Griffin's Bow - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.53/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

Would love to know the story behind this name... Anyway, it pours a mostly clear golden straw topped by a very lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises fake banana (think Runts all the way here, folks), sweet flowers, powdered sugar, sweet caramel, light oak, vanilla bean, and light sweetgrass. Things are overtly sweet here. The taste holds notes of sweet flowers, light caramel, strong vanilla bean, moldy oak, and a bit of toasted white bread. Man, the toast and the dank wood really hang around for a while... The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluffy feel. Overall, this beer just didn't do it for me. The oak seems to be primary culprit, I think, sending everything else to hell with it. Yuck.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 05:56:01 | More by TMoney2591

fsvan

Tennessee

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into New Belgium globe.

A- Semi-bright golden. Well carbonated. Two fingers of off white head with minimal lacing.

S- An interesting smell on this guy. The oak is present but not overpowering. A lot sweet maltiness behind that, that is pretty hard to describe. Almost a maple syrup smell to it. Interesting, for sure.

T- Very much in line with the smell. Oak, sweet malts, and that same maple-like smell. A bit bitter on the finish.

M- Very well carbonated. Thick, but still easy drinking.

O- A pretty good beer. Unique and reasonably priced. Doubt I'd pick up another, but glad I got one.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 01:19:47 | More by fsvan

champ103

Texas

2.78/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: Pours more of an amber/ light red color than anything I would call blonde. Good clarity. A two finger, bubbly, white head forms with good retention initially. After a minute the foam recedes and leaves ring of lace behind.
S: Soapy and perfume like hops are billowing out of the glass. Peppery spice. Even a hoppy onion like aroma. A quick flash of burnt toast. Alcohol stings the nose.
T: Big soapy hops like dish detergent. Oily and resinous. Peppery spice. Burnt caramel malt and sugars try to balance things out. Ton of alcohol burn.
M/D: A big body that is thick and syrupy. Very slick and oily. Man, there is way to much alcohol for this to be enjoyable right now.

This is a monster, and a chore to finish. Maybe some age will help, but this is over barring right now. Not something I would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 23:41:39 | More by champ103

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into 13 oz tulip glass. Pours a light amber, with a one inch white head that settles into a light film, patches of lacing. Smell is some oak, garlic, and fruity esters. Taste, wow is this unique. Similar to smell, but way more aggressive. Hints of vanilla and clove, really a perplexing beer. I don't love or hate it. Makes me want to sip again, so I can make sense of everything. Body is fairly light and enough carbonation for the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 23:01:45 | More by SawDog505

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a golden yellow color with a 1/2" head that fades to bubbles fairly quickly

S: Strong caramel malt and oak presence, along with some hops. Very interesting and intriguing

T: Follows the smell, very fruity as well. Pineapple for sure, with oak, caramel, vanilla, malts, alcohol, and some more citrusy and grassy hops at the end for good measure. Extremely complex, with multiple layers

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Not syrupy or cloying by any means

O: A very interesting barleywine, it's on the lighter side yet has enough umph behind it to give it substance. Although it's extremely complex, the taste throws me off a little.... It is more of a hybrid style, though

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 22:43:23 | More by BEERMILER12

joefuzz

New York

4.5/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Impule buy at a local bevy.

Pours a light copper with a pretty large head.

Smells like an iipa huge grapefruit like hop presence.

Taste is pretty dam good big hops upfront give way to a malty fruity aftertaste, slight alcohol burn.

Mouthfeel and carbonation is right on par with a good barleywine.

Overall amazing for a sam adams offering after the mile high longshot I'm very pleased with this one

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 02:44:31 | More by joefuzz

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber hued beer, great clarity and a nice 2-3 finger head on top that dissapates slowly and leaves lacing as it goes. Reduces down to a sea foam sheet, nice retention. Touch of booze in the nose, which accentuates very nice fruity smells and a big shot of piney hops. There is a nice little spice to it as well, almost saison-esque. The sweetness is fruity and flowery, bringing about a very complex nose, but not incredibly potent.

The taste is fairly different from the nose actually. Big and boozy, but soft in its flowery composition. The floral hops are a little bitter in the back, a bit citrusy, but not very intense, which is ok. There is that oak taste as well that gives it a woody feel, adding a spicy character to the beer. Booze is definitely an essential part of the taste, especially being a barleywine. It fits the style and integrates into the beer pretty well. There is a overreaching fruity taste that is not really sweet at all, but does permeate all aspects of the palate, including the linger. It's a little distracting and makes the finish less dry than it would be without it. Only a little bit of a water-like mouthfeel, but the prickliness of the booze and hops makes up for it.

Overall, pretty good beer from Sam Adams, and a series that I'm excited for. I've always had a soft spot for BBC because they got me into craft beer, and this series has the potential to bring them more respect in the more extreme styles. I'll definitely be trying the others.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 01:13:54 | More by chodinheaven

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a 2 1/2" custard yellow head which lasted well but seemed to exhaust the carbonation of the rest of the beer.

Clear amber body looks nice but viscous.

Smell is complex with barley malt, caramel, toffee, citrus, and zesty hops.

Taste repeats all that's in the smell and includes a nice butterscotch richness.

Body is medium rich as you'd expect from a barleywine. High alcohol level is felt over time but doesn't stand out or detract from the tasting.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this, and I'd have to say it's the lightest looking barleywine I've ever seen.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 00:06:50 | More by MoreThanWine

Tilley4

Tennessee

2.93/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Stoked to see this one in the local bottle shop...

Sweet oaky aromas take the lead early followed closely by some juicy orange or pineapple hops as well as a hint of vanilla or brown sugar... Some booze present as well...

Sweet boozy malts along with a huge dose of the oak and traces of those citrus hops attempt to blend together here but its's futile... The booze sort of overtakes everything in the end... You can taste and feel the 11.5% early and often here... Starting to be a chore to get through...

I liked this one at first but it quickly became apparent that the heat was still too prevalent with this... I picked up two bottles and I'll lay the other one downfor quite a while to see how this ages.. As is, it seems like sort of a boozy mess to me...I wanted to like this one too....

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 15:19:32 | More by Tilley4

SGplayer84

Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +36.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

AT teh local warehouse liquor store and what do I see? a $7 Barleywine from Sam Adams? I'll bite, 2 that is!

A--It is Golden indeed. Clear, not cloudy at all and very not looking like my normal barleywine reminds me of the clear belgian golden ales.

S-Whoa. Hops, Pineneedles, Citrus, New Zealand Hop heaven. This must have like 1K IBUs or something.

T- Hops up front, Oak to the back! Warming like crazy, which is what a barleywine should be for. The Oak replaces the malt bill in this, as in, the oak overpowers the malt bill, but thats not a bad thing. This is one of the craziest things I've had in a while as It's fruity aroma, than changes to smooooth vanilla toasty oak.

M-Lighter than a normal barleywine, the Warming factor + hops take over and dominate the mouthfeel. I don't mind this as I was looking for something different.

O-Many people will overlook this brew as it has a Sam Adam's Logo on it. Do not let that stop you. This is an exceptional brew and deserves a great grade. It could defiantly use some cellar time as I find the hops can be overpowering a little, but perhaps after 6-9 months, (maybe 3 as I am impatient) I feel this can mellow out and shape into an amazing brew. Good thing it's only $7 (Chiciago) as I will purchase more before they're gone. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 05:36:43 | More by SGplayer84

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A Big 2 finger head that has some staying power. The body is a clear, light amber color with a few small carbonation bubbles. as the head slowly goes down lacing is left hangng onto the side of the glass. Looks pretty good.

S Some citrus upfront. Pineapple, grapefruit and slight mango.

T Follows the nose with citrusy grapefruit along with a slight malty caramel. Slight alcohol taste that finishes sweet.
I let it warm up a bit and the Nelson Sauvin hops really come out. Sweet cirtus comes through big time.

M heavier side of medium feel thats finishes somewhat dry. medium carbonation feel.

O Not a bad barleywine but not one i'd spend too much time looking for. everything was okay but didnt really wow me.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 03:33:59 | More by Gushue3

muttyd

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up due to the fact that it looks different than every other Sam Adams bottle I've come across. Turns out it was a pretty good decision.

Pours a crystal clear amber with a thin frothy head that fades into almost nothing. Not very good lacing, but very clear.

Aroma is big on the pineapple/citrus hops, oak and almost sweet vanilla soda. Slightly boozy too. Flavor is sweet, but balanced with pleasant toasted oak notes. Sweet burnt sugar malt flavor lingers throughout, with waves of citrus and oak/vanilla mixing throughout. Well carbonated and leaves a sticky sweet feeling on the tongue.

Definitely a step in the right direction for Sam Adams. Enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 01:53:59 | More by muttyd

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of bmanning. Served in a small pint.

Pours a mostly clear light golden color with a good, frothy white head that persists for a good time and leaves a bit of lacing behind. The nose brings forward very light oak and just a touch of grain. Very, very tame without really anything going on. The flavor is just a tad bit better with a smidge more oak and a faint hop presence. Light bitterness in the finish is refreshing; no noticeable alcohol, which was impressive. Just blah overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 13:58:12 | More by Thorpe429

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

rather light amber color produces a big, off-white head that slowly recedes and laces well.

pretty hoppy aroma of citrus and flowers with some earthiness. malts are behind that, and no oak aromas.

oak is definitely in the flavor though. tons of vanilla and butterscotch. hops (floral, citrus and tropical fruit) after that with some slight malt sweetness behind that. odd mix of flavors that are not unpleasant, but not extraordinary, either. lacks that malt complexity of most barleywines. its like vanilla extract mixed with hop extract.

semi-light bodied for the style with a lingering boozy heat.

It had potential, but failed to follow through. it needs more malt complexity to stand up to the hoppiness and butterscotch/vanilla notes taken from the toasted oak.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 04:02:32 | More by silentjay

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big fizzy bubbly head of 2+ fingers, fades semi slowly with nice lacing, over a clear golden amber orange color.

Nose had a lot of fresh hops, light floral fruity almost citrus and tropical fruit even, very fresh hops, but of grapefruit and a bit of white grape, actually the grape starts to get more dominant as it warms, some light malts and caramel.

Taste brings a lot of flavors, lots of buttery oak come right out front, bit of vanilla, creamy malts with a bit of caramel but mostly light malt flavors but quite malty. Then fruit and hops again, light floral hops, light citrus and a bit of tropical fruit, light white grape skin I wonder if there is nelson sauvin in this... A decent bitterness but not much. touch of booze but barely, drinks well with a bit of sweetness. Finishes still sweet, lots of buttery oak and vanilla, some light sweet malts, and more fruity hops.

Mouth is a bit heavier bodied, decent carb, hint of booze.

Overall pretty impressed, nice malts, lots of nice hop flavors, tons of buttery oak add an interesting touch. Very complex and drinkable

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 15:00:08 | More by jlindros

Duff27

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Inch tall white head on a clear dark golden beer. Good clumpy lacing left on the glass, head retention is average.

"Ohhhh."Aroma is of sweet pineappley booze.

"Wooo." Major booze alert. As described on the label, honeysuckle. The warmth sensation left in my throat, even after not taking a sip for a couple minutes, is unlike anything I can remember. Some caramel and oaky notes.

Medium to medium-heavy mouthfeel, good carbonation. Doesn't have the normal BBC mouthfeel/carbonation, which is a plus.

I think its safe to say this is well worth a pick up at $6.99 especially if you don't mind a lot of booziness. Time will do good things to Griffin's Bow, mellowing out its hotness.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 00:51:26 | More by Duff27

fdkayti

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a golden red with a fluffy pearl head floating on top. Crystal clear.

S- Candied grapefruits, lots of sugary sweetness. Some alcohol presence.

T- Brown sugar, honey. Tastes almost like a simple syrup with added spices (nutmeg?). Slight alcohol burn in the finish. An interesting hop bitterness also comes through, lending sweet citrus notes.

MF- High carbonation takes away from some of the creaminess and really spreads the flavors across all tastebuds. Slightly sticky.

O/D- Interesting and unique. Enjoying the warming effects of this immensely. Good price point. The complexity of this makes it a sipper moreso than the alcohol presence. Happy to stumble upon it.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 00:49:22 | More by fdkayti

sommersb

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 10-27-2011
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Single from Midtown, Nashville

This is described as an Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale on the label.

Appearance is a clear copper, with 3 fingers of tan head. Both lacing and retention are very good.

Aromas are of hops, front and center, with citrus (grapefruit) and spicy qualities. I don't get much more in the nose.

I was expecting a big dose of hop bitterness in the taste, based on the aromas, but the flavors are very well balanced. There's a good amount of malt sweetness and wood/oak dryness to compliment the hops. Definitely an alcohol presence is made known in the 11.5% brew as well. Strong and intense.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and seems to have a syrupy kind of viscosity. Smooth and easy to drink, although the higher alcohol makes it more of a sipper. Finishes with a warm sweetness.

Very impressed with this new small batch beer from Samuel Adams.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 01:21:00 | More by sommersb