DuClaw Brewing Company - Everything Is Taken

We had to chuckle at DuClaw's frustration over trying to come up with something clever to name this brew, and ultimately just throwing in the towel. We think it's quite memorable, actually. Pouring a bright golden color with good clarity and a robust head of white foam, this brew looks like a pale ale, and it certainly smells like one too, but DuClaw crafted this one as a lager, though they dry-hopped it with American hops to give it a different personality than any traditional lager from Europe. Look for a really inviting citrus-pine aroma augmented by a perfumed floral quality. This hop profile comes forth on the palate, too, along with a bit of an herbal note. We picked up flashes of apple here and there too, and the malty core remains light on its feet with deft touches of crackery pils malt, very light caramelization, and a wheaty note that hangs on in the crisp finish. Affable, refreshing, and super-drinkable, this is a brew we'll be knocking back quite a bit this summer. Pair this one with citrus-marinated chicken, whitefish, or shrimp, with a spritz or two of lemon. 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 the business, leading DuClaw to grow from a simple 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 www.duclaw.com.