Hair Of The Dog Brewing
Hair of the Dog to close after 29 years
Portland, Oregon’s Hair of the Dog Brewing, one of America’s oldest craft breweries will close sometime this summer. Founder Alan Sprints announced this week he will retire from the industry. The brewery opened in 1993.
Sprints gave the brewery fans a bitter Valentine’s Day gift when he posted his retirement video to the brewery’s Facebook group page on Monday.
Hair of the Dog has long been known for barrel-aged and strong ale offerings. Sprints went the strong beer route because he never liked feeling full on beer, saying on numerous occasions he wanted to drink two beers that make you feel like you’ve had six. His success is hard to argue, as some of Sprint’s creations e sold for hundreds, and in rare cases- 1000’s of dollars in the secondary market over the years. “I was making barrel-aged beer when folks thought it was weird to do so,” Sprints once told Beer Street Journal.
The brewery was originally built near the Brooklyn rail yards in 1993. In 2010, the brewery moved to Portland’s southeast industrial warehouse district, making Hair of the Dog more accessible to visitors and residents alike.
Even as the brewery winds down operations near the 3-decade mark, Hair of the Dog still only produces just shy of 600 barrels (18,600 gallons) annually in a 4-barrel brewhouse. Sprits is still one of the smallest craft brewers in America.
“Beer has been very very good to me, I feel so fortunate to have been able to spend over half my life doing something I love so much,” Sprints said in his announcement video. A specific closing date was not announced, other than summer 2022.
Additionally, Sprints said he is open to collaborating with other breweries in the future. Hair of the Dog itself will not be sold.
Signing off, Sprints invites the public to come through before the taproom closes. “Please plan on coming down in the next few months, and help us celebrate the diverse world of beer that exists today.”
Hair of the Dog Maja, an Omnipollo collaboration debuts
Hair of the Dog Maja, a collaboration with Stockholm, Sweden’s Omnipollo, debuts today.
The base beer is a 10% alcohol by volume barleywine, with nuances of vanilla, maple and bourbon. The beer went into the barrel with vanilla beans in February of 2016. 100% bottle conditioned.
This beer is pale in color and has the aromas of peaches and pleasant memories of the past. In the mouth, pineapple mixes with marshmallow, ample and whimsy. Produced with the help and guidance of our good friends at Omnipollo to provide a truly unique drinking experience.
Hair of the Dog Maja is a 12 ounce bottle release, available the brewery in Portland, Oregon starting today.
Style: Barleywine (w/ Vanilla, Maple. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Debut: 2/11/17
10% ABV
Image: Hair of the Dog
Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam returns
Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam has returned to the Portland, Oregon based taproom this week. This weekend, you can buy bottles to go once again.
Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam is the brewery’s Adam, an old ale, aged with Oregon black cherries. The beer is subsequently aged in both bourbon and sherry casks.
The fruit lends a sweet tartness to the finish, melding with the wood and adding a new dimension of complexity.
Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam is a limited draft and 12 ounce bottle offering.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Cherries. Barrel Aged. Bourbon. Sherry.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited.
Return: 2/12/16
10% ABV
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws 2015 bottles this Saturday
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws 2015 is already on tap the brewery in Portland, Oregon. Bottles will be available on Saturday.
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws is a barleywine, and one of the brewery’s most popular. Brewed in September and October, and released in November, annually.
The brewery suggests cellaring this offering.
Style: Barleywine
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal release.
Return: 11/21/15 (Bottles)
11.5% ABV, 70 IBUs
Image via HOTD
Hair of the Dog Putin, a collaboration with de Molen
Hair of the Dog Putin, a Russian imperial stout, goes on sale on October 31st, at 10:30 AM. The beer is already on tap the pub in Portland, Oregon.
Hair of the Dog Putin is a collaboration with Brouwerij de Molen, aged in bourbon barrels. Available in 12 ounce bottles, as well as 1 liter bottles.
Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 1 Liter Bottles
Release: 10/31/15
14% ABV
Hair of the Dog Otto From the Wood
Hair of the Dog Otto From the Wood
The $2000, 12 Ounce Beer
Hair of the Dog’s “Dave” went in sale at the brewery in Portland, Oregon today.
You might say, who cares. Well, your wallet might. A bottle of it will run you around $2000 dollars.
The 29% Barleywine was made in 1994, by the freezing technique that you see used in eisbocks. By freezing off the water, the remaining liquid is higher in abv.
Obviously, over multiple freezes you are losing sellable volume. Making what is left behind even more valuable.
Today, the rarity went on sale for a hefty price tag. Apparently there is a $500 discount if you drink it on site.
P.S.- that’s for 12 ounces.
