DuClaw Colossus is out in stores

From their e-mail, with a typo or two corrected:

Our enormous abomination has escaped our brewery and was last seen on its way to liquor stores where it will undoubtedly leave havoc in its wake. Colossus is dark amber in color, full-bodied, and perceptively sweet with notes of apple and a surprisingly tame alcohol presence on the palate in light of its staggering 21% abv. This astounding alcohol content (verified by the Siebel Institute) was achieved through fermentation alone; no alcohol was introduced at packaging, nor was the product distilled. It was brewed in 2006 and aged like a wine or brandy to allow its unique flavors to mature and alcohol presence to mellow, but make no mistake, it’s still everything that it’s name implies: Colossally flavorful, colossally potent, colossally good beer.

Yes, folks, this is THE original batch, not a new batch.  In my mind, it's a MUCH better buy for your money than the Sam Adams Utopias (and all the fancy bottle you buy with that three-figure price tag).  This should be on retail shelves for $22/bottle, give or take a buck. In Baltimore City, it should be at Max's (bar prices, of course), Wells, The Wine Source, and Grand Cru.  There's a list of retailers here, but not every place is likely to have it; the list stretches as far as Hockessin, Delaware and several places in the District of Columbia.

Another tip, supposedly from brewer Jim Wagner:

If you heat Colossus in a microwave (be careful it happens quick, and don’t do it in a closed bottle) to 105 degrees, and try it like a mulled wine, you will notice a complete flavor change. Compare to a cooler version at the same time, it will knock your socks off!!

And you don't have to fight an unruly mob, of figure out the secret password or handshake, to get it, either.  Blink and miss it at your own peril.

Note: Photo from RateBeer.com shows the original flip-topped one-liter bottles; the new bottles are  regular crown-capped 22-oz. "bombers", and my promised sample bottle isn't in hand yet.....