Venom - DuClaw Brewing Company

nmann08

Maryland

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Reviewing an original had. On tap at BWI airport location.

Pours a beautiful mandarin orange color. The head was almost zero, but I think it's due to the pourer at the airport bar than the beer.

Right away the malts hit you in the front, toasted grains, resin, with a kick of zest. A bit unique balance for a pale ale.

Muted piney hops, a faint hint of grapefruit citrus, but nothing really jumps out. It's balanced, smooth, but not a flavor that distinguishes itself.

Mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, actually really nice for a pale ale.

Overall, would have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 22:57:16 | More by nmann08

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - A bit of a gusher yields four fingers worth of rich lush airy cloud-like light khaki colored head with a rocky top comprised of lots of big chunky bubbles... Impressive retention... Filled with a good bit of moderate paced carbonation with an occasional stray rapid paced bubble... The color is rich amber color with some light golden straw tones when back lit... Gobs of chunky lacing cling to the glass...

S - A strong malt base is at the forefront... A strong mix of rich bready malts and toasted malts in equal proportions... There is also a strong caramel and toffee component... The hops are present, but take a distant back seat... They are of a light citrusy character... Quite pleasant all the way around...

T - The pleasantness continues on through to the palate... The rich malt base domiantes, but there are no toasted malts to speak of... Rather there is abundant biscuit and crust notes... The caramel and toffee are a bit more subdued... There is a very subtle spicy rye component... The hops are quite subtle, but take on a sweet citrusy character... Very nice...

M - LIght to medium bodied... Limited carbonation... A bit juicy... Quite smooth... Goes down easily sip after sip...

D - Simple... Straight-forward... Rather effective... No complaints from me... I rather enjoy the strong malt component... I could easily enjoy a couple of these during a leisurely session... This won't knock anyone's sock off per se, but it will garner the respect of those looking for a mighty fine American Pale Ale... I will gladly indulge in again and this one may even rise to the level of case worthy...

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:56:29 | More by philbe311

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle > Pint Glass
A - Pours a really nice yellow orange, thick foamy 1 finger head, lacing in the median.
S - Bready malts, resinous hops, citrus, a little floral pine.
T - Acidic bitterness with really sweet malts, the malt profile in this beer is larger than it should be, a mild earthy pine character.
M - Thin feel and acrid bitter aftertaste.
O - I dont really care for this, its too malty for a true APA, more on the lines of an english style, but nothing worthy of returning to.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 18:44:51 | More by Omnium

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This must be bottle conditioned. (I see nothing noting as much, but from the beers reactions upon opening and pouring, it seems to be the case.)

Very cloudy beer. It got some hop bite to it, but not really much. Feel has a mouth filling carbonation to it. Easy to drink, but nothing really going on here that is noteworthy, or remotely interesting enough to bring me back to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 03:53:17 | More by RblWthACoz

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into tulip

Pours a hazy copper color with a ridiculously large white head. Thick, heavy retention with patchy streaks of lacing on the glass.

Light, grassy hoppiness in the nose with some faint citrus. Toasted grain, bread and biscuit malts with a slight sweetness.

Bitter, dry hops up front with a hint of citrus peel and grass. Biscuit and cracker malt with a soft touch of caramel and crystal. Finishes dry and lightly bitter.

Lighter medium body, higher carbonation, dry and lingering on the palate. Drinkable, but definitely an average pale ale - the Anti-Venom versions are better.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 17:58:57 | More by xnicknj

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -36.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

Copper color, clearish, with a thin white head that retained as a ringlet and left a few spots of lacing on the glass. Nose was distant and muted, traces of bready malts, toasted grains. Utter blandness on the palate, almost no flavor at all here. Toasted grains, rice cakes, vaguely floral hops. Light-medium body, definitely easy to drink as far as mouthfeel goes, but without the taste to back it up, there's really no point. Not recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2012 21:42:58 | More by Rifugium

FosterJM

California

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1511th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12oz

Thanks Troyg2352
No bottle dating on this one

App- A very pretty looking (Yes I called pretty) sunset orange with warm ambers & yellows. A really fast receding and big 2 finger slight off white was there and gone. Head was quite fizzy and bubbly.

Smell- This struck a pretty good balance. This one had slight more malts than I was used to on a pale ale and they lent themselves to more of a caramel sugar aroma with a small hop tinge.

Taste- A pretty good pale but not mind blowing. This one had like the nose struck a really good balace between, malty, sweet, and hoppy. I think with just a little more hops vs caramel would've been good.

Mouth- I really enjoyed the body on this one the most. A fairly solid medium body with a strong medium carbonation level. Residual malty sweet caramel and that aromatic hop tinge carried forward.

Drink- I thought this was pretty tasty. I feel it just needs more hops and for it to be ampd up a little bit, I have to say it was a bit thick for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 14:56:32 | More by FosterJM

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Light amber body with a thin white head.

S- Pretty nice tropical hop aroma, some floral notes as well.

T- Nice juicy hop flavor, some grapefruit, some citrus, some pine. Hop-forward, but balanced and drinkable.

M- Medium carbonation and medium bodied.

O- Solid, drinkable APA. Very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2012 18:01:03 | More by stephenjmoore

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Looks like a nice pale ale. Amber yellow in color with a 1/4 inch of head.

S - Smells of biscuit like malts, piney and citrus hops and caramel.

T - Taste more of an English pale with tones of biscuit malts and herbal teas. The hops go nicely with the caramel malts and its a touch sour with not as much biscuit as I expected.

M - Light to medium not bad.

Overall not something I would run out and get again but very palatable.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 14:18:36 | More by DrDemento456

nickfl

Florida

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A a cascading head of white foam on a clear dark copper body. Great retention and lace.

S pungent pine and floral hop character with significant malty caramel.

T subdued pine hops with breach malt up front. Some musty hop character in the middle and a finish of dry toast.

M medium body, moderate carbonation and a dry finish.

D not bad but like most American style hoppy ales it is definitely better without the nitro.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-26-2012 01:37:33 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this one on both nitro and co2 tap. Review is for nitro.

Single finger head with nice thick lacing on a clear copper with slight gold hue body. Aroma is a little light until the head clears out a bit with mostly citrus hops and some nuts. The flavor of the nitro is dulled a bit compared to the standard. Nice balance of caramel malts and Both citrus and floral hops. Nice hoppiness while staying in the realm of an APA.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-26-2012 01:33:59 | More by kylehay2004

beerme626

Kentucky

3.23/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pretty weak. A slight half-finger head, that disappears quickly. A slight film remains on top, but isn't much. Amber brew.

S: Hard to smell, but there. The hops are clear, along with some... butter?

T: Not bad for a pale ale, but not great either. Hops, yes. A little sour, a little tangy.

M: Bitter, not overly carbonated, and not overly anything.

O: It's a pale ale, but nothing else. It's not terribly exciting. Stick with Doggy Style if you're buying a Maryland p.a.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 19:25:46 | More by beerme626

KMcG

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This ale is amber with small head and some lace lingers on the top.  There smells of strawberry and lemon, sweet malts, and a bucket of bolts (some sort of metallic odor).  At first I taste bready caramels and malts with pineapple.  There is strong sweet backbone.  It has very mild hop character with a slight resinous bite. The finish is grassy, but not much bitterness or linger in the palate.  The backbone sweetness and fruitiness is a bit much for a pale ale. 

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 12:43:51 | More by KMcG

MQ4188

Virginia

1.05/5  rDev -71.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Worst beer I have ever tasted. The head was huge and foamy with loose compaction.

Smell of the beer was metallic. Much like copper.

The taste was off-putting and almost putrid.

I just don't get it. There is no way that this is their regular pale ale. It must be a bad batch.

I tried three different bottles and they were all the same

I know Duclaw can do better than this.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 00:16:20 | More by MQ4188

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Amber, clear and 1 finger white head. Carbonation bubbles seen on sides of glass.

S: Citrus and chocolate. That was a really odd combo. I don't see the specific relationship with citrus and chocolate.

T: Snappy bitterness. This however isn't so much citrus as it is earthy and herbal.

M: Good carbonation. Balanced.

O: Just ok. Too many things going on that aren't considered complexities but rather detractors that pull me too many ways.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2012 00:33:30 | More by JerseyKirk

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - First off, this beer took me about ten minutes to completely pour...the head was HUGE on this thing...I'm talking three fingers when all the beer was in...it was off white in color and became very rocky...great lacing...the beer was a hazy, orange-copper

S - Pale malts and some citrus hops catch my nose...there is a bit of a metallic twang going on

T - The first sip brings some citrus flavors out...notably apricots which are juicy and fresh...the middle provides a bready flavor that is backed by some pale malts...that metallic flavor is lingering in the background also...as the beer warms, a nice bitterness comes out

M - Medium bodied...bitter as it warms...watery and metallic

O - Okay, maybe I had a bad bottle...I've passed having this on tap and on cask numerous times...I think I will be trying it the next time I see it around so I can give it a fair review

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 14:06:55 | More by thain709

ckollias

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed this on tap a Duclaw’s in Bowie out of a standard pint glass.

A: Pours a copper hue with a thin 1-finger white head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace.

S: Mild aroma of citrus hops and pine in the background.

T: Slightly bitter caramel and bread flavors. Citrus hops and pine also present in the taste. Finishes on the bitter side of dry.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation

O: Decent pale ale – nicely balanced and hopped. A nice session beer but not my favorite from Duclaw.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2012 11:57:05 | More by ckollias

Nordstrand

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - clear crisp amber in color with serious head that sticks around

S - not very strong. Mild citrus

T - complex taste here. Hoppy without being too piney. Grapefruit undertones. Am loving this beer.

M - not too carbonated - silky and smooth.

O - this beer was a nice surprise - absolutely delicious...very tasty without being too strong. One of my new favorites.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:05:03 | More by Nordstrand

argock

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. No freshness date. 6-pack purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $10.49.

A: Very deep burnished amber with 2-3 fingers of big-bubbled head with very good retention and lots of craggy lace.

S: Grapefruit juice and mild pale malts. Overall, the aroma is light with only some sour grapefruit pushing to the front.

T: The beer tastes like a pale ale spiked with ruby red grapefruit juice. It carries the pithy citrus gapefruit flavor but also the the sourness and the mild astringency. Following the wrong food, this could taste like paint thinner. I think there needs to be more malt character.

M: Medium body with prickly carbonation and a citrus grapefruit juice aftertaste.

O: A unique beer but not the most smoothly executed.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 05:28:03 | More by argock

beer2day

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear amber red pour with 1/2 finger light cream head. No retention.

Nice citrus nose. Took a bit to pick out the various fruits since there is a lot in the mix. Orange, pineapple and a bit of passion fruit define most of it. A bit of bready malt backs that up. Very nice for a pale.

Mostly caramel malt and bread in the taste. Decent shot of bitters in the finish, but nothing of true note. Very dry in the end. Bits of orange coming through have way down the glass.

Medium body, maybe even a bit heavy for the style.

Overall a solid pale. Wished the flavor reflected a bit more of the nose, but still solid nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 02:36:49 | More by beer2day

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle - thanks to frenchy for this one

Appearance – Clear copper colour with an average size fizzy beige coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation visible and there is a good amount of lacing. The head lasted for 6 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, hops, caramel, grapefruit/tangerines

Taste & Mouth - The beer has a low amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, caramel, and a fair amount of hops. It also has lots of fruit flavours going on, pineapple, tangerines, grapefruit and even some melon. It ends with a sweet malty/fruity aftertaste with a touch of lingering hop bitterness.

Overall – This one reminded me of the Atomic Smashbomb IPA that is available to me locally. It's got a nice interesting taste that is very drinkable. It actually seems like more of an IPA than a APA. I'd drink it again anytime.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 15:08:58 | More by spinrsx

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Screw cap... really?!

Pours a nice decent sized fizzy almost 2 finger head that fades semi quickly at first before slowing a bit and leaving a bit of lacing, over very hazy sediment filled dark ruby grapefruit pink orange copper color. The color is a bit off with the darkness and super hazy sediment, but saved by the nice bit head and soapy lacing.

Nose starts nicely, with some light fruity citrus hops, hint of orange peel and zest as well as touch of pine, a light fruity almost candy like hops as well and floral. Despite the different hop aromas, it remains fairly light, with just a touch of grainy malts.

Taste starts with more malt at first, some caramel and toasty reddish malts, rich and semi sweet, with a bit of juicy malt. It's fairly big in malt character that slowly fades as the hops finally start to come into play. The hops come in with a vengeance though, bringing a big spicy kick at first, getting fairly bitter, and then a bit of citrus and zest, a bit of fruity juicy hops as well, and hint of earthy pine hops. It gets a bit "dirty" and earthy tasting, and slightly tannic. Finish brings more of the earthy hops, starts to get a bit astringent but not much, bit spicy hop lingering almost like chewing on hop pellets, with touch of citrus and some malt flavors but pretty dry. Late on the finish I start to get a slight yeasty flavor as well.

Mouth is slightly bigger bodied, decent carb.

Overall not bad, maybe the best I've had from DuClaw so far. Decent hop and malt balance, nothing special. It does get a nice big spicy bitter hop kick partway through, and I like how the hops come on slowly at first then kick you in the mouth partway through.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 02:51:41 | More by jlindros

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours a hazy, deep amber color with a three finger of thick foamy, khaki colored head. Head retention borders on obnoxious...and leaves big chunks of sticky lacing.

S: Nose is bready malts, pale malts, and not a whole lot else.

T: Taste starts full of biscuit and breadiness. Caramel malts and light fruity hops. After taste has a bitter grapefruit bite to it.

M: Medium body, lower to medium carbonation, nice and crisp with a dry finish.

O: Goes down easy, tasty, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style. Taste far exceeds the nose on this one. A decent beer worth having a few pints of.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 15:32:27 | More by Jayli

Minkybut

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I poured this beer onto my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was a golden color that was pretty normal but poured a really crappy head that did not hang around long at all. The beer smelled like caramel and had a bready smell and taste. It had a bit of a bitter finish but not too bad. I will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 17:28:57 | More by Minkybut

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Ba Review #29
Served On: 8/12/2011
Glassware: Weizen Glass

Had this on tap at Dick’s Last Resort, Inner Harbor Baltimore (neat place). The wife and I were in the area for some site seeing on our 10th year wedding anniversary weekend.

Look: Served in a tall Dick's Wizen glass. The beer had a dark golden color – somewhat copper but not as dark. There was a small eggshell colored head.

Smell: The aroma had earthy spice notes – like cinnamon maybe. I also noticed some faint hops. The notes I got reminded me of the Saranac Pale Ale. The color was even similar.

Taste: Again, the taste was very reminiscent of a Saranac but with a heavier mouth feel. Sill had that initial spiciness up front, followed by the mild hops. The aftertaste wasn’t quite as dry though.

This beer is extremely drinkable. I can’t say it surpassed its Saranac counterpart, but it was very enjoyable and made my experience at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor a little extra special.
By the way, they left me keep the Weizen glass!

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2011 23:01:29 | More by CraftBeerTastic