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Doggie Claws
Portland, Oregon
BJCP Category: 19C American Barleywine
Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. <visit site>
39
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[expand]Total Score: 37/50
Quite drinkable and interesting. Alcohol is high and unbalanced for the malt, which is understated. The high hop bitterness holds its own. more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: High alcohol, apricot and citrus hops, and caramel malt aromas. No diacetyl or DMS. Some yeast-derived fruity esters but fairly clean. The alcohol is a very big, but not hot, for the malt present, but the hops hold up to the alcohol. Balance is toward a fruity alcohol character with less malt complexity. (8/12)
Appearance: Amber/brown color. Significant cloudy haze, even as the beer warms. Dense, rocky, long-lasting head. (2/3)
Flavor: Sweet caramel malt with high, apricot-like hop fruitiness and high hop bitterness. Finishes balanced with both malt and honey-like sweetness and lingering hop bitterness. A lasting, salty mineral character. No DMS. No diacetyl. Intense alcohol presence that’s over the top for the malt. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Very warming, but not hot/fusel. No astringency. Lingering bitterness in mouthfeel. Fairly highly carbonated. Soft, mushy palate/mouthfeel. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Quite drinkable and interesting. Alcohol is high and unbalanced for the malt, which is understated. The high hop bitterness holds its own. The combination of minerally character, alcohol, hop bitterness and hop flavor/aroma is quite complex, however the malt is a simple caramel character. I expect a more intense maltiness to better match the rest of the beer. This is fairly young for such a big beer. It will likely age well over time. (7/10)
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[expand]Total Score: 42/50
Very lovely barleywine that leans to the sweet side, perhaps due to the addition of honey, which may also lighten the body. The effect is a deceptively quaffable product, which could leave the uninitiated more >
[close]Total Score: 42/50
Aroma: Smelled the hops on opening the bottle, before the beer hit the glass; pine, grapefruit and salt, like the ocean air, and a background of ripe peach and caramel malt. Hops dominate. (11/12)
Appearance: Deep copper, slightly hazy, with a thick, biscuity off-white foam that persists at about half of the glass. Doesn’t have a chance to leave lace. (2/3)
Flavor: Pronounced sweetness, more than just malt, gives way to significant, assertive citrus pine hop flavor, which gives way to a firm bitterness. Malt character plays a supporting role to hops, and is more sweet-bready than caramel in character. A hint of hazelnut at the finish. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied with very soft carbonation. Low alcohol warming becomes more pronounced with a post-finish that both lingers and intensifies the hop character. (4/5)Overall Impression: Very lovely barleywine that leans to the sweet side, perhaps due to the addition of honey, which may also lighten the body. The effect is a deceptively quaffable product, which could leave the uninitiated behind. A sipper for enjoying with friends, it also kind of veers to the English side. Wouldn’t mind aging this one for a while, as it should continue to develop complexity and character. (8/10)
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[expand]Total Score: 40/50
A very nice beer with a flavor profile that distinguishes it from other barleywines in its class. It is a bit cloying on the palate, but it may dry out a little with aging. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: A burst of fresh hop character, with intense citrus and pine notes from American hops. Some support from caramel and toasted malt, along with some nuttiness from oxidation, but focus is on the hops. Alcohol is evident, with clean notes from ethanol and more powerful aromatics from esters and higher alcohols. (9/12)
Appearance: Copper in color with a little haze from yeast that was roused during shipping. Acceptable, given the short time in which to evaluate the beer. The head is impressive, with fine beading, great retention and an unusually light color. (3/3)
Flavor: Solid malt backbone, with sweetness of crystal malt and some toasted and toffee notes underneath. A bright hop flavor with lemony and pine notes from the Amarillo hops, merging onto a moderately bitter finish. The balance is a little on the sweet side, unusual for a beer that incorporates honey. The honey adds some esters that complement those from the fermentation. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: A little cloying, although the sweetness left on the lips is pleasant. I also get some metallic and astringent notes underneath the sides of the tongue that linger after the beer is swallowed. A modest alcoholic warmth is enhanced by esters and higher alcohols. (3/5)
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Overall Impression: A very nice beer with a flavor profile that distinguishes it from other barleywines in its class. It is a bit cloying on the palate, but it may dry out a little with aging. The hops are very well done, and the honey comes through well considering the intensity of the malt and fermentation flavors. Nicely done! (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
Bittersweet/honey palate gives it an interesting character. Hop nose and bitterness are strong, and the hop flavor gets a bit lost. I’d like to see if this dries out as it ages. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Big hop nose mixed with moderate fruit, alcohol, and malt. Hops are prominent with a piney note. The fruity esters are nice—peach, apricot. The malt has a toffee-sweet character. Alcohol adds some spice that plays with and enhances the evergreen nose. Aromatics are well blended but the alcohol is still a bit too sharp. (10/12)
Appearance: Very tall aged ivory head, tight bubbles, moussy, developing into a rocky head with excellent retention. Lots of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Deep amber-orange color. Some haze. (2/3)
Flavor: Malty-sweet initially with a nice toffee flavor. Full, honey-like palate. High bitterness emerges toward the finish. Moderate piney hop flavor and stone fruit esters. Finish is fairly sweet, which moderates the bittterness. Aftertaste has some spiciness along with malty sweetness and hop bitterness. Tastes malty-honey-sweet but not worty or under-fermented. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Very full body. Rich and creamy. Medium-high carbonation. Warming but not burning, mostly due to the malty-honey sweetness. Carbonation gives it a fuller feel. Deceptive alcohol level—it doesn’t taste like an 11-percent beer. (4/5)
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Overall Impression: Bittersweet/honey palate gives it an interesting character. Hop nose and bitterness are strong, and the hop flavor gets a bit lost. I’d like to see if this dries out as it ages. The sweetness is a bit high now, but it does enhance the drinkability; otherwise, the hops and alcohol could be overwhelming. (8/10)
