Hair of the Dog Ruth

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

This one pours a cloudy, pale golden color with a big, rocky white head that lingers. It has a strong spice and yeast aroma, with some malty dough-like qualities. Medium bodied and very smooth, medium carbonation, the flavor is spicy and slightly malty with a long finish of yeast, acidic tones, citrus, and a lingering malty sweetness. Very complex and delicious for something that is labeled an American Ale.

Ruth is billed as an American Ale and it is very crisp, delicious, golden ale with great character, flavor, and is very drinkable and refreshing. This is a marked departure from the other line of HOTD beers that are meant to be sipped and savored. Ruth is the type of beer you could drink a lot of, but is packed with great malt and hop flavors. Ruth is brewed with pale malts, and Crystal hops. HOTD Ruth pours to a bright, very pale golden color with a soapy white head and a lively carbonation. Ruth is bottle conditioned, so be careful not to pour the dregs in, or Ruth will become a cloudy pale color. The nose on this beer is very aromatic with big aromas of pale malt, and spicy hop aroma. The palate is firm with lots of good biscuity malt character with a slight backdrop of yeasty flavor, and light touches of estery fruit. Ruth finishes with more sold pale malt flavors up front, then drys with a nice balance of spicy hop bitterness that slightly lingers. This is a very impressive golden ale, with fantastic pale malt flavors, and nice hop character as well. This beer isn’t a classic example of American pale ale like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. In fact, it has more in common with a Belgian pale ale such as Palm or De Konnick in my opinion. Lots of great pale malt flavors, some nice yeasty flavor, and good hop aroma and bitterness. So don’t be Ruthless, if you can find this beer, or any HOTD products in your market, they are well worth seeking out. Ruth is a very food friendly beer, and would match with a number of dishes. I would pair this with anything from grilled sword fish, steamed mussels, to roasted chicken, to smoked meats and cheeses.

Light hazy yellow almost pineapple juice looking.Sweet and zesty aroma smells like bread dough apples and a touch of tangerine, has an effervescence of carbonation.Tingles the tongue with fruity esters of dried bananas,lemonds, apricots with a dryness in the finish that makes me want a glass of water.Sourness is correctly concocted in this refined Saison.

Bottle: Poured a cloudy light yellow color ale with large pure white foamy head with perfect retention and excellent lacing. Aroma is a nice mix between some barley notes and well balanced citrus and grapefruit notes. Taste is very refreshing with loads of character without being too extreme. Body is full with limited filtration and perfect carbonation. I must admit to having been surprise by this one; I was expecting a easy drinking no character blond ale with found a well balance hops ale with a great malt backbone. I would definitely buy this more often it was available around town.

Head is initially large, frothy, rocky, white, mostly lasting. Body is murky medium yellow, dense tiny and small particles. Aroma is moderately hoppy (flowers, lemon), moderately yeasty (horseblanket), lightly malty (cookie), with notes of clove and pineapple. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly bitter, moderately acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately bitter, moderately acidic. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Great Bretty and hoppy aroma, crisp, clean, balanced, very enjoyable. Oddly, my favorite HotD beer, and one I always return to. Very Belgian. It's one of those "beauty in simplicity" situations that will doom it to forever be underrated.

Shortneck. Removal of the twist-off cap was very lively. The appearance shows the likeness to an American Standard with its awkward pale yellow color. But the classic Hair of the Dog sticky, rocky foam tells me otherwise. Strong aroma of peas, fresh dough, grass, iron, lemon, little barnyard, and soil. Lively effervescence rides the palate with perfection. Very fresh earthy flavors, including soil and grass, with some pale malt funk, touch of lemon rind, light spicy flares, salt, and leather. The long, complex flavors go through numerous transitions. Finishes with a semi-sharp citric snap and solid herbal backdrop. Why aren’t more small beers like this bottle conditioned? What more does one want in an American Saison? This is elegant, flavorful, and deliciously appetizing.

Absolutely gorgeous appearance, sharp bright body, and amazing creamy head. Actually this gets 5/5 for the head alone, which is impeccably silky, and is continuously replenished for the length of the glass. Intriguing aroma, barnyard, hay, pepper and nutmeg, and a rock candy sweetness. I really enjoyed the slightly sour, hoppy flourish in the finish. Complex and refreshing at the same time, and a bit challenging as well. A very nice beer.

Bottle thanks to Indiana_Red!! The pour is a shiny orangy with a bubbly white head that quickly dissipates. The aroma is a citric sour. I very much enjoy the smell of this beer. I just wanted to keep my nose in the glass the entire time. Very smooth, very tastey. I am not sure how this qualifies as a Saison. I wouldn’t really know where to put it, but its delicious, whatever it is. This was my first HOTD and I a huge fan. Highly recommended.