April 27, 2021
Brewmaster and Head Distiller Dan Rogers (left) and Head Cider Maker Ian Radogost-Givens lead the drink program at Griffin Claw.
After a year when many distilleries found their stills turned to making sanitizer instead of spirits, metro Detroit’s watering holes are making up for lost time. Take Griffin Claw. Home to Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA, Griffin Claw may be better known for its beers than its distilled spirits, but that could change, as the brewing company has recently been making a splash with some great liquid packaged inside beautiful bottles.
Griffin Claw began distilling when it opened in 2013 to serve cocktails and spirits to taproom visitors who weren’t beer fans. And while bottles were available to purchase from the taproom, they were mostly an afterthought. COVID-19 changed that, as the brewery saw the opportunity to get not only its beers but also its spirits right into people’s homes. But the company wanted a package that was as high quality a