DuClaw Colossus

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

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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Ever since my first glog, the Rorviv Ol-Glog, I have been on a constant look-out for another glog of equally orgasmic proportions, or a suitable beer to warm and sup as a glog. Well, that special moment descended about a month ago in the form of the DuClaw Colossus, a self-styled American Strong Ale of epic proportions, 21.92%ABV epic proportions, that is. When the time came to sup and savor this beauteous beast, Eric and I both concurred that warming her like a glog would be best, and boy were we ever more right.

Served in Grandma Johnson’s old Dutch tea cup china, soft whites with lavender flowers decorated in tasteful minimalism, a better pairing couldn’t be found anywhere then in those glasses and in that moment. Steam slowly rose from her deep murky brown and burnished mahogany depths. Tiny bubbles scatter shyly around the sides while a gentle swirl traces soft lace along the sides of my tea cup. Beautiful. Wafting upwards atop a bed of soothing steam is a pervading gentle sweetness, the kind one finds cupping a warm brandy in front of the crackling fireplace. Brown sugar coated red apples, cooked long and slow in their own juices along with fresh cinnamon, maple, molasses, and more brown sugar. Apricot, peaches, and orange are added next to the steeping sweet spiced fruit compote. The final flourish? The finest of brandies and oak-aged rums are added for soul-soothing warmth and further depth. Luxurious fits the DuClaw Colossus perfectly. My first sip is warm just enough and all about brown spices and wood. Warm brandy and rum hit fast and long, immediately tracing long slender fingers across my chest and throat, feathery whispers lingering long after their initial touch. Cinnamon sticks, apricots, peaches, red apples and brown sugar are steeped long and tenderly while maple and molasses thinly coat my lips and tongue. Her finish is on the sweet and dry side with spices lingering in each breath. Dead grass and old wood whispers in the background while each divine quaff focuses her attention on the center of my palate. Divinity is moments such as this, when souls soar and time seems to slow to an infinite crawl, all the better to savor the moment with each aching fiber of one’s being. That was my moment with the DuClaw Colossus.

I’m not sure how she would taste cellar temperature, and I’m not really sure if I care to. Should you have a bottle of this awaiting supping and sharing, give her liquid nectar a slow hot-water bath to warm her thoroughly without burning and discover the gates of heavenly ascension as I did. I can’t promise the old Dutch china, but I am sure you will find something equally worthy.

Shared by sparky27 with the phoenix crew at hellbillys shop of horrors. Pours an amber color with a slight reddish hue and a small white head. Aroma is boozy, caramel, malt. Flavor is caramel, alcohol, lots of sweetness. Kind of reminds me of alcoholic whoppers candy meets werthers original. Strange brew, and considering the strength it isn’t bad. Just don’t smoke near this bad boy.

UPDATED: JUL 15, 2010 Reddish brown with almost no head. Aroma is sweet and grapey with a bit of cinnamon. Taste is the same with pronounced cinnamon; fruity, vinous grapey,and finishing in honey. It’s *almost* cloyingly sweet, and powerfully alcoholic, but not nearly as bad as it could or should be at this level. I prefer this to DFH 120 $22/22oz

Huge brew shared by cheeseman. Packs a punch of dark malts and dark fruits. Strong alcohol flavor. Fairly good for as strong as it is.

Thanks to ericandersnavy for this one. Orange pour with a small off white head. Aroma is caramel, orange, honey, booze. Flavor is caramel, brown sugar, banana. Hides the booze well.

1 liter swing top growler. Sealed with gold wax on top. Poured out a deep cherry amber color, with quite a bit of carbonation initially. Thin ring of tan foam around my snifter. Aromas are of vodka soaked berry fruit, alcohol, cough syrup. No hops in this rascal. Flavors are mixed berries, sweet melon, some spices, lots of alcohol. Very warming, highly potent stuff here. Alcohol is prevelent in flavors as well as aftertastes. Be sure to share a bottle with 10 of your closest friends !!!

22 oz bomber-clear amber color w/a mohogany tint & no head. Sweet raisin aroma. Very sweet flavors of raisins, toffee, caramel, & some faint candied sugar. Amazingly, the alcohol is not overpowering, but it has quite the warming property to it. A definite sipper, very sweet, almost like a mead or aptiff. Great after dinner drink, but you aren’t gonna drink too much of this. I think it will age well, we’ll see. Long sweet finish.

Ratebeer winter gathering. A: Pours a nice amber hue with a small off white head. No retention or lace. S: Sweet and boozy. Lots of honey and apple puree. Mild dark fruit with hints of spice. T: Boozy right from the start. Rich honey sweetness with nice dark fruit tones. Mild chocolate with hints of maple and molasses. M: Rich sweet and boozy.

Poured a very hazy reddish color with a very thin off-white head. Aroma of alcohol, fruit, brown sugar and honey. Taste is very sweet and sugary. Slightly resin flavors and cotton candy. The alcohol is amazingly well hidden. Some yeasty notes make this taste slightly belgian. Overall it is very flavorful, and the alcohol is well hidden, but maybe a little too sweet.

Dark amber in color from the sides and lighter, more clear in color from the top, it has a bubbly white head and almost looks like a double IPA. A strong ale aroma, with moderate hops and a sweet, smoky? Caramelly malt backing. There’s something dusty about this... makes it different, but good! Flavor is delicious! You really can’t tell this has such a high ABV. Really smooth in the mouth... sweet, bright, leaves a sticky sweetness on the lips. Almost like this has evaporated a bit - you can taste it. Sticks to the tongue and dominates the finish with a sweet alcohol. Sweet and so good. Amazing that something this strong tastes so sweet and easy. I’m totally licking my lips. This beer is deceivingly potent.