Back in September, I spent some time with Dave Benfield, Madeline Caldwell and Austin Simmons from DuClaw Brewing Company and then featured the wonderful turn-around story of DuClaw Brewing in a 3-part Craft Beer on The Bay series. You can listen to those three podcasts on DuClaw Brewing, and any other Craft Beer on The Bay podcasts, by visiting thebayonline.com. Just click on the Craft Beer tab.
Now, back to DuClaw: about three weeks ago, I received a package in the mail from DuClaw Brewing. Because of it’s shape and weight, I wasn’t quite sure what was inside and thought it might be some glassware. But once I opened it, I was happy to see four new, limited release, DuClaw beers.
I took all four beers home and then over the next four days, drank one each night. Here’s a snapshot of each.
Oatshake. This is a Hazy Double IPA brewed with Oat Milk. I poured this, and all of these beers, hard; that is letting the beer crash into the glass creating a big lacy head. Oatshake is light gold and, of course, hazy. When I picked up my glass to drink this beer, there were wonderful hop and citrus aromas. The hops are present in the taste but are softened by the sweetness from the oat milk. This is an excellent beer! Oatshake comes in a 16 ounce can and is an 8.5% ABV beer.
Next, the latest in the Sour Me series from DuClaw: a Sour Ale made with Blackberries and Honeysuckle Tea. Again, I poured this hard. This Sour Ale has a distinct purple color and has blackberry and honeysuckle notes as you sniff the top of the glass. The flavor is very tart with blackberry first and then a floral quality, but a true sour all the way. For Sour fans, you have to drink this one. Sour Me with Blackberry and Honeysuckle is available in 16 ounce cans and checks in at 5.5% ABV.
My third beer was Pineapple Queen, a Tart IPA in 12 ounce cans. My hard pour left a light, white head and revealed scents of pineapple and hops. As the beer hit my tongue, I tasted the expected IPA bitterness but an unexpected tartness, despite its description on the can. I had simply thought that this was a clever name for an IPA, but was wrong, and at the same time, pleasantly surprised. This is very drinkable with the pineapple and Mosaic hop combinations so well balanced, you’d never know you were drinking a 7.1% ABV beer.
My last DuClaw limited release beer was from The Pastryarchy series. This one is an Imperial Stout with Oat Milk. This was spectacular and my favorite of these four excellent beers, so that gives you an idea of how good this is. It’s completely black as you pour it with a dense tan head. There are hints of spice, chocolate and coffee in the nose and is incredibly smooth as you drink it, tasting like a classic imperial stout with the added bonus of a soft sweetness to it. It’s 8.5% and is available in 16 ounce cans.
Although Valentine’s Day was last Friday, it’s never too late to fall in love with a new beer!
Cheers!
Jefferson
The Craft Beer Guy
Email: jward@thebayonline.com
