Griffin Claw Brewing Company

Microbrewery in Birmingham, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 2013

Contact
575 S Eton St, Birmingham, MI, 48009, United States
Subsidiaries
Griffin Claw Brewing Company owns 1 brewery:
Description
Griffin Claw Brewing Company’s official opening day may be July 18th, 2013 but it all started when Dan Rogers began working his magic at Big Rock Chophouse in Birmingham, MI. Dan had been brewing since 1991 and eventually found his way to Big Rock in 2004, this is the unofficial start of Griffin Claw. Dan continued hammering out amazing beers in the small confines of Big Rock and the Michigan beer community started taking notice. It wasn’t until 2010 that his name and beers received a lot more attention. 2010 was a big year, winning two World Beer Cup medals for Norm’s Raggedy Ass and Bonnie’s Raggedy Ass.

Griffin Claw’s culture is that of growth. Our path to get where we are has been a quick one but it’s because of our people. We are centered around young, hungry, active beer enthusiasts – with a foundation of grizzled vets. Our love for this Great Beer State is increased as the days go on and we love the industry that we’re in.

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7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Taster pour from bottle at bottle share -- thanks Chalumeaux! Appearance is clear, dark brown with thin ring of beige head with poor retention and no lacing. Aroma is mild chocolate and vanilla. Taste is vanilla and chocolate and complementary bourbon and a little bit of cherry. Mouthfeel is light bodied with thin texture, soft carbonation and finish as taste with moderate spiciness. Overall, nice, rich vanilla and chocolate with bourbon, but not getting much chocolate and hazelnut.
Tried from Bottle on 05 Oct 2019 at 13:11

7.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Taster pour from bottle at bottle share -- thanks Chalumeaux! Appearance is dark, dark brown with no sparkle, thin ring of beige head with poor retention and no lacing. Aroma is nice chocolate and mild bourbon. Taste is spicy cinnamon and chocolate. Mouthfeel is light side of light-to-medium bodied with smooth texture, lots of spicy heat and finish as taste. Overall, the spiciness dominates and not in an entirely pleasant way. Bourbon and coffee get lost.
Tried from Bottle on 05 Oct 2019 at 13:03

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Taster pour at bottle share -- thanks Chalumeaux! (2016 vintage). Appearance is dark brown with no sparkle, thin cap of beige head with poor retention and no lacing. Aroma is really nice bourbon. Taste is bourbon/alcohol with background toasted malts. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with thick, smooth texture, average-to-lively carbonation and finish as taste with some pleasant alcohol warmth. Overall, tasty but not terribly complex. Over carbonated.
Tried from Bottle on 05 Oct 2019 at 12:57

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
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.
Tried from Can on 01 Oct 2019 at 00:28

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8
On tap. Pours a clear bronze-amber with a medium, creamy, long lasting, beige head that leaves curtains of lace. Sweet, spicy aroma of bready caramel malt, pumpkin, bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Sweet, spicy flavour of biscuity caramel malt, toffee, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, vanilla and mild oak in a dry, bourbon warming finish. Medium body with a smooth, oily texture and average carbonation. Very enjoyable. An excellent Pumpkin Ale.
Tried from Draft on 27 Sep 2019 at 03:58

7.6/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
Tap at Brodys, Den Haag. Poured a clear dark brown colour with a thin broken tan head. The aroma is roasty malt, chocolate, toffee treacle. The flavour is moderate sweet, with a super smooth, rich, oily, toffee caramel, light boozy alcohol palate. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Tried from Draft at Brody's American Taphouse on 26 Sep 2019 at 10:49

8.4/10 Appearance 9 Aroma 9 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Black with a tan head. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, milk chocolate, fudge, coffee. Flavour is heavy sweet. Full bodied with soft carbonation. Nice pastry stout, it’s like a box of Quality Street with bourbon!
Tried from Draft at Brody's American Taphouse on 25 Sep 2019 at 17:05


8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Poured from bottle thanks Flanders black brown with a cocoa head. Aroma is dark chocolate light berry. Taste is nice dark chocolate, light berry, well integrated.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Sep 2019 at 23:33

8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8
Chalumeaux with a killer vertical, thanks buddy! 2017 vintage. Aroma is mostly raspberry. I feel like the balance of dark chocolate and raspberry works for my palate. The body is decent with a little sweet finish.
Tried on 21 Sep 2019 at 23:11