Hair of the Dog Adam
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Tasting Notes
Adam pours with a deep mahogany hue and delivers an aroma of dark dried fruit, smoked malt, and a faint earthiness that hints at its unusual use of smoked malt inspired by historical German Adambier. On the palate it's rich and chewy, with flavors of toffee, dark plum, tobacco, and a measured smokiness that never overwhelms. The body is full and viscous given the 10% ABV, and the finish is long and warming with a gentle bitterness that balances the sweetness. It rewards slow, attentive drinking rather than casual pacing.
About the Brewery
Hair of the Dog is based in Portland, Oregon, and was founded by Alan Sprints in 1993. The brewery built its reputation on high-gravity, bottle-conditioned ales with long aging potential, drawing inspiration from historical and obscure beer styles at a time when few American craft brewers were doing so. Their small lineup — names like Fred, Rose, and Doggie Claws alongside Adam — became touchstones for the serious craft beer community and helped shape the Pacific Northwest's adventurous brewing culture.
Food Pairings
Adam works well alongside a sharp aged cheddar or a hard cheese like Manchego, where the beer's caramel and smoke cut through the fat and amplify savory depth. Braised short ribs or lamb shank complement the beer's dark fruit and richness, matching weight for weight. A dark chocolate dessert with at least 70% cacao echoes the roasted and slightly bitter notes without clashing. Smoked meats — brisket, smoked sausage — find a natural ally in the beer's own smoky malt character, reinforcing rather than competing.
Style Guide
Old Ale is a broad British style characterized by high alcohol, full body, and a malt-forward profile built around toffee, dried fruit, and sometimes a gentle oxidative or woody complexity from aging. ABVs typically range from around 6% to well above 10%, and the style has traditionally been associated with long conditioning or blending with younger beer in British pub tradition. It sits apart from barleywine in that it tends toward smoothness and vinous warmth rather than aggressive hop bitterness, and it differs from imperial stout by its absence of heavy roast. Adam takes the style further by incorporating smoked malt referencing a near-extinct historical German ale called Adambier.