DuClaw Brewing Company

Wednesday, October 24th! We’ll be tapping this year’s winning entry, Chocolate Chipotle Stout, brewed by Vincent and Suzanne Powers of Nottingham, MD. This full-bodied stout perfectly balances a spicy, chipotle pepper bite with smooth, silky chocolate and a strong 7.5% abv for one unique, very drinkable beer.

Vincent and Suzanne’s winning entry will also be distributed by our brewery in kegs and a limited run of 22oz bottles, available everywhere that our beer is sold. And, just like last year, we are donating EVERY SINGLE PENNY from the sale of H.E.R.O. Chocolate Chipotle Stout directly to…

The Alysha Miller Harris Baby Fund, benefitting the wife and (as of this entry) unborn child of Ben Harris. Ben, a very popular employee of the Redhook Brewery in New Hampshire, died tragically when a plastic keg that he was cleaning exploded. While this charity is not local to us here in Maryland, it was set up to help a member of the brewing community, and at the end of the day we all face the same hurdles and dangers in this business, so drink up, help out, be a H.E.R.O.

Those of you who would like to support this very worthy cause beyond the H.E.R.O. campaign can do so by donating here:

The Alysha Miller Harris Baby Fund
c/o TD Bank
20 Portsmouth International Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-430-3812

Our H.E.R.O. home brewing competition has come to an end and we have a winner!  We drank A LOT of delicious homebrews to find this year’s H.E.R.O., and while every entry had something unique to offer, one definitely stood out. Without further ado, ladies and gentleman, your 2012 top four H.E.R.O.s:

4TH PLACE, JALEPENO WHEAT, brewed by Cody Gabbard and Peter Jones of Arlington, VA.

3RD PLACE, BELGIAN IPA, brewed by Jason and Theresa Hage of Owings Mills, MD.

2ND PLACE, S’MORES PORTER, brewed by Keith Hipsley of Fallston, MD.

1ST PLACE, CHOCOLATE CHIPOTLE STOUT, brewed by Vincent and Suzanne Powers of Nottingham, MD. This silky-bodied stout boasts a spicy, chipotle pepper bite perfectly balanced by smooth, sweet chocolate for one unique, very drinkable beer. Congratulations, Powerses, you’ve earned it!

Vincent and Suzanne’s winning brew will be produced by our brewery and distributed in kegs and a limited run of 22oz bottles, available everywhere that our beer is sold. And, just like last year, we are donating EVERY SINGLE PENNY from the sale of H.E.R.O. Chocolate Chipotle Stout to charity.

That’s where all of you come in. Email us at hero@duclaw.com with the story of an organization or individual in need of a hero by June 30th and we will choose one of these submitted causes to receive ALL of the proceeds from this promotion.

Keep those suggestions coming, and watch this blog for updates.

Cheers!

Dave

Judging for the 2012 H.E.R.O. home brewing competition has come to an end. Our panel of experts drank each and every entry, risking life and liver to find this year’s winner (to be announced Monday May 14th). The winning beer will be produced and distrubuted by our brewery, including a limited run of 22oz bottles sold in liquor stores. And, like last year, EVERY SINGLE PENNY that we make from the sale of H.E.R.O. will be donated to charity.

That’s where all of you come in. All you have to do is point us in the right direction. Email us at hero@duclaw.com the story of an organization or individual in need of a hero by June 30th and we will choose one of these submitted causes to receive ALL of the proceeds from this promotion.

We started this competition for the dual purpose of giving aspiring brewmasters a way to earn recognition for their craft, and as a way to give back to our community. Our mission is accomplished. Now it’s your turn.

“To be a hero is to live your life in a small cell whose bars are the principles and rules that define what you will and won’t accept. Misfortune, suffering, hopelessness. If I am privileged enough to live in that cell, to serve in that box with the word HERO written on it…then I say to you, from somewhere deep inside that box, what are you doing out there?” S.

Cheers!

Dave

Mysterium, our Belgian Spiced Ale (spiced with Cardamom, Grains of Paradise and Chamomile), is hitting retailer shelves as I type this.  Check the link out for a little more detail here . It will be in Maryland this week, and should be in Northern Virginia and DC by the end of May.

Mysterium makes a damn good summer drinking beer. It has a strong spiced nose, but finishes surprisingly refreshing considering the flavor pop from the spices. And, I am happy to announce that this beer will be available all year round.  So, find some and enjoy!

Cheers,

Dave

ps – Today will be end of the 1st round of tasting for our H.E.R.O. contest.  It has been a pretty cool time, and we have had fun tasting so many good beers.  Our goal is to narrow it down to 10 beers going into the 2nd round, which has been surprisingly tough.  Every brewer who entered should be proud, there were some tasty beers!