Norm's Pumpkin Spice IPA
Griffin Claw Brewing Company in Birmingham, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Pumpkin Autumn Out of Production|
Score
6.71
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Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled in Fall 2015. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy golden orange color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, lemon zest, grapefruit, orange peel, pine, honey, toasted bread, light caramel, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of pumpkin/spices, citrus/pine hops, and moderate bready malt sweetness; with great strength. Taste of big pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, lemon zest, grapefruit, orange peel, pine, honey, toasted bread, light caramel, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Moderate amount of herbal spice/pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, grapefruit, lemon/orange peel, grapefruit, pine, honey, toasted bread, light caramel, and herbal/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of pumpkin/spices, citrus/pine hops, and moderate bready malt sweetness; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from bitterness after the finish as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and moderately creamy/bready/sticky mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Pumpkin IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of pumpkin/spices, citrus/pine hops, and moderate bready malt sweetness; and very smooth and easy to drink. This had a lot of authentic pumpkin fruit notes in the aroma/flavors; and was extremely well balanced between the pumpkin ale and IPA flavor characteristics. A very enjoyable offering.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
Draft - Lots of soap and light spice. Clear gold with a decent white head. Lots of soap and bitterness with some clove and spice. Not good.