Erubescent
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but was just released. Pours slightly hazy deep orange/copper/light reddish color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big red grapefruit, mandarin orange, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, blueberries, citrus peel/rind, light peppercorn, pine, caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, light roast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big red grapefruit, mandarin orange, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, blueberries, citrus peel/rind, light peppercorn, pine, caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, light roast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of red grapefruit, mandarin orange, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, blueberries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, light roast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 9%. Overall this is an excellent imperial red. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the ABV with the mellowly bitter/drying finish, not aggressive. Well attenuated, not overly sweet/heavy for the ABV. Awesome Mosaic showcase. Very juicy and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; great balancing malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A very enjoyable and impressive style example.