Sour Trooper
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

 

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, 2017 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red/copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lightly tart black cherry, raisin, plum, fig, date, berry, orange, apple, red grape, lemon, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted oak, vanilla, hay, straw, and grass; with light notes of nuttiness, cocoa, pepper, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, dark/bready malt, and oak barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart black cherry, raisin, plum, fig, date, berry, orange, apple, red grape, lemon, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted oak, vanilla, hay, straw, and grass; with light notes of nuttiness, cocoa, pepper, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness and light yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart cherry, dark fruit, berry, orange, apple, red grape, lemon, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted oak, vanilla, hay, straw, grass, light funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, dark/bready malt, and oak barrel flavors; with an awesome malt/tartness balance, and zero puckering flavors after the finish. Light dryness from tartness/acidity and carbonation, increasing through the glass. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, fairly crisp/acidic, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is awesome. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 6%. Overall this is fantastic Flanders red ale! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, dark/bready malt, and oak flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the mellow tart/acidic finish. Has a touch of Flanders brown-like malt notes, but are not overdone. Completely spot on for the style. Very well rounded complexity, with great oak presence. A highly enjoyable offering.