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

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-very dark brown with a sticky cream colored head

S-smoked chocolate malts. some hops. roasted flavor. some dark fruits. complex but very faint smell.

T-comes in with a very full and high quality flavor of burnt chocolate and amazing dark fruits. this is good and unique! its strong and it lasts! definitely has a smokey flavor to it. after-taste is matching and short

M-thick medium carbonation with a dry finish

O-a very good and unique beer though the flavors seem to escape me, the more i drink it. this isn't for the long run! i wouldn't want more than one at a time, not because of the alcohol, but because of the thickness of the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 18:47:35 | More by AdamBear

brystmar

New York

3.65/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

On draft at Barcade's Vintage Beer Night, despite being a 2011.

Pours unexpectedly dark brown/black; looks like a porter but without head or lace. Surprisingly roasty in the nose. Taste follows suit; boozy warmth follows it down. A touch watery in flavor, and significantly so in mouthfeel. Extremely light on body, even for an Old Ale.

Really needs more boldness of flavors and significantly more body. A few years of age would be great too.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2011 01:59:36 | More by brystmar

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of the tap an opaque sable with a yellowish pale tan head. Aroma is mainly malty and has a chocolaty undertone.Malty flavor is somewhat sweet and has a chocolate tone plus nutty and coffee undertones. Texture is thick, smooth and subtly fizzy, on the heavy side. Definitely worthy!

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2011 01:28:15 | More by Cyberkedi

smakawhat

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Adam the flagship beer at Hair of The Dog, consists of a very dark brown color. The nose on the beer was predominant of molasses, giving away to some faint bitter chocolate.

Taste was of some leather, but giving way to a tobacco afterfinish. Not a personal favorite due to the big molasses front, but it could appease other drinkers I think very easily.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2010 05:02:58 | More by smakawhat

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

Was pleasantly surprised to see this on tap at the Horsebrass the other night.

Adam pours a dark cola color with very good head retention and considerable lacing. The beer looks impressive, and is a presage of what's to come. On the nose this beer smells almost sinfully good. There is considerable chocolate, but with some underlying vanilla, golden raisans, coffee and light licorice. On the palate, this beer is every bit as good. It's fairly sweet of course, but the melange of sherry, wood, vanilla, cherry liquer, dark chocolate and light licorice (in the finish) keeps me coming back, wanting more and more, after every sip. Fresh Adam also seems to have some noticeable hoppy bitterness in the finish that helps to counter and balance out the sweetness as well. Mouthfeel is full with a long, drawn out finish in this richly delicious beer. Drinkability is pretty good, though I'm aware of the 10% abv. in this beer as I go along. Hard to imagine having more than one of these at a sitting, but nevertheless, this is just an exceptional, well made beer, and an absolute treat to have on tap. Yummy!!!

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2010 15:00:17 | More by johnmichaelsen

Amalak

New York

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had at The Diamond in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
A- It's basically black with limited head and good lace.
S- Nice, nutty malt scent.
T- It has a very fine chocolate stout/lager taste. It's malty. It has a strong alcohol taste, but not overbearing. It has the feel of a stout/porter, but there is a lager taste toward the end. Confused. But good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2010 17:11:06 | More by Amalak

djbreezy

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured into a snifter at Bailey's Taproom in Portland, OR

appearance - dark brown and thick, decent lacing

smell - unique wood and malty notes

taste - very complex and bold, woody, molasses, malt and raisins become dominant as the temperature increases

mouthfeel - fairly thick and somewhat creamy

drinkability - a very complex and enjoyable beer but quite heavy and not so easy to drink a lot of

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2010 05:11:52 | More by djbreezy

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

sstackho

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz glass enjoyed at Redbones in Somerville, MA - along with some good BBQ. Pours black, with no head. The aroma is smoky with some hops, but overall not that strong. The taste is a lovely, rich and deep. Tastes more like an typical imperial stout to me - although I haven't had all that many, I must say. Nice balance of malt and hops.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2007 22:29:28 | More by sstackho

gentlebubbles

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

on tap at Redbone's

Deep smooth chestnut with low, dense tan head. Caramel scent. Thick caramel with smoky tones that take on a touch of creosote toward the end. The smoke makes it intriguing, but I'm not interested in having another. A hair on the syrupy side. Subtle warming that's just what you need on a freaking cold evening.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2004 03:04:08 | More by gentlebubbles

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Folks, if you're planning on tasting others beers in the same night, do this puppy last. Taps with a nice faomy head and deep amber-golden color. The striking aroma wafts heavily with malt of earthy character. The heavy smooth body supports flavors of heavy malt and earthy, musty grape tones. The warming effect is undeniable. A sipper for sure. A beer that drowns the senses for quite a period of time post-taste.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2002 08:14:58 | More by beernut7

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured very dark with no head at all. The smell is the best part as you can find apple,sherry and some great fruity flavors. The taste is much the same as the smell with a mild chocolate flavor coming through. Sip this after dinner but watch out because this one could hurt.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2002 14:49:31 | More by CharlesRiver

Jason

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ Redbones.

Murky brown colour with a thin lace and decent head retention to boot. Aromas of ripe figs, caramel and husky grain.

Figgy sweet, layer of caramel, hints of husk and yeast, and struggling hop balance. Full bodied and very creamy on the tongue off of a moderate carbonation. Higher alcohols are merely in ester form and somewhat get lost in the malt in a very deceiving way. Sweet finish with a slow warming feeling.

Overly drinkable barleywines can be a dangerous thing, this beers name is dangerous. Goes down some smooth and creamy, with layers of sweetness that are no cloying at all caress the taste buds to bring them closer to heaven. Highly recommended especially on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2002 18:01:21 | More by Jason

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

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