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/brand:
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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4.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Can. Pours a hazy orange with a big sudsy head and aromas of tangerines that might be a bit past their expiration date. Flavor is medicinal oranges with a boozy edge to it and just nasty as far as I’m concerned. Whatever the intent here, it didn’t work. Blech!
Tried from Can on 27 Jun 2017 at 22:23

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8.5
Large bottle split two ways at fridge temp. Thanks Jeff for sending this over! Totally oily black. Small head. The aroma is fantastic. Oily cocoa and a roasted espresso bean, licorice And vanilla. Hmmm. That is a very roasty stout ! Vanilla at front. Faded to booze and then intense licorice and old coffee at the finish. Barely any sweetness.
Tried from Bottle on 11 Jun 2017 at 10:17

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
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.
Tried from Bottle on 22 May 2017 at 20:23

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 6/20/2017. Pours very hazy/cloudy deep golden/amber/light orange color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, lemon/orange zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of huge tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, lemon/orange zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very mild pine, grassy, citrus peel bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, lemon/orange zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate pale malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky balanced mouthfeel that is awesome. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 7%. Overall this is an outstanding NE IPA! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the very mildly bitter finish. Glad they revamped the recipe. Way more hazy, juicy, and less bitter on hops; perfect malt balance without being sweet/heavy feeling. A highly enjoyable offering.
Tried from Can on 17 May 2017 at 19:09

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
The appearance was a dark brown color with a film of a little white foamy head. Slight lace.
The aroma was centered around some caramel, toast, nuts and earthy/grassy hops. Light pine made a light presence at the back.
The flavor leaned into the roast and pulled in the caramel and nuttiness fairly nice. Nice aftertaste of the toast, roast, caramel and nuts. Not much of a finish.
The feel was about medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Good carbonation about it. ABV felt good as well.
Overall, nicely done brown ale well worthy of having again.
Tried on 05 May 2017 at 13:04

7.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 9
Pours hazy with some dark orange. Aroma a bit faint. Sweet and plain malts, not getting much else. Taste surprises with sourness. Malty sour base, fruity and fulfilling. Slick mouthfeel that ends up dry. Not really sure if it is supposed to taste like this but in any case, very enjoyable!
Tried on 09 Apr 2017 at 08:36

7.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Golden and creamy, not much foam. Aroma is sweet, honey and ripe biwa-fruit. Going to the barleywine territory. Tastes sweet and strong, balanced sweet, honeyglaze and hops also there imparting bitterness. Bit of vegetable herbs in the finish, somewhat medicinal. Nice warming DIPA, not juicy but we’ll any beer with ass in the name can’t be flowery, can it?
Tried from Can on 09 Apr 2017 at 02:37

7.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 9
Nice golden, beautiful creamy look. Aroma has dank hops, resiny and comes with a bit of spoilt mango. Taste has big mango papaya and sweet honey base. Bitterness comes out stronger at the end, keeps tingling. Nice classic take on IPA, well done.
Tried on 09 Apr 2017 at 02:35

7/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 7
Very sweet malty backbone but not super strong. Boozy. Tons of pink grapefruit. Big. Not bad
Tried on 07 Apr 2017 at 23:18

6.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Big caramel nose with orange gummy bears. Malty, very estry, modestly hoppy. It’s ok.
Tried on 07 Apr 2017 at 23:09