Hair of the Dog Fred

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

Deep copper in colour, beige coloured head, excellent retention and lacing. The aroma is quite rich, lots of caramel malts, some butterscotch, fresh orange juice, some alcohol, dark fruits, light floral hops. The flavour is rich and chewy, lots of sweet caramel malts, light alcohol, lots of citrus hop (oranges mainly) bitterness, apricots, peaches, raisins and plums. Smooth mouthfeel, medium body, high carbonation. Finishes very long, dry, high bitterness, some alcohol. This was fantastic, only some minor alcohol noticable throughout leaving an excellent balance from start to finish.

330ml bottle obtained in a trade with <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?U target=blank>Larry Pitonka, thanks Andre.
Opened on January 1, 2007.
Batch #56.

Man, why have I not had this before. Not that I am surprised how good this is., actually it’s so good I have to make this my 600th rating. Batch 63, 12oz. bottle, the reason I picked this up was that my local Whole Foods had two beers for 3 bucks and it was this with a Wolavers Oatmeal Stout. So I figured I was getting a good deal. Until now I just always passed up Fred thinking eventually I would get to it and this ”sale” ended up being the impetus. Back to the point, poured into a small tulip glass. First of all this is the most liberal use of golden I have ever seen. The label clearly states a “Special Golden Ale” and even though it’s definitely a special ale but it’s as a golden as Michael Jackson is black. The color is more like a thick, mosquito stuck in a maple-sap hard rock (a la Jurassic Park). Very still looking with medium clarity. Original pour has a small but prominent head. It fades into nothingness with absolutely no lacing. Aroma is strong, candied apples hit the nose first. That’s followed by an almost equally strong malty cherriness. After that there is a lightly alcoholic tropical pruniness (if you could imagine a tropical prune). Some white wine flavors as well as a peach-like light liquor. The malt is just creating some crazy aromas here. Extremely complex, strong, and just plain lovely. Flavor is not so heavy (something often associated with such strong brews) but full of flavor of sweet, lightly alcoholic tropical fruits (a la peaches and nectarines). Very light alcohol felt on the edges of the throat. Other flavors of spikey and tangy maltiness. Mouthfeel is a bit thicker and syrupy with just enough carbonation to set it off. A light-medium bitterness. Leaves a long light cherry and lightly alcohol aftertaste, almost a minty feel on the palate. Pretty much one of the finest barleywines I have ever had.

Also at the Horse Brass in Portland. I handed this to someone who said they didn’t like beer, and after tasting they just stared at me in shock. Yes, my friends, this is good beer. Pours a nice dark auburn. Minimal head. Aroma is rich and of dates, caramel and dried fruit. Flavor is rich and yet balanced. I got lots of grapes and raisin flavors with some caramel but the bitterness (ten hop varieties!) balanced it out and gave it a good finish.

i thought this beer was gorgeous. it poured nicely, with a little fizz and airy nature. i was excited to try it. it was the siren songs of good beer. it attracted me with it’s beautiful look, stunning. i actually wanted to throw up when i tried it. it made my tastebuds smack me around a little. it was disgusting only when in direct comparison with what it proposed to me, to be. i feel betrayed.

12oz bottle. Hazy with a caramel candy amber hue. Tight ring of head. Tight bready nose. Substantial alcohol in the nose. Big and full bodied. Big burn. Cinnamon bread flavors. Toasty rye flavors. Malt driven example. Good barley.

First tried in Kulminator Anwerp but needed a second tasting back home before rating. Cloudy tannish brown colour with off white head. Sweet malts, toffee apples, dark fruits and floral hops fill the nose. I love the highly hopped character of this beer. Less sweet more hops with a gorgeous mouthfeel and dry finish. Alocho is well hidden only slight alchol is found on the finish. Definetely one to try again

Bottle from JasonMech77. Cloudy, brown body with a medium-sized, off-white head. The aroma is vinous, with lots of toffee and brown sugar sweetness and some herbal hops. The flavor is much less sweet than the nose, caramel, very light roast, some bread, herbal and citrus hops with a bit of alcohol. Medium/full body is soft with moderate carbonation and a warm finish. Very nice, but just a bit too boozy.

12oz - batch 51 - thanks clarkVV - Aroma is golden grains (aged hop blend?), rye, toasted light malts and caramel. Pours copper with a big head and great sticky lacing. Flavor matches aroma with that interesting golden grain or hoppiness that makes me feel like I’m sitting in a field right before harvest. Organic and super tasty. Palate is sticky and tart. A unique and tasty brew I need a lot more of.