DuClaw Brewing, Baltimore

July 29, 2008
Checked it out late-afternoon with a gaggle of kids. The place was quiet so service was quick and reliable. Sampled the porter and it was tasty. Decor was a little too modern for my liking but appealing nonetheless. Worth a try even if once.

October 18, 2007
I really liked this place. I ordered the $9 sampler and the waitress brought 12 beers - the regulars plus the seasonals, including the bad moon porter with and without nitro. The misfit red was my favorite, but most of the beers were very good. As for food, I had a crabcake sandwich, and it was good as well. I recommend it.

March 22, 2007
I have to say that this was possibly the worst service that I have received in a restaurant in many years. Absolutely terrible! Sunday afternoon, there was one frazzled lady running the bar and the outside. Sat for about 15 minutes before we even got a glass of water. Menus? Forget about it. Half an hour later we got our sampler. The menu said there were 5 beers in the sampler. They only had 4 on draft. So should it be the same price since we were getting one less beer? Yes! WTF! My friend actually mentioned something to the young manager who looked like he could care less. The food, god knows how long it took to get it, was also bad. It takes alot to screw up a bar burger, but they managed quite nicely! I relunctantly admit that the beers were good, I just wish we could have gotten them to go!

November 22, 2006
Much nicer (I guess this should read newer and/or trendier) than I was expecting. Very modern but with a kind of missed attempt to be dark & twisted (see the names of the beers & logos). The service was good, granted we were there before a concert and it was like 4:30 so the place was empty. Almost spookily empty since there was a (home) Ravens game, no one was out drinking.

July 23, 2006
Another family restaurtant-looking brewpub. You probably know what you’re getting here: burgers, salads, sandwiches, etc. Beer was ok, they had an IPA and a wit seasonal on, but neither was particularily good. Server was more interested in the hot girl down the bar than in my empty beer and water glasses.

June 28, 2006
Pretty much like the Bowie location inside. Service was good but for some reason they had the place open(!) while being in the mid to upper 80’s and very humid outside. It was a bit uncomfortable inside. The food was pretty good, and the beers drinkable but DuClaw seems hit or miss at times. I like their "extreme" beers but seem rather unimpressed with the standard stuff. Like Cap City Baltimore, I’ll swing by to see if something new is there.

March 17, 2006
The beer here was awful. I couldn’t even finish one pint. the food was good. The inside isn’t very comfortable or inviting. Feels very empty and commercial. Don’t recommend it.

January 30, 2006
Fells Point location. Agree that it could be more classic in look and feel especially for the neighborhood. That said the outdoor area and view makes up for a lot. Service was spotty. The sampler was amazing and almost too much - 10 fairly hefty sized glasses, all quite good and distinct. Hey that’s why we go right? Repent is a sweeter 14% alcohol content powerful Belgian type, the porter is quite hardy, their stout thick & robust & the light actually had some taste. Well done!

December 7, 2005
I tried the location out at Arundel Mills mall. Next to the theatre, parking is a pain. The beers on tap are all very good, solid beers. I really enjoyed the Venom Pale Ale, the stout, and the belgian quad. I just missed the Devil’s Milk barleywine by two days. Darn! Decor is contemporary industrial, and the bar is separate from the restaurant...nice. Decent food and good happy hour specials. Happy hour all day and all night on tuesday, and it’s PACKED. Only three miles from BWI rental car return, so it’s easy to stop in before catching a flight.

February 22, 2005
DuClaw’s Fells location gets an okay, average, just above failing review. It has a cold, industrial feel to the inside ambience that doesn’t mix well with the pub fell of Fells in general. The only plus would be the outdoor seating, allowing you to drink better than average beers and see the water. Been there at least a half dozen times now for the seasonal debuts. Service has been anywhere from clueless to mean. Stay away from the one female bartender, as she is usually cross. Food is basically pub grub. We’ve had sandwiches and apps so far, with both being not so good. The nachos were sweet, with canned cheese and chili on top. They only feature their own beer, which is usually okay with brewpubs. However, they are more than likely out of one to three selections. Unless you are there within a day or two of a launch of a seasonal, it definitely won’t be around. If they do have their beer, it is good, fresh, and tasty.