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

jampics2

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch #73 and review #350. A 12 oz bottle into my Founders snifter. Thanks for the birthday beer, Cameron, much appreciated buddy! This is my first HOTD!

Looks great in the snifter. Dark brown with some plum highlights. Small white head sticks around and looks lively. The only minor downside of the appearance is the murky brown cloudy mess I managed to avoid going into my snifter. I poured out the last ounce or so, but thank God those nasties didn't make it in. I know it's not truly "appearance" but if someone isn't careful it will be. Pour slowly!

Smell is really complex and threw me for a loop at first. I got some initial brown sugar and caramel, then was completely overtaken with some smoke and molasses. This is really complex. Dark fruit and chocolate are kissed by smoke, anise, and some soy sauce. But really interesting, just unlike any old ale I've had.

My mouth is watering. I need a sip already. WOW! Holy crap, this is stunning. Such levels of flavor and depth. This starts out with some very sweet cherry and then goes the way of the roast and rauch. Ends with some great molasses sweetness and bitterness. I love the three levels of flavor I get from this - fruity, chocolatey, smokey. Masterfully crafted and one of a kind.

Mouthfeel is medium to heavy. Nice level of carbonation makes it easy to drink. Not a beer I'd ever have more than one of in a session, but still very enjoyable as a special treat. I think this is a true beer geek's treasure. I've never had anything like this - thanks to HOTD for challenging me a bit for my 350th review and thanks so much for the bottle, Cameron!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2010 17:42:36 | More by jampics2

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-25-2013 04:58:34 | More by Satchboogie

Momar42

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-25-2013 03:14:42 | More by Momar42

Bustersuess

New York

3/5  rDev -29.7%

05-25-2013 00:22:41 | More by Bustersuess

cyrushire

Florida

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-24-2013 06:25:46 | More by cyrushire

Lantern

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +17.1%

05-24-2013 00:33:12 | More by Lantern

jaylib

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-23-2013 21:17:07 | More by jaylib

hannydawg

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-23-2013 14:01:25 | More by hannydawg

Callmecoon

California

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-23-2013 02:23:24 | More by Callmecoon

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

05-22-2013 22:30:00 | More by randylangford

ChugMan

Washington

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-22-2013 03:43:36 | More by ChugMan

PlinyBeMiney

California

3.25/5  rDev -23.9%

05-21-2013 23:17:50 | More by PlinyBeMiney

brian4beer

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-20-2013 00:48:52 | More by brian4beer

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-20-2013 00:33:14 | More by NJB145

DJButters

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-20-2013 00:15:54 | More by DJButters

Gtreid

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-19-2013 23:42:59 | More by Gtreid

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.34/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to lazarus25 for bringing this up north.

Batch 87

A: Pours torched oak colour - Deep brown with tan-yellow highlights. Just a whisp of sandy head, that really there just to prove it's not a wine. The ale is murky and appears thick in the glass - full of sediment & rustic.

S: Full of alcohol esters with smooth vanilla & dark dried fruits, cherries, plums and raisins. Sweet chocolate with a solid presence of oiled leather and fresh wet wood. Overall sweetness of buckwheat honey shines through.

T: Molasses and smooth vanilla with nuts that give way to grains and finishes earthy and rustic. Alcohol vapours is noticeable on the tongue, but lacks any burn or fire breath.

M: Thick and chewy with a syrup feel on the palette. Offers some puckering dryness at the mid point and on the finish that support the flavours.

O: A sophisticated drink that might pair well with cigars and smoking jackets, in a formidable leather wing back chair with your hounds in front of a crackling fire recounting that day's pheasant hunt.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:01:57 | More by FondueVoodoo

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-18-2013 22:20:11 | More by Photekut

bbadger

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-18-2013 06:48:18 | More by bbadger

chossboss

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-17-2013 04:50:05 | More by chossboss

Pelican5

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-16-2013 07:25:14 | More by Pelican5

MontereyBay831

California

5/5  rDev +17.1%

05-16-2013 04:45:09 | More by MontereyBay831

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: dark, baked wood-meat color... interesting sort of chestnut or chocolaty brown hue... somewhat turbid and primitive.... some foam on the pour, but it took a nap

S: cocoa-dusted coffee cake... measure of toasted bread crumbs... mild phenolic mist coming through the cracks, floral-wood.... superb balance of the elements

T: like a smoky doppelbock - immediate comparison to a slightly silkier Celebrator, but with an almost cherrywood-smoked melanoidin-caramelized quality.... but clean... undeniable salivatory concentration of flavor, but floats wonderfully atop the smooth phantom-fruity alcohol

M: the core is concentrated on the top, soft fresh water carries it.... not as dense a malt foundation as it suggests.... still solid, hardly meek... surprised how clean the finish is.... it sits on the palate momentarily before quietly washing off....

O: I don't see how you can call this an "Old Ale" - it's an old style, I'm sure.... straddles a few styles.... excellent and more or less unique for what it is

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 19:38:29 | More by Bouleboubier

meich75

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-15-2013 09:06:09 | More by meich75

OleDixie

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-15-2013 01:57:01 | More by OleDixie