The Good, The Bad And The Bitter
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

 

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass; 2015 bottling released recently. Pours lightly hazy deep golden yellow color with a 2 finger dense and rocky white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit, orange peel, pear, apple, pepper, pine, light honey, bread, herbal, floral, grass, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops, pale malt, and light-moderate fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of lemon zest, grapefruit, orange peel, pear, apple, pepper, pine, light honey, bread, herbal, floral, grass, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Good amount of piney/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon zest, grapefruit, orange peel, pear, apple, pepper, pine, light honey, bread, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale malt, and light-moderate fruity yeast flavors; with a good malt/bitterness balance and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately sticky/resinous, and slightly creamy/bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is a very nice English IPA style. All around good robustness, complexity, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, pale malt, and light-moderate fruity yeast flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.