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

Tupperwolf

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Love the bottle, as usual. Adam pours out looking absolutely great. Deep, dark, voluptous, with a very energetic head. It takes quite some time to get most of the bottle into the glass. The head is creamy, fluffy, comprised of very fine carbonation that sticks, forming creative shapes and intricate lacing.

Toffee greets the drinker upon taking a sniff; Depite being properly warmed, very little scent is available; Perhaps the head does a bit too good of a job of trapping released volatiles. There's definitely some roasted barely in there, a hickory smell - rich, like damp wood on a fire.

Very malty, with a lot of butterscotch and toffee tones; Roastiness is present as well, coming in with a slight bitter cocoa and straight espresso. Before they can get too heavy, the hops take over, bittering with a smooth, almost Noble, full-leaf hoppiness. After swallowing, some significant diacetyl characteristics stick around on the tongue.

Mouthfeel is smooth, rich, and very heavy. There's a very nice transition in the mouth's perception of malt, then hops, and the finish tastes sweet, but feels bitter.

I think this beer is close to being something great. It's got some rather interesting characteristics that just aren't cultured enough to really show through. I think it would be great with a few slices of smoked ham and some dark brown bread.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2006 05:53:02 | More by Tupperwolf

Lothore

California

3.38/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- This is how a beer should look. Murky reddish black with a tan 2 finger head which stays for a while and leaves a crapload of lacing as it goes down.

S- Smell is strangely absent, a bit of roasted malt, can't detect much else.

T- Starts off deep and malty, the roasted malts take front stage but behind them is definitely a complex malt bill. This leads into a hoppiness that seems a little too strong, probably with time this one will lose most of the hops and really shine with the malts, I suspect it is a little young. Slight alcohol notes at the end. The main beef I have with this one is it just doesn't taste like an old ale which was what I wanted. Not bad, just not my cup of tea.

M- Medium viscosity, lots of carbonation. I assume the carbonation will fade with time.

D- This one is a nice beer to sip on. I think I would give it at least a year or two in the future. Seems like an old ale and a stout mixed to me but what do I know.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2008 04:19:42 | More by Lothore

BastardKing24

California

3.38/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch # 76 on a 12 oz bottle.

Poured dark brown with lots of head, looks promising. ALOT of yeast sediment in this, it took a while to settle to the bottom of my glass.

Smells of rich wood scents and peppermint, perhaps some sour notes.. hmm I want to like it but sort of off putting. Is this infected? i dunno

Taste is ok, not the infected taste i have gotten from similarly smelling beers. Decent dark roast and malt build for an old ale, a real different style of old ale for me. Its enjoyable to a degree but i think there is something off about this bottle or batch, maybe time will change this but it has a pepperminty, sort of sourish taste i cant match well to an old ale. I wish that flavor characteristic wasn't there but its still drinkable.
Difficult to sort out the flavors leading me to believe its early in its age. I will seek this out again, perhaps another batch # to see how it tastes, worth a try i think, considering other's reviews of this.

Mouth feel is rather good, decent thickness.

drinkablility suffers as this packs a punch.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 03:57:19 | More by BastardKing24

BMoney575

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Sampled on 7-15-10

Pours an extremely deep brown color, almost black, with blood red around the very edges. A thin head quickly fades, leaving a slick single ring of lacing.

Smell is all boozy sweet malt. A little aged, a little funky, aromas of molasses and black licorice dominate. Strong, complex, and very daunting.

Taste is exactly like the smell. Hardcore malt and alcohol, and a medicinal edge that I can't place. I think it's an odd combination of the booze and hops, and its very off-putting. Complex, but hard to get down.

Mouthfeel is thick, slick, and creamy. It fits the extreme flavor.

Drinkability is poor, odd flavors and harshness are a fatal combo.

Overall, I expected better, but I guess I'm just spoiled.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 00:01:43 | More by BMoney575

krberg

Oregon

3.4/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Batch 64

Deep brown. Porter like with a rapidly fading cream colored head. No light penetrates this beer.

Smells like malty OJ!?! Chocolate pokes through as well.

Sweet, smoky and chocolatey. Slight hints of caramelized sugars and raisins. Bitter enough to nearly stand up to the malt, but not much past balancing hops. There is a slight tartness right in the middle.

Adam is thick and not as carbonated as I would like for this beer.

A good beer to sip on and enjoy, but just too damn much for more than two.

An old ale... I don't think so. Their website calls it an historic german style that is no longer produced. Overall a nice beer to help chase away another rainy day.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2005 23:35:11 | More by krberg

Brianmerrilyn

New York

3.4/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sample at David Copperfields in Manhattan NY from owner, fellow Bronxite.

A: Red & black, not sure about head and lacing as small sample.

S-Sweet candies, unable to discern which however.

T- Malt first followed by hops. High ABV noticable very quickly but too strong, it is 10% after all. Not sure of the brew date but nothing like a Old Ale i've tasted prior.

M- Medium with heavy carbonation.

D-A good desset wine but not my style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2008 22:05:01 | More by Brianmerrilyn

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hair of the Dog - Adam

Pours a rich dark brown. Complex aroma of caramel malts, whiskey, wood and vanilla. Some alcohol lofts in as well. In the taste, barleywine like with a strong boozy note. Earthy hops are not afraid to show themselves. This was a 2010 vintage but whew, a strong one. Every bit of the 10%abv is noticed. Mouthfeel is full bodied and the alcohol sticks witgh you. Overall, young, this beer is very hot. Id like to see what some time would do to this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 05:42:31 | More by Stinkypuss

dgilks

Australia

3.45/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very dark brown colour with no head. Disappointing.

Slightly vegemitey, alcohol, chocolate, slightly nutty and a touch fruity.

Intense alcohol, very sweet, moderate bitterness, a touch roasty with some chocolate.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. A touch hot.

Interesting beer. I'm not sure it hits all the right notes for me as the alcohol, sweetness and vegemite are all just a touch rough.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 10:49:19 | More by dgilks

beerhan

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz into a anifter. slight tan head that fades fast. Smells very floral and chocolatey. Tastes like pork, one of my least favorite flavors. Also a lot of chocolate. Drinks real well and moderately drinkable but that pork flavor stays. Unique but not amazing. Fred is exponentially better.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 05:29:08 | More by beerhan

ibbjamin

California

3.48/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Paid $3.99 for a 12oz bottle from Monument in Concord, CA. Poured into my Lost Abbey Tulip to review.

Surprisingly large tan head for this old ale. Head is rather frothy and consistent of relatively large carbonation bubbles. Very dark brown in color with a noticeable layer of retention.

The descriptors on the label are pretty spot on for me in terms of aroma; roasted malts, smoke, figs, chocolate, leather and well balanced with dank hops. I also detect molasses, oak and a hint of booze. All in all quite complex and attractive.

Taste is really smoky. Just a bit overboard in this department for my liking. There is that leather and roasted malts I detected in the nose coming through even more now, especially as it warms. Not as balanced as the nose suggested for me. Hints of coffee and chocolate in the long finish.

Full in body and the carbonation is noticeable, but I was expecting more from looking at the pour.

The strong taste of smoke, coupled with the price will probably prevent me from purchasing more of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2010 05:21:00 | More by ibbjamin

Dope

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark mahogany with a huge and foamy light brown head. Fades very slowly, leaving a perfect patchwork of lacing behind. Nice island of foam sticks around for a long time too.

S: Brown sugar, caramel and molasses. Some cocoa and leather.

T: Starts off with some caramel, brown sugar and a little...butterscotch? Lots of leather in the middle with some cocoa and smoke. Almost get some tobacco in the finish with some earthiness. A little more smoke in the aftertaste too. Spicy alcohol lingers.

M: Fairly heavy but not overly so. Nice and thick - appropriate for the style.

O: Not a bad old ale. Most are very fruity and this one is not. Quite smokey with lots of tobacco too. Great if you like that in a beer but I'm not a huge fan. I still enjoyed it and can appreciate the complexity and balance, but the choice of flavors didn't agree with me that much.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 04:12:40 | More by Dope

GreenCard

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Batch 52

Appearance: garnet brown, slight haze; thin film of head develops on pour but disappears immediately, forming a crown on the glass

Aroma: deep dark bready malt notes, a slight lactic twang, chocolate, prunes, raisins

Flavor: the up front lactic sourness dominates; underneath it are notes of dark chocolate, coffee, rich malt sweetness, hop bitterness, sherry, prunes, raisins and yeast; the finish is sweet and sour with the sourness staying around in the roasty aftertaste; also lingering are apples and rye-bread

Mouthfeel: full body, slightly astringent, big alcohol warmth, smooth

Overall Impression: This beer is a conundrum. I don't know if it's supposed to be sour or if it's a bad batch. I tried one over a year ago and was really put off by it. Then I tasted one about six months later and I didn't really detect any overt sourness (I'm not sure what the batch numbers were on those). This sample, though, is pretty lactic. It's growing on me as I drink it and as it warms up, but it's not something I would drink often. This one has been in my "cellar" for about a year.

Notes on Batch 59: Tasted a bottle of this batch the other night. Not sour at all. The lactic aroma/flavor was nowhere to be found. This leads me to believe that Batch 52 was definitely contaminated. 59 was all about the chocolatey sweetness with big notes of burnt caramel and peppery alcohol. Also mocha and a fait amount of smoke. Finish is sweet with a lot of residual roast and smoke. Because of this difference, I have increased the score from the previous score of 3.2.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2003 04:49:35 | More by GreenCard

grynder33

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A yeasty hoppy aroma with all kinds of hints of other things, a nice sweet malty blend of raisin banana lemon, almost like a weiss, thickish mouthfeel little bit of hop bitterness in the aftertaste, a complex sweetness lingered till the end.I seem to feel this is a great brew, but the blend just isn't something I'm into right now.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2004 01:48:06 | More by grynder33

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle purchased somewhere in VA, one of many things gathered at either Vienna Whole Foods, Norm's, or Westpark Wine & Beer. Batch 54.

Poured into a Rapscallion glass, formed a HUGE 3" light brown head over the murky, opaque, dark brown brew. Will take some time to get this poured out, like Rose and Fred before him in the past. Fifteen minutes later, all in. Head starts dense, eventually gets very airy, and leaves hunks of laces everywhere. Hard to knock the appearance, once you can get it out of the bottle...

Aroma is sweetly malty, with spicy and yesty things happening as well. Alcohol presence is obvious. Taste is of spicy dark malts, dark fruits, and warming alcohol works its magic in the mouth and throat. Mouthfeel okay, just a bit overboard on the everything, and drinkability isn't the best due to big-time foaming issues (I hate to wait), and just plain hard to get down overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2004 01:55:39 | More by ppoitras

Sephiroth

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Batch #47: According to their website, this was bottled on 9-22 of 2000. After being poured into a tulip, there is a two inch head crowning the dark, dark brown body. The nose is quite smoky, with dark fruits lurking in the shadows.

My first taste was somewhat chocolatey. As it warms to cellar temperature, the smokiness becomes quite apparent. Dark fruits hit first, and only for a millisecond. A wave of smoke rips through my mouth. As the beer warms even more, the smoke is receding, and the vinous qualities are coming out. The mouthfeel is still thick after all these years, and the carbonation is also high. The drinkability is low for me.

This is similar to Batch 5000, but not in the same league. Drink this close to room temperature. My ratings would be much lower at colder temperatures.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2005 06:52:24 | More by Sephiroth

joedon

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Huge rocky head with lots of tan foam and lace. Much more carbonation than I would expect from a high-alcohol/gravity brew.
Extreme dark brown almost opaque color. Closer to a stout than an old ale, INMHO.

Nice aroma filled with spice, alcohol, malt and yeast.

Taste is more spicy-hoppy than malty. Definitely less malt than I would have expected. Aftertaste of hop bitterness and some burnt raisins.

Nice mouthfeel and a decent sipping beer. Overall, this beer was way short of my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2006 23:21:03 | More by joedon

cfrances33

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a HiF stem.

Pour: Deep brown with three fingers of fluffy, khaki head. Leaves thick lacing and the head hangs around for most of the glass.

Smell: Big boozy dark fruits up front. Figs and raisins. Heavy molasses, and lots of roasted malts. Some light coffee and a light pine on the finish.

Taste: Follows the nose with huge boozy figs, raisins, and dates up front. Follows with thick molasses sweetness, and some more booze. Finishes with touches of roastiness and a light coffee.

Mouthfeel: Boozy. A sipper for sure. Syrupy body.

Overall: Nice flavors, but this is just too boozy for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 04:14:22 | More by cfrances33

tayner

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2007 bottle

Dark brown, almost black, with ruby edges

smells of alcohol, dark fruit, malty sweetness

taste is fig, roasty (not burnt), sugary sweet, very complex and each flavor stands out separately, not very well combined flavors.

Creamy and smooth, and fairly heavy mouthfeel

The 10% is very warm in this beer. I couldnt drink more than 1 of these as it is very complex, over the top. I think 2-4 years in the cellar will make this a top 5 barleywine, i need to find some to cellar now!

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2008 02:23:53 | More by tayner

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this in Portland, OR on 2010-01-31

A - Pours a dark brown with a short tan head

S - Plums and figs

T - Dark chocolate and figgy pudding with some sourness, leather and smoke.

M - Light body and carbonation

D - Obviously a well-made brew but the unique flavors were fine for a treat but not a session.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 10:52:03 | More by Tucquan

cretemixer

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Batch #41. Pours a deep, deep auburn color with no head , hence no lace. Extremely sweet and fruity aromas; figs, raisins, caramel and alcohol. Brandy like on the nose. Slightly bitter taste, coffee, deep roasted malts, alcohol. Suprisingly dry with a thick mouthfeel, almost no carbonation. Hop presence comes through mid glass, but takes a back seat to the alcohol. Finishes flat. I didn't see any other reviews for this batch so I don't know how it fared compared to their other batches.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2003 05:45:30 | More by cretemixer

atigerlife

Hawaii

3.55/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Batch #67.

Pours very dark with a beautiful thick dark brown head.

Aroma of molasses, malts, some smokey earthiness.

Taste has dark chocolate, bitterness throughout but strongest at the end, alcohol, smoke. Very rich.

Mouthfeel was quite heavy, thick, dry.

Overall, an interesting sipping beer. Can't drink many. Lots of flavor and very rich. Certainly worth a try since it is unusual, but not something I would get too excited about. Perhaps some aging will help.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 17:17:17 | More by atigerlife

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch #74. Thanks to my partner in beer crime BeerFMAndy for sharing this with me.

The beer pours a cola brown with little to no head. Some soapy lace is clinging for it's life around the glass.

The aroma is heavy on the leather and smoke. Dark fruits with a hint of spice.

The flavor is malty with plenty of smoke and leather like the nose. Dark fruit with light spice. Very dry.

Medium to full body with light carbonation.

Overall not a real winner in my book. A nice beer but I probably would pass on if given another chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 03:50:15 | More by beerwolf77

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

IIRC, it was from batch 57, brewed on 11-19-02, bottled on 2-14-03. Strangely, I think it would actually improve with a couple MORE years of aging.

A: Dark black with a beige head.

S: Complex. Roasty, smoky, molases.

T: This has a bitter bite upfront and throughout, with a slightly fruity aftertaste. I found the aftertaste a little difficult to decipher after my taste buds were assualted by black-strap molases, very dark roasted malt (burnt like Starbucks coffee) and a little smoke. Personally, I think it could be oak-aged to mellow out the bitterness, and let some other flavours shine through. I know there gotta be some more fruit and caramel in there!

M: Full body, moderate carbonation.

D: Not for the newbie. The beer-geek should think it's alright.

Thanks Kevin!

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2005 21:26:27 | More by Derek

egajdzis

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a golden amber color with a large head, that left light lacing on the glass. Has a malty alcohol aroma. Taste was mild malt with a big kick of alcohol. I was expecting less of an alcohol taste. I was hoping i'd like this more, but I just wasn't a huge fan.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2006 12:54:59 | More by egajdzis

mentor

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Batch #68. Pours a 5 finger swelling dark brown head that spills onto the counter. Head is clingy and slowly cavitates inward. Liquid is pitch, to light it is very dark ruby brown. Smells roast ashy dark grains and grassy hops. Sweet molasses, dark caramel, and teasing esters. Touch of pine.

Tastes wet sweet with sharp tang, not quite a soured caramel. Wickedly caramelized sugar serves as a strong base flavor on which smke, chocolate, molasses, and roast play. The beer is actually dry in the mouth, but the intense caramel counterpoints. Cherry flavor with minimal cherry sour rides on the noticable, but balanced, clean alcohol sting. Dry finish is quite grassy hoppy bitter. Thick body and dextrinous thick mouthfeel with strong and carbonation sting that I would prefer to be less (uhm...so swirl the glass to release the excess). Intense and certainly interesting, but the smoke begins to wear on my smoke-sensitive palette by the end of the glass. If you enjoy a little smoked malt in your beer, then the smoke in this beer will not be a problem for you at all.

IMO, a bit jumbled right now. Would likely benefit from at least a year, likely five, of age in a good cellar. Rich umami flavor characterstics.

Serving type: can

12-24-2007 01:57:52 | More by mentor