Eagle Claw Fist - Clown Shoes

merc7186

New York

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mr Goodbar in Buffalo NY, poured into a pint glass,

A: Deep Reddish/Brownish Hue, Passes Mild Light, White Head, Great Lacing

S: Piney, Grainy

T: Piney, Biscuits, Mild Bittering Hops

M: Great Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Grainy

Overall, a pretty nice imperial red hoppy beer with nice blend.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2012 04:04:09 | More by merc7186

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

All signs seem to point to this being an attempt at a Nugget Nectar clone. Poured a darker amber-copper, slightly hazy, with a moderate white head, decent retention and lacing. Hop-dominant aroma, citrus and pine, with a toasty bready malt base. More hoppiness in the taste, almost closer to an IPA than an amber ale (kind of like Nugget Nectar, whatdoyouknow), good mixture of citrus, pine, and floral hops; dry, bready malts, cereal grains. Good, but a bit lacking overall in complexity and freshness. Medium mouthfeel, dry and bitter in the finish, and a bit stale. Decent overall and pretty easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2012 12:02:48 | More by Rifugium

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a goblet at MexiQ. Certainly a double red type ale – it is red and hoppy after all. But I don't get much malt from it. The hops were a bit one-dimensional and defined by a dry, biting citrus rind character. There wasn't a lot of flavor up front, and the beer never got into any fruitier or floral notes. By no means a bad beer, but not my favorite from Clown Shoes.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 20:25:15 | More by tempest

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at Blue Dog.

Eagle Claw Fist pours into the glass a dark amber color with some dark orange and bronze in the color. A firm cap of off white foam that sticks pretty nice. Smell is fairly hoppy with a grapefruit scent and some underlining malt. Trace amounts of grain and some lemon in the scent. Taste is a hoppy amber with the malt in the back. Jumbled. Reminds me of what all beer tastes like after a long day drinking different beer at a bottle share event, muddled. I like it though, to an extent. Body is medium in build with a faint bitterness and a lasting aftertaste. Carb is present and pronounced. Interesting beer, just not something to drink tons of.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2012 07:43:11 | More by onix1agr

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Petrol Station in Houston.

The beer pours a medium amber color with a white head. The aroma has a lot of toffee and caramel notes, as well as some nice pine notes from the hops.

The flavor also has a nice mix of hops and malt. I get some toffee and cocoa notes from the malt, as well as some nice pine and orange citrus notes. There is also quite a bit of booziness in the flavor, as well as the aroma.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 04:09:19 | More by Mora2000

champ103

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Queen Vic in Houston, TX

A: Pours a dark reddish/brown color. A one finger light beige head forms with poor retention. No lace is left behind.
S: Toasted and caramel malts up front. Some dark fruits of plums and raisins. A large lingering grapefruit bitterness as well.
T: Toasted and caramel malts up front. Lots of residual sugars initially. Though a huge lingering grapefruit bitterness lingers. The alcohol is noticeable as well. The malt, sugars, and bitterness do not mesh right for me.
M/D: A medium to full body that is a bit low on the carbonation. Though not under carbonated. I wish it was cleaner with more of a crispness though. Nothing meshes right for me, and add to that plenty of alcohol. Not something I care to come back to.

I am not really digging the Clown Shoes offerings so far. This, specifically, does not mesh right for me. Not something I would recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 02:57:44 | More by champ103

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark red with an everlasting tan head.

Smells of lots of caramel malt with some piney scent from the hops.

Taste is up front caramel what you'd expect from an amber, but also a load of piney and a bit of citrusy hops. Roasted malt notes are also detectable. Finishes extremely bitter and dry at the end of the palate.

Mouthfeel/carb are pretty spot on for the style.

I like my ambers hopped up, and this is a good beer, but I think they missed on the profile a little bit. Everything ends up being a bit too bitter when the roasted malts and piney hops are added together. Maybe a bit more lean toward a citrusy hop could have made it a tad less harsh.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2011 08:50:28 | More by jmarsh123

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A beautiful looking beer, with a pour that's a very dark amber, almost burnt orange. reminds me more of a Scottish ale by appearance alone. Nice creamy head that leaves excellent lacing rounds it out. Smells quite malty, a bit sweet, and with notes of chalky fruit and some citrusy hops. Tastes very firm, with sweet malt, but dryer than the nose. It's quite bitter as well, with earthy and citrus pith flavors that make a nice hoppy counterpoint to all of the malt. Smooth and silky in the mouth, but not creamy- instead you're left with a long bitterness that races around the tight malt flavors. An interesting beer, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2011 02:42:51 | More by Georgiabeer

glid02

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap.

Pours a slightly hazy deep amber color with a cream-colored head that leaves solid lacing.

Smells of heavy caramel malts with hints of toastiness. Also present are large amounts of citrus and slightly herbal hops backed by smaller amounts of floral notes.

Tastes smoother than the smell intimates. Moderately dry caramel malt flavors up front are joined quickly by deep citrus and light pine hops. Midway through the citrus fades a bit and small amounts of bready and toasted flavors come into play, carrying through to a moderately bitter ending. Mouthfeel is OK, it’s on the thin side with decent carbonation.

Overall this is one of my favorite styles but I couldn’t quite get behind this beer. The hops weren’t crisp enough and the malt profile seemed muddled. By no means a bad beer but there are better ones out there.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2011 13:37:25 | More by glid02

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dispenses a lightly hazed, dark copper-amber body with a foamy, lasting, ecru-colored crown. Sufficient lacing on the way down.

Smell: An earthy aroma compounded with a heap of essential citrus oils and punchy pith shards over the lesser malt hints of toast and caramel.

Taste: Sweet caramel and an additional light sprinkling of sugar atop toasted bread and toasted grains at the opening. Pithy, fruity and the concentrated quality of citrus oils providing flavors of grapefruit, lemon, and, just maybe, some dried bitter orange peel. Then, it quickly switches over to being earthy and firmly resinous, and, though there's a small rebound of that initial sweet maltiness, it snaps back to those sharp resins and the cumulative bitterness. Longly bitter, rather dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. A smoothness is noted, friends.

Overall: At a punchy 8%, I'd say it's better lumped in the catch-all American Strong Ale category, but that's okay, I can go with the flow.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 18:38:09 | More by ChainGangGuy

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 6/7/2011 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep coppery brown color with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is a nice blend of caramelized malts, fruity citrus and floral hops.

T: The taste starts out with a burst of caramel and citrus sweetness that is quickly followed by a strong hops bitterness. The male character is hearty and brings a very good balance. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Very tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is an excellent beer to drink for a whole evening.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 16:31:34 | More by TheManiacalOne

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From tap to pint glass at Whole Foods in Fairfax, VA on 3/20/11
*From notes

A: A cloudy and rich dark amber hue. A devistating 2+ finger head which is followed by some ridiculously sticky lacing.

S: Big league hops. A subtle amount of malt lingers around, but it's easily overwhelmed by the intensity of the fresh hop oil.

T: An explosion of juicy hoppiness. It takes one hell of a malt backbone to stand up, but it does, and it carries the beer from the mid to the finish, where a smooth bitterness hits the tounge.

M: A creamy, robust feel to it not seen in most ambers I've had. It's big - it overwhelms the mouth upon contact.

O: Outstanding. Clown Shoe's Eagle Claw Fist is one of the top five ambers I've had the pleasure of consuming. Period.

*On a side note, I'd like to add that Eagle Claw Fist sports one of the coolest, most badass labels I've come across. In fact Clown Shoes entire line up has some killer branding.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 17:44:07 | More by Rhettroactive

BeerMusketeer

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was a real revelation. Amber highlighted by red, they could easily called it a red in fact, is capped by a slowly falling head that leaves a great head. Cold out of the fridge the bitterness was almost overwhelming, so out of fairness I need to mark them down on drinkability, but as it warmed it became one of the more complex and DELICIOUS hop bombs EVER. Pine, rose, grass, tropical fruits, and BRACING BITTERNESS. Love the dryness, as most super hoppy beers overdo the sweetness.

Edit: Tried this on cask at Cambridge Common. Was smoother and even hoppier. This is a combined review.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2011 14:40:03 | More by BeerMusketeer

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Had on tap at Union Ale House

Appearance: dark amber in color with 1/4 inch head, clear

Smell: pine hops, slight caramel malt

Taste: This one is super hoppy--a bit of caramel malt starts, then a big dose of pine hops and small citrus hops

Mouthfeel: light body, moderate/light carbonation, sweetish start--then a super bitter spike and less bitter but still very bitter end

Drinkability: If you like hops,this is the amber for you. If is super bitter in places and is very in your face. The pine taste is there and is good. I wish the malt was a bit more present to balance this out. One is enough for me, but very good for hopheads.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 14:39:46 | More by tigg924

charliedvrs

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On Tap at Deep Ellum poured into a tulip glass.

A - Deep red with two and a half fingers of fluffy white head. Lots and lots of lacing down the glass.

S - Very hoppy. Lots of pine and a little bit of citrus.

T - The bitterness hits hard in the very front. Piney hops overwhelm the palate but then quickly subside to give the malts a chance to shine. A brief moment of sweetness comes as the amber and red becomes very apparent. Then the hops come back with a bitter, resin taste to go along with the general pine theme. Little bits of floral sneak in as well.

M - Medium mouthfeel. The carbonation is deceivingly lower with how sweet the malts are. The alcohol level becomes to creep up in the end and mix well with the bitterness.

D - Pretty good drinkability. No problem finishing the first glass. Though the alcohol is pretty present, I'd say pleasantly slow with the way it mixed with the bitter and sweet tones. A very solid beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2010 18:41:10 | More by charliedvrs

beer4colin

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Arriving in pint glass with actually a healthy head for UBH(Note: Union Brewhouse always pours with little foam. Very hazy dark amber/brown.

S: Nothing objectionable, good clean pine

T: A decent balanced brew with a good toast taste. Finishes with a decent hop wallop.

D: I gave this 3 starts in my own system. I liked it but didn't love it mostly because I was not sure how drinkable they would be.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2010 14:39:46 | More by beer4colin

BigBarley

Texas

2.85/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Pours a muddy amber, with a cap of white foam floating atop

Aroma is sweet, fresh tropical fruits, pineapple, mango, and grapefruit. Nice aroma with some nice caramel hidden way way beneath for balance.

Unfortunately the hops and tropical fruit from the nose are covered up by a complete messy execution. The hops are there, and they're bitter, but they don't blend well, and the malt tastes like barrel-aged RIS minus ALL the flavor... just that after burn of odd oaky madness. This beer is weird and disappointing and that makes me sad. I don't think it held up very well but it's lacking a bottling date, so... this kinda sucks!

Mouthfeel is decent but not enough to save it.

Believe me, if you find it fresh, try it. But uh... yeah, I think the older bottles taste awful by this point.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 08:52:45 | More by BigBarley

JackieTH

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber red pour with a khaki foam that dissipates to a quarter inch of very persistent head, copious lacing. Malty and earthy nose, light caramel. Taste, similarly, is earthy, caramel, spicy, astringent, moderately bitter..grapefruit, grass, floral. Medium body creamy mouthfeel. This red ale brings on the rye and hop. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 03:47:58 | More by JackieTH

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bot. 6/15/11. Consumed 1/15/13.

A: Candy-apple burgundy coloring is dense with a slight frothy natured head that was light tan. Retention was good, as well the nice sheet lacing it provided.

S: Strong fresh caramel backing first appears on the nose. Moderate wiff of pungent flowery columbus hops makes my heart skip a beat even after the lengthy layover from bottling to consumption. Some fresh apple fruitiness blends nicely with the flowery aspect of the hops.

T: The flavor follows the nose in terms of pungent flowery bitterness meeting resistance from the massive caramel malt bill. Soothing bitterness meets sweet malt with a gentle alcohol nature and warmth showcasing some of the dry hop nature of the grassy centential variety.

M: Mouthful was a bit syrupy and malty providing a nice depth. Warm boozy caramel and dry hops dominate the tongue.

O: Overall the pungent flowery columbus hops are a favorite of mine, one underutilized in many drinks, that surely highlights the hoppy bitterness of this beer even after a year and half layover. A beautifully boozy warmth with a high drinking enjoyment to tackle. Worthy revisit, would love to taste this fresh from the brightner tank if it is this enjoyable after this length of time.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 01:54:02 | More by beerthulhu

mikem0487

Pennsylvania

3.69/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bottle, bottled on 6/2012

A-Defiantly holds true to the style of the beer. Amber in color with a red hue. A fingers width of off white head that slowly dissipated. Leaves decent lacing around the rim of the glass.

S-Mild orange peel, musty citrus notes throughout, slightly piney, malt, bread crust. Smells pretty inviting.

T-Pretty bitter throughout the whole palate. At first get the malt profile caramel, bread, very faint dark chocolate. Finishes astringent with a bight of alcohol at the end. However as it warms the bitterness fades and lets the grain bill come through. This adds to a more balanced beer and finishes with a less astringent taste.

M-Medium light in body. Well carbonated.

O-A good beer that lacks in the tasting section. The bottle is going on its 7th month so maybe that has something to do with it. Its not oxidized at all so I feel the bottle is within its drinking age. Just feel like maybe this could be a great beer if they lowered the IBU's from that 100 IBU mark. It would allow the grain bill to come through and balance the overall beer. For me the taste was hard to decipher due to the bitterness cutting through everything. Maybe if I tried it fresh the taste would be better and more balanced? I don't know but its an enjoyable beer none the less and happy to have tried it. I will defiantly try this beer again and make sure the bottle is newly packaged to see if my overall enjoyment of the beer will improve due to the freshness.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 04:05:25 | More by mikem0487

Gobzilla

California

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: poured amber brown in color with burgundy highlights and a half finger of bubbly head that left little wisps of lacing sticking to the glass.

S: caramel malty sweetness is noticeable on the first whiff alongside good hop character, some citrusy notes, faint chocolate, subtle earthy grass and hints of nuts.

T: caramel nuttiness with malty sweetness were dominant on the palate alongside a pretty good hoppy profile with grassy citrusy accents and a touch of underlying chocolate.

M: the brew was light to medium in body with a a fair amount of carbonation which had a malty, nutty, sweet, hoppy, semi bitter, citrusy and oily finish.

O: pretty decent beer all around and glad to try another offering from clown ahoes.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 00:36:01 | More by Gobzilla

FungusBrewer

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a crater full rocky head of foam that sticks around for your whole drink. The beer itself is cloudy and dark amber color. It tastes what I would expect for an imperial amber- heavy, alcoholic, with strong malt notes and a light hop character. Not so much the dried fruit date flavors from "old ale" styles, more of a brighter aftertaste. Eagle Claw Fist has a sort of grainy, chewable mouthfeel to it that's nice on a chilly evening indoors, but cloying when paired with heavier foods. Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 05:52:08 | More by FungusBrewer

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear copper body. Fairly thick and long staying head of khaki colored head. Aroma is quite sweet for a 100+ IBU amber ale. It has that candyish malt aroma...like Anderson Valley Winter Solstice...that is what the aroma reminded me of. The flavor does not follow suit to the extent of Winter Solstice. Flavor has sweetness to it, but it is not overbearing....nice caramel malt backbone and light candyish tones. Bitterness is not quite what I'd expect from 100+ IBU, but it's there. It's a nicely hopped amber/imperial amber. Fairly well balanced and easy drinking. Body is medium and carbonation is moderate. Decent enough beer, but the one of the ones I'd be least likely to hit up again from Clown Shoes so far.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 06:36:04 | More by Bighuge

morimech

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep amber color with just one finger of head that hung around for a long time before settling to a thin cap. Heavy lacing is left down the glass.

For a beer touting 100 IBUs, this is showing off some complex malt aromas. I get caramel, toffee, and even some chocolate. The hops add some pine, herbal, and earthy notes.

Not much hop flavor payoff for the bitterness that is very high. What is delivered is a solid amber malt base with notes of caramel and toasted bread. The hops are of the herbal and pine variety. Some alcohol warmth and flavor in the finish.

Medium body with nice carbonation. The carbonation is bordering on fizzy but I do not mind it too much. Overall has a pleasant, lively texture.

I want more hop flavor if you are going to wreck my palate with bitterness. Otherwise is an interesting, complex amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 22:12:08 | More by morimech

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 6/2012

A: Pours an expected amber color with 3 fingers worth of bubbly and sticky off-white head

S: Get some lightly toasted malts, along with some fruity and floral hops. Also get some nutty coffee and chocolate notes

T: Starts off with the toasted malts and slowly creeps its way into a nice fruity and floral hoppy goodness, before giving way to some more of the maltiness, which is where the nutty coffee and chocolate flavors come through. Finishes bitter, but well rounded and not too aggressive (especially for 100+ IBUs)

M: Medium bodied with low-moderate carbonation. Drying

O: A solid imperial amber that boasts a nice bit of bitterness without destroying your palette. Look no further for a nice toasty amber with plenty of hops

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 23:05:21 | More by BEERMILER12