Another Local Treasure

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The title might not give it away, but this is another one of my blog posts in which I praise a local brewery that I have stumbled upon in the greater DC Metro / Northern Virginia / Maryland region. If you are located in the area, consider this blog post a recommendation – nay – a challenge to get off of your lazy butts and go give these guys your patronage, in exchange for their delicious brew. If you aren’t local to this unexplainable swath of the planet, this blog post can serve to further your understanding of the beer culture we have here in the Nation’s Capital, as well as plant a seed in the back of your mind for the next time you’re visiting us. Plus, as the reach of this brewery’s distribution effort is expanding, perhaps you’ll be able to find some of their wares wherever fine brews are sold near you.

WHAT THE FRACK BREWERY ARE YOU BLATHERING ABOUT?!

Caramel, Toffee and Almond = Delicious

The brewery in question is the DuClaw Brewing Company, headquartered in Abbingdon, Maryland, with locations in Bel Air, Maryland, at the Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, Maryland, at the Bowie Town Center in Bowie, Maryland, and in the southwest terminal of Baltimore Washington International Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. When you go to one of these places, or even by simply checking out there website, you’ll notice that DuClaw has embraced a very aggressive approach to their marketing and overall “look and feel” of their restaurants.

The beer they make, not surprisingly, is a reflection of this aggressive attitude. DuClaw’s staple beers include their Bad Moon porter, Bare Ass blonde ale, Black Lightning black IPA, EuForia nut brown ale, Hellrazer IPA, Misfit Red amber ale, Mysterium Belgian spiced ale, Serum xxIPA double IPA, and Venom pale ale. The names and labels alone draw you in, and your curiosity is rewarded with how bold and delicious they taste.

Ride the Lightning

They also brew 29 seasonals and rarities that are occasionally available at the restaurants. They include, but are not limited to, an oatmeal stout called “Alchemy,” a Belgian quadruple abbey ale called “Deception,” a chocolate raspberry stout called “Naked Fish,” a barleywine called “Devil’s Milk,” an Oktoberfest marzen called “Mad Bishop,” a single barrel bourbon aged imperial stout called “Retribution,” a Belgian white ale called “Sawtooth,” a high-gravity hybrid with 21% ABV called “Colossus,” and a classified style called “Enigma.” These are only a handful of the more interesting specials DuClaw makes; for a complete list, consult their website.

So far I have only had the pleasure of getting into four of DuClaw’s forty or so offerings, but if my small sampling is an accurate cross-section of their catalogue, they’ve got a truly remarkable product line going on. The four that I have had were all delicious, but beyond that, they all had a general bold and robust quintessence that commanded respect without overwhelming the palate. The four that I have had are:

She's a monster... seriously

31: 31 is a crisp, copper-colored, medium-bodied spiced Munich dunkel that has a smooth, malty taste and finishes with cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin notes. She is made from Munich, Cara Aroma and Wheat malts and goldings hops and weighs in at 5.2% ABV, 24 BU’s and 14 plato.

Black Lightning: DuClaw’s Black IPA (or American Black Ale), Black Lightning, is medium-bodied and hits a perfect balance of roasted malt flavor and American hops. She is comprised of pale, de-husked roasted barley, melanoidin and crystal malt, along with Amarillo and Chinook hops. The Lightning strikes at 6.4% ABV, 65 BU’s and 15.5 plato.

EuForia: EuForia is a creamy, medium-bodied, dark brown toffee nut brown ale with smooth drinkability and caramel, almond and toffee notes on the front and back ends. She is made with pale, crystal, carawheat, chocolate and rye malts, and fuggle hops. EuForia weighs in at 5% ABV, 22 BU’s and 12.5 plato.

A blessing in a bottle

Serum xxIPA: Serum is a double IPA that, according to DuClaw, “escaped!” She perfectly embodies the image that DuClaw espouses, having been aggressively hopped at several stages in the brewing process. But Serum is not just a hop bomb; she also boasts a delightful malty sweetness that balances the hops quite well. That being said, make no mistake – Serum will wake-up your taste buds and torment your palate, forcing you to step back and rethink your life for a brief moment, but in a good way. She is made from pale malt, wheat malt and CaraRed malt, along with Columbus, Amarillo, and Cascade hops. Serum packs a wallop at 9% ABV, 80 BU’s and 20.5 plato.

As I am fortunate enough to live in the DuClaw sphere of influence, I am able to continue enjoying the various brews that they provide, and [SPOILER ALERT] I intend to do just that. My local beer stores and grocery stores are stocking DuClaw’s beers and the drive up to Maryland is not unreasonable (although driving in the DC metro area is certainly something to be dealt with). I plan to go visit them in the fall and see if I can’t get my hands on one of their really hard-to-find rarities… maybe the Colossus. Don’t worry – I will write a review of this experience. Until then, go find some DuClaw brew and enjoy it for yourself.

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!