Grauer's Grace
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 9/13/2019. Pours crystal clear nearly opaque dark ruby red/brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big mushy bananas, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark/brown bread/crust; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, raisin, fig, date, smoke, char, herbal, wood, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of bananas, dark/roast/bready malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of big mushy bananas, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark/brown bread/crust; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, raisin, fig, date, smoke, char, herbal, wood, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Mild herbal, grassy, peppery, roast, charred bitterness; and banana tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of mushy bananas, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark/brown bread/crust, molasses, licorice, dark fruit, light smoke/char, herbal, wood, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of bananas, dark/roast/bready malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a fantastic roast/hop bitter/sweet and banana tartness balance; with no cloying, acrid, astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitter/tartness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky/tangy mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is an outstanding fruit stout. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of bananas, dark/roast/bready malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/tart/drying finish; fantastic soft/silky feel for the ABV. Fantastic balance of authentic bananas and nicely rich dark/roasted malt flavors; with solid earthy hops, and restrained fruity yeast. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding style example as expected of the brewery. Not overwhelming on any aspect.