Hair of the Dog Matt

Brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Traditional Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

Initial rating here. Trying it again later tonight. Would say this is a surprise. Dark and muddy appearance, deep tobacco and cola brown colors, a bit of a gradient near the top of the beer as it lightens up. Close to no head but carbonation is present. Nose is consumed with heavy banana/trappist ale yeast esters - burnt or overripe bananas dominate the nose and honestly suggest weizenbock. Some chocolate, raisins and nuts noted as well, but it’s difficult to get much past the overbearing aged/moldy banana character. Body has a medium thickness with far too much sugar, leaving it syurpy and cloying at times. Bourbon? Vanilla? Not really. Smoke? A little bit. Chocolate? Also a small amount. Creamed bananas? Oh yeah, big time. Objectively speaking it’s a bit of a mess and comes across as somewhat mediocre. Knowing Hair of the Dog I’d say the body has not developed enough, this needs 2-4 years I would guess to peak.

Draft sample @ Bottleworks was an improvement but not a great one. Less banana, more booze, same body.

Appearance - This is as dark as its cherry and regular brothers. Very little carbonation, nothing left but a very faint ring around the edge of the glass. Black as a stout. Wow, coats the glass like a thick motor oil like stout as well. I can’t wait to taste this monster. Smell - first couple whiffs are lots of bourbon, vanilla, and green apple. There are some oaky characteristics there as well. Taste - Subtle taste of bourbon and vanilla. I don’t taste any apple or oak at all. Something about this tastes so much different from all the other bourbon barrel beers I have ever had though, I just can’t put my finger on it. The alcohol is present, but not in an overwhelming way. Maybe it is the apple brandy that is playing with my head, never had brandy before. Absolutely delicious beer, wish there was more apple in the taste though, like in the smell. Lots of caramel in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel - THICK! This coats my mouth in a sublime way; absolutely creamy and smooth. This has to be one of the smoothest beers I have tasted in a long time. Drinkability - This is definitely a sipper, and it is not too overly heavy, but it definitely is a high gravity beer. I couldn’t see myself drinking more than one bottle of this at a time.

Thanks to whoever brought this one to Flossmoor! Poured coppery deep brown with very little going on in the head department. The aroma was huge with cherry dust, sour oak, and rich, almost plummy notes.. picked up a hint of chocolate when digging deeper.. spicy and increasingly oaky on the back where the alcohol singed the nose hairs a bit. The flavor found thick cherry and plummy notes at the core with caramel and raisins as well.. spicy oak, vanilla, and more cherry surrounded.. hot aftertaste, but in a good way.. delightful! Sour and warm on the palate with great balance.. low carbonation and an almost syrupy feel.. hit all the right parts of the mouth. Excellent stuff!

Bottle from trevor211 - thanks a ton. I wanted to wait, but this one kept calling my name (and I have another bottle sourced it looks like) so screw it. This one has a beautiful brownish, murky pour - very reminiscent of Adam. Aroma is a really nice mix of oak, bourbon, wine, apple, smoke, chocolate and so much else - unreal complexity in the nose alone! Flavor has a good bit of oak/wet wood with the bourbon being slightly more noticeable than the Apple Brandy. Smokiness is fantastic here with just enough smoky campfire and a good bit of wood and sweetness. Some funky cheese here too Theres candy, a multitude of fruits and earth. Probably the most complex beer I’ve sampled. Crazy good mouthfeel with just a hint of alcoholic heat and just enough sweetness and wood. This blows away almost all other Wood-based beers as its so well balanced, and I’m gonna guess its only gonna get better. Hypnotizingly awesome, and I don’t usually like young HOTDs nearly as much as older ones. A 5 all the damn way.

Bottle shared w/ Pete at the Dallas doom (followed by Alesmith BA: ’05 Dec, ’07 Speed, ’06 W.Heavy, geez). Poured a murky dark brown/black ... few tiny bubbles, but mostly flat. Smokey, oaky, chocolate, caramel drenched nose. Flavor is a bit Adam’esque. Super rich w/ caramel, toffee, green/candy apple, faint bourbon, pleasant heat, pretty sweet...leathery texture. Some carbonation would do this wonders...it’s really missing something as still as it is. Damn tasty beer. Thanks Andre!!!

HUGE THANKS TO MIKETD ... deep black ... sweet toffee rich malt nose... loittle meaty ... woody toffee ... little vanilla ... deep roast .. little yeast ... sweet juicy and a lityle syrupy ... vinous and molasis

SourFest II. Big thanks to Skyview and whoever traded this to him! Dark brown color with no head. Rich molasses, chocolate and barley aroma. Strong bourbon, vanilla and brown sugar taste. Some oak, chocolate and vinous character as well. Thick feel. Does not have a heavy alchol taste. Excellent!

(sample from enniskillen.)brown body with no head.the aroma and flavor are made up of raisins,caramel,brown sugar,plums,smoke,chocolate,and a slight hint of bourbon.super complex yet smooth.alcohol is well hidden.