Dave
Hair Of The Dog Brewing Company / Brewery And Tasting Room

DaveDave
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From:
Hair Of The Dog Brewing Company / Brewery And Tasting Room
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
29%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.39 | pDev: 10.02%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
51
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 21, 2022
Added:
Feb 10, 2007
Wants:
  360
Gots:
  12
This beer was produced in 1994, and won first place at the 1998 Toronado Barley Wine Festival. The strength was achieved by taking 300 gallons of Adam and freezing it three times, leaving only 100 gallons.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Sean9689:
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

3.82/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to Mike (grumpyoldtroll) for finally getting to try this beer. The "Main Event" from our NYC Mega Tasting.

Pours a motor oil black, some bottles here and there but basically flat. Nose is sweet dark fruit, chocolate, and lots of barrel presence. Flavor is not as sweet as the nose, and even more booze with notes of bourbon, oak, chocolate, and tobacco. Full body, flat, lingering sweetness and alcohol.

Is it "worth it"? Well, it was an honor to be able to try his beer, so for me it was. I can't believe how well this held up after almost 20 years. Good stuff!
Jan 13, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.67 by Ristaccia from Nebraska

Jan 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.77 by SaxmanRick from Minnesota

Jun 20, 2021
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

4.55/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Glad to finally crack this one with some fine folks. I had low expectations, considering how the beer could have aged, but it ended up being quite an experience, and as the only owner of the bottle, at least I know it was stored properly.

Twisted the cap off without a sound, and gave it a little whiff. Expecting lots of oxidation, instead I was met with heavy smoky malt, and booze-soaked cigars. I knew right then that this held up well and was going to be good. The bottle was split between 9 glasses. Obviously completely still, translucent, dark molasses color, thick coating on the glass. Another surprise: absolutely no dregs in the bottle at all. I guess it makes sense considering the processing used to make the beer what it is, but I guess I expected some sludge or even a little residue after over 2 decades. But nope...totally clean.

As for the taste, this was pretty much like drinking a really good smoky Scotch. Big on booze, but very smooth, dark coffee roast, hints of peat, and lots of chewy cigar tobacco. I honestly didn't get any off-flavors from this, not even oxidation. Mouthfeel, again, hot but smooth, like good Scotch, nice in little sips, which is really the only proper way to enjoy this beer.

All in all, this exceeded my expectations greatly, and the experience was worth every penny, especially being able to share it with some good people.
Aug 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.8 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Apr 08, 2017
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.79/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Haven't reviewed on here forever, but there was this so here we go. Bottle, thanks to Alan. Shared with lots of other Bay Area tickers. Very dark brown color with minimal head. Aroma is smoky with roast, molasses, soy sauce, molasses, tobacco, and dark chocolate dark fruit, whiskey, port. Flavor is medium sweet, some spice, molasses, bitter coffee ground and cigar room finish. Palate is smooth, slick, with a carbonation level that would make Tomme Arthur blush (e.g., almost none). Not too hot for 29%, which is crazy. Full body, but not overly so. Very good beer, and the tick value is obviously f**king astronomical. Life goal achieved.
Jan 23, 2017
Photo of Fux
Reviewed by Fux from France

3.78/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Sampled at the Tasting to Sink all Sea Shepherds. It's actually the beer which initiated it. Thanks a lot, Chris, for sharing this rarity! We had this just after Midnight Sun M and Sam Adams MMM.
A: Pours dark with no head to speak of.
S: Smell of alcohol and dried fruits with some raisins, grapes and cheesy flavors. No oxydation from the nose.
T: Taste is very boozy and bitter with some cheesy aftertaste. No oxydation from the taste either. Flavors highlight leather, chocolate, tobacco and dried fruits. Despite the fact it has held quite well for a 22 years old eisbock, it seriously lacks balance, which prevents this to be really good.
M: Oily and sweet. Huge amount of alcohol. No carbonation.
O: I somehow expected this to be oxydized which is not but I can't say I really liked this beer, it's too boozy and unfocused. A little bit disappointing. All the same, thx for sharing, Chris!
Oct 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.17 by halo3one from Georgia

Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.87 by blisscent from Rhode Island

Aug 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.47 by Dreadnaught33 from District of Columbia

May 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by SlghtlyBzzd from Oregon

Dec 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by brian4beer from Indiana

Jun 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by pester from California

May 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by eggs from Illinois

Apr 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.51 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Apr 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by bmwats from Louisiana

Dec 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by kscaldef from Oregon

Sep 10, 2013
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.15/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Review #3250, and Had #3300. Served in a small taster glass, next to Wooden Hell and M. Wow, my life doesn't suck. Thanks to the guys for the opportunity to try this.

A - Still. Super dark brown body, with a hint of transparency to it at the edges of the glass. Obviously not expecting much at 29% and after nearly 20 years, but not as attractive as something like Utopias either.

S - Surprisingly boozy, even with so much age. Otherwise it tastes exactly like you'd expect Triple Adam from the Wood to taste: oodles of leather, dark fruits, oak, sherry, port-like oxidation, tobacco, a touch of soy. Still, it's a bit rough and quite the shock to the nostrils.

T - The taste is on the other hand quite excellent. Alcohol is significantly more restrained, and as a result the other flavors pop out significantly more: loads of sweet dark fruits, particularly of prune and raisin, oak, vanilla, port and sherry-like oxidation, some brandy-esque spirit, and a touch of smoke and char. Somewhere between beer and spirit in the flavor spectrum, but certainly complex and enjoyable.

M - Smooth, medium-full body. Oaky, tannic, and fairly dry, but with a mild lingering smoke and stickiness on the palate. Obviously no carbonation. Nowhere near as sticky or heavy as something like Utopias or Millennium. Not overly hot, which is a bit of a surprise.

D - Pretty delicious, once you get past the somewhat rough aroma. Could probably age for another dozen years with minimal ill effect. Worth $2,000 a bottle? Is anything? Still, a very unique beer and a memorable experience. I enjoyed my 2+oz quite thoroughly.
Aug 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by spycow from Illinois

Jul 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by bauermj from Illinois

Jul 14, 2013
Dave from Hair Of The Dog Brewing Company / Brewery And Tasting Room
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 51 ratings