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

esch

Minnesota

4.68/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage poured into a 12oz goblet.

A: Stunning hazy orange color. Reminds me of a sunset. Poured with an enormous thick vanilla ice cream colored head. Retention on this is unbelievable; after 10 minutes it's still over an inch thick.

S: Oak aroma is huge in this. Malt sweetness tries to compete but loses out quickly. Citrusy hops...grapefruit, pineapple, bitter orange peel are merely an afterthought. Some wet earth aroma towards the finish.

T: First impression is of sweetness, almost overwhelming. Very quickly overtaken by oak, tobacco, vanilla and earth. As in the aroma, ever so slight citrus hop flavor. There is appreciable hop bitterness but it balances so perfectly with the oak that it goes almost unnoticed. Finish is sweetness riding the oak all the way towards a bourbony aftertaste.

M: Medium-heavy mouthfeel. Despite the substantial head, carbonation is low. Alcohol heat is present, but not hot...just warm enough to make its presence known.

D: I bought a sixer of this to trade, but there's no way I'm letting this one go. The huge oak flavor introduces so much complexity to this brew that it's hard to savor. I simply can not put this down. While the oak is almost too prominent now, it seems likely that this will develop into an even better beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 02:07:53 | More by esch

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-20-2013 23:55:22 | More by drummermattie02

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-19-2013 00:45:47 | More by Photekut

FranzBC

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-13-2013 02:01:18 | More by FranzBC

champ103

Texas

4.54/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A huge thanks to Dajai007 for sharing this. This is from 08.

A: Pours a hazed golden/amber/orange color. Still great carbonation is apparent after all these years. A two finger beige head rises with good retention, and plenty of of lace. Impressive for such an old beer.
S: Up front is just a hint of oxidation, though very minor and actually complements everything else. Estery dark fruits like plums and cherries. Toasted malts, caramel, and a huge layered aroma that is amazing.
T: Follows the nose for the most part. Hardly any oxidation here though. Plenty of fruity esters. Dark fruits like plums, figs, and cherries. Toasted malt, caramel, oak, and vanilla. Again, a ton of layers. Amazing.
M/D: A medium to full body. Good carbonation for the age. Crisp, and smooth at the same time. The alcohol show just a bit. For the most part, a supremely easy to drink.

I have had this a few time, I think every time has been through Daja007, which is the case for most of the "rare" stuff that I get to try. Always a great experience. Highly recommended to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:06:54 | More by champ103

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-10-2013 12:12:09 | More by FUwolfpacker

weonfire

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-02-2013 17:51:13 | More by weonfire

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

04-30-2013 00:54:38 | More by mikeincharleston

Adamostella

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.9%

04-29-2013 02:50:08 | More by Adamostella

itsthepleats

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev 0%

04-28-2013 19:07:06 | More by itsthepleats

JMRSN

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.9%

03-19-2013 23:06:44 | More by JMRSN

MasterSki

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2009 vintage thanks to ChrisPro. Served in a snifter.

A - White foam, thick collar, partial cap and wisps on top. Mostly transparent orange-brown body.

S - It's what you'd expect - an oaky Fred. Less rye than the base beer, although still somewhat spicy and earthy in character. Some floral and honey sweetness from the malt backbone.

T - The taste is quite similar to the base beer as well, with honey, stone fruits, rye, and estery yeast. Some oak and vanilla presence, but not as intense as the aroma. Thankfully loses the tangy rye finish that I dislike in the base beer.

M - Smooth, chewy texture, medium-full in body. Lower carbonation, with a low amount of alcohol warmth. Quite easy drinking considering the ABV.

D - Surprisingly enjoyable stuff. Quite mellow, and a significant improvement on the base beer. I'm going to have to get another bottle or two of this when it's released next.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 05:51:25 | More by MasterSki

Azrael

4/5  rDev -5.9%

02-09-2013 05:58:34 | More by Azrael

yojimbo1

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

02-06-2013 04:47:16 | More by yojimbo1

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev -5.9%

01-29-2013 04:37:22 | More by DmanGTR

MrVonzipper

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

01-18-2013 10:19:58 | More by MrVonzipper

Patrickbrusil

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev 0%

12-25-2012 15:46:35 | More by Patrickbrusil

teddyarrowhead

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

12-16-2012 04:50:44 | More by teddyarrowhead

Gerasimos

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

11-17-2012 22:04:07 | More by Gerasimos

Goosey

Missouri

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 bottle

Appearance- Hazy blondish amber with a short white head.

Smell- Sweet cherries, a little oak, and some other sweet woody aromas that I can't quite place in my current state

Taste- Very odd taste at first. Woody kind of burnt sugary, boozy sweet flavor. Not really picking up on any of the sweet fruity flavors that the aroma suggests, but still I like it.

Mouthfeel- Viscous syrupy mouthfeel which I like in these colder winter months here in Mo.

Overall- I deem this a good beer, but not for everyone. At first I thought I wasnt going to like this beer but now that I'm halfway into it amf it's started to warm up, I've changed my mind. Not for the weak of heart or unsofisticated of palate, but a good brew non the less, however the base beer is nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 20:30:23 | More by Goosey

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a Hair of the Dog tulip. 2009 bottle served at the HotD tasting room. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Murky amber. Off white head with nice lacing. A surprisingly good look this old bottle.

Smell - Apples, lots of oak, pale malts. Oxidation and a touch of acidity that has me worried and intrigued.

Taste - Big fruity flavor up front. Apples and some cherry. Sourness is light, but sustained throughout the drink. Oxidized. Huge oak and vanilla. The malts taste darker than the nose lets on and from what I remember of regular Fred. Slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Thick and sweet, but the oak cuts it nicely. Slightly astringent. The sourness adds a layer but isn't a detriment.

Overall - The aging has made this a fascinating beer. Very complex. Would have loved to have tried this fresh.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 20:42:15 | More by Alieniloquium

M1A2

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

09-04-2012 02:20:37 | More by M1A2

Treebs

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks mfavoino for the beer. I shared this at the Star Wars tasting and we did a side by side with a batch 79 Fred. 2009 vintage served in a Deschutes snifter.

A: Pours a hazy golden orange color with a thin white head forming on the pour. It recedes to an airy collar and leaves some whisps of lace on its way down.

S: Fruity esters and sweet berry, Light, oaty malts and some freshly cut wood.

T: Same as the nose, but much more vibrant berry sweetness and some mild fruit skins. More oaky as well.

M: A little dryer than normal Fred, but still the normal light to medium body and a touch smooth than regular fred as well with a slightly lower carbonation level.

O: The fresh oak flavors have held up remarkablely well and I like the added depth it gave to the flavor profile. A nice treat.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 21:43:38 | More by Treebs

MASPuros

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

07-31-2012 20:39:12 | More by MASPuros

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

07-24-2012 21:44:14 | More by CheapBeerBuzz