DuClaw was actually my first stop on a recent trip to Maryland.  I wrote about Flying Dog first because I just had to get that off my chest. DuClaw was a refreshing and wonderful experience and I cannot say enough nice things about them or their beer.

I visited the DuClaw brewpub located at Arundel Mills Mall.  I never really realized how close this location was to the airport and may have to make this a stop next time I am in town as well. Literally, five minutes from the rental car pickup this is a must stop if you fly into BWI.

I did a six sampler flight of my choice during this stop. Unfortunately, I was by myself so I didn’t really think I should try all 22 beers that were available.

I started with the Grid Lock IPL. I have to admit I am somewhat fascinated by the concept of the IPL, as they are still quite rare and many are not distinguishable from an IPA.  This one was. It had a nice hop nose and bitter finish but was very light in color like a lager. It also still maintained that distinctive lager finish and flowery taste and nose.

Neon Gypsy IPA had a slight hop nose and was very bitter on the finish. It had a hint of a grassy, weedy flavor.  A solid IPA on all accounts.

Serum XXIPA was very, very bitter on first taste so bitter than I actually squashed up my nose as I wasn’t expecting it. I also detected a hint of that skunk flavor but you really had to taste for it. The bitterness here I found just a bit offputting and that it needed more sweetness for balance. My least favorite of the beers here.

Dirty Little Freak, on the other hand, may have been my favorite.  A coconut caramel brown ale this was a Mounds bar in a glass. There was a good flavor of coconut but it was not overpowering with a hint of chocolate on the nose and taste.  This reminded me of the Maui Toasted Coconut Porter that ranks in my top 10 of all time. I have to get this beer again!

Naked Fish is a chocolate raspberry stout and according to the manager, who came over to talk with me about the beers and brewery, the most popular seasonal beer. This one apparently won a silver at GABF. It smells and tastes like a chocolate truffle. Don’t miss this one if you get a chance!

Sweet Baby Jesus is probably the best known of the DuClaw beers. I have a bottle sitting in the other room and have promised about 10 people they can give it a try– guess it is gonna be a small pour. You will not find anything closer to a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in a glass than this beer. This chocolate peanut butter porter took bronze at GABF.

Guilty Filthy Soul is an imperial chocolate rye porter.  This didn’t have much of a nose to me and not as much chocolate on the finish as the other beers I tried. There was a underlying rye flavor but this beer tasted more of a dark malt with a more porter like flavor.

Retribution is a single bourbon barrel imperial stout. The bourbon nose on this beer was fantastic as were the bourbon flavors. The bourbon flavors here were bold not like those in a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout or Ale. In fact, the flavors here might be considered by some as a bit overwhelming. I am a bourbon fan so for me this was a very well done beer.

I highly recommend a stop at DuClaw. I think next time I might try to make it up to the actual brewery near Baltimore. The beers here are worth the trip and the staff at this location were fantastic. At the end of my visit, I wanted to buy some beer but they only sell full six packs. However, one of the staff directed me to the local Total Wine where I was at least able to get some Sweet Baby Jesus. Going out of your way means a lot to a visiting beer lover!

I am writing this blog to basically let anyone who runs or is associated with a brewery know the wrong way to do things.  Flying Dog is an example of a brewery with terrible customer service, poor staff, and sets a terrible example for everyone in the brewing community.

This story starts about 2 or 3 years ago when Flying Dog started doing tours at its facility in Frederick, Maryland. For those who don’t know, I am a Maryland native and travel back up to the DC area about once a year.  Flying Dog started doing tours about the time that I started doing this blog and I was familiar with their beers so thought I would visit.

At that time, Flying Dog took reservations for tours through the website. I tried on at least 2 trips to make a reservation (sometimes months in advance) through the website and there were never, supposedly, any open spots. Of course, I find that very hard to believe. The first time I let it go and visited several other local breweries with better hours and better locations. On the second time I tried to schedule a tour, I wrote not once but twice to the brewery explaining my situation and asking if I could get in on a tour.  Of course, I never got any response even though by this time I was a journalist and had been writing this blog for over a year.

This time, I checked the website for tour information and was told there was no longer a reservation needed but that tours were offered several times Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The website did say that tours fill up quickly on Saturdays so I got there over 2 hours early for a tour expecting to be able to get in on at least one. No– I was told that although the first tour didn’t even start until 2 pm that I should have been there by 11 am in line in 30 degree weather to get a tour by 4 pm. I am sorry but if this is the case, then you have a serious problem with the number of people on tours, the number of tours, and moving people efficiently through a tour.

After discussing my situation with the staff member at the counter, including the numerous times that I have tried to visit, the fact that I am a journalist, etc. I was still denied a tour and told I can by a growler but not even attend a tasting as they don’t have a liquor license. I explained that a growler would do no me no good as I live in the only state where half gallon growlers were illegal. The staff member then tried to tell me that it was a 64 ounce growler not a half gallon. I believe elementary school failed her somewhere along the way.

She then sent us down the road to a place called A.K.A. Frisco’s where we were told we could try their beers. Well we could– in a bottle.  In other words, this place didn’t have the ability the let us sample either.  We walked out–thinking “wow what kind of incestuous relationship is this where an employee of a brewery sends us to another place to try their beer and we still can’t do this… what kind of kickback is she or the brewery getting.”

Now I also have a lovely impression of the staff at the establishment. I also was left very confused as to why a brewery that had been doing tours for years was still not able to get a liquor license. Although I was given a very lame explanation, I can only guess they are not trying very hard.

Anyway, this leads me to think of all the breweries I have been to and similar situations that have occurred at these locations and how they were remedied to everyone’s satisfaction leaving customers with a good feeling.  One in particular comes to mind at Shipyard Brewing in Portland, Maine. The situation was similar as there were tons of people and too few spots on tours.  Shipyard employees introduced tours on the 15 minutes and cut back the numbers of samples given to each tour (I think it was 5 per person instead of 6) to accommodate less time. No one was denied a tour or the ability to at least try some of the beers. Everyone left happy.  Customers were buying t-shirts and other momentos and no one seemed to complain.

In that example, Shipyard made money from each tour person, left customers willing to continue to buy their beer, and sold additional items to happy customers who wanted to remember their experience. At Flying Dog, I and others left with a bad taste in our mouths and I didn’t see anyone buy a t-shirt. I personally know that the continued lack of customer service and bad experiences with this brewery will mean that I will never partake again of any of their products. Their beer is average and there are a lot of average breweries in the country who respect and love their customers.