Matt - Hair of the Dog Brewing Company / Brewery and Tasting Room

claaark13

Indiana

4.73/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks jedwards. This is awesome. Poured cellar temp into a HF tulip.

A - Very dark brown, mahogany. Lacing slowly forms and lingers until the end.

S - Spices, roast, dark candied fruits, slight booze. Magic in a bottle.

T - Sweet dark malts, roast, candied dark fruits, slight heat yet mostly smooth, some dryness...almost like and apple. Some wood-like notes come through.

M - Medium body, heavier on the tongue.

O - Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 21:12:23 | More by claaark13

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.64/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2010 bottle, consumed in Jan. '12, brought to share with Matt Capone at Capone's, Norristown, PA.

Poured from the bottle into a few taster glasses. Color was the darkest of browns, maroon around the edges, opaque, no head to speak of, although light swirling produced a tiny bit of unexpected lacing. Nice aroma, indicative of the complexity that I'd soon be tasting: dark fruits and lots of them, booze, wood, esters, thick dark malts. Lots of sumptuous dark fruit in the taste--raisins, prunes, figs--no disguising the booze, smooth chocolate (lingered into the aftertaste), with hints of smoke and herbal hops. All things considered, the mouthfeel was amazingly smooth and velvety; obviously you want to let this one sit on the palate and get the full gambit of flavors from it. Very nice, and very savorable. I have a couple extra bottles of this that I'm going to let age for a while. Should be interesting to see how they taste in a few years, but they're obviously ready for consumption now.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 02:54:47 | More by Rifugium

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap during the big wood festival at brouwers.

The beer pours the expected dark brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is as intense on tap as it was out of the bottle, with prunes, apple brandy, licorice, chocolate and coffee. As the beer warmed (I really think they were serving this beer too cold at Brouwers) I got additional chocolate, as well as some more apple and vanilla. Flavors replicate the nose, except this beer really smoothed out and became very creamy after it warmed a bit. I actually found it a bit astringent and angular initially, but with time and warming, the beer dramatically improved. As with the bottle version, the mouthfeel is very rich and full, and was just exceptional once it warmed a bit. Drinkability is pretty good, though the alcohol and sweetmess really make this a sipper. Also, after having this both in bottle and on tap, I really think this beer needs time to show it's very best. It's delicious now, but I think in a year or two, will turn into a real gem. Regardless, this is a very impressive beer from HOTD.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2009 21:23:13 | More by johnmichaelsen

largadeer

Kentucky

4.83/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewery.

Appearance: Dark brown in the glass, semi-hazy and nearly black, with two fingers of lasting tan head.

Smell: Incredible apple brandy aroma with smatterings of bourbon, smoke, tobacco, vanilla and toast. Complex and utterly intoxicating, this has to be one of the best smelling beers I've come across.

Taste & mouthfeel: Big juicy apple flavor with bourbony vanilla and caramel right beside it. Flavors of maple syrup, smoke, caramelized sugar and tobacco appear mid-palate. Fairly hot, but pleasantly so, with a rich, full body. Smoky-sweet finish. Remarkable complexity on display here, and I'm amazed at how harmonious it tastes given the unusual blend of apple eau de vie and bourbon barrels with such a smoky base beer. My new favorite Hair of the Dog beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2009 18:50:15 | More by largadeer

ccrida

Oregon

4.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On draught at Brower's for their 10th anny, this was by far my favorite beer of the night, and I just gave the New Beligum anny an A+ (reviews are from copious notes at the bar)! Served in a Leffe goblet, Matt is a dark ruby brown with a quickly dissipating, big bubbled tan head that leaves very light lace.

Smell is strong and bright, with a big blast of apple brandy and sweet, rich malts. The warmer this got, the more depth it picked up, and the better it got.

Taste is fantastic, and even more robust then the nose. Really nice smokiness, more sweet dark malts and apple brandy, with a slight touch of coconut. Surprisingly smooth, the time in the barrels really helped this round out nicely, and will make it hard for me to hold out on my paltry 2 bottles. Tons of complexity, this is my favorite HOTD of all time, and he has really put out some great beers.

Mouthfeel is very smooth, with an oily slickness and surprisingly lighter body.

Drinkability is very high, as it's a fantastic beer. In spite of it being a rare, expensive one off, it goes down very easy, and if I lived by Brower's I'd be drinking it until it was gone. Wow.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2009 00:21:38 | More by ccrida

blackie

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

bottle courtesy of my man lou into branded tulips at brewery taproom

a: served in a sweet branded tulip, the beer is a deep, murky plum-brown in appearance, only a wisp of head on the surface

s: a stunning condensed nose of complex fruits and liquor - plum and fig, apple jam, sweet woody bourbon, vanilla, brown sugars, integrated smoke, quick brushes of cocoa, sweet tobacco, intense

m: syrupy, full tongue-coating mouthfeel, carbonation light and delicate

t: as incredible as the nose would indicate - a rich stew of sticky dried fruits - plum, raisin, cherry, apple; brown sugars and a dusting of cocoa, vanilla and sweet, smooth bourbon, pipe tobacco, toffee

o: not many beverages out there can take this one in terms of complexity, worth seeking out and worth the cost

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 17:41:16 | More by blackie

MasterCraft

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2010 bottle, reviewed from notes

Pours black with ruby highlights and a very thin brown head

Smell is out of this world. Powerful notes of molasses, vanilla, soy, bourbon, brown sugar, faint smoke, cola, dark fruit, sweet liqueur.

Taste is right on par with the smell. More brown sugar, rum soaked raisins, licorice, bourbon, char, oak. Very sweet but still balanced. No alcohol evident.

Mouthfeel is sticky and viscous without being creamy, lower carb. Just where you'd want it for this beer.

Perhaps the most complex beer I've ever tasted, and absolutely one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 03:19:29 | More by MasterCraft

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.78/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Opened at TN whales tasting 3/16/2013. We had both the original Bottleworks 10 bottling (which was pretty obviously past its prime) and a bottling from November 2010 which was better. Ratings are from the latter, but I'm posting both reviews here.

11/2010 Matt

Dark raisiny brown, only light carbonation visible. 6/10

Smells of sweet and slightly smoky malt, hints of chocolate and caramel. 7/10

Taste is sweet sugar and vanilla up front, some light sweet chocolate, mild smokiness, decent amount of booze, very tasty. 8/10

Carbonation is pretty good, nice thick semi-syrupy body, solid mouthfeel for the style. 7.5/10

This is a really solid, fairly interesting strong ale, but a little disappointing given the generally high regard for this beer. Maybe I would think more highly of a fresh bottle. 7.5/10

7.8/10

Bottleworks 10 Matt

Looks basically same as 2010. 6/10

Smell is sugary sweet vanilla, caramel and raisins. 8.5/10

Taste is woody, sugary sweet, vanilla, a bit smoky, still fairly boozy actually. Tastes pretty old but still good. 7.5/10

Mouthfeel is pretty flat and feels oxidized. Not great. 5/10

Still pretty durn tasty, but clearly past its prime. Smells considerably better than the more recent bottle, but definitely not as good overall.

7.2/10

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 17:16:35 | More by AlexFields

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2010 vintage

A - No head. None. Pours dark purple/black. Pretty much opaque. No lacing. I can't quite decide whether it looks terrible or strangely great. I'll hedge it towards great.

S - wow... Interesting. There is a lot of booze, the apple brandy barrel is there with lots of wood and apple sauce. There is some smokiness in the background. A bunch of stuff that I can't really describe.

T - most interesting and assertive beer I've ever tasted. Super aggressive flavor of oak, and the apple brandy. Almost peaty smoke element is there throughout and really hangs on in the aftertaste. There is some sweet molasses flavor on the edge. A sort of an indescribable overtone that I can best describe as the taste equivalent of the way an expensive dark cigar smells. It's not easy drinking, but its very good.

M - rich medium feel and low carb.

O - This definitely holds the spot as most complex and interesting beer I've had. Would want to drink it all the often, but would certainly have it again. HotD talks about making old styles of ales and this one exemplifies that. Matt really does taste like an antique beer. Amazing work of creating complexity and depth in a beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 01:12:32 | More by Beerandboards

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

12oz bottle of the 2010 vintage. Thanks for this one Andy!

A: This is a nice one. A black/slightly purple-ish body with a tiny light brown head.
S: Big sweetness. Maple syrup/brown sugar. Apple, vanilla, oaky tones and chocolate. A bit of roastiness and bourbon.
T: Wow. So much going on in here. Apple brandy flavors, caramel, vanilla, raisin. A tiny bit of soy sauce. Notes of oak and chocolate. Finishes with a savory/sweet smoked ham flavor. This is weird but so damn good. Tiny amount of boozy hotness in the finish, but overall the alcohol is extremely well hidden.
M: Full bodied with light carbonation. A tiny bit of burn.
O: This is one of my favorite beers. So complex, so much going on. Alan Sprints needs to make this one again soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 06:28:04 | More by standardcherry

jegross2

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Reviewing Matt from Hair of the Dog Brewing Company out of Portland, Oregon.

Score: 97

2010 vintage bottle served in an Upland snifter glass and enjoyed on 05/10/13.

Appearance: Pours an ink black color with minimal light khaki head that settles to a ring-around-the-glass. Not much head off the pour at all, but the ring-around-the-glass lacing does not dissipate. Below average lacing, but good retention of what little lacing is left behind. 4.25/5

Smell: Molasses/syrup, tobacco and faint smoke. Decadent dark chocolate notes behind the syrup. Some dark fruit and a hint of jammy cherry. There's a similar aroma quality that I liken to the Cigar City Imperial Sweet Stout as well that I cannot quite describe. Vanilla, oak and a hint of soy sauce round out the nose. Incredible complex. 4.75/5

Taste: Syrup, fig, raisin, vanilla and charred chocolate all wildly hit the palate at first sip. There's a ton going on at once, and it's all well integrated. A subtle and complementary smokiness is present, akin to the smokiness present in Hair of the Dog's Adam; it is not at all a "forward" quality on the palate. Tobacco, brown sugar, plum spirit, bourbon and vanilla in the finish. As it warms up and layers, there's a cherry comes out in the finish too. There's a nice alcohol warmth, but this is not a boozy beer. Burnt brown sugar, licorice and tobacco linger in the aftertaste. There's a touch of soy too, but it works well with the flavor profile of the beer. The flavors here are big, bold and balanced; each sip layering in complexity and accentuating different qualities. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, syrupy. Very low carbonation -- almost undercarbonated, but not quite. Slightly sweet overall. 4.25/5

Overall: This is one of the absolute best strong ales that I have ever enjoyed. It is a monster beer that is jam packed with bold, complex flavors. I love the mix of tobacco, smoke, syrup and dark fruit in this brew. I cannot wait for Hair of the Dog to re-release this one; I'll need a case!

Cost: $15 for a 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 04:28:23 | More by jegross2

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2010 Vintage

A: Deepest ruby, dark brown in the center. Syrupy, big body, low/no carbonation, good clarity.

S: Rich dark fruity malts, baked apples, brown sugar and molasses, pervasive but delicate smokiness.

T: The smokiness perfectly balances considerable sweetness. Huge dark fruits, burnt dark sugar, smooth smokiness. A beautiful beer, with a slight phenolic acridity on the finish.

M: Syrupy, wet, decadent.

Unique and awesome beer, though not my favorite from HOTD.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:35:15 | More by mattsander

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Thanks to Adam and Chris for this one.
2010 Vintage poured in to tulip.

A - Poured dark black with a thin layer of light brown head that immediately receded to a ring around the glass.

S - A big sweetness up front with chocolate, vanilla, woody notes and roast. There are some lighter bourbon and vanilla notes present as well.

T - A massively bold palate that features cocoa, roast, smoke and toasted woodiness. There is a big overall sweetness that is nicely cut by a warming alcohol presence. Secondary flavours include dark fruit, molasses, apple and pear. As the beer warms up the dark fruit becomes more prominent, creating a chocolate covered cherry flavour.

M - Medium, almost full body. Some stickiness. Light carbonation.

O - This was an absolutely amazing beer and another home run from HOTD.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:52:06 | More by TheSevenDuffs

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.49/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottle at the tasting room. $20

Appearance. Pours a very dark brown with a half finger of light khaki head.

Smell. Bourbon, caramel, vanilla and chocolate with just a bit of licorice.

Taste. Sweet and smokey dark malts, raisins and vanilla, sweet caramel and tannic wood.

Mouthfeel. Full body, maybe slightly less. Low+ carbonation and some nice boozy warmth.

Overall. A fantastic and very original beer. Haven't had aything like it before and would definitely like to have it again one day. Between this and the AftW I just had, I think these guys have redeemed themselves after my flat Doggie Claws ;-)

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:15:11 | More by Rutager

mdaschaf

Washington

4.56/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. Bottle from 2010.

A: Pours a hazy dark brown color with a small tan head on top that leaves minimal lacing. Not much to look at.

S: A rather different aroma from most beers I have had. Upfront there is some brandy, apples, and chocolate. Underneath is some roasted malt, brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla.

T: The taste followed the aroma rather closely, lots of brandy/bourbon flavor, some caramel, vanilla, more apple flavor. Also some nice oak and chocolate flavors.

M: Full bodied with low carbonation, slight hint of alcohol, but otherwise well hidden.

O: A beer i had been wanting to try for a very long time, glad I was finally able to do so. An amazing beer, which along with AftW live up to their reputation.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 07:10:36 | More by mdaschaf

iadler

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to olympuszymurgus for opening this at a recent tasting. '10 bottle.

A- Pours a murky brown with a thin off white head that leaving minimal lacing. Like most HotD brews, this isn't the prettiest girl at the ball.

S- Amazingly complex with notes of dark chocolate, camp fire, slightly unripened apples, roasted malt, peat, caramel, burnt sugar, bourbon and a hint of soy.

T- The taste follows the aroma with a great deal of complexity without any flavor being dominant. Plenty of earthiness with smoke, wood and peat followed by burnt sugar, apples, leather, roasted malt, bourbon, caramel, soy sauce, and some booze.

M- Light carbonation with a thick and full mouthfeel. Some heat at the finish.

O- One of the best I've had from HotD. An incredible beer to sip and savor.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:24:24 | More by iadler

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle purchased long ago in 2010. Reviewed from notes, consumed 12-17. 2010 vintage.

A: Black like charred ash. A thin creme lacing and sticky, sticky legs.

N: Deep inhalations of smoke and apple brandy. Chocolate and leather drift in and out between the charred oak. There's deep vanilla here and caramel. Rich and inviting.

T: Smoke, candi sugar, and malt. Bourbon and oak notes overlap with the apple brandy depth. A second layer of chocolate and leather. This is absolutely superb.

M: A hefty body with a completely shocking lack of alcohol. This is carbonated, if barely. Lingers.

O: A complete tour de force. The 2010 is the superior vintage, by far, in my estimation, and this is drinking quite well at 2 years old. Glad I have more.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 21:16:01 | More by writerLJBerg

cmadd

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The 2010 vintage pours with light carbonation into a murky deep coffee-brown body. There's very little head, but a pale ring of lacing. What is remarkable about this beer is how the elements of taste surge and fade like voices in counterpoint. Smells of sweet bourbon and light raisins greet the nose and they linger over dried apple and smoke. The taste comes and goes: a sharp dried apple sweetness, a slight alcoholic edge that pervades, a deeper sweetness of molasses and milk chocolate, smoke and charred oak, finishing on a quiet chocolate astringency. The body is medium to thick, the beer is sweet, not cloying, and in the delicate interplay of powerful flavours is one remarkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:24:50 | More by cmadd

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

One of my biggest wants into a Hunahpu snifter and straight to my face. Bottleworks X, '09 vintage

A. Deep dark brown in the glass with absolutely no head. No carbonation at all, gotta be honest, doesn't look all too amazing

S. Big sweet green apple dominates the nose. Smoke follows along with molasses, a tiny roast and chocolate. Smells really nice and different.

T. Apple is toned down big tone from the nose. Sweeter, well incorporated alcohol like bourbon and brandy? Milk chocolate is there as well as sweet green apple, there's a ton going on here. A tiny bit of vanilla works its way in as well as a tiny alcohol sting. Really tasty stuff.

M. Flat as flat can be but isnt a deal breaker by any means. Body is on the lighter side of heavy and feels really nice. This beer feels much better with no carbonation than it would if it was over carbonated.

O. Really really nice stuff. The nose and flavor are so unique and come through nicely. Definitely a nice brew that I'm extremely glad I had the opportunity to try!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 23:26:59 | More by Gushue3

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Huge thanks to ArchAnemyBrew for sending this long time want my way! Cheers Hollis!

poured into HotD tulip glass.

vintage 2010.

Appearance: dark black bodied beer with a few small bubbles on the side of the glass. No head at all.

Smell: oak, bourbon, chocolate, smoke, fruity, splash of soy sauce. It smells fairly boozey as well.

Taste: Oaky, bourbony, vanilla, and brown sugar sweetness upfront. Meaty / "baconesk" smoke, green apples, tobacco, leather, figs, and molasses are all over in the middle of this beer. A subtle hint of soy sauce in the finish with some sweet chocolates. Great complexity in this beer. This beer is just tasty!

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with low carbonation. A touch of warming alcohol. Really really smooth. It drinks like its an 8% beer.

Overall: This beer is awesome! I havent have a really good American Strong Ale in a long time and this was just fantastic! I have wanted to try this beer for a long time and it does not dissapoint! I gotta try this beer fresh... when ever the next batch of matt is released!

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 13:16:43 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

mgp2675

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My name is Matt, and I planned a while ago to crack one of these bottles of Matt open on my 26th birthday, which happens to be today. Shared in company of good friends. Served chilled, but not cold.

A- Pours dark brown, stout-like in color but not as thick. Pretty flat, minimal carbonation. The cap didn't even make a noise when I opened it. Looks a lot like King Henry to be honest, with a lot less carbonation.

S- Smells a lot like a barrel-aged barleywine because of the bourbon and vanilla characteristics, coupled with the hint of alcohol on the nose. Definitely some malt in there, very sweet smell. I'd say there's a hint of chocolate in the aroma, but mostly just that typical aroma from barrel-aging.

T- On the initial sip I got some normal tastes that I'd expect out of a stout...vanilla, bourbon, that good stuff. But there was a bit of a bite to it. This beer completely changed as it warmed up, for the better. There is definitely a chocolate taste to it at first, and lots of bourbon. Very sweet taste. But the aftertaste is the best part of this beer. There's a slight hint of apple from the sweetness which was really what I was looking for, but there's this big leathery, smokiness that lingers after you swallow that's just incredible. I hate smoky beers, but this isn't smoky like a smoked stout would be. It's much more of a leather kind of quality, almost like tobacco if that makes any sense.

M- This mouthfeel would be unimpressive in other beers but it was perfect in Matt. Thick enough but not chewy, and doesn't get in the way of the awesome flavors.

O- I waited a while to drink this and I'm happy I did. It was everything I expected it to be, and it's definitely the best HotD beer I've had so far...but I have yet to open my bottle of Adam FTW. Either way, I'm thrilled to have another bottle and to see what happens to this with some more age. Next time I'm drinking this cellar temp though, no reason at all to chill it. Great stuff by HotD, this is worth the hype.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 03:45:36 | More by mgp2675

ngeunit1

California

4.65/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark brown color with a hint of ruby and only a small ring of bubbles. The head fades very quickly leaving behind very little lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet caramel and smoked malts with dark fruit, candi sugar, vanilla, oak, Bourbon, apples, and some booze.

T - Starts off with toffee malts, candi sugars, and some dark fruits with some vanilla and apple. Through the middle, the oak and bourbon come through with some good smokiness and a touch of almost molasses. The finish is a mix of candi sugars, dark fruit, smoke, oak, vanilla Bourbon, apple, and a bit of booze.

M - Full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with a smokey, sweet, and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really nicely balanced with lots of complex flavors coming together. The smoked malts are a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 05:34:08 | More by ngeunit1

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

355ml bottle 11,5% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
Bottleworks X edition (2009)

Thanks to Lurchingbeast for this this one.

Appearance: Matt pours out a very dark brown, with a back light revealing a beautiful deep red along the edges. A rough pour yields a thin off-white head that lasts reasonably well and a swirl coats the glass in heavy alcohol legs.

Smell: Mmmmm, another delicious smelling beer from HotD and potentially the most complex to date. Big dark fruit notes (stewed plums, red grapes, raisins and fig jam) dominate the nose, with molasses, dark brown sugar and liquorice also well noted. Other notes include: Earthy tobacco, dark rum and a little campfire smoke. As the beer warms the apple eau de vie becomes apparent and the smokiness and fig character increase.

Taste: Interestingly there is a distinct bourbon character in the flavour, but the apple eau de vie from the nose is absent. Other notes include: Dark fruits (fig in particular), dark treacle, molasses, brown sugar, a touch of liquorice, a little chocolate, oak and an earthy quality. The finish displays a distinct smokey note and is quite dry.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and lightly sticky with a low (read perfect) level of super smooth carbonation.

Overall: Another winner from HotD - I have yet to have anything other than world class beers from this brewery! I will most certainly be getting some more bottles of Matt when a fresh batch is released.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 10:32:53 | More by Thehuntmaster

tarheels86

California

4.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

355mL courtesy of SuzyGreenberg. Pours a flat, clear, deep brown with some faint bubbles (who cares though!). Aroma is big rum raisin, dark fruits, apple brandy/calvados, baked apples, coconut, milk chocolate. Taste is light calvados, rich and mellow dark fruits, smores, toffee. Very refined, complex. Yummy yum yum. 4/12/2010 9/4/9/5/18=4.5

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 15:58:45 | More by tarheels86

illidurit

California

4.43/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle shared at the September 2012 Santa Cruz tasting. Pours deep brown with no head. Sweet spicy bourbon aroma, prunes, raisins, wine grapes. Brown sugar flavor with some campfire smokiness, mild soy, dark fruits. Sweet and strong and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 03:00:11 | More by illidurit