DuClaw Devils Milk

Brewed by DuClaw Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Abingdon, Maryland USA

RBSG 06 DC @ RFD’s Special Tasting Ruby amber color, creamy tan head, lots of lacing. Nose of sweet piney hops and maltose. The flavor has a touch of metallic, but it’s quickly overwhelmbed by the sweet syruppy caramel; rich body and exquisite hop compounds. The finish has a nice balanced bitter slap. Nice barleywine.

On tap at RFD during RBSG 2006. Pours a dark amber brown with a medium to light beige head. Has a slightly sweet aroma. Amazing delicious upfront flavor of strawberries! The finish is surprisingly sudden for a barleywine. I then figured out that the quick finish was BECAUSE MY TONGUE WAS NUMBED BY THE ALCOHOL. I detected a slight lidocaine taste at the end and realized it reminded me of when the dentist numbs your mouth with spray anesthetic. Good up-front maltiness, but just like ether, the more you use this stuff, the more you like it.

Sampled at RFD during RBSG 2006. ’04 on draft. Deep amber pour with a small head. Complex aroma of dried fruits and caramel. The flavor is delivered with a smooth body. There is just enough sweetness to get your attention, and the bitterness is firm, yet not overpowering. Great balance.

A very solid barley wine. Pretty much all clear, medium-dark orange and copper colored body with a properly thick tan head. First taste is creamy, lush, sweet and rich... smooth. Flavors of rich sticky malts, yeasty candy sugar, plums, cedar wood. Awesome stuff. Rich, sticky and smooth.

On tap, 2006 RBSG RFD tasting, 2004 vintage. Pours a dark copper, clear, under a creamy film of off-white head. Aroma is very sweet with a syrupy maltiness, quite fruity, with notes of apricot and peach. Flavor is very malty with a moderate risidual sweetness and moderate, but not overpowering, alcohol. Finish has quite a bit of bitterness with an iced tea like note. Mouthfeel is full bodied with a syrupy texture and soft carbonation. Overall, this was well rounded, not overly alcoholic, and pretty well balanced.

Copper colored body with a good head. Old fruit, cinnamon and brandy make up an enticing aroma, but the beer is thinner than expected.

Had this one during the sampler, too. Not a big fan of the barleywine style brew, however, this one seemed decent. Not much more to comment about since I don’t have too much experience with Barleywine style brews. Complex character with a rich body and flavor.

Rerate, sampled on tap on 7/14/06 at the RBSG: Has a sweet melon and molten caramel aroma with good hoppy presence and nice complexity. Good, smooth sweet viscous complex and light fruity body has a warming sticky finish. Could use a little more age, but is quite nice.

Hand bottled sampled in Feb. 06: Pours a transparent dark copper with a thin wispy white head. Complex, rich aroma has a sweet gritty caramel presence with a nice fresh piney grapefruity hoppy balance. Body starts with lots of gritty caramel sweet maltiness and a fresh piney hoppy bitterness. Finishes warming and bittersweet. A nice barleywine.