DuClaw Brewing Company - Blood Orange Neon Gypsy

Originally brewed as the first in DuClaw's Hop Continuum Series, the blood orange version of their Neon Gypsy IPA sold so well that it's now been promoted to a year-round offering. The original Neon Gypsy is a very citrus-forward IPA, and the infusion of blood orange juice in this version just amplifies that character in all the right ways. Pouring a rich orange-amber color, this brew offers up quite the inviting aroma; look for big citrus notes tending toward grapefruit, orange, and lemon, with pine and softer tropical fruits, along with some floral notes. In the flavor: huge, juicy citrus character. The blood orange is immediately obvious, augmenting and complementing the array of 7 hop varieties perfectly. In fact, we struggled to tell the flavor boundaries between the blood orange and the hops! The malts offer mild caramel and toast, but mostly keep to providing structure and a modicum of balance for the hops, which claim center stage as we’d expect for an IPA. Fruity, citric, and piney, with a nice firm bite without stratospheric bitterness, we found this IPA delicious on its own, but also well worth accompanying various exotic, spicy dishes like Thai red or green curry coconut chicken, or more simple fare like fried chicken with French fries. Sweet & Sour Chinese dishes should also play well off the similar notes from the blood orange juice. Cheers!

DuClaw Brewing Company was founded as a brewpub in 1996 by Dave Benfield, an accomplished home brewer. He got his start as a brewer in college, where having the ability to create alcoholic beverages can often pay considerable social dividends. But his interest in brewing continued beyond his college years and developed into a bit of an obsession. He took a position within his family’s business after graduating, but his passion for home brewing continued, eventually leading to his decision to start a brewpub.

When DuClaw opened its doors to the public in Bel Air, MD in 1996, the concept of a restaurant which serves its own microbrews crafted on a small in-house brewing system was, while not unique, still a very fresh and exciting business model. Within a year the local paper highlighted DuClaw as “Bel Air’s hippest establishment.” Over the succeeding years, Dave expanded his business, opening three additional locations, including one within BWI Airport. The beer, specifically, was also a success, leading DuClaw to expand from simply a brewpub operation into a full package brewery. After outgrowing their original brewing location as well as a second location, DuClaw moved into a new brewing facility in Rosedale on Baltimore’s outskirts in 2013. Featuring over 60,000 sq. ft. of space, plus a custom-made and imported high-tech German brewing system, the brewery is well-positioned to grow into the future. For more info, call them up at 443-559-9900 or visit http://www.duclaw.com.