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Impey Barbicane's Moon Gun
DuClaw Brewing Company
- From:
- DuClaw Brewing Company
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.56 | pDev: 10.39%
- Reviews:
- 38
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 07, 2018
- Added:
- Feb 17, 2015
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 28
Eccentric brewing geniuses from DuClaw Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland and Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida, combined their resources and aimed for the heavens with this highly drinkable Session Amber ale. A thrust of roasted malt with sparks of caramel launches your palate into a rocket ride of American hop flavor and aroma accented by herbal, tea-like notes. The countdown is at zero; fire the thrusters and shoot for the moon.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
4.04/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Up front: This review is for the Cigar City brewed & bottled version. For an unknown reason, Beer Advocate folks have seen fit to combine the listings - while a collaboration beer, each brewery brewed and bottled a version. Which, according to the guidelines here, should be two separate listings. Anyway, on with it...
Reviewed from (very long-standing) notes. Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into an Upland Brewing pint glass.
A: Dark bronze, just a touch hazy. Forms a fluffy light tan head with good retention and a medium level of visible carbonation.
S: Citrus, melon, grapefruit and resin hops. Some bready toasted malts underneath. Pretty nice aroma.
T: Grapefruit, melon, bright citrus, and dank. Lesser resinous piney hops with a toasted bready malt body that has just a bit of toffee sweetness. A touch of spicy or onion hops near the end. Moderately bitter in the hang with spicy hops and some lingering malt sweetness.
M: Medium body, low alcohol and a good amount of carbonation sensation.
O: Pretty darn good hoppy amber. Nice flavors - better than I expected for sure.
Jan 07, 2017Reviewed from (very long-standing) notes. Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into an Upland Brewing pint glass.
A: Dark bronze, just a touch hazy. Forms a fluffy light tan head with good retention and a medium level of visible carbonation.
S: Citrus, melon, grapefruit and resin hops. Some bready toasted malts underneath. Pretty nice aroma.
T: Grapefruit, melon, bright citrus, and dank. Lesser resinous piney hops with a toasted bready malt body that has just a bit of toffee sweetness. A touch of spicy or onion hops near the end. Moderately bitter in the hang with spicy hops and some lingering malt sweetness.
M: Medium body, low alcohol and a good amount of carbonation sensation.
O: Pretty darn good hoppy amber. Nice flavors - better than I expected for sure.
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
3.67/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
As I continue to winnow through the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody, I am finding beers that I do not even remember purchasing! In fact, I have so many DuClaw beers hanging around that I am embarking on a horizontal tasting for the next few days. This should be interesting.
From the bottle: "Eccentric brewers from Baltimore & Tampa collaborated to build this highly drinkable, amber-colored ale with a thrust of roasted malt that launches you on a rocket ride of hop flavor and aroma. Now, Pop that top, and ... shoot to the moon!"; "Respect the Fluid".
The Pop! was no problem, but the pour was going to be incredibly gentle. There was no telling whether there would be lees on the punt, but I was not taking the chance. My operation was a success, although there was initially no head until I gave it an in-glass swirl, raising a brief finger of foamy, light-tan head that quickly dissipated to wisps. Color was Coppery-Brown (SRM = > 17, < 22) with NE-quality clarity. The hops had faded over time, but it had a distinct caramel malt smell on the nose. Mouthfeel was medium, but with a fair amount of carbonation. The taste had a grassy, herbal hoppiness, but the caramel malt was really the star of this show. It was kind of unobtrusive, the sort of session beer that I could drink multiples of without any problem, but it would seem kind of empty and unfulfilling. Finish was semi-sweet with just enough hoppy bitterness to offset the malt.
Jan 05, 2017From the bottle: "Eccentric brewers from Baltimore & Tampa collaborated to build this highly drinkable, amber-colored ale with a thrust of roasted malt that launches you on a rocket ride of hop flavor and aroma. Now, Pop that top, and ... shoot to the moon!"; "Respect the Fluid".
The Pop! was no problem, but the pour was going to be incredibly gentle. There was no telling whether there would be lees on the punt, but I was not taking the chance. My operation was a success, although there was initially no head until I gave it an in-glass swirl, raising a brief finger of foamy, light-tan head that quickly dissipated to wisps. Color was Coppery-Brown (SRM = > 17, < 22) with NE-quality clarity. The hops had faded over time, but it had a distinct caramel malt smell on the nose. Mouthfeel was medium, but with a fair amount of carbonation. The taste had a grassy, herbal hoppiness, but the caramel malt was really the star of this show. It was kind of unobtrusive, the sort of session beer that I could drink multiples of without any problem, but it would seem kind of empty and unfulfilling. Finish was semi-sweet with just enough hoppy bitterness to offset the malt.
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
2.53/5 rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25
2.53/5 rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25
**
03/01/2015
On tap at blend....
LOOK: Clear Reddish color. Medium white head.
AROMA: Hops, pine.
Taste is Some fruit, more wood, pine.
FEEL: Dry and Astringent."
**
Dec 16, 201603/01/2015
On tap at blend....
LOOK: Clear Reddish color. Medium white head.
AROMA: Hops, pine.
Taste is Some fruit, more wood, pine.
FEEL: Dry and Astringent."
**
Reviewed by JayQue from Virginia
3.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good Amber Ale. Pours a slightly reddish Amber Color with a medium size frothy off white head. Some lacing on the glass. Aroma and taste is mostly malt, both caramel and dry biscuity type. There is some balancing bitterness in the finish, but malt is the featured ingredient here. Mouthfeel is crisp, the bitterness provides somewhat of a balance to the malt. I had it AFTER a good IPA and still it had enough flavor to stand up. Well worh a try.
Jul 05, 2016Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut
3.77/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz. bomber: This one pours a turbid reddish brown. There was a small off white head that left some lacing. It has a nice nose. Earthy and citrus hops as well as malts. No sweetness. The taste is good. A bit of bitterness, malts, biscuit, maybe a hint of tartness. Nice.
May 14, 2016Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina
3.71/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.71/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled on 2/9/2015. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy reddish copper color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lasts. Nice dense soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Awesome appearance. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/roast, grapefruit, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper/pine, herbal, grass, and floral/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt and moderate citrus hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/roast, grapefruit, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, light pepper/pine, herbal, grass, and floral/toasted earthiness. Light pine/herbal/spicy hop and roast bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/roast, grapefruit, pineapple, lemon/orange zest, light pepper/pine, and floral/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and moderate citrus hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light dryness from hop/roast bitterness as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and lightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish as expected of 5%. Overall this is a nice amber ale. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and moderate citrus hop flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink. Obviously past prime at this point, but still had a nice balance of malt and hop flavors. A nicely enjoyable offering.
Apr 09, 2016Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.85/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours red orange with a small white head. Smells of caramel and sweet barley. Tastes of sweet barley with nice hints of earthy hops, very small hints of caramel. Beer is light bodied, nicely carbonated, clean finish. Overall, a good beer.
Feb 06, 2016Reviewed by Brian_L-2056 from West Virginia
2.68/5 rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.68/5 rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Pours a beautiful dark orange color with plenty of head into a pint glass. Even the head and lacing has an orangish tint. Definite citrus and hoppy smell. Initial taste bitter up front and gets even more bitter into the finish. If you love IPA bitterness, you will definitely like this one. Not much else flavor wise. Will not buy again
Dec 30, 2015Reviewed by tempest from New York
3.84/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cool beer, you don't see too often – hoppy, sessionable brew with tasty malts. Spicy citrus rinds hops, toasty malts. Very drinkable. This would be great in tall boys.
Oct 22, 2015Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania
3.36/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.36/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12oz bottle into a duclaw pint. The brew appears copper in color with a ridiculous amount of chunky yeast that hangs throughout suspension. The white cap fades fast.
Smell is hoppy with a fruity tinge, minor floral appeal mixing with rinds. Overall pretty clean smelling.
Taste is bitter and rindy with zest, pulp and pithy citrus hop bitterness. A touch of bready malt but zero residual sugar. Quite toasty and enjoyable with modest bitterness and fairly clean yeast profile considering the dump it took in my glass. However, as it warms up it gets a leafy vegetal thing I dislike that mixes with some carbonic character.
Medium bodied and modestly carbonated. Overall an average hoppy amber.
Sep 23, 2015Smell is hoppy with a fruity tinge, minor floral appeal mixing with rinds. Overall pretty clean smelling.
Taste is bitter and rindy with zest, pulp and pithy citrus hop bitterness. A touch of bready malt but zero residual sugar. Quite toasty and enjoyable with modest bitterness and fairly clean yeast profile considering the dump it took in my glass. However, as it warms up it gets a leafy vegetal thing I dislike that mixes with some carbonic character.
Medium bodied and modestly carbonated. Overall an average hoppy amber.
Reviewed by Beer4Baltimore from Maryland
3.88/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I have to admit that when I saw DuClaw on the label I wasn't expecting to be impressed. Maybe it's the Cigar City collaboration that adds the needed touch but regardless this is a quite nice hoppy red ale. Toasted malts and especially caramel dominate the smell. Beer is copper colored and holds a thin head. Taste starts sweet caramel like the smell but transitions rapidly into piney hops. Frisky carbonation keeps it moving but bitterness lingers. Overall I was very pleasantly surprised.
Sep 17, 2015
Impey Barbicane's Moon Gun from DuClaw Brewing Company
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
178 ratings
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