13 June 2011

DuClaw Colossus III Debut Wednesday

UPDATE:  I promised to hold the news until Wednesday, and I'm still awake.  Yeah, it's a third (and, they swear, "final") batch release of ColossusReportedly stronger than Same strength as the first two, and to be priced accordingly.

DuClaw Brewing's hype publicity machine is in overdrive with news of a "new" beer about to debut at their three regular locations on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

The gargantuan news of this not-officially-released-nor-confirmed behemoth beer is, of course, one of the worst-kept mammoth secrets among DuClaw and central Maryland craft beer fans, but I've been informed that if you don't want to take the titanic undertaking to battle the humongous crowds at Bel Air, Bowie, or Arundel Mills to pay around $6 a small glass for this immense product, then you may have up to a dozen opportunities to sample it elsewhere on tap as it takes a cruise of sorts like a giant ocean liner.  There are also reports that a few large bottles will show up for retail sale at a certain few beer-retailing locations with monstrous, prodigious selections.

And if you don't know what it is by now, why are you reading this?

Oh, and they wanted me to make very clear:  no growler fills.

10 comments:

Toby said...

It would be a colossal mistake to miss!!

Alexander D. Mitchell IV said...

Note that I didn't say that........

JohnM. said...

Also, just remember that over indulging with a beer like this can lead to a colossal headache and hangover.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV said...

I believe that over-indulging in this whatever-beer-it-is would also be a monumental hit to the pocketbook or wallet.

JohnM. said...

"would also be a monumental hit to the pocketbook or wallet"

Hmmmmm.... there are still bottles of the previous release around (of whatever beer we're talking about), and if memory serves, the price was in the low $20's over at Jason's (in Ellicott City). Any word on what sort of price DuClaw will be charging for the current release?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV said...

Higher than previous releases. For a reason.

JohnM. said...

"Higher than previous releases. For a reason."

Don't tell me, let me guess. 50% of all proceeds go to favorite charity?

JohnM. said...

Alex.... really don't mean to give you hard time, but maybe just a bit more information with this article.

1) OK. So ostensibly the price for this beer has gone up because the alcohol is higher in this third (and apparently final - at least for now) version. Any idea what the abv. will be for version III? The DuClaw website (as well as those other beer sites you dislike) lists the abv. as between 21% and 22%. So I assume that's the abv. for versions I and II, but not for version III.

2) OK. So we know the price will be higher, and the reason the price will be higher is because of the ramped up abv. Any word on what that price will be?

3) If you don't know the answer to questions one and two, for God sakes there's no problem with that, but why not tell us that? I'm sure you'll find out at some point, and almost certainly you'll find out before any of the rest of us, but don't you think it rather predictable that this is something anyone reading your blog would want to know?

I'm just saying...

Alexander D. Mitchell IV said...

Honest answers--last I spoke with DuClaw crew and owner, they hadn't gotten a lab report back with the precise ABV. They were guessing 24-26%, and when you're that high the usual hydrometers don't cut it. (Remember, last time they claimed "21.98%" based on the lab report!)

They also hadn't established a price for the bombers, and their wholesale price doesn't always jibe with what the retailers do either. They may say $27.99 suggested retail price and someone decides to move it at $24.99 just because they can. We saw that with the last round of Colossus.

JohnM. said...

Thanks Alex. That is EXACTLY the information I was hoping for.

For a beer like the colossus, I sort of expect there will be some variance in pricing. At present I think there are still bottles of version II selling at Jason's in Ellicott City for around $22 or $23. Perfect Pour has the beer as well, but I believe it's $2 or $3 more expensive (which based on my experiences with PP, is about what I would expect as well).

In any event, thanks for the helpful information. It's appreciated!!!