Eagle Claw Fist - Clown Shoes

ADZA

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear copper leaving a two finger creamy head with lacing everywhere,the smell is piney hops and to be quite honest not much more the piney hops really dominate the smell,the mouthfeel is just under medium bodied and well carbonated with tastes of piney hops,boiled candy,a light touch of toffee apple and finished with the ever present piney hop bitterness and overall its nice but pretty one dimensional and abit of a hop bomb and personally id prefer a better malt character to even this out and probably would not revisit cheers.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 12:45:42 | More by ADZA

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

chocosushi

Oklahoma

3.18/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

From Spec's in Dallas.

A ~ Pours filtered Red with beautiful delicate beads of carbonation characteristic of Clown Shoes. Looks incredible.

S ~ Candied fruits, dried peaches, sliced oranges...Resin notes & multivitamin are in there as well.

T ~ Fruits reappearing in their freshest form: navel oranges, apricot, key lime, & peach. This fades fast into Acetaminophen & Coffee dregs. Aggressive Pine resin aggressively on the finish with an odd off flavor.

M ~ Not elegant by any means, very muddy & murky on the palette. Bittering is crushing on the finish which has an odd phenolic note in it that I simply cannot place.

D ~ Drinkability is low unfortunately on this Clown Shoes beer. It's a shame because at first the flavors are there. The freamwork of a good Amber but falls short fast.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 14:30:19 | More by chocosushi

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

Fubar1453

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Nice deep amber color with a small head that leaves good lacing.

S: Dark fruit and hops.

T: Bitter up front, sweetness in the middle and dark fruits on the end.

M: Creamy and sticky, medium carbonation.

O: An ok amber, best to be sipped. Not interested in trying again.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 23:22:16 | More by Fubar1453

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Consumed 2/12
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours a deep, ruddy brown with a one finger of light khaki, foamy head. Big chunks of lacing are left on the glass.

S: Nose is big thick grapefruit and orange hops with an undertone of caramel.

T: Taste is caramel at the forefront with orange peel coming through. Some grain and light lemon and grapefruit are present. Finish is grassy, toffee and a hint of chocolate... who saw that one coming?

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, light and slick with an oily slick finish.

O: Goes down easy, tasty, not too filling, good kick, nice representation of style. This is another solid offering from Clown Shoes.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 20:43:18 | More by Jayli

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

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a tumbler.

I do so love chop socky and whatnot... This stuff pours a clear copper-amber topped by a finger of light cream foam. The nose comprises grapefruit peel, light lemongrass, white bread, light caramel, and light orange peel. The taste holds notes of caramel, honey, light white bread, orange zest, grapefruit peel, light lemon zest, light cilantro, and light grass. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a lightly dry finish. Overall, a nice little beer, nothing spectacular, nothing bad, just kinda there. I'd have another, but I wouldn't exactly be excited about it.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 06:20:08 | More by TMoney2591

bigaltemple

Colorado

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

22oz "Bottled in the Middle of April 2011"

A - Deep amber in color. Huge khaki-colored head builds quickly requiring multiple pours to fill a pint. Very slowly, but eventually, settles to a thin film leaving sticky lacing.

S - Big piney and floral hops aroma. Some notes of caramel and bready malts.

T/M - Sweet maltiness up front quickly transitions to the hops bite. Comes across more citrusy than the nose. Medium bodied, not over carbonated.

O - I like it. First chance I've had to sample anything from Clown Shoes and I was not let down.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 02:38:56 | More by bigaltemple

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a five finger dark cream head that fades very slowly to a thin layer leaving a very good lace. Nearly clear amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Grapefruit nose, grapefruit flavor, some caramel with a dry finish. Bottled 1/2011. $6.50 for a 22oz bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 23:24:52 | More by jdhilt

modernartblues

Connecticut

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

Growler, Purchased a DeCicco's on 01/21/12, Consumed on 01/22/12

Poured into a Tulip

A: Dark Amber, Pillowy white head, recedes to thin film, decent lacing

S: hops and malt, not incredibly citrusy, more herbal hops, and obviously a well malted beer

T: interesting....plenty of hops and plenty of malt, not a classic Imperial Amber, but I like it. Tinge of sweetness form the malt is backed up by a swelling bitterness. They didn't forget the hops with this one.

M: Thin and smooth. It doesn't instantly coat the palate the way other Imp. Ambers do, which I appreciate.

O: An excellent beer that may veer more towards the strong ale category, but I like the playful take on the style.

Cheers!

Serving type: growler

01-21-2012 21:27:51 | More by modernartblues

Dope

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A very dark, almost opaque amber pour. Big bubbly off-white head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Big caramel malt. Nice citrus hops and a light tea character.

T: Whoa, surprisingly bitter. Strong grapefruit, citrus and even a little pine on the backend. Some heavy tea character in the aftertaste. Malt isn't nearly as strong as the color or the aroma suggests. It's more like an unbalanced IPA than an amber ale.

M: Pretty thin given the ABV and the expected usual heavy maltiness of your average amber.

O: Quite bitter and missing out on the balancing malt I feel. It's not terrible but it misses the mark for the style I think.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 05:07:59 | More by Dope

omnigrits

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 20oz nonic.

A. Seriously dark amber with an off white head. Not much lace but decent head retention.

S. Even with a good head on this beer I'm not getting much aroma off it. Some malts, maybe some spicy hops.

T. Now this is more like it. Lots of medium roasted malt flavours, a good dose of yeasty fruitiness and a delicious bite of hoppy bitterness. Not too much in the way of sweetness here, just a hint of toffee and caramel.

M. Medium bodied, not over-carbonated.

O. I like this a lot. Plenty of the right kinds of flavour for the style, but the lack of aroma let it down a little for me, plus the fact that it's hardly a session beer. I'd love to drink this all night long like a good ESB, which it reminds of in many ways.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 23:40:00 | More by omnigrits

coldriver

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber pours deep amber with good head and lacing. Aroma is citrus hops, sweet malt, and cotton candy. This is pretty hoppy for an amber, somewhat surprising for an East Coast brewery. Suspect this beer would be too sweet without the great blend of bitter and citrusy hops - really a very nice balance. Medium mouthfeel with dry finish and tongue-coating aftertaste that begs for another sip. I love these West Coast style hop-heavy ambers!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 19:40:13 | More by coldriver

drabmuh

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Mike, beer served in a snifter. Beer is amber, mostly clear, off white head of small bubbles, some lacing, decent retention, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is mostly weak, some malt perhaps some citrus hops.

Beer is medium in body and sweet, some malt, mild tropical hop flavors but overall just a boring pale ale or whatever this is. Clown shoes does some interesting beers, this is not one of them.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 03:39:58 | More by drabmuh

imintune2

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured into 14oz. tulip (bottled on 6/15/11)

A: dark amber color with very little head (big bubbles leaving a globby lacing).

S: grapefruit, grains, grass/hops

T: sweet, citrusy taste on the front-end. the hops take over as it funnels down the tongue, leaving a crisp, bitter trail. after swallowing, the hops settle down and a sweet caramel tone lingers.

M: there's a midline sharpness and tingling sensation in the back of the throat immediately proceeding the swallow, but the bitter quickly smooths-out leaving a thin, sweet coating.

O: though relatively tame in each category, this amber ale offers a body of citrus and hops without completely overwhelming the tastebuds (vs. an IPA). this beer has become a trusty standby when i search the shelves and find nothing in particular. wish it was sold in a 6pack.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 00:07:56 | More by imintune2

Ratman197

Colorado

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

Bomber from Half Time poured a clear amber with a lasting amber head. Aromas of bread, grapefruit, lemon and grassiness. Mouthfeel was light bodied and crisp with a dry finish. Flavors of bread, grassiness, grapefruit, lemon and light pine with a crisp dry lingering bitter finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 19:49:23 | More by Ratman197

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for the bottle, Jeff.

The beer is amber in color with an off-white head. A very sweet nose to this: lots of caramel and brown sugar notes. There's a little bit of citrus hoppiness on the back end, maybe some sweet fruits like mangos. There's definitely some hop bitterness to it, but not too much hop flavor. Toffee and caramel malt flavors give it a fair amount of sweetness, too. Maybe a bit of pine hop flavor on the back end. Medium to full body with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 09:11:26 | More by womencantsail

avalon07

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an amber color and a cloudy consistency. There was a huge, creamy, long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A very sharp, hoppy aroma, with good shot of caramel in it as well.

T: Tasted of hops (a lot more than I expected), caramel, grapefruit, and malt. The hops content almost pushes this beer into another style - it almost tastes like a weak barleywine - but it's still very flavorful.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This beer has a pretty big flavor for its style, but it's very well made.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 15:14:20 | More by avalon07

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Aroma is strong, crisp, malty and fruity with an overtone of hops like an IPA. It pours a dark orange-brown, about halfway between coppery and mahogany, with a decent light tan head. Flavor has a strong, bitter hoppy overtone, more at an IPA than a "regular" ale, with woody and malty notes and floral and fruity hints. Firm-bodied texture is fizzy and lively, leaving a woody and hoppy finish. Let this eagle claw fist loose on your tongue!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 20:46:07 | More by Cyberkedi

Gavage

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a dark amber color with a 2" head that lingers around a while. Moderate lace paints the glass during the session.

Smell: loads of caramel, grapefruit, and a strong hop presence.

Taste: caramel, grapefruit, a sharp and biting bitterness, some apple sweetness linger in the background. Alcohol is mildly noticable here.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, less crisp at the finish. The bitter aftertaste lingers long on the tongue.

Overall: this is a slow sipping big amber ale, and the bitterness is a bit off puting as the glass empties. Needs a bit more balance here.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 20:55:50 | More by Gavage

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really good looking beer, this Eagle Claw Fist. The lightly tanned head is creamy and stiff and lasts a long while, leaving big strings of lace in nearly complete circles. Color is an entrancingly dark burnt red, sort of rosewood. As dark as red gets before becoming brown, really. [Addendum after tasting: I wonder what malt they used here? The head and liquid color suggests way more malt presence than what you actually taste. Interesting.]

Clean citrus aroma with a bit of a sugary edge. Sharply herbal too. Simple and straightforward, really nothing more to glean from it. From the aroma alone, I'm wondering if this is going to be one of those hugely hopped ambers just dying for some more malt?

Yep. Throw more malt at this and you'd be in Arrogant Bastard territory. I'm reminded of Bear Republic's Red Rocket here, a very citrus-centric, nearly one-sided affair. Hops are almost abrasive but kept in check by a brown sugar and bitter herbal tea tandem. Incredibly bitter finish with just a hint of sugar sweetness in back.

Thinner body but pleasant enough, nearing creamy despite being on the thinner side. Rides that bitterness on through easily. More malt (here I say "more malt" again) would have nicely propped up the body, as well as the taste. But I get what they're going for here, and okay, it's pretty good.

This is not bad...at all! But it's yet another American craft offering that forgets that some of us beer geeks, even the ones who totally love hops (I do), also dig some malt character. You can argue that's not what they were going for here, but had they, they'd have an even better beer on their hands.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 00:06:44 | More by Metalmonk

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've had a lot of Clown Shoes' stuff. They tend to make a lot of solid beers that fall short of really good/great. This beer is no exception to the rule. It's a well-hopped, pretty balanced, and big red, but falls short of beers like Zoe.

The nose is nice, and what you'd expect. Some pleasant light roasted scents, but they don't dominate with the aggressive, though single-voiced hopping: mostly grapefruity.

Taste follows as expected. Pretty well structured sweetness from malt and a gush of grapefruit from the hops. However, the hops lack a juicy profile to match the bitterness, so there is a strong element of grapefruit pith and peel rather than the actual flesh.

Don't get me wrong! I totally support the Clown. But aside from Blaecorn, I have yet to have a superb beer from them. If their bombers were 4.99 I'd probably buy a lot more, but at standard bomber prices, I'm going to go with another brewer for most of their styles.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 15:37:50 | More by CheezyBlaster

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with a rocky two-fingered head; strong retention and a few strands of lace are left behind

Smell: Fruity caramel elements dominate, with piney hops in the mix, as well

Taste: The malt profile tastes very much like an ESB, with a fruity caramel character but by mid-palate, the pithy hops dominate and bring an aspirin-like bitterness to the finish, though there is plenty of sweet caramel that lingers on the tip of the tongue

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A very hoppy amber which is no less than might be expected from this brewery; I'm not a big fan of ambers and have only come across a few of the hoppy ones that I have enjoyed; I think I would prefer this beer with a different selection of hop varieties

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 23:25:31 | More by brentk56

BeerLover99

New Jersey

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

A: cloudy, tan/orange, finger white head,
gorgeous lacing

S: grapefruit, pine, hint of
lemon grass

T: big pine/grassy front, mild rye/malt middle,
slow bitter smooth finish

M: med/light body, smooth, mild
tongue prick

O: Enjoy Clown Shoes, but was
expecting more from an Imperial
Amber Red, little more body. Still
was worth enjoying and picking up.

NICE, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 16:37:43 | More by BeerLover99