DuClaw X-1 (Imperial Chocolate Rye Porter)

Brewed by DuClaw Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Abingdon, Maryland USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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22oz bottle. Poured a brown color with an off white head. Aromas of rye, rye bread, chocolate, earthy, and some roast. Tastes of chocolate, lighter rye, caramel, and lighter breadiness. More rye in the aromas and more chocolate in the tastes.

Bomber from Wine Sellar, Williamsburg, VA. Pours deep blackish with a finger of khaki head. Nose is very roasty chocolate and black patent malt, heavy cacao, chocolate syrup, molasses, and hazelnuts. Tastes rich, crreamy, with heavy chocolate syrup, hazelnut, and chocolate malt flavors. This one is the perfect dessert beer; thick, rich, ample hops yet not too bitter, complex, and absolutely spot on. Bravo, and I didn’t even taste much rye here. I’m going to share a secret that may not be popular, but it is true. In a blind taste test, this beer would beat many that are rated much higher, and there is no mistaking that DuClaw continues to evolve and improve as a brewing company.

Charred pork, smoke aroma. Chocolate? No. Black pour with a thick beige head. Flavor is smoke and, baker’s chocolate. Ah, there it is. Umami and almost salty, but lightly bitter, not sweet at all. Alcohol not noticeable, medium body, easy carbonation. A lot of seemingly different flavors and aromas coming together in a harmonious blend. Wow, good stuff.

This poured poured a medium brown with a beige head. Aroma was dark chocolate, medium roast and some herbal hops. Flavor was bittersweet chocolate, decent roast, some rye and herbal hops. OK

22oz bottle. Pours a jet black color with a two finger light tan head, that leaves some rocky lacing. Really big roasted malt and chocolate aroma along with scents of coffee and light hops. Sweet chocolate and caramel flavors with a good roasted malt backbone. Alcohol present but nicely hidden by the sweet malt flavor. Medium body and medium carbonation.

UPDATED: JUN 6, 2012
Location: Draft at Arundal Mills Brewpub, 5/28/12

Aroma: The nose has lots of rye whiskey, chocolate, and coffee
Appearance: It pours a dark brown color with a small light brown head
Flavor: The flavor is much the same, lots of whiskey and chocolate flavors
Palate: The body is full, with a creamy, slightly chalky feel, and some medium heat
Overall Impression: This one is interesting for sure. It’s not too sweet, but still a lot of chocolate, and the rye whiskey flavor is prominent and clear as well. This was a nice one the get to try.

Poured black with a thick brown head that faded quickly. Aroma has lots of rye, chocolate, and coffee. Taste has more rye with roasted malts. Slightly nutty and bitter. Quite smooth. Finish has even more rye, maybe too much. The balance is overall very good, but I would have liked it a tad sweeter maybe.

On tap Whole Foods. Typical black w. tan head. Aroma of dark fruits and chocolate. Decent rye taste upfront, with chocolate and dark fruit in middle, ending strong with chocolate and some bitter coffee. Nice creamy mouthfeel w. med. carbonation. Overall it's really solid and very happy with this choice! ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

22 oz. bottle. Mine says 8% ABV. A mahogany/near black pour with a thick and creamy chestnut head. A pleasant aroma of caramel, chocolate, coffee, rye, and pumpernickel bread. Goes down medium to full-bodied and rather smooth. The taste starts with plenty of sweet caramel maltiness, rich milk chocolate, and some espresso. A rye breadiness in the middle. A semi-sour finish with some bittering black coffee and a little citrus. Tasty stuff.

Draft at fest. Desk black, thick, creamy, Tan head. Excellent chocolate and light rye. Very good beer.