Black Douglas
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

 

22 ounce bottle into snifter; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, toast, brown bread, nuttiness, raisin, plum, fig, apple, light roast/smoke, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready malt, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, toast, brown bread, nuttiness, raisin, plum, fig, apple, light roast/smoke, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Minimal earthy/herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toast, brown bread, nuttiness, raisin, plum, fig, apple, light smoke, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/yeast/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and slightly sticky mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is an excellent scotch ale style. All around great robustness, complexity, and balance of dark/bready malt, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop flavors; and very smooth and easy to sip on for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.