DuClaw Brewing Company - Sweet Baby Jesus

A chocolate peanut butter porter? Yes! Dark “peanut butter” beers are, actually, a thing. A few breweries are experimenting with this style, and for DuClaw it’s become their most popular beer, accounting for over a third of their sales and snagging a GABF Bronze Medal. The beer first came about when it won DuClaw’s first ever homebrew competition in 2011, and it was so popular that it has become a year-round beer. Brewed with an all-natural peanut extract that contains no allergens, Sweet Baby Jesus pours an opaque, almost black, color topped with plenty of light brown foam that retains well. The aroma is very big, with notes of chocolate and cocoa powder merging with a distinct roasted peanut character. There’s certainly a peanut butter cup impression. On the palate though, there are plenty of roasted malts and hop bitterness to keep this brew dry. Those roasty notes are complimented nicely by chocolate, peanuts, deep caramel, and touches of coffee, overlaid with slightly floral and woody hops. Not as bombastic as the aroma implied, it’s creamy, smooth, and nicely balanced. Enjoy this brew on its own, or pair with a chocolaty dessert. 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 www.duclaw.com.