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

Impfan

Washington

5/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What can I say...all my favorite components beautifully balanced in a creamy, voluptuous body. Leather, wood, smoke, figs, tobacco, and chocolate. Reasonably dry, and constantly compelling, drawing you in for another luxurious sip. Simply amazing, and even more incredible than the bottled version.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-26-2012 20:19:27 | More by Impfan

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

yankeepride

New Jersey

3.84/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a deep brown that has a ruby tint that comes out with a light behind it, with little foam or carbonation. Smells of an alcohol burn with deep, rich fruit notes like figs and currants. Rating to style, I can really see why people would love this beer. The flavors are strong and bold, and close out with just a slight bit of bitter on the back end, which all fades away into a smooth blend. For me personally, these aren't flavors I enjoy, so liquefying and fermenting them isn't going to change that.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 00:45:00 | More by yankeepride

bonkers

New Jersey

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

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a snifter, muddy, black pour,slight white head. The aroma has smoke, leather and booze, with caramel and tobacco undertones. Taste as wonderful as it smells. A great beer! It is a well carbonated sipper. I am definitely going to have to revisit this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:04:52 | More by bonkers

JEdmund

Kansas

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark colored brown, almost black, but the voluminous and quick -forming head set this beer apart from other old ales I've had. Must be the bottle conditioning.

Great aroma of smoke, figs, tobacco, leather. Really nice.

This beer really stands out due to its higher carbonation. It really helps the drinkability, keeping it from being too syrupy or heavy. Big malt flavors with a great combo of that fruit, fig, smoke, tobacco goodness found in the aroma. The finish really works, making me come back for more sober than I otherwise would with an old ale. Big, fluffy/bubbly texture.

Really impressed with my first HotD brew. Adam is easily the best old ale I've had. Will be seeking out more beers by this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 16:22:54 | More by JEdmund

timc100

Illinois

5/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Batch 85

Pours dark brown, completely opaque. Has a creamy dark beige head that leaves great lacing and sticks around a while. Beautiful looking beer

Amazing and completely unique aroma - it smells like a hearty old world ale. Huge complex and rich dark fruit notes - raisins, figs, plums. Very solid creamy chocolate and as it warms leather and tobacco come out. Phenomenal blend of fruit, earth and chocolate.

Just as great as the aroma. Big dark fruits - incredibly rich, each very distinctive and work phenomenally well with the other flavors. The chocolate has a great unifying effect of the leather and tobacco, and fruits. The body is full and smooth. Perfection

This is and has been my favorite dark beer. Nothing like it. Really, really want to try the barrel variants.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 01:41:17 | More by timc100

Jonada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle. Batch 86. Served in a snifter

Appearance: Pours a murky dark brown with a less than a finger of a light khaki colored head. Body is nearly opaque.

Smell: Roasted malt, smoke, peat, vanilla, toffee, chocolate. Smells interesting and not what I was expecting

Taste: Smoked/roasted malts, earth, slight sweetness, leather, light hop bitterness in the finish which lingers for a bit.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, creamy mouthfeel. Medium carbonation. Booze is detectable. Definitely a sipper.

Overall: Pretty good stuff, but lacks the "wow" factor for me. I'd have this again, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:43:37 | More by Jonada

deebo

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

An older bottle. Batch 83 bought in CA in Feb 2012.

Poured into a snifter this is a heady beast. Tan, big bubbled and stubborn. Ugly, dirty brown with sediment floating. Aromas of sweet fruit-fig strongest, malt is dominant, some yeast notes here too. Taste is big and rich. Lots of malt with sweet toasted grain taste. Notes of toffee, figs, Finish is warm but not strongly alcoholic. Ends clean and rather quick. Mouthfeel is heavy and velvety smooth. This is what I'd like an old ale to be. A malt bomb that is easy to drink but better to contemplate. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:36:59 | More by deebo

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle of batch 86 I believe. Served into a snifter.

A: Dark brown/black color with a thin beige head. Not as opaque as some big stouts, a bit of light shines through it.
S: Huge blast of aromas! I'm hit with big notes of molasses, chocolate, roasted malts, tobacco, dark fruits. Big boozy aroma, a bit of wood, coffee and vanilla at the end.
T: Booze soaked dark fruits is all I can think right now. Follows up with molasses and syrupy sweetness. After smelling it I was afraid it would be too sweet but that's not the case. A bit of an alcohol bite.
M: Medium/full bodied with solid carbonation.
O: This is a sipping beer. I would love to have this again but I'll share the bottle next time, it can get a bit overwhelming with the booze. Huge beer but overall very great.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 06:11:04 | More by standardcherry

zipper8650

New York

4.19/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Good Beer Sunday but this is not the main event. Batch 80 2010 bottle.
Snifter, poured down the middle
A - huge coffee ice cream color head, sticky with big bubbles
S - sweet, smoke, smoke and smoke. I didnt expect this much off of a 3 year bottle
T - I cant get over the smoke, getting some dark cherry as well
M - thick, pleasant, what I expected and remember
O - big HotD fan, I like this one, dont love love it, I was expecting less burn from a 3 year old bottle. Very good enjoyable beer but I prefer Fred
Skol

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 22:44:01 | More by zipper8650

gabrielsyme

Virginia

4.31/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle in a tulip. Batch 69 (brewed on 2-21-07, bottled on 3-15-07). Dark as midnight, light tracing around the glass. Plenty of carbonation for a 6 year old beer. Taste is hot, the alcohol is very apparent. Roasty and sweet. Raisins and dark sour cherry. This tastes like something in RIS territory more than old ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 23:42:15 | More by gabrielsyme

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.73/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Batch number 79 brewed on 11/17/09, bottled on 1/28/10, and consumed on 4/4/13. Poured from a bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter.

The pour is extremely dark mahogany with some reddish highlights (beautiful color). The head is fine and frothy khaki-colored. On the nose I get lots of toffee, oatmeal raisin cookies, oak, ginger, molasses, rum, and a hint of smoke. There's a lot here and I'd hate to waste precious moments nosing. Three or four whiffs and I just have to know what this tastes like.

The beer has a really full body and an amazing velvety feel. The complexity is mind-boggling. It's interesting to note that the booziness in this beer all seems to hit you up front, but it's not a bit unpleasant. With all the wonderful flavors that complement it, it's reminiscent of fruitcake. There are notes of black bread, dried figs, holiday spices, molasses, smoke, and oak. Every sip brings something new. The finish is smooth and sustained, leaving traces of almonds and cloves swimming in rum behind. Stunning.

A unique beer that seems to bring together all of the best qualities of an old ale and a quad. I'd buy this frequently if it was available where I lived. It's truly epic. Unmatched complexity. Not for newbies. I have one other bottle and I'm going to let it go longer than this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 00:37:28 | More by deadonhisfeet

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.36/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Batch 87.

Beer is black with some brown hints. Minimal tan head on top, gone quickly.

Nose is potent. Dark chocolate, wood, smoke and a touch of dark fruit. Very deep and heavy.

Taste is also very powerful. Dark chocolate, wood, a bit of smoke, dark fruit (date, fig). Very full and heavy, Stout flavours but no roast. Obviously not a stout but in that world. I would not know how to classify this beer, other than "yum".

Full bodied, moderately carbonated, heavy and thick.

Overall, very good. Quite unique.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 02:06:50 | More by jrenihan

xhuskr

California

4.74/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Batch 70...wow did I hold on to this one for a bit...but well worth i; Sweet Black Cherry flavor Dark and sweet to look at..not too cloying of a lace Inviting aroma...saying...come check me out Palate...smooth..and nice...seems to be near the point of oxidation (bad celleraing???) Overall...wish I had more...everyone who share it at Beachwood 1...loved it..including me

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 04:36:08 | More by xhuskr

chaint

California

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Dark chocolate brown color with a creamy head. Light carbonation, but a huge chocolate aroma...quite nice. Very sweet and deep flavor that coats your mouth and remains long after your sip. Big, big flavor, but still quite smooth. This is a great beer in this variety.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 00:15:40 | More by chaint

russwbeck

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Carbonation explodes out of the beer unlike any Hair of the Dog beer I've seen. The beer is very dark in color and the head is light brown. Huge bubbles form and explode as the head slowly recedes, leaving large clumps of lacing as it does. I was excited to see the carbonation, but this is actually a bit too much. It took forever to pour out 12oz. 3.5

S: The aroma is very earthy, but I do note pilsner-like characteristics that I assume come from the malt. Slight hoppiness adds a nice layer, and the booze rounds it all out. Very fruity and boozy. 4

T: The earthy booziness really assaults the tastebuds. Grassy hops at the finish add to the earthiness. The pilsner taste is there as well at the beginning, which is overtaken by booze, dark fruits, and some roasted malt. The hops finish it off, along with any remaining alcohol. I'm left with a really grassy, citrusy taste that sticks around forever. 4

MF: Thick body that is a bit over carbonated, but not so much that it detracts from the taste. Once you get through the billowing head it's all good. The booze is a bit too much and hurts the drinkability, but overall I enjoy the mouthfeel. 3.5

O: This was a good beer in a style I typically steer clear of. I really don't understand why it's so highly ranked, but I also don't appreciate the style. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 20:21:29 | More by russwbeck

Justin_Neff

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch 86, bottle poured into 50W tulip glass.

A: Very dark brown body. Aggressively pours with what looks like no head, then slowly a rush of carbonation bubbles rise to the top and form a quick, dark tan, latte-like, 2 finger, frothy head that hangs around for a long time. The head finally settles in a nice thick, 1/4 finger ring around the top of the brew, leaving a nice, sticky lacing on the glass. The appearance is fantastic on this one.

S: Nose is noticeably fruity. Smells of figs and licorice are strong. At first pour the nose is smokey, and it gains fruitiness as it warms. Definite wofts of chocolate. Very malty. Hints of raspberries and dark cherries. A little boozy. Without even trying a sip yet, the nose leads me to believe this is super complex.

T: Very sweet. The dark fruits really steal the show in the taste. Black licorice and chocolate are predominant. Smoke taste follows the nose - its faint, but definitely present. Malty and boozy, but its balanced well. There is a definite sense of some bitterness too, which keeps it from being overly sweet. I've heard it described several times in other reviews, but this is the first time I have ever actually felt like I get a tobacco taste. Some definite caramel notes - I'm guessing coming from some specialty grains.

M: Full body. Boozy. Moderate carbonation - any more would be too much IMO. Not quite as creamy as it could be, but still good.

O: This is fantastic. I can't believe how much flavor this 12oz bottle packed. It was truly one of the most complex brews I've had. It was a little bit of a mix between a barleywine and a belgian quad. Would love to try the "from the wood" version at some point.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 01:14:49 | More by Justin_Neff

kevanb

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle, batch 84 poured into a HoTD tulip.

It pours a nice deep brown color, almost black, with hues of reddish burgundy when struck by the light. A big, thick, tan head rises out of the beer with taught bubbles that has fantastic retention and leaves behind a vast amount of soapy lace. The aroma is superb, rich, dark grain, brown sugar, molasses, cherry, plum with a bit of subtle roast behind it. The balance is exceptional and the complexity is fantastic, a beer I really want to keep my nose in. Rich, sweet grain hits the tongue straight away with a really nice stone fruit presence behind it, brown sugar, molasses, with a bit of an odd smokey layer that is abrasive at first, but integrates nicely as the beer warms. Alcohol lingers behind and warms as it goes down and compliments a very nice rich, viscous, silky smooth body.

Verdict: A really lovely Old Ale from Hair of the Dog. The complexity and balance is wonderful and makes for a really lovely session. It's no wonder why this brewery has become one of the premier in the country.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 03:23:42 | More by kevanb

brureview

Massachusetts

4.56/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured a dark chocolate brown with a 2.5 finger head in a snifter.

The aroma intensifies with warming. At first , fruit- cherries.
Then as the beer warmed up, figs, nuts, vanilla, and chocolate.

The mouth feel was pleasantly carbonated.
There was mild bitterness, which enhances the style and the overall character of the beer.

The complex taste increases with warming. Cherries, smoke, fruit chocolate, and a pleasing alcoholic finish. The chocolate deepens with warming, along with the smoke. The alcohol intensifies with warming.

Overall, an amazingly complex beer, singular, and very different than the beer we brew in New England. This is West Coast. Approachable complexity!
Certainly a sipper- not only due to high ABV, but more importantly, time brings out new complexity in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:32:55 | More by brureview

GilGarp

Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Enjoying this special beer on a snowy February night, in honor of my brother by the same name, who is celebrating his 19th birthday.

Batch #77. Adam is served slightly chilled in a goblet. It has a very dark brown hue with good clarity seen as it is poured. No head is produced even though I pour it straight into the middle of the glass. I'm careful to leave the sediment in the bottle.

Aroma is immediately evident even before I life the glass to take a wiff. It's wonderfully complex with brown sugar sweetness, some cocoa, figs, and leather.

Flavor is off-the-charts bold but somehow manages to be very smooth at the same time. Each small sip totally coats the palate but it isn't cloying. Just a huge wonderful old ale. It has chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, tobacco, and dark fruits all coming together.

Mouthfeel is full bodied, silky smooth, and very low in carbonation. It's perfectly balanced and has great depth of flavor. This particular bottle has been aging for about three and a half years so it has had a good amount of time to mellow. I can't imagine it getting much better with another year or two.

Overall an outstanding old ale, one of the best I've ever had. Cheers to Adam and my awesome brother.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 00:33:30 | More by GilGarp

OSUBeerStudent

North Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Batch 79 bottle into a tulip, bottled January 2010.

A - great, an opaque brown with very billowy, mocha head that lingers pretty well.

S - great again. Very fruity compared to some batches I've had, strong fig notes. Also noticeable leather and tobacco, more tobacco than leather. Less sweet than Adam from the Wood smells, for instance, but some noticeable toffee. All-around excellent.

T - fantastic. Lots of fig with some dark, sweet cherry notes. Rich maduro tobacco and a bit more sweetness than the smell, largely goes with the fruit. Despite the sweetness I wouldn't call it a sweet beer - it's more of a richness, with enough bitterness to balance it out. It has the caramelization of a good toffee but without all the sugar. The aftertaste is more along the leather side. The richness and complexity of the best quads but without the Belgian yeast, giving it a character all its own. Really great and amazingly different from the Wood version, even, but you can tell that the Wood version evolved from this.

M - a little less full than I would like. The 3-year old bottle is well-carbonated but not fizzy. It's not thin by any stretch but with the richness of the flavor, it could use just a bit more body. Having had many bottles/drafts of this, I know it varies some.

One of my favorite beers, just finally took the time to review it. Wonderful for anyone who likes a rich, complex beer/old ale/quad. A great beer fresh or with plenty of age, along with its variants.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:22:38 | More by OSUBeerStudent

kagent777

Utah

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review number 200, so a special beer for that one! !2 oz bottle from a colleague from Portland. I poured this one into my perfect pint. From batch 81, so bottled Sept 2010, 2.5 yrs in the bottle.

Appearance: A nice dark brown beer with ruby highlights when held up to the light. This one has a huge head.

Smell: The head is retaining some of the smell. It has subsided since opening the top. I get rich malts and wonderful strong dried fruit esters. Good cigar tobacco.

Taste: Taste follows the smell quite nicely. Very complex and layered. Big malts that have some residual sweetness. Enough bitterness to edge up against this fact. The malts have a note of chocolate to go with the fruitiness. All of these fruit that I am describing is of the dark dried variety. A solid example of an old ale.

Mouthfeel: Almost viscous body with low carbonation. Strong flavors last a long time on the finish.

Overall: Old ales are not for the faint of heart, but I love flavorful beers. This one does not disappoint. I wish I could get this one regularly.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 04:44:45 | More by kagent777

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 75. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Half Acre snifter.

A- pours a dark amber/brown with a huge 3" tan head. Thick walls and trails of lacing remain on the glass.

S- peat, light smoke, toffee, and some light citrus.

T- sweet toffee, some smoke, peated malt, with some citrus and bitter pine.

M- medium body and high carbonation. Syrupy at first with effervescence that builds.

O- very good old ale. Huge head had me worried of infection but was not the case. Has some peat, smoke but not overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 01:04:13 | More by kawilliams81

superspak

Michigan

4.73/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 ounce bottle into snifter; Batch 77, bottled 8/13/2009. Pours cloudy almost opaque dark reddish brown color with a small light khaki head with poor retention, that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lasts. Minimal spotty lacing, and some nice alcohol legs as well. Aromas of huge raisin, prune, fig, molasses, toffee, caramel, chocolate, toast, dark bread, leather, tobacco, earth, wood, and herbal earthiness. Insanely complex and balanced aromas with big strength; Wow. Taste of big raisin, fig, molasses, toast, toffee, prune, leather, tobacco, chocolate, roasted malt, dark bread, light char, earth, wood, and herbal earthiness. No bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark fruits, molasses, toast, toffee, caramel, chocolate, dark bread, leather, tobacco, earth, wood, light char, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible flavor balance with huge complexity of malty notes; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Light carbonation and very full bodied; with a very slick, creamy, and lightly syrupy mouthfeel that is incredible. Alcohol is insanely well hidden with almost zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a world class old ale! Huge complexity and balance of malty flavors; and dangerously smooth to sip on. This blew me away, wow.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 07:18:12 | More by superspak

devilben02

North Carolina

4.24/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I bought a bottle (batch 76) in Indianapolis while I was in town for the 2010 Final Four (Go Duke!), and it sat in the fridge-space within my kegerator for nearly three years before I finally broke down and drank the damn thing. I don't know if I should be glad I waited and let this bottle age gracefully or if I should be angry that I let so much time pass before appreciating the beauty of what was contained in that bottle.

The first impression is fine enough, with the beer pouring a near opaque cola brown, with a thin but present beige head. The aroma entices me from the second I open the bottle, though, with a subtly complex and alluring assortment of characteristics ranging from dried figs to old leather, light wood smoke, and a light but noticeable sweetness. The flavor is likewise wonderfully varied, with notes of molasses, raisins, a little licorice, some earthy, almost peppery hops, some alcohol, a pinch of orange peel, pine mulch, dark brown sugar... I should stop since I might be making things up at this point. The texture is dense and mouth-filling, but it doesn't become syrupy and overwhelming.

Overall, this rich, exceptionally complex beer lived up to the expectations that became greater every year I didn't drink it, and I was supremely content to take a long time savoring and contemplating its nuances.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 05:31:20 | More by devilben02