Hair of the Dog Brewing Company was founded in November of 1993. The first person to purchase our beer was Fred Eckhardt, beer historian, inspriation, and mentor to the brewers. His purchase of Adam occured on August 23, 1994.
Hair of the Dog Adam was originally called Adambier after a German beer style that was no longer being produced. The inspiration for Adam and for Hair of the Dog Brewing came from Fred Eckhardt while he was speaking about beer styles that had fallen to extinction.
There is little historical knowledge of the Adambier style. One interesting bit is this one:
| On The Origin of the Adambier Style |
One more special variety may be noted, and that is the strong
ten-years-old ale known by the people of Dortmund as "Adam." It is
mentioned by Corvin in An Autobiography, who relates that "When
King Frederick William IV of Prussia visited Dortmund a deputation
of the magistrates waited upon him, one of them bearing a salver with
a large tankard filled with Adam. When the King asked what it was,
and heard that it was the celebrated beer, he said 'Very Welcome, for
it is extremely warm,' and drained off the contents of the tankard at
a draught. The members of the deputation, smiled at each other, for
they knew what would be the result. His Majesty was unconscious for
more than twenty-four hours."
from The Curiosities of Ale & Beer, An Entertaining History by John Bickerdyke, Spring Books, London, first published in 1889, 1965. Dedicated to the Brewers of the United Kingdom and all who value Honest Malt Liquor. |