DuClaw Misfit Red

Brewed by DuClaw Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Abingdon, Maryland USA

Nice-sized draught sample at the Bel Air location. Dark amber with a small touch of lasting head....faint nose offers traces of dry oregano, woody hops and dusty dried caramel....nice sweet, full but never cloying mouthfeel, caramel and light toasted malts, wet loamy soil and minerals (lime, chalk), biscuity and drier as it warms with reminiscences of sugar cookies at hand....low carbonation. Very much above average for style, if only the nose were more expressive....

Pours a clean, medium amber color with a somewhat sticky, off-white head. Subtle carmel nose with some even more subtle fruits. Flavors are sweet carmel malts but with an earthy twist. Some grassy hops are also hidden in there a little with a sweet, malty finish. Better than expected.

My take on "The Best Beer in Baltimore" tag is that this is a good step for macro drinkers looking to move toward higher quality beer. And thumbs up to giving props to a local brewer. Nothing overpowering, yet enough in flavor, body & balance to rate fairly and enjoy a few.

On tap: Aroma is lightly nutty and fruity. Dark transparent amber with a nice off-white head. Slight fruit and caramel up front with a moderate roasty and nutty finish with a hint of chocolate and light bitterness.

12/2/05: On Tap, Bowie.
Light. coffee aroma. Dark amber body includes lacing which clings to the glass. Slightly bitter hop taste with malts and spice. Medium-long finish with hints of vanilla. Unusual for an Amber.

decent, smooth, colorful. hints of caremel or toffee although vety mild. very light fluffy and refreshing. everything is pretty well balanced but this beer doesnt have anything that stands out nor is it rich enough to stand alone as it is.

Draft at DuClaw Bowie. From a sampler. Browned red body. Malty nose with a nice hoppiness and light earthy notes. Taste is malty and spicy with earthy hops, hints of caramel, and dried fruit. Body is medium with moderate carbonation. Finishes with chewy malts, pleasant hops and light fruitiness. Pretty good!

Draught at brewpub: Dark amber with a light ruby tint. Has a small off-white head that leaves a bit of a ring. The aroma is a bit sweet - showing notes of caramel, grains, sweet grassy/floral hops, and brown sugar. The taste is also somewhat sweeter than I anticipated (but I like my ambers more bitter than sweet) with notes of caramel, syrupy malt, brown sugar, and a bit of chocolate malt. Finishes with just a hint of sweet chocolate. Light-medium bodied, moderate carbonation.