DuClaw Devils Milk

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

12/30/2005 On draught with pailhead: Mostly clear yellow-redish amber with a very well retained eggshell head. The aroma is quite hoppy all the way through, fresh citrus, earthy/grassy, and leafy green hops, light malt, dusty grain (not in a bad way). Taste is fresh hops, earthy & leafy hops, sweet apples, light sugary malt, mild caramel, quite bitter. Finish is bitter, not at all sticky or syrupy, with plenty of retronasal hops. Nice English-style barleywine here in both hops and malt, unless I’m totally wrong. This one will age beautifully too. 1/12/2006: Ok same beer but I’m almost certain I was totally wrong on the fuggles. So rather than try to be perfect I’ll correct myself here. The hops seemed to have a bit of a fruity/citrus quality to them with a bit of leafy green hops maybe, but not the distinct fuggles I was smelling last time. Seems it’s american hops and not an English barleywine at all. Stay tuned for the next time I go back and contradict myself again.

On tap: Big citrusy aroma with orange, apricot, and citrus hops. Transparent amber with a nice off-white head and decent lacing. Sweet up front with orange, peach, and apricot. Finishes with lots of citrus hops. Alcohol is really covered up well. I like hoppy barley wines, but this one is missing the caramel/toffee/chocolate/banana bread malt presence that I like for balance. That’s my only complaint.

2005 version at the Arundel Mills brewpub. Cloudy amber with a foamy off white head. Sweet fruity aroma with some spruce and citrus. Wow! One sip and you know you are on to something special. Expecting to be overwhelmed by the alcohol but was somewhat surpised by sweet caramel, candy like flavor. Not a big barleywine fan but damn, this is good. Excellent beer.

RLB YEHA 05. Growler thanks to Eric. Pours cloudy light amber/orange with a nice head. Aroma is very strong with hops even for a barleywine. Lots of caramel malts to back it up and just a hint of alcohol. I noted that the aroma was so hoppy that it reminded me more of a great DIPA. Flavor is very sticky with lots of lupulin and resin. Tons of hops citrus and pine. Moderately sweet backbone. Great lingering finish on the tongue.

Aroma was hoppy and pine with a tan head that quickly disappears. Color is amberwith yellowish highlights. Tastes of hops, caramel. and pine. A fine beer. Had at Yeha ’05.

Growler at RLB’s YEHA ’05 thanks to egadjzis. Cloudy dark amber color with a small beige head. Big citrus and pine hop aroma with some caramel maltiness. Flavor was sweet malt, caramel and citrus hops with a bit of alcohol on the finish. I thought this was a IIPA, but nevertheless it was very tasty.

growler courtesy of egadjzis at Richlikebeer’s YEHA ’05. I’ve been waiting a while to try this one. cloudy golden color - doesn’t really look like a barley wine... foamy tan head. strong hop aroma, flavor is whiskey and hop with a malty backbone in the finish. hmm, a west coast barley wine from Maryland? Interesting.

Poured a cloudy amber with a white head. Aroma is a strong mix of caramel and piney hops. Taste is remarkably balanced between strong bitter pine hops and caramel sweetness. Lots of dry alcohol. Seems a bit overhopped for a bw and a bit too malty for a IIPA... just a well made kick-in-the-ass American Strong Ale if you ask me.