Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow is an American Barleywine with 10% Alcohol By Volume. It sounds like it is an oak aged Barleywine brewed with pale malts, which is pretty unusual for the style (Barleywines tend to be pretty dark). So far I have liked all of these limited release beers from Sam Adams, so hopefully Griffin's Bow can match the expectations that have been built up.
Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow is an amber colored beer with a mild haze, which after a nice cascade effect is topped by a large cream colored head. Nice lacing remains behind.
The uniqueness of the hop profile is evident on the nose (they use Nelson Sauvin and Zeus hops). There are light tropical fruit notes in front of an extremely pungent and resinous Zeus. The hops are the focus, but there are some oak notes and a bit of spicy alcohol.
The taste is certainly unique, that is for sure. Pale and caramel malts open it up, and the oak is much more apparent in the taste. A bit of vanilla from the casks, a burnt quality, some sugar cane, light fruits along with some berries, tropical fruit and more resinous hops, and some spice from the warming alcohol. The mouth is light and fairly sharp on the tongue.
I think it is safe to say that Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow is not going to be for everyone. I like it when brewers play a bit of jazz and wander far from accepted norms, but that often results in a beer that not everyone is going to like.
For me personally, I didn't like Griffin's Bow too much at first, but it is starting to grow on me as I drink it. I would recommend trying it for its uniqueness.
Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow : B
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