Review: Hair of the Dog Fred

10% ABV

65 IBUs

Aroma: Sweet alcohol, brown sugar and caramel, sherry and plum.  

Appearance: Slightly cloudy amber, bordering on burgundy.  Tons of orange and red hues.  Off-tan head that starts off rocky and settles to a 1/4" cap.  Lots of sticky lacing.

Flavor: Brown sugar and caramel up front with a slightly alcoholic citrus note, much like Grand Marnier.  Juicy, citrusy hop presence that still allows the caramel and toffee maltiness to come through.  Hints of rye spiciness. 

Mouthfeel:  Medium-full with a lingering finish of hop bitterness, caramel and a smooth alcohol warmth.

General Impression:  An excellent American barleywine, and a real stand-out in the category amongst those that I have sampled to date.  Sweet fruits and earthy hops complement each other gracefully.   Belgian candi sugar is an excellent addition to a truly unique and savorable barleywine.