Colossus - DuClaw Brewing Company

emerge077

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Joe for breaking out this brainbuster... Review from notes.

Ominously large liter bottle with yellow wax, as pictured here. Poured placidly into a small snifter, bright vibrant orange with high clarity. A loose ring of bubbles cluster on the surface.

Aroma was sweet and fruity... plum, apple, slight spiciness in the background. No real hint of alcohol, just fruit syrup sweetness, and little else.

Sticky sweet fruit cocktail of plum, pear, and apple. Malt? Nope. Syrupy body, and rather sweet, which effectively masks the alcohol. Surprisingly drinkable. A 22% booze bomb is the perfect way to end a night, just be sure to split the bottle 8 ways or more... thanks Joe!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 02:50:43 | More by emerge077

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-22-2013 04:09:35 | More by GRG1313

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-21-2013 02:11:03 | More by SpdKilz

harrisjohnson

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-19-2013 14:24:19 | More by harrisjohnson

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-18-2013 22:53:27 | More by Photekut

HevvyMetalHippie

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -29.1%

05-12-2013 03:16:52 | More by HevvyMetalHippie

Florida9

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-27-2013 16:58:19 | More by Florida9

thampel09

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-23-2013 19:23:56 | More by thampel09

slay

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

03-25-2013 00:09:42 | More by slay

DruRho

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.1%

03-19-2013 01:00:54 | More by DruRho

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

03-12-2013 00:14:46 | More by Morey

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

03-07-2013 19:36:52 | More by orangesol

pottergator

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%

03-04-2013 01:12:00 | More by pottergator

DonFrap

Massachusetts

2.25/5  rDev -42%

03-03-2013 21:06:25 | More by DonFrap

Bizoneill

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

02-21-2013 15:23:40 | More by Bizoneill

pquijal

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

02-19-2013 21:19:38 | More by pquijal

Auror

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.1%

02-19-2013 03:53:02 | More by Auror

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

02-18-2013 05:16:58 | More by jaasen64

atone315

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

01-24-2013 00:02:06 | More by atone315

Aeromaximus

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-15-2013 16:16:01 | More by Aeromaximus

quirkzoo

Colorado

4.95/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed blind with several other BA's as part of Blind BIF 7

4 - Appearance is bright orange with almost no head (as is to be expected[wrapping gave warning that it was 15%+) pours really thick despite the clarity.

5 - Smell is amazing. Tons of sweet fruits, lots of fig at first and as it warms a little it gets even sweeter, honeyed apricots, honeysuckle just a lovely smell, really reminds me of a very good dessert wine. Almost no alcohol on the nose which is surprising.

5 - Taste is equally amazing. More sweet fruits, nice light caramel/honey sweetness, not much bitterness, very sweet but not cloying. Alcohol is very well hidden, most of us agree that it tastes like 11%. Perhaps the longest finish of a beer I have ever had it just sticks to the inside of your mouth.

5 - Mouthfeel is perfect for a big beer like this. Big and bold flavors but it doesn't overwhelm your palate, just enough carbonation to give a good cleanse and leave you wanting more.

5 - Overall this is an amazing beer, I have never had anything like it. The consensus is barleywine but it is much fruitier than any barleywine I have ever had. Another BA at the tasting, ucsbmullet commented that he thought it had some age, he guessed about two years. My first guess was a vintage big bottle of DFH Olde School Barleywine but the bottle isn't the right shape and it had an un-branded cap so I am going with my first instinct which is the only 15%+ beer from MD (where Oline73 is from) and that is DuClaw Colossus.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 05:06:21 | More by quirkzoo

ucsbmullet

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

11-18-2012 19:44:21 | More by ucsbmullet

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

11-13-2012 19:15:11 | More by mendvicdog

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.28/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz, not sure on the date.
Hill Farmstead wine glass

A: Pours a light amber color. No head on this guy, but it's to be expected at that ABV. No lacing as well. Alcohol feet when you swirl, but that is about it.

S: Very sweet smelling. Lots of sweet malt. Bready chewy notes. No hops at all. Some caramel and toffee.

T: Taste follows nose. Amazing how the alcohol is fairly well hidden under that sweetness. But the sweetness is extremely cloying. Tough for me to stomach much more than my 4oz pour. Don't even taste a burn of the alcohol with that sweetness.

M: It's full but a thinner full bodied brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 16:34:16 | More by inlimbo77

ncaudle

Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.1%

10-17-2012 19:01:57 | More by ncaudle