# Colossal Strong Ales The Latest 'Colossus' Beer is a Whiskey Barrel-Aged Behemoth By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2022-01-15 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strong-ale References: [brewbound](https://www.brewbound.com/news/duclaw-releases-barrel-aged-colossus-in-crafted-wooden-boxes) & [duclaw](https://duclaw.com/beers/barrel-aged-colossus/)  DuClaw Brewing, a Maryland-based company that has been pushing the boundaries of craft beer for the past 25 years, has launched a new strong ale that is furthering the company's storied reputation of churning out top-class beers of the complex and unique variety through its Colossus series. The fifth version of the Colossus is a beverage that is [aged in whiskey barrels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whiskey-sour-inspired-ales). Unabashedly bold in character, this brew hits you in the face with its [strong malty and sweet character](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lowabv-brown-ales), which is perfectly married with hints of apple. As far as olfactory elements are concerned, this beer emits aromas of vanilla and bourbon. In addition to the pleasurable drinking experience that it promises, this strong ale is also a [limited-edition offering](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wild-plum-sour) with some unique bonuses in its packaging, particularly the inclusion of a wood-burned letter "C" on each of the boxes, which aim to signify the novelty and rarity of the brew within. Image Credit: DuClaw Brewing Company ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 2% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 11% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Barrel-aged Strong Ales:** Craft breweries can experiment with barrel-aging techniques to create unique, complex and bold strong ales like DuClaw Brewing's Colossus series. - **Limited-edition Offerings:** Craft breweries can drive consumer interest by creating limited-edition offerings that are packaged in unique and rare ways, as done by DuClaw Brewing with their Colossus series. - **Sensory Experience in Beer:** Craft breweries can create a memorable drinking experience by offering strong ales that not only taste great but also emit unique aromas like the Colossus series' aromas of vanilla and bourbon. ### Where This Applies - **Craft Beer:** Craft breweries can innovate their product offerings by experimenting with unique flavor and aging techniques like the Colossus series to set themselves apart in the competitive craft beer market. - **Packaging Design:** Design agencies can offer expertise in creating unique packaging for limited-edition offerings like the Colossus series to set them apart on the shelves and drive consumer interest. - **Beverage Alcohol Retail:** Alcohol retailers can drive sales by highlighting limited-edition offerings like the Colossus series, which are seen as rare and novel among consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Colossally Flavored Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colossally-flavored-imperial-stouts.md) - [Robustly Barrel-Aged Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrel-aged-imperial-stout.md) - [Boozy Barrel-Aged Ales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrel-aged-ale.md) - [Barrel-Aged Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrelaged-imperial-stouts.md) - [Bold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrelaged-stout.md) - [Limited-Edition Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackout-stout.md) - [Explosively Strong Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strong-imperial-stouts.md) - [Limited-Edition Bottled Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrelaged-stouts.md) - [Barrel-Aged Milk Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrelaged-milk-stout.md)