DuClaw Bad Moon Porter

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

(Draft @ Orioles game 7/13/07 @ Camden Yards) Pretty weak porter...Pours dark brown, kind of still-looking, with virtually no head. Aroma sort of chocolatey, weak coffee, kind of off and on sour. Flavor is weak bitterish milk chocolate/cocoa with weak coffee and some sourish off taste. A little better as it warmed but really just above drinkable. Could have been I just got a bad one - I didn’t know this was a DuClaw until I looked it up on RB afterwards - wouldn’t have guessed it based on their good reputation.

On tap. Poured dark brown with a one-finger tan head. No lacing. The aroma was caramel, malt and smoke. The flavor was a delightful blend of caramel and smoke with some malt and coffee in the background. A little thin in terms of mouthfeel. Pretty straightforward, but nice for what it is.

Tap @ Arundel Mills: This beer poured a clear very deep, almost opaque, chestnut color with a small beige head. The aroma was roasty with some notes of coffee grinds. Roasted malt flavor with big notes of coffee and sadly spent coffee grinds. Light bitter finish with a light-medium body. Semi-dry finish.

Draft from the brewpub. Dense brown black hue. Tan head. Smooth and rich porter. Slightly smokey. Touch of soy and vanilla. Toasty and roasty. Flavors of bitter coffee and dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied. Minimal hop profile. Decent. Favorite from here.

On tap @ Arundel Mills-Poured dark black w/a tan head. Aroma’s of chocolate & coffee. Had a definite roasted malt flavor & that bittersweet chocolate & coffee came thru strong. Very well balanced brew which I found very easy to drink. Thought this was the best beer here, enjoyed it more than their stout. Long smooth finish.

Tap @ Bowie. Deep, dark brown color with a nice creamy tan head. Aroma is roasted malts and not much else. Flavor is very roasted, with a little coffee. It taste and dark as its color. Tasty, but not exceptional.

Mild coffee and coldwater aroma. Dry, chicory, toast, cream. Straightforward and enjoyable. Not tart. Medium body, light CO2. Best beer here.

Tap, Bowie location. Pours a dark black center; fluffy khaki head with decent retention, strong lacing. Generous amounts of roasted malts, bitter chocolate in the aroma. Lively carbonation; medium mouthfeel: milk / dark chocolate, charred malts, marshmallow and vanilla. Medium finish: bitter chocolate, slightly dry. A tasty, better-than-average porter, and probably the most satisfying of DuClaw’s regular line (although Venom is pretty solid).