Adam From The Wood - Hair of the Dog Brewing Company / Brewery and Tasting Room

hopsbreath

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The tweet read "Adam from the Wood" on tap. Finally I wasn't working and was able to make it down for a glass. $8.50 for a 12oz pour. Get TulipSnifter her own because I want one for myself!

A: Very dark brown and opaque like prune juice with a tight half finger of espresso like head that slowly recedes to a fuzzy thick glass ring. No lacing but who's expecting any? 5/5

S: Smoke, leather, and tobacco are all adjectives I've used with regular Adam. They're all here as well but more intense. Add the wood, and coconut comes to play as does dark fruit and strong brown liquor. 4/5

T: Sweet decadent fruity sugars, beautiful bourbon, rum notes, raisins, smoked meat, chocolate heavy on the cacao, heavy handed alcohol, and more of that wonderful tobacco. 4/5

M: The alcohol is a little aggressive at this point and my tongue has some tingling alcohol burn going on. Some time in the bottle (whenever it actually get's bottled) should help reduce that alcohol bite. Thick and appropriately carbonated with a cleaner finish then I expected for such a big beer. Not too sticky. 4.5

O: A truly wonderful beer. Just like the base Adam, it's one of a kind. Call me crazy, but I think I actually prefer the non-barrel aged base beer though. That could be due to (as I stated in the mouthfeel) the alcohol being too big and hot at the moment. I'd love to stash a few bottles of this away for a year or so and see if that helps it integrate better. Just let me know when these are getting released and count on seeing me in line. 4/5

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2011 17:02:33 | More by hopsbreath

CaptainTripps

Oregon

4.93/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Hair of the Dog brewery tasting room. Beer poured into a HotD tulip.

A: The beer poured a deep mahogany brown, approaching black. No light comes through the beer except for on the edges. It came with a small head, "soft" mocha in color. Little to no lacing on the glass.

S: Wow, huge caramel notes combined with toffee and figs. Oak and bourbon notes come next with plenty of alcohol legs behind them. Also getting slight milk chocolate, nuts and coffee. One really good smelling beer.

T: As many have noted before me, this beer is very rich and sweet. It really reminds me of a barrel aged Lagunitas Brown Shugga. It has a excellent pairing of caramel, toffee and dark fruits. Following those comes the bourbon, oak and alcohol. Very mellow and smooth.

M: Thick, creamy and smooth. No alcohol heat. Low carbonation, but not flat.

O: I am very impressed with this beer. After the let down known as Cherry Adam, I wasn't sure any barrel aged Adam was going to make the cut and I was wrong. This beer is exceptional.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2011 03:51:32 | More by CaptainTripps

kscaldef

Oregon

4.97/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From the HotD tasting room, 12oz pour

A: Deep, deep brown with a 1 finger mocha head. Pretty decent retention for a strong barrel-aged beer.

S: Really heady chocolate and coffee aromas. Lighter notes of bourbon and oak.

T: Rich chocolate, a little alcohol heat and a bit of wood in the finish. Surprisingly restrained for having spent 3 years in the barrels. As it get up to room temperature at the end of the glass, the alcohol gets a bit more upfront, but never overwhelming.

M: Rich and heavy, but not at all sticky or cloying; hits the perfect balance for a sipper. Light carbonation.

O: This is a spectacular beer, utterly delicious and perfectly balanced. A benchmark for barrel-aged beers. I'll be at the tasting room any time Alan puts this on.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2011 22:06:20 | More by kscaldef

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Adam from the wood has a dark brown body that borders on black, and a thin, yet very solid-looking slab of brown head. Retention and lacing are both pretty good, especially considering that this is a big beer.

The aroma is nice, with toffee, dark fruits, bourbon, wood and some general sweetness.

Tastes pretty damn good too. The barrel characteristics are pronounced but not overpowering, with bourbon, wood, vanilla and a little bit of leather. Dark fruits like dates and figs are teamed with some alcohol warmth. The malt backbone is big, with toffee, some sweetness and maybe a slight, dry, cocoa presence. Once again, there is a little bit of alcohol warmth in the finish, but it is pleasant.

Thick and chewy; very nice.

This is pretty impressive, one of the better examples I've come across of both an Old Ale and barrel aging in general.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2011 15:26:16 | More by Hojaminbag

OSUBeerStudent

North Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the tasting room.

A: excellent. Opaque except for the edges. Small rim of head. Looks inviting, but let's be honest. Even if it didn't I'd continue.

S: incredible. Coffee, toffee, loads if brown sugar, hints of oakiness. Amazing. Alongside a doggie claws this is indescribable.

T: I'm unqualified to rate or describe this. Starts with the sweet brown sugar, toffee, and vanilla. Transitions to coffee and oak. Hints of dark fruit and a bit of cream? Finishes smooth and a bit bitter. coffee ice cream at the end.

M: the definition if a supper. Carbonation is perfect, alcohol is hinting but not close to obvious. I could drink this once, every day, indefinitely.

Overall, one of the best beers I've ever had. It's hard to describe the layers of complexity. I could drink this daily for a long time and discover new facets every time. Truly phenomenal.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 23:03:04 | More by OSUBeerStudent

Trystero

Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Hair of the Dog brewhouse, August 3, 2011. Here with EinAyn, Capital Gains and OSUBeerStudent who all ordered his fantastic brew. I've had Cherry Adam, and regular adam.

Appearance: Served in a Hair of the Dog tulip. Dark and mysterious, framed with mokah hues where the brew meets the glass. Thin outer ring of white creamy head.

Smell: Intense nose of Bourbon, oak, vanilla, marshelled on by dark fruits, plum, candied apricots

Taste: Astoundingly complex, more so than my vocabulary and beer knowledge can comprehend. Roasted malt, intense, unrelenting oak aged character; vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Followed by sweet caramalized and candied dark fruits. You have to drink it to realize what it is. My words cannont begin to expound upon it's brillance.

Mouthfeel: Perfection, the ABV is masked.

Overall: A highlight of an already star-studded beercation. Nothing can compare in the real sense of the word. I've had nothing similar.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 22:57:33 | More by Trystero

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.68/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A tulip pour at Hair of the Dog's Tasting Room; $8.50 for 12 oz. (split to two glasses with my wife). 'Fred from the Wood' was still listed on the menu, but our server made sure we knew the Adam from the Wood was now on.

A batch of 2008 Adam, barrel-aged for 3+ years, or so I'm told.

A: Deep and dark, just as murky and chocolate-brown as 'regular' Adam. Short head of beige foam, tight and a little sudsy at the ringing edge. Slowly the head breaks, leaving small patches of film. No lace, some viscous legs trailing almost like they would with wine.

S: Phenomenal scent - a huge burst of sweet fermentables, fruity like raisins, figs and prunes. A 'sweet meat' savoriness, molasses and maple sugar glaze, teriyaki maybe? Fudgy whiffs, jam and leather. Oh, and 'barrel'- all full of vanilla and spice. Adam is a ridiculously complex beer; multiply that here. A '5' score barely does justice.

T: The Old Ale nuances are all here, amplified by bourbon and wood-toned subtleties. Toffee and brown sugar, lots of berries drenched in chocolate (I'm thinking 'chambord' as I sip). Warm vanilla, then definite prunes and earthy raisins (I've recently tried a couple of kvasses and noted some similarities to the fruity profile and deep breadiness...). Puffs of smoke and barrel-toasting interect well. A stunner, evolving with each taste.

M: Smoothness is wonderful; carbonation is still present and body holds to its medium-fullness, but all seems so much more even/creamy. Aged, dare I say, 'perfectly'. Booze is held well in check, but there's still a slight warming burn at the back that prohibits my '5'... but, man, is it close...

O: One of the best beers I've had in a long while - a 'WOW' that I was sad to have come to an end but so happy to have tried. I have been in love with the Adambier from Day 1; this just takes it up a notch or five. A rumored bottling in Fall 2011 should put this acclaimed ale into many more eager hands and bellies... the line begins forming now.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2011 16:06:28 | More by msubulldog25

seanthornton152

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at Hair of the Dog tasting room. 12 oz pour

a- Hazel Brown, dark, murky, topped with dusty brown sugar head. Swirl leaves a sticky lace.

s- Upfront scents of vanilla, soaked in toasted oats, brown sugar; raisins.

t- Bready vanilla oak, sweet bourbon, toasted almonds, sweetness of plums and raisins, sprinkled with bittersweet chocolate. A hint of smokiness, but not as much as I was expecting.

m- Medium carbonation, sticky, full body

d- YES!

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2011 04:37:50 | More by seanthornton152

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

this was released at the brewpub silently on sunday afternoon.. they're closed M-T so yesterday was the true unveiling. $8.50/12oz. this is only the second time this beer was made, it spent just about 3 years in bourbon barrels.

i remember sharing some of the 2000 adam from the wood i had with the CT dudes back in the day.. that was 5-6 years old. it was totally smoky and developing port wine flavors.

at 3 years, this is definitely bourbon heavy.. in addition, they did not choose a particularly smoky adam to put in those barrels. and even after 3 years, its still pretty damn hoppy and bitter. i'm thinking the smoke is dwelling in there, but the beer needs another couple years to meld the heat and suppress some of the hops, vanilla & oak. as a bourbon barrel aged strong ale, this is a hands-down great beer. compared to the 2000, this is just good. this will be released in bottles this fall (guessing $15/12oz) and it will be imperative to purchase several to sit on. if i can recreate the magic of the 2000 batch with age, it will be worth every penny.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 16:55:13 | More by goodbyeohio

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.83/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Tasting room

A- Dark brown, almost black,

S - Toffee, carmel, oak, wood.

T - Toffee, carmel, malts, vanillla, old fruit.

D - Good carbonation. lively

O - I was amazed by the carbonation and the complex flavors. A++ in my book. I could drink this till I fall off the stool.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 00:11:23 | More by HuskyinPDX

BigE90

Washington

5/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

At HoTD, just tapped 3 year aged keg.

A: poured dark with a good finger head, nice lacing on the side.

S: great molasses dark brown sugar coming off, you then smell a great toasted wood Smokey aroma.

T: wow! This just hits all the senses. Everything is there from chocolate to malt to marshmellow then molasses. All very balanced.

M: a great medium feel. Enough to linger and enjoy the flavors as you get ready for another taste.

O: Just f*** awesome. Best beer that I have ever had hands down. Nothing else can compare. I wish I could take a keg home!

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 23:09:46 | More by BigE90

womencantsail

California

4.47/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Stuffed Sandwich

A: The pour is a slightly muddled dark brown color with a few highlights of red.

S: The richness of the bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate is really impressive. A slight bit of alcohol heat, but it is quite smooth and pleasant.

T: A nice sweetness in the form of vanilla and chocolate. The wood is quite prominent and provides some nice tannins and even more vanilla. A bit of bourbon and warmth on the finish.

M: The body is full with a low, smooth carbonation and a nice warming feel on the tongue and all the way down.

D: A fairly high ABV beer, but very smooth and easy to drink. The bourbon presence might be a bit for some, but I found this on quite enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2010 18:11:06 | More by womencantsail

gregmoscetti

California

4.97/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What a beer! on tap at stuffed sandwich. This beer was the absolute standout, despite the entire barrel aged collection that Sam had. I had parabola after this and it tasted like old diner coffee. That is how good adam from the wood is.

2008 vintage. Sweet, bourbony, delicious beer with (as my good friend stated) the after taste of tollhouse cookie dough.

I had two

Wish it was four...

Get to stuffed sandwich stat.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2010 06:02:13 | More by gregmoscetti

bangerang

Oregon

4.78/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I've had Adam before, but from the woods, this was beautiful. There wasn't very much head and it did fall fast.The flavors settled really well and stayed in your mouth. Thick cream but smooth finish. Definately a winter warmer but there was no part of this beer that i didnt enjoy. All the way through it was unbelievable. SO TASTY ! I sank into the moment with the first mouthful. mmm

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2009 18:41:14 | More by bangerang

pschul4

Illinois

4.79/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Oh man. My 200th review! Freakin' huge, solid, thick and tight thanks to Bdubs for sending me my personal white whale

A- Pours a deep dark brown with almost no head

S- Dark malts in there with a nice alcohol/bourbon burn in the nose

T- Holy crap... The bourbon blends amazingly with the base beer. Typical Adam malt profile but add in the smoothest bourbon ever

M- Smoooth

O- One of the best beers I've ever had. Hands down. Thank you so much Brett

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 19:10:36 | More by pschul4

MysterySwirl

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a tulip, Adam from the Wood is dark and velvety with a hint of smoke, dark fruits and some roasty backbone mellowed out by its oxidative properties from being barrel-aged. The barrel-character is smooth and just plain awesome. Amazing what 3 years of barrel-aging can do to a beer!

Adam from the Wood is a world-class beer. Its one of my favorites from Hair of the Dog!

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 05:19:11 | More by MysterySwirl

Jeffo

Netherlands

4.68/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got a bottle of this from Claaark13 in a trade a while back. Love regular Adam, so this one comes highly anticipated.

From a bottle into a snifter
Vintage 2011
Drunk right after a regular Adam batch 86 and before a 2012 and 2011 Cherry Adam.

APPEARANCE: Pours out transparent brown and produces a small, medium looking, tan head with decent retention. Head fades rather quickly to a bubbly ring. Sits dark brown in the glass, almost black, with lower levels of carbonation evident. A muddy seal brown is perhaps the most accurate color description. A faint ring remain until the end, leaving some dots of lacing down the glass. Head is a little less impressive than the regular Adam, but body is much the same.

SMELL: Oak, vanilla and coconut with light leather and smoke notes from the base beer. Bourbon barrel is more prevalent than the base beer, but they work decently well together. Lots of oak, with some light chocolate and cherry notes. Nice stuff.

TASTE: Oak, vanilla and caramel flavors up front, with a big, huge finish of bourbon barrel, coconut, dark chocolate and oaky vanilla again. A touch of booze, with light smoke and leather from the base beer. Bold and lingering finish is barrel forward, with plenty of booze and some light cherry notes. Very flavorful.

PALATE: Same as regular Adam. Medium-full body, syrupy, and slightly lower levels of carbonation. Nice and creamy on the palate, goes down smooth with a slight bit of heat and burn after the swallow. Finishes somewhat mouth coating. Very nice feel. Perhaps a touch less carbonation than the base.

OVERALL: This was excellent. It's definitely barrel heavy, but the interplay between barrel and base beer works here, with enough leather and smoke from Adam to make an impact. A really good barrel aged ale that lived up to my already high expectations. Would definitely drink this again. Cheers Claaark13!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 12:11:48 | More by Jeffo

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle at the taproom.

Appearance. Pours a deep chocolate brown with almost a finger of khaki head.

Smell. Woody bourbon with a little licorice, vanilla, caramel and dark malts.

Taste. Dry old wood, bourbon, sweet dark fruits, licorice root, chocolate, and vanilla. Sweet, woody and delicious.

Mouthfeel. On the low side of full bodied, medium-low carbonation.

Overall. An awesome sweet and woody treat. Glad I ordered it and would again, even at $20!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 00:48:18 | More by Rutager

mdaschaf

Washington

4.6/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. 12oz bottle.

A: Pours a very dark brown, slight burgundy tint, with a small off-white head on top with minimal retention. Not much lacing to speak off.

S: Fantastic aroma, lots of bourbon and vanilla. There is a little bit of alcohol, some plums, and other dark fruit, leather, and a bit smoke.

T: Tons of dark fruit upfront, plum, fig, and cherry. Some caramel and brown sugar mixed with chocolate, oak, and caramel at the end. Fantastic.

M: Full bodied with medium carbonation. Extremely smooth and surprisingly easy drinking.

O: Fantastic. Tremendous flavor profile and incredibly drinkable, especially for 12%. Would love to sip this one over an evening.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 06:38:49 | More by mdaschaf

scottfrie

California

4.38/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 opened by MrFootstones. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a deep raisin color with a very thin head. Bubbly spotty lace left down the glass.
S: Sweet smelling with notes of raisins caramel, sweet berries, a little bit of oak and some molasses.
T: Follows the nose, very sweet and still a bit boozy. Caramel, booze, berries, molasses, light chocolate and plums come through. Alcohol isn’t hot.
M: Syrupy body, medium-thick mouthfeel, mellow and creamy carbonation, smooth.
O: Most excellent. Super complex and smooth. This would age very nicely. Thanks again Brian.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 16:40:10 | More by scottfrie

fiver29

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted at Cleveland tasting on 8-23-08. Thanks!! Bottle poured black with no carbonation or head. Aroma was amazing. Roasted malts, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar. Has a medium body. Very little alcohol presence, wood, bourbon, chocolate, caramel, toffee, and oak all come together to make this a world class brew. This is one of the best beers I have had and the only counts against it are the no carbonation and head. Otherwise, one of the best I’ve had.

I also had this this past weekend thanks to Mike. The above review still holds.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 15:32:27 | More by fiver29

tarheels86

California

3.95/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355mL 2011ed thanks to a generous BA at Southampton Russian Imperial Stout release. Pours a clear sepia generating a denser, cappuccino head. No lacing really. Quick dissipation. Nose: oh yeah. Super tawny and old feeling, wet detritus, muted chocolate, muted peat bog. Subtle complexities with an old ale feel. Toffee, port, old Madeira. Lots of English malt character approaching something like Thomas Hardy Ale. Taste...up front it is much much sweeter than I remember typical Adam being (plums, raisins) moving to some muted alcohol heat and buttery chocolate frosting. Finish is a little bit sweet raisins, tart red wine, richer and full bodied with hints of paper that don’t materialize thankfully. Very rich. I’m not sure I like this better than normal Adam. The palate seems creamier and richer, but the taste is sweeter black barleywine. As it warms, I can really appreciate the complexities- oil, red wine, butter, acid. Yum. I’m not sure why this stayed in barrels for SOOO long and why they picked Elijah Craig, which produces vastly inferior bourbon to say Booker’s. Something smoky like Adam could do well for a short time period in a top notch Scotch barrel like Ardbeg.

I would highly recommend NOT aging this since it is A) already so old, B) is slightly red wine and port tart so may gain acidity, C) is already delicious, D) can really only gain more of an old/oxidized character. 1/31/2012 8/3/8/4/16=3.9

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 19:24:25 | More by tarheels86

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle thanks to my 2011 SecretSanta. Dark, hazy brown pour, red highlights with no real head. Aroma contains strong bourbon notes, vanilla, lots of sweet malty port like aromas as well, dark fruits, woody, multi layered and complex. Traditional tobbaco notes, very ashy. Taste is sweet, dark fruits, fruity with a lot of vanilla/bourbon and tobacco, slightly boozy finish. Palate is heavy, low carbonation, warming alcohol finish which makes it even more decadent. Really nice sipper.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 15:28:51 | More by Luk13

jethrodium

California

4/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle generously shared by mrfootstones. Thanks Brian. Pours a cola brown with a small white head that settles to a ring and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is lots of bourbon, oak, and caramel. There is also some smoke, a bit of tobacco, and quite a bit of alcohol. The taste is very sweet with lots of bourbon, some plum, and a hint of cherry. There is also lots of caramel, some vanilla, a bit of leather, and a light smokiness. The finish is quite boozy with lingering sweetness. Full Body. Low carbonation. Enjoyable, but I could not drink much of this.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 20:38:12 | More by jethrodium

cosmicevan

New York

4.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Notes from 8/24

Thanks to hannont for hooking this one up...shared with the local group in a HotD horizontal alongside Adam and Cherry Adam from the Wood. poured into a HotD taster.
2011 vintage

a - like all the adam variations we tried this was dark purple maroon with a very thin head. not as nice head as the adam, but more head than cherry adam.

s - most similar to adam with a dark fruit and fig vibe. booze soaked dark fruit. nice complexity.

t - really solid and complex. boozy dark fruit. extremely tasty. big wood/bourbon flavors.

m - the most carbonated of the bunch. fairly chewy, but damn good.

o - ovearll, really enjoyable. great beer and very much worthy of the hype it receives. i've had this one before and remembered digging it a bit more the first time around, but still an incredibly impressive beer. my favorite of the three.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 01:51:35 | More by cosmicevan