Undertow
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

UndertowUndertow
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From:
Griffin Claw Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
7%
Score:
89
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 6.97%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
28
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 13, 2019
Added:
Jul 19, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Black Currant Saison
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Sammy:
Photo of Sammy
Rated by Sammy from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev -0.5%

Jul 25, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.78 by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

Apr 13, 2019
Photo of stortore
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22 ounce bottle into a tulip glass. Fall 2016 edition, had 6/8/17.

This is the Black Currant Sour with black pepper version. Pours a cloudy reddish amber, with a one and a half inch foamy head and soapy lacing. Aromas of black currants, malt, dates, lemon, light cherries, some yeast, black pepper in the head as it warms. A little sour aroma, also as it warms. The taste is fairly malt forward, then black currants, dates, some cherries, light citrus and black pepper. Some tartness and sourness, a light bitterness on the finish. Smooth, a solid, hefty, medium body, well carbonated on the high side.

Great flavor and aroma, very well developed. The currants are outstanding. Not very sour, but that’s not a negative. Really enjoyed this. Well worth a purchase, although a bit pricey.
Feb 15, 2018
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.17/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
a really clever and unique beer here, one of my first from these guys, huge thanks to my brother for sharing it with me! this is a black currant and black pepper sour ale, and both of these special ingredients leave an indelible mark on this memorable brew. its neon pink from the bottle, with quite a bit of chunky sediment towards the bottom, but a rising light pink head like a soda, settling back slowly, intense saturated color here. the nose is really puckery, lactic and acidic and sharp, mouthwatering, but the currant has a piquant property too, a little sweetness, and a rich almost medicinal character to the nose. i smell faint lemon, black pepper, saison yeast, cheesy weirdness, and earthiness, super unique. the flavor is great, not quite as sour as it smells, the tang of the fruit right there with the bacterial element. pepper is faint and mostly all in the finish, but its almost warming on the tongue, and really complimentary to the grain here, which without the pepper might be lost to the fruit and acid. it creates a really wintery and holiday vibe to this as well, a unique use of a spice in a beer for sure. light sweetness to the currants, a cranberry sort of sourness, and then really clean at the end, none of the cheesy funk thats there in the nose, if it was there at all, it dissipated fast. almost refreshing but a little too sour for that. overall a really tasty and different beer, i really enjoyed this!
Jan 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by beergorrilla from Michigan

Oct 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Sep 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.08 by Richter525 from Michigan

Jul 22, 2016
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled in summer 2015. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy dark ruby red/purple color with a 2 finger dense and rocky light pink head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big lightly tart black cherry, blackberry, currant, cranberry, plum, red grape, lemon, peppercorn, hay, straw, herbal, bread, light red wine vinegar/funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, currant/peppercorn, and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart black cherry, blackberry, currant, cranberry, plum, red grape, lemon, peppercorn, hay, straw, herbal, bread, light red wine vinegar/funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/acidic tartness and yeast/peppercorn spiciness; with lingering notes of black cherry, blackberry, currant, cranberry, plum, red grape, lemon, peppercorn, hay, straw, herbal, bread, light red wine vinegar/funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, currant/peppercorn, and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/tart/spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Lightly drying from acidity and yeast spice as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/acidic, and lightly sticky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice fruited sour saison style. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, currant/peppercorn, and moderate bready malt flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV with the balanced acidity. A very enjoyable offering.
Feb 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.08 by aratcliffe from Kansas

Jan 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.98 by szmnnl99 from Michigan

Nov 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by IrishColonial from Texas

Oct 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by Jas45678 from Michigan

Sep 26, 2015
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Reviewed by justinp444 from Michigan

3.82/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a snifter it has a purple white 2 inch thick head with a hazy purple amber body. Smell of raspberry, black currant, lemon, citrus, and a bit of bready malt. Taste is like black currant jelly on wheat bread, a little bit of citrus, lemon, and grapefruit. It has a very carbonated full mouth feel and a full body. A little bit too much carbonated and the flavor itself is odd but not a terrible beer.
Aug 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.82 by FaradayUncaged from Michigan

Aug 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.69 by deakin from Michigan

Aug 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by tommy5 from Michigan

Nov 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by drbenderdo from Michigan

Oct 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by HardyA from Michigan

Sep 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Joey1566 from Minnesota

Sep 10, 2014
Undertow from Griffin Claw Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 28 ratings