Great Divide Barrel Aged Yeti (2011 Vintage)

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.70%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.28/5
- RateBeer: 4.02/5

If you tuned in last time, you saw my review of Great Divide Yeti and how it is a superb example of what a standard Imperial Stout should be. What can make it better? Barrel aging it! In this case, we have the standard Yeti aged for nine months in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels.

I got the classic Shane Diesel pour with a pitch black body and managed two fingers of dark brown head.

The first thing I pick up on the aroma is a blast of roastiness. The whiskey is there, but it has mellowed out nicely over the years. A nice pop of coffee and chocolate with oak and a splash of vanilla deep in the back with some toasted coconut. I'm also getting either black licorice or some dark fruits too. It has a lot of flavors and they all work nicely.

My exact reaction on my initial sip was: "Woah, Holy Fu**in whiskey!". Yeah, while subtle on the nose, those nine months in whiskey barrels shine through loud and clear on the taste (even after almost four years). It's not a burning taste, but rather incredibly sweet, almost as sweet as rum. As it warms up, some nice oak and roasted coffee come out. Aside from the overpowering whiskey component, this beer is basically liquid black licorice. It's so powerful that I fear my potassium levels will drop at any moment and I will develop minor heart arrhythmias. All kidding aside, the licorice is balanced out by the barrel and the roastiness. Not as much chocolate or vanilla as I would have hoped, but the finish has a nice cherry kick. It actually carries an unexpected tartness that helps move the whiskey and licorice along.

Compared to the standard Yeti, this doesn't have the same viscous, motor oil-like mouth feel. Granted, it's still relatively thick and coating, but not nearly as good as the original. As I hold the beer in my mouth for a few seconds, the sensation of carbonation bubbles pleasantly dance on my tongue. It drinks like a 10.70% stout should, but it's not too difficult to put down and while there's a miniscule warming in my throat and chest, there's no actual alcohol presence.

If you want your Yeti Imperial Stout soaked head-to-toe in whiskey, then you obviously should check this beer out. That being said, BA Yeti is too overpowering with its whiskey which can be off-putting. I let the beer sit for a while, but was only able to pick out subtle chocolate, coffee, and oak. Other than that, the black licorice took over and never relinquished control for the remainder of the experience. It seems like an acquired taste, but if the licorice-whiskey bomb sound like your cup of tea, then you should go with BA Yeti. As for me, I will take the original any day of the week.

Rating
8.0/10

Great Divide Yeti

The Stats
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.50%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.21/5
- RateBeer: 4.09/5

I've been drinking a lot of barrel aged stouts lately and can't really recall the last time I sat down and had a standard, unflavored, non-barrel aged stout. So, why not go to an industry standard?

Pours jet black with not even a hint of dark brown or ruby red on the pour or the edges of the glass. I got less than a finger of head, but it is one of the darkest brown heads I've ever seen on a stout.

The aroma is very aggressive with the roasted malts. A strong black licorice and a subdued Hersey's syrup smell are on the back.

I know this is unflavored, but there is wave after wave of coffee and chocolate on this one. It starts with the coffee bitterness up front and at the middle the aforementioned Hershey's syrup comes in and gets you with some dark chocolate and even milk chocolate too. To my surprise, a decent hop bitterness is here as well.

At 9.50%, Yeti goes down too quick and too smooth. It has a velvety, mouth-coating feel, but it isn't sticky or tar-like considering it's abv and style. There's nothing off-putting on the final finish, but you do get some delicious coffee and chocolate.

As a non-flavored, non barrel aged stout, Yeti is among the best of the best. The malts really do an A+ job here of providing roasted coffee and chocolate. This is a big beer, but the drinkability is through the roof as I put my 12oz bottle away in minutes. I suggest grabbing a bomber and sipping on this for a few hours. You won't be disappointed.

Rating
9.1/10

Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

The Stats
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.10%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.08/5
- RateBeer: 3.70/5

A funny anecdote if I may (cue the chorus of boos). I've had this beer once (yes, great story so far), but when I picked it up, it had been on the shelf for months, which is not exactly the ideal situation you want from a fresh-hopped ale. So I finally get to try this one when it is actually, you know, fresh.

What is a fresh-hopped ale? When hops are picked, they either have to be used for brewing that very same day, or the hops have to be dried and processed to preserve for later use. Using them for immediate brewing is called wet-hopping (or fresh-hopping). Typically this is done for IPA's and Pale Ales. Supposedly it gives the beer just an extra tinge of freshness, but some have debated on whether or not it really makes a difference and have called wet-hop ales a gimmick. Whatever, I just want some great beer.

Pours a dark, rust orange, bordering on copper or amber. It's transparent and gave a finger of white head.

I know Colorado isn't exactly the West Coast, but man this is dank as all hell. Smells like a lot of typical West Coast IPA's, but the garlic/onion is cranked up in this one. Very earthy and mossy, but also fresh and clean.

The taste is like a mouthful of freshly cut grass. Just huge floral and grassy hops with a residual onion flavor. Most IPA's/APA's are bitter up front, but a pop of bitter hops actually hits you on the finish on this one. Above all else, I'm surprised at how damn malty this beer is. Granted, it's not off-putting, but it's not the what I would want as a dominant taste.

For a 6.10% APA, this seems thicker than most examples of the style. Some good carbonation and no unpleasant lingering flavors.

Overall, Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale does taste fresh, but an overabundance of malts takes away from fresh hoppy goodness. Still, those herbal hops are still prominent enough to make this an enjoyable experience. Just be ready for a malt bomb.

Rating
7.8/10