Naked Fish - DuClaw Brewing Company

beerthulhu

New Jersey

2.51/5  rDev -31%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Dark ruby-ish brown pour produces little more then a skim dark walnut toned head. No legs, standard issue. meh.

S: Dried black raspberries, small coffee, fruity, but low on appeal and temptation as well complexity.

T: Flavor of raspberry coffee, with dry bakers chocolate. Lightly bitter, dried blackberry fruitiness, dry creamer, bitter milky finish.

M: Mouthful was dry, slight tingle of carbonation, chalky, lighter end of medium substance wise but appears very thin on the leave.

O: Overall meh best describes this. Sounds like a good dessert beer, but is actually thin, with a boring fruit aspect, and the stout malting seems to be lean, dry flaky bakers chocolate instead of rich, lustrious with a bright fresh fruitiness as i imagined. Thin pass off the tongue, lacks substance, flavor. A big rich black cherry stout would of been ideal. Unimpressed.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:35:35 | More by beerthulhu

RollBounce

New York

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

head retention is great. Smell is of jelly rings raspberry flavored. Mouth feel is disappointing and thin.flavor of dark chocolate and raspberry jelly great lace ing. Overall it is the smell and look that makes you want this beer.look forward to trying the double naked fish.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 21:00:06 | More by RollBounce

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Growler poured into a snifter

Body sits a dark brown, near black, with a one finger tan head. The cap falls pretty quickly and settles to a thin collar. Not much in the lines of lace.

The nose is of raspberries, milk chocolate, and moderate roast. A touch of coffee emerges as it gets a tad warmer.

Chocolate covered raspberries and good dose of roast. Mild sweetness is beaten back by bitter roast. The raspberry is prominent and adds a nice layer of flavor to the beer.

I have to admit, I thought this was a porter when I was drinking it, so I was a little shocked to see this under the stout category on BA. Definitely on the lighter side for the style and fairly watery in spots.

This is a nice raspberry stout as far as the nose and flavor profile go. Unfortunately it lacks in the other categories.

Serving type: growler

05-06-2013 12:12:04 | More by ColForbinBC

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Paid 3 dollars for the single at the House of 1,000 beers. Been a while since I had an experimental beer and I never have tried a chocolate raspberry ale.

A - Pour is spot on what I expected for a stout, very dense and dark with a 1/4 inch of deep mocha head that settles to a thick lace ring. Pretty.
S - I do smell some actual raspberries buried beneath the roast. Hard to tell if they are artificial but in no way to they smell medicinal. Not much chocolate really it just smells like a raspberry infused stout.
T - Very interesting it flows with cocoa powder, then the raspberries sort of mix with the herbal hops, before finishing with the roast. A sort of hard water flavor is noted but it's not very distracting as I get it from time to time with beer. Not bad.
M - Tart and bitter maybe the roast could be dialed back a bit. It seems somewhat watery for a stout giving it a light to medium body. It's ok I guess.

Overall the whole time I was hoping the roast would take a backseat and the chocolate would enter as it warmed but at least I got the taste of raspberries throughout each sip. Worth a try if you seek an brew original.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 23:40:58 | More by DrDemento456

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Served in a tulip, a dark ruby-brown liquid with a small tan head that sank to a ringlet; minor lacing. Aroma of roasty dark malts and essence of raspberry, fairly muted. At first sip, I got a nice chocolate-raspberry flavor, but this surprisingly fell off extremely quickly, and the roastiness of the malts took over; pretty much all fruit flavor vanished, and roasty bitterness took over. It wasn't really bad, it was just a bit shocking. Body was just about medium, fairly thin in the mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Came off more like a porter than a stout, honestly. If it had kept up that initial flavor consistently, this would have been a fine beer, but overall, it wasn't that great, and I wouldn't revisit it.

DuClaw seems to have a lot of good ideas, but the final products seems to always fall short.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2013 01:48:29 | More by Rifugium

darkstar12

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served at DuClaws in Bowie. Appearance was very dark, typical stout. Smell was very heavy on the raspberry. Taste was very heavy on the raspberry, very little chocolate or anything else. Mouthfeel was disappointing, very thin feel. Overall not a bad beer, but not compelling enough to order again; just expected a stronger feel and taste.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-03-2013 02:00:19 | More by darkstar12

greyghost86

Delaware

4.38/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Had this at the DuClaw in Belair, Maryland as part of the full sampler 2/9/2012. They offered it with standard tap and nitro.

Appearance: Dark amber with a thin head that quickly disipated.

Smell: Very nice, good aroma of coffee and chocolate with a slight tint of the raspberry.

Taste: I wasn't sure about this thinking the smell would trick my mind into tasting the raspberry, but it was there. Coffee taste at first, with the chocolate and raspberry coming on with the raspberry taste linging through the end.

Mouthfeel: A bit thin, but does a decent job.

Overall: This was one that I was not looking forward to tasting (not a fan of fruity beers) but found it extremely good and would recommend it highly especially if you like the coffee/fruit taste. DuClaw does a great job of mixing it up and does it again!!!

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-10-2013 13:21:55 | More by greyghost86

ckollias

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this beer on tap at Duclaw in Bowie, MD out of a standard pint glass.

A: Pours a dark black hue with amber highlights and thin white head that quickly dissipates.

S: Malty aroma with a solid raspberry and chocolate aroma.

T: Smooth and sweet dark chocolate and aroma flavor.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Wow – excellent brew – one of Duclaw’s best.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 19:55:10 | More by ckollias

dunkirkwns

Maryland

4.61/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

This is a perfect beer to have during the cold winter and warming spring months. Too bad its a seasonal and only available for a limited time. It easily ranks among my top 5 stouts. this beer is great anytime. I highly recommend it to all of the customers who walk through my store.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 22:08:56 | More by dunkirkwns

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured chilled in ale glass, from bomber

A: solid black; good head, but mixed-sized bubbles; decent carb stream; lacing unremarkable
S: +: its aromatic; -: lots of tinny/metallic overtones
T: raspberry and chocolate are very strong, nice meld. The beer moves into the background; malt (heavy roast) prominent

Really nice after-dinner beer

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 21:48:45 | More by Arithmeticus

biglite351

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Considerable orange around the glass witha a short off-white head

S - Very mild with raspberry and milk chocolate

T - Flavor version of the scent. Very mild raspberry and milk chocolate... but sort of that water-based chocolate milk type flavor.

M - Thin with mild coating. Slight tingle on tongue and throat

O - Nothing actually bad, but nothing really good either.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 11:06:50 | More by biglite351

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Ruby red on the edges of the glass to black in the body.

S: Cocoa, chocolate, raspberry.

T: Wow. Love it. Tastes a lot like the smell. This is an awesome dessert beer. It tastes like a delicious delicacy. Rich dark chocolate and swirls of decadent raspberry. Awesome.

M: Perfectly dry finish for this stout.

O: Great. Easy drinker too! This is much better than the Double Naked version of this beer. The booze detracts too much. This one is just right.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2012 00:47:00 | More by JerseyKirk

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Dark brown, thin soapy head, spotty lacing.

S - Cocoa, fake raspberry, light smoke.

T - Chocolate malt, light coffee, fake raspberry, bacon.

M - Thin.

O - I wish I would have seen the "natural flavoring" on the label. FAILURE. I still love DuClaw, just not this.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 03:02:44 | More by Rickythejeweler

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

Thanks to JayQue for this bottle!

Ah, fruited stouts. Love 'em or hate 'em. Let's see which column this one lands under: It pours a very dark (though still translucent) garnet topped by a finger of relatively short-lived dusty khaki foam. Pretty disappointed in this look, I gotta say. The nose is composed primarily of lightly dank raspberries, which have been sprinkled with a small amount of cocoa powder. Not much else going on, really, but it does smell pretty good. The taste brings in more of the same, but the raspberries are kinda muted, coming off as a little plastic-y. The cocoa is a bit more pronounced, and is joined by some light coffee, which provides some extra roasty bitterness. Honestly, things would've been better if they had followed the smell, rather than venture off into this new, less bold territory. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slick feel. Overall, I wasn't much of a fan of this beer. It's too thin to be much of a stout, and the flavors really don't reach where they aim for.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 03:53:30 | More by TMoney2591

Naugros

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The bottle says it's a stout, but it sure doesn't look like one. I poured this aggressively and could barely manage a thin ring of suds and a few disinterested floaters. It's more brown than black and looked really thin during the pour. It even smells thin, if that's possible. It does throw some roast, but you'll get that off stouts and porters. I get a faint whiff of chocolate, faint being the operative word, and some really weak-ass coffee, but no raspberry whatsoever.

First sip and I find the raspberry. It's there, it's slightly sweet, it's strong, but it doesn't overpower the other flavors. The chocolate stands out more and it taste like a dark chocolate raspberry whip Easter egg washed down with some really thin coffee. The flavors all work well together and the balance is excellent.

I've got a bit of an issue with the body. It looked and smelled thin because it is thin. Way too thin for almost any type of stout. The saving grace in this category is that there is no bitterness, even when cold. The reason for that is probably the same reason this is thin and is only 4.6% alcohol...they must not have used a ton of malts in the mash ton. Up the malt load and the body and the ABV increase. Make most of those roasted malts and you increase the bitterness.

Bog marks on a well-balanced beer with some really nice flavors. Fix the mouthfeel characteristics and I'd be a huge fan.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 01:08:04 | More by Naugros

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thinnish tan head, opaque brown body with garnet highlights. A bit of lace.

Nose has a lot of dry malt and some cocoa.

Taste is a bunch of raspberry and chocolate. It seriously tastes like a raspberry chocolate and for the low abv, there's plenty of flavor. Not especially bitter, and pretty well balanced. You'd think 'watery' with the light flavor profile, but it's really not. Faint trace of coffee.

Mouthfeel is thinnish for a 'stout,' but no real complaints.

Pretty darn good. Nice lightish, but very pleasant flavor profile. And at the low ABV, quite sessionable in terms of fruit stouts. Price point might get in the way.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 01:05:48 | More by zaphodchak

vandemonian

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

DuClaw Naked Fish is an ok that is ruined by rasberries. They add a vegetal sourness that I didn't like.

A: Black colour and a 5 mm head that fades to decent lacing. 4

S: Malt and coffee with a subtle hint of raspberry fruitiness. 4.5

T: Roasty malt and noticeable rasberries. The rasberries add a fruitiness but also a vegetal sourness that isn't very pleasant, especially in the aftertaste. 3

M: Foamy. 4

O: This beer is ok, but the rasberries don't mix well with the rest of the beer. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 01:46:14 | More by vandemonian

oline73

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy dark brown with a layer of off white head that fades and leaves a ring around the glass.

Smell: Chocolate and raspberry with some sweet malt and roast.

Taste: On the mild side, but once I noticed that abv, that made sense. Roasty with chocolate and raspberry. The finish is a bit bitter from the roast.

Mouthfeel: A bit thin with mild carbonation and a very dry finish.

Overall: This is a good mild beer. Nice use of fruit to compliment the roast.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 22:17:59 | More by oline73

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer was shared from a growler with the family at a gathering a few years ago. The beer poured out as a deep brownish black color with a bubbly brown head that doesn't stick around for too long. The smell of the beer has a fresh aroma of raspberry, coffee, and chocolate on the nose. The taste of the beer is just about the same, no real difference from the smell to the taste. The mouthfeel is a little lighter than expected, it feels more like a porter than a stout. Overall I thought that the beer was pretty well balanced and does a good job of keeping you refreshed.

Serving type: growler

08-16-2011 02:45:47 | More by Knapp85

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Cigar City snifter.

The body is black with mahogany edges. A tiny layer of cream colored head formed quickly...poor retention time with zero lacing.

Chocolate raspberries...that pretty much sums up the nose. Cold coffee and roasted malts in the background.

The taste is pretty much where the nose indicates...coffee up front with a bitter dark chocolate finish. Raspberries are in the background throughout the entire drink.

Medium bodied, a little slick with moderate carbonation.

Pretty decent for what it is... a nice desert beer that is well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 20:30:52 | More by mgbickel

BurpingtonDC

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful dark, almost black, color with a touch of mahogany. Fluffy tan head about two-fingers deep.

S - Wonderfully strong smell that delivers on its billing--sweet dark "chocolate and raspberry." I also pick up gentle notes of peat.

T - Starts off with an abundant roasted malt and espresso blast, then mellows in the mouth revealing its chocolate and fruit through to its finish. Defying the description, the malt taste is not too sweet, and IMO, thankfully so.

M - Light bodied, with a moderate amount of carbonation.

O - The chocolate and raspberry flavors are very well represented in this stout, but not in an obnoxious way. It's dry and flavorful without being too heavy; you could even consider this stout sessionable. Naked Fish Chocolate Raspberry Stout is very enjoyable and I look forward to trying it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 22:14:42 | More by BurpingtonDC

billab914

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into my Otter Creek glass. Dark brown in color with a thin tan head barely covering the top of the beer. The head faded and clung to the edges of the glass as I drank it.

The aroma has a lot of coffee coming through at first. I get some chocolate mixing with the fruity raspberry. The raspberry is pretty nicely done and actually smells like real fruit instead of extract, which is nice.

The taste starts out with some of the roasty, bitter coffee flavors. It starts to quickly show the fruity, raspberry, which lasts through the finish. Pretty nice mix of raspberry and roasty, stout flavors to it.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style and carbonation is a little below average. Overall it was a pretty drinkable and flavorful beer. It managed to show some good stout flavors instead of being dominated by the fruity raspberry flavors. Pretty decent beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 01:10:21 | More by billab914

tlazaroff

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a nice, clear dark brown with highlights of ruby when held to the light. A soft tan head tops the beer.

S: This beer delivers on it's name - chocolate and raspberry are the two flavors that I pick up most on the nose. Both work harmoniously, and are both subtle as well. Great smelling beer.

T: Oh my GOD this is good. That was the first thing that ran through my mind. On first sip, I get that classic roasted malt and coffee/espresso profile. Mid-palate it tastes kinda like one of those chocolate covered cherries when it bursts in your mouth. The finish carries gorgeous chocolate and raspberry notes throughout the palate.

M: Moderately-high carbonation, and medium bodied, this beer is sweet, but not cloying. It carries itself very well.

D: This is a very drinkable beer, almost sessionable in fact. I would have no qualms about buying this by the case and quaffing them back on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 05:29:59 | More by tlazaroff

Pencible

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a clear black cherry with a little tan head.
S: It smelled like rich dark chocolate and dry cocoa, with some roasted coffee and sweet raspberries and cream.
T: It tasted like bitter dark chocolate and sweet raspberry, with some roasted coffee and cream. It had a mild bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was watery with moderate carbonation. Not bad, but a bit thin.
D: This was a very nice stout with good scent and great flavor. The raspberry was perfectly integrated, not too much or too little. The body was a little weak, but it was very easy to drink. Quite the tasty and well crafted brew. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 18:31:14 | More by Pencible

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.08/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Light stout with a sweet and fruity intent.

Presentation: 22 oz brown capped bottle. Somewhat lazy label with Duclaw framing and name of the brew design-based typography in yellow over textured red. Side paragraph notes sensuality of the offering, main intent and characteristics of the brew, and encourages to get naked… Shows 4.6% Alc. by Vol. Served in a snifter.

A - Deep brown to black pour, 1/4" creamy head, moderate to poor retention, soft surface memory and some spots of lacing.

S - Soft nose with a light lactic roasted nose, touch of chocolate and raspberry as it settles.

T - Light malty, soft lactic touch, raspberries, and chocolate sure enough, and fair at all of it, but in a rather unremarkable way. Light touch of coffee under the flow...

M - Light body, lingering on watery, medium-soft carbonation…

O - Fruity… Light… Quite forgettable for me. They are after another type of audience with this one.

Notes: Not a pain but this is too light and even weak in most fronts, but not like something where one would praise subtlety but rather a brew that might be trying to be subdued to reach a non-beer crowd. Quite forgettable...

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 20:29:23 | More by Daniellobo