-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Hell On Wood
DuClaw Brewing Company
- From:
- DuClaw Brewing Company
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- American Barleywine
- ABV:
- 13.1%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4 | pDev: 10%
- Reviews:
- 63
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 14, 2021
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2014
- Wants:
- 19
- Gots:
- 70
We aged a limited quantity of our award winning (Brewer’s Association of Maryland Governor’s Cup gold medal winner in 2006, 2007 and 2008) Barleywine, Devil’s Milk, in Kentucky White Oak Bourbon barrels to create a uniquely tempting new brew. Hell On Wood is medium/full-bodied and amber in color with a thin, persistent, off-white head. Its mesmerizing citrus flavors and aromas, accented by notes of charred oak, vanilla, and caramelized sugar, give way to a palate dominating hop finish balanced by smoky, bourbon character and a warming alcohol presence (10.6% alcohol by volume). There’s no escape; prepare to fall to the seductive power of Hell On Wood!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by smithj4:
Rated by smithj4 from New York
3.98/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Oct 12, 2019
3.98/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Oct 12, 2019
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
3.96/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a tulip
Bottles on 2/14/16
A- pours a clear, deep amber color with a ruby hue, one-finger foamy off-white head reduces to a ring around the edge
S- faded citrus and piney hops, orange zest, caramel, fruit cake, brown bread, toffee, oaky bourbon , cherries
T- orange marmalade and citrus zest up front, followed by sweet malty notes of caramel, fruit bread and toffee. Mid-palate starts to bring out some oaky bourbon notes, which adds a hint of vanilla. The finish gives more bourbon, caramel and some oxidized hops
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly warming finish
O- this one has well up quite well. Zesty citrus hops still sticking around with some nice barrel notes
Nov 20, 2020Bottles on 2/14/16
A- pours a clear, deep amber color with a ruby hue, one-finger foamy off-white head reduces to a ring around the edge
S- faded citrus and piney hops, orange zest, caramel, fruit cake, brown bread, toffee, oaky bourbon , cherries
T- orange marmalade and citrus zest up front, followed by sweet malty notes of caramel, fruit bread and toffee. Mid-palate starts to bring out some oaky bourbon notes, which adds a hint of vanilla. The finish gives more bourbon, caramel and some oxidized hops
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly warming finish
O- this one has well up quite well. Zesty citrus hops still sticking around with some nice barrel notes
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.85/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
3.85/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to DonnieT79 for this one, from NBS BIF #11. 12oz can, dated 2/21/19, poured into 14oz teku. poured a lightly murky dark mahogany color with 1-1/2 inches of tan head that had great retention and lacing.
Semi-sweet malts at the front of the nose, with some wood and bourbon in the background.
Pretty similar on the tongue, just better expanded. The malts still dominate, and a touch of hops show through, then the barrel aspects round things off nicely at the finish.
The body was a touch lighter than I anticipated, but was smooth, held great carbonation throughout the pour, and had a medium finish. Much drier than i expected.
Drinkability was great, I would drink a lot of this if it were local to me.
Overall, an excellent example of the style. A must-try for most beer drinkers, and an absolute must-try for fans of the style. Great beer.
Apr 04, 2020Semi-sweet malts at the front of the nose, with some wood and bourbon in the background.
Pretty similar on the tongue, just better expanded. The malts still dominate, and a touch of hops show through, then the barrel aspects round things off nicely at the finish.
The body was a touch lighter than I anticipated, but was smooth, held great carbonation throughout the pour, and had a medium finish. Much drier than i expected.
Drinkability was great, I would drink a lot of this if it were local to me.
Overall, an excellent example of the style. A must-try for most beer drinkers, and an absolute must-try for fans of the style. Great beer.
Reviewed by Zraly from Virginia
3.48/5 rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nice dark ruby color but quite a bit of sediment in the pour. Booze on the nose. Lots of dry citrus and sweet undertones. Earth and alcohol in the finish. Rather inexpensive for a reasonable entry into the barleywine category.
Feb 21, 2020Reviewed by CharlesForbin from Pennsylvania
4.5/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Best served not too cold. You can smell this was aged in bourbon barrells. Cloudy appearance. I'm not the spice that others have mentioned. At first the 13% alcohol is present but fades with suseqent sips. I label this a "blizzard" beer (keeps you warm while watching a snowstorm outside). I always have a case in my basement for the winter. Excellent take on the style!
Dec 08, 2019Rated by bobert84 from Maryland
4.03/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Great local beer!
Jul 28, 2019Reviewed by Mongrel from Maryland
3.92/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Damn - it’s spicy! Lots of peppery rye spice, followed by some soothing plum and orange marmalade. The prickly, spicy feel keeps this from becoming too sweet, but also stops it just short of feeling luxurious. A livelier brew than I expected given the abv, with bright fruit flavors like lemon continuing to pop out. Some fig and vanilla on the finish. Pretty tasty and drinkable.
May 08, 2019Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The first thing I got when I popped the top was ripe, succulent cherries and rich toffee. The pour reveals a hazy brown beer that has a foamy tan head that dissipates relatively quickly, and has that “sizzle” sound as it does so akin to a sour.
So I’m thinking a barleywine sour. That’s logical.
The nose after the pour has ripe fruit and toffee aromas, and there’s also a significant boozy note. Maybe Brian did send me a canned Utopias.
The taste is led by ripe cherries that are a bit sour, but not “a” sour, and the toffee flavor is staking out significant territory in this beer. The booze is not nearly as significant on the taste as it was on the nose, so I guess my canned Utopias theorem has been scuttled. Crap.
Did I mention I’m doing this live without a net? It helps the beer warm and release the flavors.
I know this, because I’m a true professional.
The more I taste and savor this, the more I think it’s a heavily hopped barleywine. The fruit is really forward, but the toffee notes are equally formidable. I’m saying this is an 11%-12% barleywine, and I’d rate it in the 4.25 range.
Apr 22, 2019So I’m thinking a barleywine sour. That’s logical.
The nose after the pour has ripe fruit and toffee aromas, and there’s also a significant boozy note. Maybe Brian did send me a canned Utopias.
The taste is led by ripe cherries that are a bit sour, but not “a” sour, and the toffee flavor is staking out significant territory in this beer. The booze is not nearly as significant on the taste as it was on the nose, so I guess my canned Utopias theorem has been scuttled. Crap.
Did I mention I’m doing this live without a net? It helps the beer warm and release the flavors.
I know this, because I’m a true professional.
The more I taste and savor this, the more I think it’s a heavily hopped barleywine. The fruit is really forward, but the toffee notes are equally formidable. I’m saying this is an 11%-12% barleywine, and I’d rate it in the 4.25 range.
Reviewed by Joe_Tool from New Jersey
3.03/5 rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.03/5 rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottled on 2/14/14. Dark basement kept undisturbed. 50*F into a pint with sediment left in the 12oz bottle. Mild carbonation and very slight haze. Insignificant head with some lacing. Deep amber color. Smell is sweet caramel.
This one has improved over the years. Unfortunately, it's only improved to "ok". Too sweet for a 4yo "English".
Dec 29, 2018This one has improved over the years. Unfortunately, it's only improved to "ok". Too sweet for a 4yo "English".
Hell On Wood from DuClaw Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
349 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!