Copperworks Distilling – Hair of the Dog Brewing Collection

The Hair of the Dog Brewing name continues to live on as Seattle’s Copperworks Distilling Co. is set to unveil its Hair of the Dog Brewing Cask Finished Collection later this week. This new line of cask finished Single Malt Whiskey and Gin will make its debut on Friday, April 7, 2023 that also happens to be National Beer Day at Seattle’s Brouwer’s Café.

Copperworks Distilling Co. was founded in 2013 by two craft brewers – Micah Nutt and Jason Parker (the first brewer back in 1989 at the renowned Pike Brewing Company). The two built their distillery around craft beer when it was decided to distill its spirits from a well thought out wash of craft beer. This seemed to work as in 2018, Copperworks Distilling was awarded the title of Distillery of the Year from the American Distilling Institute. Today, Copperworks remains guided by its founding principle: “From great brewing comes great spirits.”

Now circling back to the soon to be released Hair of the Dog Brewing Cask Finished Collection, this came about from Brouwer’s Café Manager Nat Pellman. He’s a longtime friend of Parker and mentioned that there were casks available from the now shuttered brewer that closed in 2022.

“I cast a wide net to see who was interested in using them and Jason responded that he wanted them for Copperworks,” said Pellman, in a statement. “We were thrilled as Brouwer’s is a beer-centric destination that has been a supporter of Hair of the Dog for many years and we’ve collaborated with Jason previously, so hosting the cask collection release event here at Brouwer’s is really a full circle moment.”

“Hair of the Dog was known for creative, richly flavored brews and was barrel aging beers long before it was cool,” said Jason Parker, co-owner and president of Copperworks Distilling Co., in a statement. “When we learned they were shutting down, we knew it was our first (and likely last) chance to acquire casks from this renowned pioneer in craft beer. Considering our origins as brewers, we knew we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity.”

“This special cask collection celebrates the possibilities of flavor when craft brewing and distilling come together,” said Jeff Kanof, co-owner and vice president of Copperworks Distilling Co., in a statement. “It features two single-cask American Single Malt whiskeys and two cask-finished gins. Each product was finished in a cask previously used by Hair of the Dog Brewing.”

PRODUCT DETAILS

Copperworks received four casks to create this collection: two casks that previously aged Hair of the Dog’s “Matt” ale, and two casks that previously aged Hair of the Dog’s “Adam” ale.

The spirits in this collection were named after these beers, respectively.

Adam

“Adam” was the first beer produced by Hair of the Dog Founder Alan Sprints.

The name has two references: 1) a nod to Adam and Eve (first creation) and 2) a nod to Adambier, an old-world style of beer. The story goes that renowned beer writer Fred Eckhardt gave Sprints the ancient recipe for Dortmunder “adambier.” Thus, the name and the beer were born.

Matt

“Matt” was crafted for the tenth anniversary of craft beer shop Bottleworks in 2009 and named after two Matts– Bottleworks and Brouwer’s Owner Matt Vandenberghe and the late Matt Bonney (early employee of Bottleworks and well-known in the beer community.)

Both American Single Malt whiskeys were crafted from a single variety of barley called Genie, grown on a single farm in Athena, OR. They matured for three years and three months in new American Oak casks from Canton Cooperage with char #2 and 36-month seasoned staves prior to finishing in their respective Hair of the Dog casks.

Both gins were crafted from Copperworks’ Small Batch Gin recipe prior to finishing in their respective Hair of the Dog casks.

Beginning April 7, 2023, The Hair of the Dog Brewing Cask Finished Collection will be available exclusively at Copperworks’ Seattle Distillery and Tasting Room located at 1250 Alaskan Way in Seattle. The collection will also be available on its online store. To purchase, please visit: https://store.copperworksdistilling.com/collections/spirits. The collection will be available at the above link beginning on Friday, April 7, 2023.

To purchase the collection sooner, become a Copperworks’ First Cut 2023 member for early access to this new collection, plus all special releases in 2023. More information here.

The release party will also be held on Friday, April 7, but at Brouwer’s Café located at 400 N 35th Street in Seattle from 4:00-7:00pm. Patrons will be able to sample the Hair of the Dog Brewing Cask Finished Collection, meet Copperworks’ Co-Founder, Co-Owner, and President  Jason Parker, Head Distiller Thomas Paessler, and Distiller Matt “Skinny” Roberts.

Brouwer’s will also have Hair of the Dog’s 2019 “Matt Ale” on draft and “Adam Ale” and other Hair of the Dog products in bottles available for purchase – a perfect complement to the new cask collection!

Here’s a rundown on the four new Hair of the Dog spirits with tasting notes from Copperworks Distilling Co.

“Matt” and “Adam” American Single Malt Whiskeys
These two whiskeys share the same beginning. Both were crafted from a single variety of barley called Genie, grown on a single farm in Athena, Oregon. They matured for 3 years and 3 months in new American Oak casks from Canton Cooperage with char #2 and 36-month seasoned staves. Then, their journeys diverged as they entered casks previously used by Hair of the Dog.

“Matt” American Single Malt Whiskey
179 bottles produced (750ml)
50% ABV (100 Proof)
$89.99 (+ tax and shipping)

Finished for an additional 8 months in a bourbon cask that previously held Hair of the Dog’s Matt American Strong ale.

Tasting Notes
Maraschino cherry, plum, raisin, and chocolate malt balls are the main feature on the nose, with later appearances of citrus and milk chocolate. Warming on the palate, these notes remain present yet drip with vanilla and caramel. The finish is luscious with oak, spice, and some citrus joining the party.

“Adam” American Single Malt Whiskey
253 bottles produced (750ml)
50% ABV (100 Proof)
$89.99 (+ tax and shipping)

Finished for an additional 8 months in a bourbon cask that previously held Hair of the Dog’s Adam ale.

Tasting Notes
A summer’s day greets you on the nose with bright citrus, confectioners’ sugar, pine, and strawberry. This lends an effervescent quality to the palate with more citrus and cinnamon, accompanied by a malty sweetness with spice and chocolate lava cake dancing around the edges. Finishing bright and long with spice, vanilla, candied orange peel, and apple tart making an appearance.

“Matt” and “Adam” Cask Finished Gins
These casks finished gins are as distinct as they are delicious. They share the same base: Copperworks Small Batch Gin, our ten-botanical recipe. Each gin was entered into a cask previously used by Hair of the Dog, mirroring the journey of their whiskey counterparts.

“Matt” Cask Finished Gin
319 bottles produced (750ml)
50% ABV (100 Proof)
$49.95 (+ tax and shipping)

Finished for 8 months in a sherry cask that previously held Hair of the Dog’s Matt American Strong ale.

Tasting Notes
Cocoa powder surprises and delights on the nose with dark chocolate, pine, and mint intermingling. Sweet citrus is abundant on the palate, along with yuzu and creamsicle while vanilla, white pepper, and a touch of grape pomace balance the sweetness. The finish is melted vanilla ice cream with a touch of chinotto and mint.

“Adam” Cask Finished Gin
198 bottles produced (750ml)
47.05% ABV (94.1 Proof)
$49.95 (+ tax and shipping)

Finished for 8 months in a bourbon cask that previously held Hair of the Dog’s Adam ale.

Tasting Notes
Bright and fresh like a spring day, the nose offers notes of sugared ruby red grapefruit, kumquat, tart cherries, and cinnamon. The palate follows with freshly smashed chocolate orange accompanied by monkey bread, tangerine, cotton candy, and sage, all supported by the small batch gin base. Rounding out the experience are hints of sugar cane, cherry pie filling, sarsaparilla, and spice.

These four Hair of the Dog spirits will be available in Washington on Friday, April 7 and will soon follow with Oregon distribution. To learn more, visit copperworksdistilling.com.