DuClaw Colossus

Brewed by DuClaw Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Abingdon, Maryland USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

Bottle. Pours a clear amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity sweetish spicy malty dark fruit and caramel aroma. Sweetish malty dark fruit and caramel flavor. Has a sweetish malty spicy dark fruit and caramel finish.

Bottle. Pours a hazy deep copper amber with a minimal off-white head. SWEET aroma of caramel, honey, raisins, brown sugar and alcohol. Very sweet and rich flavor of ripe dark fruit, caramel, raisins, honey sweetness and some notes of molasses.

Heavy tastes of spices such as cinnamon, this beer even with its extreme ABV is very drinkable. Warming as it goes down, colossus is a fantastic after dinner beer.

It’s never a good sign when you order a beer and they serve it in a brandy snifter. To me, this smelled and tasted more like whiskey than beer. Considering I don’t really like whiskey and thought I ordered a beer, this was a problem. Aroma and flavor are dominated by alcohol, not surprising for a 40 proof beverage. This is a beer for people that don’t like beer. If you find yourself at a DuClaw, go for one of the more traditional beers (the venom, serum, or euphoria)--those are outstanding.

2 oz pour at the Bowie location on 7/22/11. dark red pour with no head. deep fruit / sugar nose with layers of figs, dates, raisins and grapes. medium to full body with lots of sugar and dark fruits including layers of cherries. sweet finish with caramel and more dark fruit. the high abv is well balanced - no real alcohol heat. a fun sipping beer.

UPDATED: JUL 29, 2011 Draught at Mt. Airy Inn. Pours a amber color with minimal head. Aroma is sweet, fruity, and strong. Taste is like tawny port. Very sweet, but balanced nicely for the ABV. I was expecting cloying sweetness, but while it was very sweet it was also very drinkable. Very strong ABV, but not boozy to my palate. Overall, a nice beer when you want your socks knocked off.

Tap->snifter: Pours a dark brown body with no head, except on the sides. Body is hazy and opaque. Aroma is sweet with a strong bubblegum aroma and a tinge of clove. The body is medium-to-full, very sweet on the tongue with a sweet aftertaste that lingers between sips. The alcohol really is exhibited in each taste, really reminiscent of port wine. A very unique beer.

20110615 tap at Bel Air. Motor oil amber with slight white head. Incredibly sweet, lots of canned pear in syrup and maple, and not much hops to keep my interest. Better than the bottles I’ve had, but its still too much.