Hair of the Dog Rose

Formerly brewed at Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Tripel
Portland, Oregon USA

Thanks to the_Epeeist for the trade. Slightly hazy pour, billowy white head. I’m beginning to wonder if the Tripel, a style I once thought I really liked, might not be my thing anymore. Lots of yeast and dried fruit in the nose, not entirely unpleasant, but not great either. I really did like how malt and candi sugar came out in (mostly) the nose and also the flavor as I let it sit. Took me forever to drink. It is almost like I failed to come to terms with this beer. Overall impression is very good, and in particular, I found the alc% to be disguised adeptly. On the bottle it said 7.5% (batch 39). In the interest of being totally vague, I’ll end with saying that this tastes like a beer that is very well made. I’ve had a few Tripels in my time, and this one has more flavor dimensions than those I am accustomed to. As such, I don’t know where I stand with this. In a small way, I might even be a little intimidated by it. I feel this beer is daring me to figure it out. And right now, I don’t think I can.

Good head and lacing on the hazy golden colour. Aroma is hoppy with some rose and caramel. Rose and flowers are rather present as well as the hoppy bitter finish.

From a 12 oz. long neck brown bottle with batch number 39 on the front label. Made a good appearance, poured a cloudy reddish orange hued amber with a foamy white head that settled into a thin bubbly lacing, good carbonation. Had a rose-like floral nose with a Belgian candied yeastiness, peppery spiciness and a sweet maltiness circulating in the aroma. A crisp, carbonated creamy smooth medium bodied mouth feel, good drinkability. Flowery and peppery taste, a dry candied yeastiness, a subtle fruity maltiness, a dry graininess as well, a spicy alcohol warmth shows up a little past half way in the taste and a dry floral, malty and spicy alcohol finish. I enjoyed this tripel, I found it be unique tasting and flavorful offering from one of my favorite American breweries.

Nicely complex beer with the exception of the beet taste that started to overpower the other tastes toward the end. There is a definite herbal smell and taste to it.

12 oz. bottle of batch 40. Lovely golden head with an impressive nose. Like a lot of HotD brews, there’s an intense herbal flavor that becomes more pronounced during the drink. This one’s bold and ambitious - hibiscus, peppercorn, and beets it says on the label, and damn if that’s not the case, especially the beets - but not exactly my first choice for a tripel.

Cloudy gold, thin champagne head. Nose is more vinous that expected, strawberries, hay, light malt, plums, hints of alcohol & cotton candy. Flavor is vinous up front, fruitiness, some cotton candy hops and a good helping of alcohol. Great light mouthfeel. Lingering bitter vinous/hay finish.

12 fl oz bottle. Hazy darkish golden in colour. Potent sweet malty aroma. Very much like a triple. Rich malty sweet flavour. Toffee-like aftertaste, perhaps even some chocolate.

From 12oz Bottle, Batch 38. Pours a hazy, thick golden lemon color with a thin layer of nice white head. Scents of mesquite smoked turkey breast mingle with tangerine juice and turnip puree. This is what I love about HOD brews. While this aroma isn’t particulary fantastic, it has a unique signature that is unlike anything else found in its genre. I have to respect that. Medium to heavy bodied mouthfeel with honey, white pepper, and yeasty bread dough coating the palate evenly. This almost has the doughy qualities of chocolate chip cookie dough, minus the chocolate chips, and with a touch too much salt. Alcohol is a bit hot, especially considering the ABV. A bit of banana-ish coconut lingers on the palate after the final smack. Highly unique and worthwhile taste overall, even if it isn’t my favorite example of the style.