Miracle - Clown Shoes

maximum12

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up a single of this at Princeton's eagerly, since most of the Clown Shoes I see in Minnesota has been on the shelf since they first shipped here. 12 oz. bottle dated 3/6/12, so reasonably fresh.

The pour is full frontal IPA, mildly see-through dull orange. Nose chips in citrus, faint sweetness, but there's less than one full nostril to find.

This Miracle is minor enough to be called Everyday Event. Dominated by clean, fresh pale malts that lean into a light sweetness. Malts are timidly floral & the bitterness has a rather limp handshake. Slice of orange. Easy to drink, I suppose, if you're not thinking about it.

Kind of a 'mail-it-in' beer. Not bad, not good, just a decent amount of taste. Defines mediocre, completely forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:27:19 | More by maximum12

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - A bright golden yellow hue somewhat hazy with a 1/2 inch of head. Lacing is decent giving me some stick to the glass.
S - Very herbal sort of English IPA with tea leaves and sweeter hops highlighting. It doesn't smell too sweet so I assume there is some hop bitterness under there.
T - To me it doesn't really come off as an IPA more like a hopped up pale ale. Sweet malts and tea leaf bitterness meet citrus hops and some gram cracker crust. Even has some bitterness on the tongue but that might be the Hoppy Feet I had earlier.
M - Light to medium, easy to drink, session able indeed.

Overall like all the other clown shoes beers this one was sort of worth the single price ($3.50) but I would much rather have the Galactica for the same price and a more crisp balanced hop experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 02:17:01 | More by DrDemento456

beyah

Maine

2.18/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Appearance - Gold in color Hazy even after it warms up. One finger white foam, good lacing hangs in there

Smell - smells bitter and sweet, not pleasant

Taste - The hop flavor and malt flavor don't complement each other bitter and sweet

Mouth feel - smooth and the right amount of carbonation.

Overall - I've tried a ton of IPA's most of which I enjoyed immensely, this is definitely the exception.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:20:15 | More by beyah

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

There's always a fine selection of Clown Shoes brews at Gasbarro's - I'm hoping to finally try the majority of them in the next couple months. I've tried Hoppy Feet and Muffin Top and enjoyed them both.

Miracle is a semi-sessionable (5.5% abv) IPA - it looks good - ample head/lacing, dark gold in appearance. I'm having a hard time pinning down the aroma but I would say it's woody and has somewhat of a tea leaf scent. Interesting.

The taste is nice and balanced - I'm getting the tea leaves again, mild hop bitterness (for an IPA) and a general earthiness. I feel like I'm drinking a holistic conconction of some sort, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I've had other IPAs that claim to be "sessionable" but really aren't (due to too much bitterness and/or a strong aftertaste..like All Day IPA), this one is sessionable without a doubt - complex enough to be considered an IPA and flavorful without a strong aftertaste.

Another winner from Clown Shoes. Hoping the Cs can pull out a win tonight to top off a night of good food, beer, and cake.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 01:20:29 | More by Celtics76

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.79/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

New in Colorado ... 12 oz bottle.
Poured in a Eku tulip glass.
Light copper color...small amber head with lace.
Aroma of grassy hops, white grapefruit rind, light pepper.
Significant carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of funky fruit rind...white grapefruit, grassy hops, burnt brown sugar, slight cream of tartar/chalk. Overall tasty with significant body, but there's some astringency that takes away from the ideal quaffability, meaning, I can finish a glass/bottle, but would choose something different next.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 04:22:50 | More by DenverLogan

beergoot

Colorado

3.79/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Found a few new bottles in the singles cooler at Coaltrain Wine and Liquor in Colorado Springs. Clown Shoes, eh...??

Very pleasant fruity, pine, and citrus hop aroma wafting up from a nicely carbonated, golden body, all topped with a thick, rich, white head. Biscuit and light toast grain taste with a nicely done hop bitterness. Juicy, clean, medium-bodied feel.

A nicely brewed IPA. Good balance between the grains and hops with a decent complexity. Rich and flavorful without being over-the-top.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 00:20:32 | More by beergoot

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.74/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled on 3/6/13.

12oz bottle poured into a Sam Adams shaped pint glass emerges clear and a beautiful orange bronze color, with a small, one finger sized white head on top.

Pleasing aroma. Floral with some citrus characteristics. Slight bit of rosemary in the aroma, which I dig. Fruitiness such as mangos and pineapple entice the nose, slight vegetal qualities

Taste mimics the flavor nicely. Definitely more of the floral flavors with bitter bits of grapefruit and orange. A subtle, earthy hoppiness adds a different dimension. Bitterness is spot with a very long finish.

I enjoyed this one. Not really an IPA; not enough abv, hops, mouthfeel, etc. This is a very nice APA. The mouthfeel could use a little more substance as this one is slightly watery and very dry. I cant help but want another one of these, however. An easy drinker and could be a could everyday beer.

Thanks to Sean Geary for this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 21:01:29 | More by SaCkErZ9

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled On: 03/06/2013

A: Pours a copper color with 2 fingers of head that retains for a while

S: Juicy citrusy hops come out first, along with a lightly sweet malt backbone that provides some earthiness

T: Follows the nose. Very balanced, with citrusy hops coming out first and then being swallowed up by lightly spicy and earthy malts. Bready into the finish

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A little too malty for my tastes, as the hops come out quickly but exit just as fast. The malts more or less make the beer, which isn't a usual characteristic in a good IPA. This was bottled less than a month ago, so it's not like the hops have faded all that much, either. They just aren't really there. Not bad, just not what I expect from an IPA

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 19:38:53 | More by BEERMILER12

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.05/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottled May 2012 (uh -oh, past its prime, well I smelled and tasted it and it didn't seem bad, let's do this):

Into a pint glass:

A: hazy golden body with a one finger white foamy head gently clings and forms valleys, some carbonation is seen rising, some really nice foamy clingy lacing appears

S: hops, malts, but combined and not really showing too much

T: balanced through hops and malts, but average

M: light to medium, sessionable, smooth and slightly crisp, citrusy aftertaste and finish

O: looks like one I really need to try fresh, too bad I found it when I did, however, for being somewhat past its prime, its still decent, I'd have it again fresher and am thinking it could be a winner

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 15:38:23 | More by kangarooAdam59

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Strong aroma is quite hoppy with an undertone of grapefruit. It pours a nice clear amber with a fairly thick pale wheat head. Flavor is typically hoppy, not at all bitter, with malty and citrus hints. Body leaves something to be desired, but not the lively fizz. If not a miraculous IPA, worth at least a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 23:10:19 | More by Cyberkedi

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A cloudy orange, with 2 fingers of head. Lots of sediment and carbonation in the brew. Lace left all over the glass as it goes down. Impressive.

S - Nice citrus notes shine through. Orange and coriander. Maybe some pineapple too. Not a kick in the nostrils aroma, but good none the less

T - Starts out tasteless, than a huge citrus and piny hops kick in and give your tastebuds a nice jump start! Dry finish. Well balanced. Very good IPA.

M - High in carbonation

O - Definitely an excellent "session" IPA. 5.5%, and has a huge flavor for the potency. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:33:21 | More by BeerDawgs

far333

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear apricot colored with a thick and dimpled beige head that lingers long. Low aroma of citrus and honey. Bright and fresh flavors of citrus and honey, lots of tangerine and grapefruit, some pithy orange rind. Moderately assertive bitterness, but good balance against the honey malt. Wait, here comes more citrusy hops and bitterness, forget balance. Even mouthfeel, a bit tingly. Very good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 19:59:08 | More by far333

lordofstarside

Nevada

3.33/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

bomber to a snifter, bottled in 5/12, pretty old :/

Pours with a ridiculous amount of foam, a little over three fingers. I don't know if it got shaken up at all during transit, but I know this is unnatural. I won't hold it against the beer much as a result, so other than that a nice thick golden copper, can't see through anything on the other side, good retention (unfortunately in my case) with almost no lacing. All the good about the look cancels out the bad

Smell of hops, a little citrus, and sweet malts. Good, but not any of the complexity I'm used to in my IPAs. Not very pungent

Taste of hops and some strange malts I've never had anything like before. Some citrus and other fruits are here, but the malts really seem dominant

Feel is pretty medium bodied, nice bitter bite, good tingle from the carbonation. Most redeeming part of the beer.

Overall tolerable. I knew for 5.5% this wouldn't have too big a punch, but living on the west coast this east coast ipa is pretty foreign to me. I don't think I'll pick any more, good to try though. Also very admirable of the brewery to donate some of the proceeds

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 07:33:08 | More by lordofstarside

obywan59

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a fairly cloudy golden orange. I could see through it, but just barely. 3 finger off white head that rises above the glass, becoming thick and chunky as it recedes, leaving thick, sticky lacing.

The aroma is impressive. Very hop forward, not surprisingly. Fruity and piney with ripe citrus and light spice and honey. The malt lends a light sweet aroma that contributes to the fruitiness.

The carbonation seems to inhibit the taste for a second, before the sweet citrus blows through it. This is followed by a rising bitterness, like grapefruit rind, that finally outlasts the sweetness in the end. Spicy pine in the middle.

Medium in body with a good bite of carbonation, especially early. Light oily burn in the throat. Somewhat drying.

Tasty and sessionable. Fairly light, but not a light weight. A good followup for a turkey dinner.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 03:49:20 | More by obywan59

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This was served from the tap at The Ginger Man in Greenwich, CT. It arrived in a generic flared pint glass, showing a golden amber coloring. It held a one and a half finger head of active white bubbles, with good retention. Thick sheets of lacing coated the glass’ walls entirely. There was a chill haze, no sediment, and highly active carbonation. The aroma showed booze, mud mineral, gritty citric hop cone and rind, raw pine cones, light woodiness, and sticky nectarine sweetness. This component of the beer was rather light and subdued. Our first impression was that the flavoring was robust, with a nice balance of malt and gritty hop flavoring. The beer opened with paler toasted malts, and hints of grapefruit flesh, and lemon peel. The latter drove to the peak, where a piney hop rumble came in, full force. A hint of booze began here, giving peppery, and herbal notes of dill that brought us to the finish. The end was characterized by more bittering hop citrus, with more herbal hops, and those same notes of dill, with mineral and mustard seed to cut any final sweetness. The aftertaste breathed simply, of citrus, pine, mud, and mineral. The body was medium, and the carbonation was lighter. A fine astringency permeated the mouth, with a light crispy toast, and some heat on the back. There was smooth sip, slurp, and cream to each sip. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the robustness of flavoring. It followed the nose nicely, showing all the flavoring therein. The original aroma, however, was where we lost major points, in that everything seemed a bit dull, but with great potential. The feel was softer, and lightly creamy, helping to make this beer not seem overly heavy, or overwhelming at any point.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 22:02:40 | More by TheBrewo

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bomber into a pint glass.

Pours medium amber with an inch of white foam. Lots of foam. Laces, sticks everywhere. Strong pine smell. Grassy.Firm. Hoppy start that slides into a juicy malt. Bitter fades, but lingers too. Very nice blend. Good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 21:59:04 | More by KTCamm

Durge

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A pretty clear copper-amber color with a decent off-white head and plenty of lacing. The aroma includes floral and leafy grapefruit hops wonderfully blended with orange toffee edges. Real scrumptious for the hop head! The flavor brings harsh citrus grass hops and biscuit caramel. Simple but undeniably good. This IPA is medium-light bodied with a very crispy feel and full, but tasteful carbonation. A swell IPA that brings pretty heavy hitting, dry bitterness that should please most hop heads.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 04:10:51 | More by Durge

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.7/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy orange-golden amber with a one finger off-white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of citrus hops, grapefruit, lemon and light biscuit malt. Starts with citrus hops and sweet malt with a bit of light fruit juice, but finishes dry and a bit stark with strong hop bitterness without as much malt support. Medium bodied. A decent citrusy IPA, but somewhat unbalanced in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 02:37:45 | More by LiquidAmber

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz Bomber from the Potsdam NY IGA 6$

Appearance - Clear amber/copper colour with an above average size fizzy off-white coloured head. There a an above average amount of carbonation (large bubbles) and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for only 2 minutes.

Smell - Malts, hops, oranges, grapefruit

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste hops and malts mixed with grapefruit and oranges. There is also a bit of a guava/strawberry like sweetness and some resin and a slight chalkiness. It ends with a fairly bitter hoppy aftertaste.

Overall - A decent beer, but I was expecting more from this brewer. It just seems like it is missing something. Still well worth the price, just not something I'd return to. I'd give it a bunch of 3.75's if I could.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 00:16:47 | More by spinrsx

Dave1999

Virginia

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orange with a small head.

The smell is citrus,lemon and grapefruit as well as some dark roasted malts and pepper.

The taste is fruity with the grapefruit flavour of the hops at first then a malty flavour takes over.

The flavour is medium bodied with a medium carbonation.

Overall this isn't bad but it's definitely more malty than hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 23:02:57 | More by Dave1999

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.23/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clown Shoes Miracle has a very thick, fluffy, slightly off-white head, a significantly hazy, somewhat bubbly, orange appearance, and a bit of lacing left behind. The aroma is of strong grapefruit and bread, and the flavor is of fruity, grapefruit hops, sweet bread, caramel, and sugar. Mouthfeel is medium and viscuous. Clown Shoes Miracle finishes dry and even crisp to some extent. This really is a session IPA. Overall, this is a most excellent beer, and I strongly recommend you giving it a try! RJT

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 22:15:26 | More by RonaldTheriot

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on 8.20.12.

A - Pours a cloudy, light orange with a two inch off-white head that slowly fades.

S - Some light citrus and heavy, bready malts.

T - Bready and subtle grass.

D - Solid carbonation with a lighter body.

O - Malt forward, grasy taste, pretty muted all-around.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 06:37:55 | More by HuskyinPDX

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

In a pint glass this beer was a hazy gold color with a medium-sized white head. There was a tiny bit of lace.

Mostly citrus aroma, some pine. A good amount of sweet malt.

Lots of grapefruit. Lots. A little resiny pine. Some biscuit.

Astringent, hoppy.

Nice enough.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 22:40:29 | More by lordofthewiens

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A friend borught a bottle to a neighborhood get together. The beer poured a clear orange color with white foamy head that laced. The smell had some biscuit and toffee malt, with some pine and a hint of citrus. The taste is very similar, with the pine and citrus notes being more prevalent from the hops. There is also some biscuit malt and a low amount of bitterness. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Overall a very tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 19:18:57 | More by WoodBrew

coldriver

Texas

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber pours a cloudy medium amber with tightly bubbled head and good lacing. Aroma of resinous grapefruit, lemon, and grassy hops. Taste is juicy citrus and piney hops, with apricot, seems a bit out of balance with insufficient malt backbone for the bitterness. Thin dry mouthfeel with almost no lingering aftertaste on the front of the tongue and very bitter on the back of the tongue - kind of an odd effect. Overall I like the hop profile here, but the taste and mouthfeel don't quite live up to the appearance and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 22:49:38 | More by coldriver