007 on draft at Hard Liver Barleywine Fest 09. Well balanced, with good fruit and solid sweet malty backbone. Excellent and way to easy to drink for 10.5 ABV.

Wow this is by far the best Barley Wine out there. Zero soapiness and no flowery scents. Most BW are cough syrupy. This is a more hopped up version and the sweetness comes in the form of brown sugar and thick malts. The hops are not bittering but definetly present. A bit on the sweet side but its a great desert beer.

Couldn’t believe I hadn’t rated this one before. 07 vintage at Brouwer’s Hard Liver 09. Pours orange-copper with a thin head. Ripe fruit, sweet malts - almost syrupy sweet. Definitely not enough on the hop end to balance this one out. Covers the alcohol well, but this one would get old after more than half a glass. Good, for sure... but not great.

12 oz bottle, 2004 version sampled March 2009: rocky foam rises from the bottle, curling and twisting 1/2 an inch above the top of the bottle...maroon & mahogany hued, cloudy body with an off white cream that diminishes into a thin film. Still thick aromatics...the floral hops have died off significantly and the caramel has turned slightly burnt, with some alcohol bitterness. Resiny hop oils are left lingering and tickle the nose. Sweet strawberries, cherries and raisins make up an incredibly smooth and creamy palate. Tart and acidic with an amazing amount of citrus left over after 5 years. A bit of cloyed honey builds up as I work my way through the glass. The citrus has turned overly sweet and sappy and without the bitterness of the fresh hops…I am left feeling a little one-sided…dang it, why did I wait 5 years? 2 or 3 would have been perfect…8/4/6/4/15-3.7

12 oz bottle, 2004 version sampled July 2005: elegant violet-ruby body with an incredibly thick, sticky off-tan cream that leaves a thin, though dense layer of lace all around the snifter…thick, melted caramel aroma with notes of alcohol soaked raisins, hop cones and strawberries. Silky palate with loads of nice fruity notes: sweet, sticky honey drips over toffee, pineapple slices, rhubarb, and candy sugar. The finish leaves a good bit of alcohol on the tongue and stickiness on the lips, but this after dinner treat leaves nothing but satisfaction though out the body…8/4/8/4/17-4.1

2007 bottle thanks to ditmier, he sent it out to congratulate the upcoming birth of my son, Aidan. Well, he was born today and I drink this beer as a new father, but also as a man who appreciates the real friends I have on RB. So how can I give a ’objective’ rating after all of this, well I can’t. I’m unbelievably tired but this beer just hit the spot so well. Pours a ruddy copper color with lots of particulates and a big beige head. The aroma is amazing; sweet caramel, hops, lots of fruity and caramel malts. Powerful and enticing. The flavor is so smooth it’s sick; lots of initial sweetness, sugars, caramel, and toffee. The nearly dry malt is powerful, and a ton of juicy citrus hops in here. Light alcohol noticed. Warm and merry. Sweet and balanced. A top beer . Also, a great full mouthfeel.

Poured hazy orange-bronze with a short white head. Thick lacing. Earthy herbal hop aroma with heavy pine and some honey. Semi-viscous mouthfeel. Great taste. Lots of resiny goodness up front and throughout. Avoids the soapiness in some of these hoppy barleywines. Smooth, sweetened citrus and brown sugar flavor towards the back. This flows with tropical fruit overtones; pineapple, mango, kiwi, and some melon. Long finish, slightly sticky. Wish I had bought more.