Deschutes Brewery and Hair of the Dog Brewed a Beer Together

Did you know Deschutes Brewery once made batches of Doggie Claws and Fred? Well, it did, replicating Hair of the Dog's beers on its own larger system. You won't find Deschutes beers based on recipes that have earned Hair of the Dog's Alan Sprints a global following for his tiny Southeast Portland brewery on their own, though. Rather, they're half the blend for the just-released small-batch bottling of Collage 2.

Blending is the secret to most of the best barrel-aged beers, providing depth and nuance you don't get from a typical oak bomb. Blending is common with barrel-aged beers that have the same base, according to Deschutes assistant brewmaster Ryan Schmiege. "Less common is the blending of completely different components to create one beautiful offering," he says. "That was, I think it's safe to say, what [Deschutes'] Gary Fish and Alan Sprints wanted to accomplish." The result is extraordinary and something like a really good fruitcake—grape and apricot and vanilla and warm maltiness.

The final blend was approved by Sprints and Fish, who picked it from a few variants presented to them. It goes without saying they have great taste. Recommended.

Willamette Week

Deschutes Brewery and Hair of the Dog Brewed a Beer Together—And It's Really Good

Blending is the secret to most of the best barrel-aged beers, providing depth and nuance you don’t get from a typical oak bomb.