DuClaw Colossus

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

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

I had this beer a while back and from what I can remember I enjoyed it. I’ve had this at the pub/brewery so it was fresh. Nothing special about it is popping into my head at the moment.

Via trade with Acole34. The nose is a blast of fruit, alcohol, honey. Like an amped up barley wine. The appearance is deep maber, translucent, almost non-existent white head. The flavor is unrelentingly sweet, apples, cherries, maple syrup, alcohol (take a few seconds to come in), some cinnamon. Awesome thick, syrupy mouthfeel. It’s a bit like cough syrup. In some ways, it reminds me of the phoenix kriek. Finish is sweet cherry, resiny hops, spices (like coriander, pepper). I wouldn’t drink this all the time, but I really enjoyed this. Thanks, Angus. Update: Heated to about 105 degrees. The booze really comes out in the aroma now!!! Also, some tart cherry in there. The appearance is the same. The mouthfeel is about the same. The flavor is a tad more tart than sweet, unlike before. Still fairly sweet, lots of cherries. The finish is much more resiny hop bitter, than the lingering sweetness of before. This is akin to the Unibroue Quelque Chose. My recommendation, drink this cold. This beer REALLY grows on you, BTW.

Aroma:Hot alcohol, raisins, dark fruits. Appearance:Amber in color, with nearly no head. Taste:Really sweet, apples, brown sugar, apple strudel, honey. Palate:Medium to thick body. Overall:This is an amazingly drinkable, well balanced, high ABV beer.

Bomber served in a tulip. Pour is a deep cider with an orange/red shimmering hue; one finger of lacing with only a touch of lacing. Nose is honey, caramel, must, cellar, earth, light cantaloupe, and barley. Taste is big honey and caramel (could swear this is mead) and barley/earth. The after taste is an odd spiced pure honey. I don’t pick up any hops in this brew, or even much malt, it’s a honey bomb more than anything. This is an interesting brew; I would flat out declare anyone a liar if I didn’t see the 21.92% ABV written on the bottle. You can’t taste the booze, or smell it, but there is a slight warming in the chest. I would really enjoy this more if the sweetness was toned down from the current syrupy level. Overall, not bad though!

Bottle, courtesy CheeseMan. Whoa boy, this sucker is a beast! The pour gives a very lightly hazy, deep amber to copper colored body. A small, fluffy head of beige tinted foam settles in to a thin film, leaving wet, drooping lace and some drippy tears on the glass. The nose is obviously monstrously sweet, showing loads of caramel and burnt honey, with a myriad of dark, earthen fruits such as stewed raisins, figs, and cooked dates. Hops can’t keep pace, giving just subtle spice and earth notes amidst the avalanche of sweet, fruity malt. Flavors continue down this path, again loaded with caramel and ripe, dark fruits. Dark honey is prominent, nearly as much so as the sticky, toasted caramel. Figs, dates, and raisins are abounds, as spicy, earthy hops again seem an afterthought. Softly carbonated, the palate is coating and sticky, but not as boozy as one might expect. I suppose there’s enough malt in there to keep the alcohol somewhat in check. Still, it’s warming and somewhat astringent on the finish. Interesting stuff. It’s certainly better than I though it would be, but then again, I thought it would be pretty horrid. Drinkable in really small doses. Have a good ten people around when you want to crack a bomber.

Bottle shared by richlikebeer at the jimmack invitational 2010. Poured a clear burnt orange with a smaller off white frothy head. Aroma was very hoppy, citrus and pine along with a slight touch of cat piss, sweetness lead by honey and caramel. Medium bodied with average carbonation and a lingering bitterness. Flavor of nice citrus fruits, hop cones, slight pine, dry bread, caramel and alcohol. After the abomination that was Sink The Bismark this one is as easy to sip as a bottle of Poland Spring.

Bottle thanks to Rich at Jimmack’s tasting. Pours clear amber. Nose and taste of cane sugar, sweet molasses, oak, booze and caramel malts.

Dark red brown color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of caramel malts, some roast, dark fruits, citrus, and alcohol. Taste of chewy molasses, dark fruits, vanilla, citrus, pine, and alcohol in the finish. Thanks to Rich for sharing!